“The country has come to the city” since 1922, making 2020 the 98th Royal Horse Show and Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Held each November at the Coliseum on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds in Toronto, “The Royal” is on every Ontario equestrian’s calendar, and many of those from other provinces as well. “It remains the largest indoor agricultural and equine fair in the world where many others have folded,” says Willa Gauthier, Royal board member and chair of the Horse Show. “The Royal has thrived, I believe in part because we have stayed true to our roots.”
A vast network of top industry professionals volunteer countless hours on various committees to ensure the show’s continued success. This direct association with the many facets of the equestrian industry – from harness to breeds to sport and beyond – is what keeps The Royal connected to the heart of the horse world. And it is that connection that fuels thousands of competitors to compete throughout the summer to be among the few invited to this most prestigious event, supporting many businesses along the way.
Aside from driving a large part of Canada’s hunters and jumpers, The Royal’s influence is recognized internationally and draws top athletes from around the world. Watching the world’s best compete inspires both local equestrians, but also showcases equestrian sport to a large downtown Toronto audience that might not otherwise see a horse and rider compete. This audience is treated to nearly 1,000 competitors who converge on the venue for 10 days, from the show jumpers who compete for the $125,000 Henry Equestrian Canadian Show Jumping Championship, $85,000 Big Ben Classic or the final Saturday’s $210,000 Longines FEI World Cup, to a full array of hunters, harness horses, ponies and more. Indoor eventing, a dressage exhibition, featured equestrian performers and a rodeo round out the experience in the Coca Cola Coliseum.
Foreseeable Future
“Plans for 2020 are already well in-hand following in-depth reviews/recommendations of this year’s show in conjunction with building on The Royal’s strategic plan leading to the 100th anniversary in 2022,” explains Willa. “It is important to stay abreast of industry trends and our Royal schedule needs to reflect that. To that end, we will be reducing the age for the pony jumpers to 16 and introducing a new 1.30 jumper division in 2020. These changes are part of a longer-term plan to assist our athletes with their pathway to international competition.”
Mission Possible
“It would be my hope to see the RAWF in its current home bigger and better than ever with [mini horse] Lil’ Ben still riding the rails,” says Willa. “The Royal is an iconic piece of Toronto history that has survived the challenges of urban growth and changing lifestyle realities. I see an expansion of our brand in a new agri-business economy and showcasing an even broader selection of products and services. I believe that our educational outreach program will attract a new generation of Royal attendees. In a perfect world, I would love to see the Nations’ Cup return to our schedule. Having the EC annual convention in conjunction with The Royal was excellent and I would like to see this trend continue and even expand to other elements of the industry.”
