Terrance “Torchy” Millar’s 30-year riding career includes multiple appearances on Olympic, Pan Am, and Nations’ Cup teams, plus countless grand prix victories. When he stopped riding around the late 1980s, he became an active coach of such successful Olympic-level riders as Lisa Carlsen and Beth Underhill. Terrance’s success as a coach led him to become Canada’s chef d’équipe from 1994 to 2012, during which time Canada had some of its most successful team outings in decades.
Even though he’s retired from official duties, Terrance remains very active in the sport. He’s a perpetual student who attends all the major events, helping him to understand the technical questions and different material presented to riders. Because of his expertise and current knowledge, he continues to quietly help a lot of riders and trainers who go to him for advice.
His vision for the future includes seeing more young riders get into the jumper ring at an earlier age. “To that end, I would like to see our professionals support the pony jumpers more robustly. People routinely comment on the number of Irish riders making their mark in North America. That is easily explained: one only needs to go to the Dublin show and watch the pony jumpers and understand that quick reflexes and ‘natural’ instincts are developed at an early age. Furthermore, there are as many boys as girls participating together in the pony classes in Ireland. My experience is that sighting a boy in the pony hunters [here in Canada] qualifies as rare occurrence.”
Aside from coaching, Terrance has always had knack for matching horses to riders – he’s responsible for pairing Beth Underhill with Monopoly, among many others – and has been a big part of the development of the Lothlorien string of horses. Ariel Grange Somes credits Terrance with assisting her in sourcing some of their great horses. “Torchy has always been an amazing asset and friend, especially over the last two years. Torchy has lent an ear and given input on the VDL sale in Wellington where we have picked up great horses in the past. The biggest acquisition in the last few years was Legacy in 2018; Torchy, Daniel [Coyle] and I went to Holland on a specific hunt to try a few horses and Torchy was a great asset to talk through excitements, concerns, and ultimately our celebration in finding such a magnificent creature.”
Foreseeable Future
“My own personal goal is to purge my house and property of all the ‘stuff’ you think you will use or need sometime, and after years have passed, you realize that time is probably not going to happen.”
Memorable Moments
“One is winning the International Grand Prix at the RAWF in 1978 on the eight-year-old Eaden Vale. The other moment was the Beijing Olympics, where I was chef d’équipe and Canada jumped off with the USA for the gold medal.”
