124 SIDELINESMAY 2014
FORHORSEPEOPLE • ABOUTHORSEPEOPLE
Additionally, good visual skills are critical because the jumps are
designed tobedifficult to see. Becauseof todays rigorous sched-
ule and very strict medication rules horsesmust also be very du-
rable and sound. “Not many Grand Prix classes are won with a
double clear round any more,” Ian said. “Speed in the jump-offs
determines the results. Even the basic time alloweds are so fast
that if a horse can’t effortlessly gallop and jump at that speed,
clean rounds becomedifficult toachieve.”
The best example of such a horse was Big Ben, the Belgian
Warmbloodgelding Ian rode from1984 to1994.Becausehestood
17.2hands, it didn’t look likehecouldbe fast andagileenough for
indoor competitions. Ashis career continued, heendeduphaving
just asmuch success in small indoor facilities as in the large out-
door venues of theworld. Ian found that BigBen could learn how
to do things that didn’t come naturally to him. He said, “Because
of BigBen’smind and ability to adapt, he’s a horse of the ages. I
believe hewould’ve been successful today.”
During Big Ben’s career, he survived two colic surgeries and a
highway accident where his horse van overturned after a head-
on collision with a car. Just two weeks later, Big Ben won three
out of threeat theprestigiousSpruceMeadows national competi-
tion. This included the Saturday Grand Prix and his sixth Spruce
MeadowsDerbywin onSunday. BigBenwas retired to Ian’sMil-
lar Brooke Farm and died in December 1999. He’s buried on a
knoll overlooking the farm.
Whenaskedagainhow long Ianwill continue to competeat the
top level, this time he said there are three clear factors that will
determine when he retires. Heading the list is good horses. He
explained that it simply isn’t satisfying to compete unless he has
horses that are as good as those he is competing against. The
second factor is absence of injury and continued good health to
be able to competeat the top level. Third: As long as it stays fun.
Askedabout his futureplansand if retirement ison thehorizon,
his enthusiasmwas evident as heanswered, “I’m looking for sure
at this next cycle. I’m looking at theWorldEquestrianGames this
year and the Pan AmGames in Toronto in 2015. I’d very much
like to be a part of that. I’d like to do the 2016Olympics and then
I’ll take a long look at it.”
His response echoed his answer in the interview 25 years ago.
Wewish youmanymore years of competing, Ian. Have fun!
About the writer: Doris Degner-Foster rides with Harvard Fox Hounds in Okla-
homawhenshe isnot interviewing interesting individuals in thehorsesport. Shealso
enjoyswriting fiction and isworking on amiddle-grade book series about teenagers
who ride horses and solvemysteries. Look for Doris’ blog “Notes From theField” on
the
Sidelines
Magazinewebsite.
Ian, whosenickname isCaptainCanada, compet-
ingBaranus at the 2014FTIWinter EquestrianFestival.
Photoby JackMancini,
