The Canadian rider, who is originally from Belfountain, ON, had already established himself as a successful professional in Canada, and was a member of the show jumping team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. But he made the decision in 2007 to branch out and operate south of the border. Initially working and training with Richard Spooner, he enjoyed many competitive successes, most notably qualifying for the 2008 World Cup final in Goteborg, Sweden – a trip he did not get to make when his horse was injured.

Opening his Epic Stables in Valencia, CA, in September of 2008 and essentially starting from scratch was a leap of faith for Chris, but the gamble has paid off. “It was a good business move for me,” he says. “I had to take a few steps back in order to take some bigger steps forward, and now my business in California is bigger and better than ever.”

Chris is currently sitting on a string of promising grand prix prospects (including G5, pictured), and has an international- calibre horse in Cruise, an 11-yearold Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Indigo Farms LLC. The pair were recently chosen to ride on the Canadian Show Jumping Team during the Spanish Tour, kicking off August 31st in Gijon, Spain.

Chris’s first mentors in the industry were those who inspired his involvement with horses in the very beginning. A visit to the Royal Winter Fair as a ten-year-old allowed him to witness the legends of Canadian show jumping: Jimmy Elder, Jim Day, Tom Gayford, Torchy Millar. In that instant he was hooked. The trade of a family goat netted Chris his first pony, and he quickly worked his way through the pony, hunter, and equitation divisions.

At the age of 18, Chris began working for other professionals. He credits three accomplished trainers as the most influential figures in his career – those that taught him as a rider, as a businessman, and as a detail-orientated horseman.

“Mac Cone was my first real mentor,” he says. “He taught me a tremendous amount about riding, and the basics that you need on the flat with both the hunters and the jumpers. He is a very good rider, and I benefitted greatly from his expertise. It really shaped me, especially as it was at a fairly young age. I learned a lot from him.”

On the business side of things, Chris’s time spent with Mike Grinyer taught him the business aspects of buying and selling horses. “We sold a lot of horses and he had a really successful sales business. I learned a lot from Mike about how to create a client base, and also market, produce, and sell horses.”

Chris’s introduction to the American markets came during the three years spent in Nashville, Tennessee, with prolific hunter trainer, Otis “Brownie” Brown at his Brass Lantern Farm. It was here he learned the attention to detail necessary to run a top barn. “Brownie had the cleanest, the neatest, and the most organized stable you could ever imagine. I’ve never polished so much brass in my life! Brownie knew how to put on a show.”

Always willing to become a mentor to the next generation, Chris only asks that his working students and assistants be open-minded and prepared to work hard. “I’m always open to people that want to succeed in the business, though it’s often hard to find young professionals who want to work hard enough,” he explains. “When I first started with Mac Cone, I spent half the day cleaning stalls and the other half working with the horses. You never get to be just a rider.”

The influence of the three horsemen who so shaped Chris’s career is evident in his ability to stay current, grow with the sport, and most importantly, to never stop learning. “The sport is always changing. What worked ten years ago isn’t going to work now, and what’s working now isn’t going to work ten years from now. You have to think about being ahead of the curve, projecting your goals forward, and always be willing to learn. I don’t think you ever know everything. Try to learn something from every professional that’s successful, and try to learn something from every horse that you ride.”