Michel Vaillancourt made an indelible mark on the Canadian show jumping scene when he won an individual silver medal at the 1976 Olympics. He has bolstered the team at Pan Am Games (team bronze in 1975 and team silver in 1979), and at the 1980 Alternate Olympics in Rotterdam (team gold). Upon his retirement from competition he became a course designer and coach, supervising the Canadian equestrian team at the 1994 and 1998 Olympics. Michel was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in 2009 and named Jump Canada Official of the Year in 2016.

Now an FEI Level 4 course designer based in Aiken, SC, who designs courses at top international competitions around the globe, Michel set the tracks at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto to rave reviews from the competitors. The Royal Winter Fair, International Bromont, Hampton Classic, Spruce Meadows, National Horse Show, Lake Placid and Lausanne are among the top venues where he has been CD. He has a reputation for producing challenging yet fair courses that increase day-to-day over the course of the tournament to encourage better performances from the horses and great sport.

A busy clinician as well, Michel began the year designing at the revamped Desert International Equestrian Park before heading to Wellington and beyond.

“I have many favourite venues. Some are because of the levels of the riders and horses like Wellington, for example. Others include schedule, management, material, footing. But one of my all time-favourites is the Royal Winter Fair. That show, with the knowledgeable crowd and the quality of the international riders, is very special.”

Foreseeable Future

“My goal for 2020 is to keep producing courses that are safe and modern for all levels of the sport while maintaining good integrity and fair questions.”

Mission Possible

Looking down the road, he hopes, “that the sport does not become too far out of reach for the grass roots exhibitors. It is vital that we provide an opportunity for young riders to come up the ranks in order to insure a healthy future for our international teams.”