In addition to capping off the season as champion of the Western Talent Squad Final, Jim Ifko’s business saw a change of scenery with the relocation of his base of operations to Bar None Ranches, a breeding, training and rehabilitation facility in Dewinton, AB, which offers among other amenities a water treadmill and hyperbaric oxygen chamber for horses.
Jim got his introduction to horses on his family’s farm, which eventually developed into Paramount Equestrian Centre. His sister, Cecilia, was the first to ride and compete, but he and his brother Joe shortly followed in her footsteps. Jim took his first lesson at 13 and never looked back. “The farm was my father’s vision, which provided us the opportunity to share in his passion for horses,” explains Jim of his father, Joe Sr.’s, imprint on his early development as a rider. “His enthusiasm for horses and the sport of show jumping has been the cornerstone of my riding career and it is my parents who have been my greatest influence. They taught me about hard work, discipline, and instilled in me the desire to succeed. It is because of my parents I became a highly-competitive rider.”
At the beginning of his career, Jim struggled with the high expectations he placed on himself and his mounts, losing sight of the enjoyment of creating a partnership with the horse. “As a young rider, I defined my success as my ability to achieve results – whether in terms of placings, ribbons, or fastest times. My determination was great, but so was the level of stress and pressure I placed on myself. This had a really negative impact on my horses, who I coaxed to compete at a level that matched my high expectations.” With often unrealistic expectations and driven by his competitive nature, competitions became high-pressure and high-stress ordeals, often resulting in a lose-lose situation for Jim and his horses.