42 SIDELINES JUNE 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Spruce Meadows Is Simply Sublime
By Marissa L. Quigley
If you ask anyone in show jumpingwhat comes tomindwhen they
think of the best of the best in North American show jumping, most
will tell you it’s Spruce Meadows. Even Jon Garner, Competitions
Manager, who has been working at Spruce Meadows since 1998,
still says that the place is magical, unbelievable and something
you have to experience for yourself. The North American Riders
Group (NARG) seems to agree. For the past three years, NARG
has ranked Spruce Meadows as the number one show facility in
North America.
This consistent success in the NARG rankings, however, isn’t
just the work of magic. Jon Garner and his team work tirelessly
year-round to make sure that every ring at Spruce Meadows is
picture perfect. He says that his goal is to make sure that “the
amateur or junior competing in the 1.10m ring has the same
experience as McLain Ward when he rides into the International
Ring.”
The competition at Spruce Meadows, located in Calgary,
Alberta, Canada, is not for the faint of heart. The fences are big,
the courses challenging, the pace fast, and the rings set on an
expanse of natural grass. At Spruce Meadows, show jumping is
what it is meant to be – sport and entertainment. So the course
designers work to create a course that is challenging, accurate
and safe. The crowds of 40,000 fans don’t want to see 30 clear
rounds out of 40, nor do they want to see horses unable to fnish.
These standards aren’t likely to wane anytime soon. Jon
believes trying to accommodate everyone, “in the end, doesn’t
really help the rider who is struggling.” Rather, Jon wants
competitors to leave Spruce Meadows “feeling as though they’ve
improved.” He says, “If you have success here, you’ll walk away
feeling as though you’ve earned it. You won at Spruce Meadows,
well done you.”
Jon knows that organizing a showjumping competition is not
a guarantee and riders “don’t have to come.” He even admits
to a “pang in his stomach” before each show season, and the
thought, “What if no one comes?” So, for Jon and the Spruce
Meadows team, receiving an award from NARG, a group of
riders, is particularly meaningful, and something of which they are
“incredibly proud.”
Given their mantra of never settling for less than perfection,
there is no resting on laurels for the award-winning competition
staff. Upon receiving feedback from NARG, the Spruce Meadows
team doesn’t just celebrate; they look to see where they can
improve and what needs work. Spruce Meadows is constantly
innovating and improving – as evidenced by the new grandstand
that even now is under construction in the International Ring.
This attitude dovetails seamlessly with the goals of NARG.
Chris Kappler, Olympic team gold and individual silver medal
winner and President of NARG, says that NARG’s goal is to
improve the level of sport in North America. Through raising our
standards, Chris believes “we will make our riders better and our
horses better.” As for Spruce Meadows, Chris says that the show
is always innovating, and the television crews, big grass rings, and
awards ceremonies really make show jumping feel like a sport.
Jon told Sidelines to keep an ear out for an exciting
announcement at the World Cup Finals this month, which Spruce
Meadows will host June 13th through 16th. Seems there is always
something exciting happening in Calgary!
NARG describes Spruce Meadows, their number one rated
show, as “simply sublime.” Learn more about NARG and their Top
25 of 2012 at narg.org. To learn more about Spruce Meadows,
visit sprucemeadows.com.
Photos by Spruce Meadows Media
About the writer: Marissa L. Quigley has been a fan of all things horses since
before she could walk, and competes in the adult amateur hunters. Marissa and her
horse, Tucker, live in New Jersey and take very good care of each other. For more
on this story, visit them on the Sidelines website at http://sidelinesnews.com/blogs/
tuckerthewunderkind/.
An aerial view of the International Ring during the “Masters”
tournament.
The Spruce Meadows riding hall, home to the “Family of the Horse.”