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Canada’s Top 50 Influencers in Equestrian Sport 2020: Team Millar

The powerhouse called Team Millar is a formidable group that campaigns a string of talent, riding their own and clients’ horses.

Jonathon, Ian and Amy Millar. (Starting Gate Communications)

By: Horse Sport staff | May 7, 2020

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you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. canada’s top 50 influencers in equestrian sport 2020: team millar by: horse sport staff. the perth, on powerhouse called team millar, based at millar brooke farm, is a formidable group led by 72-year-old ten-time olympian ian millar, along with his daughter amy, son jonathon, and daughter-in-law kelly soleau-millar. team millar, also referred to as ‘the first family of show jumping’ was behind 19-year-old rayne dubois when she scored a victory in the running fox cet medal national final at the 2019 royal horse show. other current top students include karen sparks, who has been training with the millars for 20 years, and whose mother, ann matthews, has been a long-time supporter. ottawa’s charlotte mclaughlin is a successful young rider under their wing, and rachel wilks from the us came to the millars as a eventer to hone her stadium jumping skills, “and through jonathon’s coaching we converted her and she’s now a jumper rider!” says ian proudly. the team campaigns a string of talent, riding their own and clients’ horses. this winter jonathon, a veteran of world equestrian games and multiple nations cup appearances, is currently guiding daveau, meadow vale cruise, frascati, blossom z, ugano, valinski s, and alter ego in florida. his wife, kelly has been showing favoriet u with great success, while amy is piloting ericson and truman. advertisement scroll to continue with content ian millar may have retired from international team competition in 2019, but if you think that means he is slowing down, you would be mistaken. he is now refocusing his energies on coaching upcoming athletes and developing young horses, including a promising new mount of his own, christiano. an exciting new initiative that ian has been involved in is equestrian canada’s rookie riders program, which gives kids an introduction to horseback riding. he has also been involved in reworking ec’s long-overdue coaching certification program which is being phased in this year, offering advice on the fundamentals needed to properly coach riders and train horses. another program he is behind is ontario equestrian’s grit (great rider intensive training) along with ruth allum, christilot boylen, chris sorensen and rob stevenson. grit is targeted at developing podium-bound athletes whose goal is to represent ontario in one of ec’s national team programs. foreseeable future. “i’m still very, very focused on riding – not only christiano, but also younger horses from our breeding operation, while also assisting our students with their horses,” says ian. “one of my greatest worries for the sport is that young people who have the dream of being around a horse and riding a horse will be priced out. i’m reminded every year when i come down to ‘welly world’; i think ‘if i was a kid today, i don’t know how i would ever get going.’ the number of young guys and girls that i’ve trained and helped along during the years, who are now in their 20s, 30s, 40s, their dream was to be on the olympic and international stage. they really were optimistic that it could happen and would happen. now it’s not impossible, but it’s tough.”. memorable moments. “to highlight one risks taking away from all the rest, because it’s such a blend of remarkable things that have happened throughout my career. the vast majority have been very, very rewarding and great experiences. in the latter part of 2019, regarding my statement to step back from nations cups and games, the recognition that i received from many people in the sport was really rewarding and very humbling. there have been so many moments; overall, the journey – and especially the journey with my family and friends and all our students.”. &&>

The Perth, ON powerhouse called Team Millar, based at Millar Brooke Farm, is a formidable group led by 72-year-old ten-time Olympian Ian Millar, along with his daughter Amy, son Jonathon, and daughter-in-law Kelly Soleau-Millar.

Team Millar, also referred to as ‘the first family of show jumping’ was behind 19-year-old Rayne Dubois when she scored a victory in the Running Fox CET Medal National Final at the 2019 Royal Horse Show. Other current top students include Karen Sparks, who has been training with the Millars for 20 years, and whose mother, Ann Matthews, has been a long-time supporter. Ottawa’s Charlotte McLaughlin is a successful young rider under their wing, and Rachel Wilks from the US came to the Millars as a eventer to hone her stadium jumping skills, “and through Jonathon’s coaching we converted her and she’s now a jumper rider!” says Ian proudly.

The team campaigns a string of talent, riding their own and clients’ horses. This winter Jonathon, a veteran of World Equestrian Games and multiple Nations Cup appearances, is currently guiding Daveau, Meadow Vale Cruise, Frascati, Blossom Z, Ugano, Valinski S, and Alter Ego in Florida. His wife, Kelly has been showing Favoriet U with great success, while Amy is piloting Ericson and Truman.

Scroll to continue with content

Ian Millar may have retired from international team competition in 2019, but if you think that means he is slowing down, you would be mistaken. He is now refocusing his energies on coaching upcoming athletes and developing young horses, including a promising new mount of his own, Christiano.

An exciting new initiative that Ian has been involved in is Equestrian Canada’s Rookie Riders program, which gives kids an introduction to horseback riding. He has also been involved in reworking EC’s long-overdue Coaching Certification Program which is being phased in this year, offering advice on the fundamentals needed to properly coach riders and train horses. Another program he is behind is Ontario Equestrian’s GRIT (Great Rider Intensive Training) along with Ruth Allum, Christilot Boylen, Chris Sorensen and Rob Stevenson. GRIT is targeted at developing podium-bound athletes whose goal is to represent Ontario in one of EC’s National Team programs.

Foreseeable Future

“I’m still very, very focused on riding – not only Christiano, but also younger horses from our breeding operation, while also assisting our students with their horses,” says Ian.

“One of my greatest worries for the sport is that young people who have the dream of being around a horse and riding a horse will be priced out. I’m reminded every year when I come down to ‘Welly World’; I think ‘if I was a kid today, I don’t know how I would ever get going.’ The number of young guys and girls that I’ve trained and helped along during the years, who are now in their 20s, 30s, 40s, their dream was to be on the Olympic and international stage. They really were optimistic that it could happen and would happen. Now it’s not impossible, but it’s tough.”

Memorable Moments

“To highlight one risks taking away from all the rest, because it’s such a blend of remarkable things that have happened throughout my career. The vast majority have been very, very rewarding and great experiences. In the latter part of 2019, regarding my statement to step back from Nations Cups and Games, the recognition that I received from many people in the sport was really rewarding and very humbling. There have been so many moments; overall, the journey – and especially the journey with my family and friends and all our students.”