18 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Canadian Rider Chris Pratt, eh?
By Holly Hugo-Vidal
Five goats for a pony. That’s the trade Canadian rider Chris
Pratt’s parents made so Chris could start his riding career.
The trade was certainly worth it. Now, Chris has many riding
accomplishments – from representing Canada at the 2006 World
Equestrian Games to competing in the Nations Cup.
Sidelines
caught up with this talented rider and asked him a few questions.
Here is what he had to say:
Did you have a trainer growing up?
We kept the pony at home and had a local trainer, Raymond
Rioux, come to the house to help me and we went to some small
shows. He wasn’t a show trainer at the time, but he really liked
teaching and he and I learned together what it was all about, as
my parents weren’t really involved with the showing.
Were you immediately successful?
No. After the pony, I mostly did the jumpers and some equitation,
which I was ok at. Later, I had a hunter that I could do everything
with, including jumpers and medals. I also had a junior jumper that
I showed as well and went to the NAYR.
What was your first job?
I always boarded horses at our farm in Stouffville when I was
younger to offset the cost of my ponies. But, when I was 18, I
worked for Mac Cone for three years.
When did you come to the U.S.?
When I was 21 I moved to Tennessee and worked for Otis
(Brownie) Brown at Brass Lantern Farm for three years. I really
learned a lot during that time. We went to Wellington, Florida and
other top-level shows.
When you were working for Brownie did you show hunters as
well as jumpers?
I rode several young hunters to qualify them for the Hunter
Futurity Finals. He was very demanding but taught me a lot, and
I polished a lot of brass! He and I have remained good friends to
this day.
What would you consider personal career highlights?
Moving from Toronto to California and leaving everything behind
(except for a few tack trunks) to start a business of my own and
to be at the top of the game in a short amount of time, represents
a good accomplishment to me! When I moved here, I worked for
Richard Spooner. I have the utmost respect for him as a rider and
trainer. He helped get my name out when I moved to California.
Getting international horses to ride in a short period of time also
was an accomplishment for me as well. I’m quite proud of that.
You are such a beautiful hunter rider. Why don’t you show
more hunters?
I do love a top hunter! I prefer the nonpolitical aspect of the
jumpers. To me, it’s more of a sport and less of a game. I did enjoy
doing the derbies on a nice hunter I had last year; I must admit
that was a lot of fun. But, I’d rather focus on the jumpers – my
Chris Pratt
Photo by Can-Sport
Chris and G5 enjoy a victory gallop.
Photo by Can-Sport
