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Friday, February 21 2014 / Published in Weekly Feature

Eric Lamaze – Portrait of an Olympic Champion

Photo by SusanJStickle.com

Photo by SusanJStickle.com

By Jennifer Ward

A boy from Montreal saw his dreams come true at the 2008 Olympic Games. For Eric Lamaze, winning an individual gold medal was an accomplishment that came at the right time on the right horse, and propelled him to become the number one ranked rider in the world.

When Eric stood on the podium and the gold medal was placed around his neck, it was a moment that defined all that had come before, and all that was still to come. These three segments of Eric’s life – before, during and after the Beijing Olympics – could be fodder for a thrilling blockbuster trilogy straight from Hollywood. And it has been thought of; Eric has received more than 30 requests from production companies, both big and small, to bring his life story to the big screen, never mind countless offers from authors seeking to write his autobiography.

Eric’s gold medal was all the more astonishing considering how long he had to wait. Having first ridden for the Canadian Team in 1993, it would be another 15 years before Eric finally made his Olympic debut.

The Beginning

As a young boy growing up in Montreal, Eric didn’t come from an affluent background, instead relying on sheer talent to put him on horseback. A family friend owned a stable, and it was there that Eric first starting taking lessons at the age of 12. His natural ability was quickly recognized and he was soon riding and showing horses for owners and trainers in the junior jumper and junior hunter divisions. His first time showing at Toronto’s prestigious Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the final event of the Canadian show season which riders must qualify for, Eric claimed both the Junior Hunter and Junior Jumper Championship titles.

As a teenager, Eric worked for Roger Deslauriers and Jay Hayes and also spent time in the United States as a working student for George Morris.

Eric credits two Canadians with helping him make the successful transition from junior rider to young professional: Hugh Graham, the first person to send Eric to Europe to buy horses, and Tom Gayford, who gave him the ride on his first grand prix horse, Big Deal.

“Tom was the coach and chef d’equipe of the Canadian team at the time, so it was an honour that he believed in me,” said Eric, of the 1968 Olympic Team Gold Medalist. “Meanwhile, Hugh introduced me to Eddie Creed, who rented me space in his barn. It was an old polo barn that needed some work and I literally had $1,500 in my bank account, which was less than the rent. We struck a deal where I moved in and cleaned everything up in exchange for a few months of free rent.”

With 10 stalls rented from Eddie at his property just north of Toronto, Eric was in business. Operating under the name Torrey Pines Stable, Eric started buying

Thoroughbreds off the track and reselling them as hunter and jumper prospects.

When Eddie purchased Cagney for Eric, it opened the door to the international level of the sport. The pair would go on to represent Canada at the 1994 and 1998 World Equestrian Games and the 1995 and 1998 World Cup Finals, in addition to claiming two Canadian Show Jumping Championship titles at Spruce Meadows, where the Irish-bred horse was a fan favorite. To this day, Eric says, “I have rarely felt that kind of power in a horse.”

A string of top grand prix horses succeeded Cagney including Rio Grande, the prolific Hanoverian stallion he rode at the 1996 World Cup Finals and Mill Creek Raphael, his partner for the 2002 World Equestrian Games.

Then, along came Hickstead. While other top riders had passed on the small Dutch Warmblood stallion, Eric took a chance on the seven-year-old in partnership with John Fleischhacker of Ashland Stables. At the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Eric and Hickstead gave the world a glimpse of what was to come by producing jaw-dropping performances.

Team silver and individual bronze medals at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro were followed a month later by a win in the coveted $1 million CN International at the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament. “That is the grand prix that everyone tries to win and it just so happens to be in Canada,” said Eric. “It was such a magical day and the atmosphere was amazing. The crowd was ready to have a Canadian win that class. It was great that I could do it! Winning that class is something I will remember forever.”

Weeks after the biggest win of his career, Hickstead underwent colic surgery just before he was scheduled to depart for an indoor European tour. Luckily, the little horse rebounded with no complications and, by the 2008 Spruce Meadows summer tournaments, was back in top form, winning the $200,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix and the $200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. There was no doubt that Eric and Hickstead were ready for their Olympic debut.

Eric Lamaze and Hickstead captured Team Silver and Individual Gold Medals at the 2008 Olympic Games. Photo by Cealy Tetley

Eric Lamaze and Hickstead captured Team Silver and Individual Gold Medals at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Photo by Cealy Tetley

2008 Olympic Games

Before the individual accolades came the team competition. Tensions mounted for the Canadians on the second day when Mac Cone was forced to withdraw an injured Ole. With only a three-man team and no drop score, the odds were firmly against Canada to medal. However, the clear rounds just kept on coming and Canada found itself in a two-way jump-off for the gold medal against the United States. In the end, Canada settled for the team silver.

“I was confident with the team we had there,” said Eric, of Canada’s chances. “Everyone was capable of doing the job, but to do it with three riders was unbelievable! We put in three solid rounds and to find ourselves in a jump-off for the gold medal was amazing. For us, it was meant to be. You can’t kid yourself and say that you just need a lucky day to win a medal. You have to have all of the elements already there and then you need to have luck on top of it.”

With the team competition behind him, Eric focused on what would prove to be a dramatic individual final. Held at night under the lights in a huge stadium, Eric and Hickstead jumped two rounds fault-free to force a jump-off with the only other rider to equal his performance, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson riding Ninja. Tensions were running high as rain began to fall, signalling the impending typhoon that would soon shut down the city. First to challenge the jump-off track, Rolf-Goran was clear until he toppled the final fence, the imposing Chinese wall. Incredibly, Eric stopped the clock in the exact same time as Rolf-Goran, but left every brick in place over the final obstacle to claim the individual gold medal. For a rider who had fantasized about competing at the Olympic Games his entire career, it was a dream come true.

“You can win at Spruce Meadows or in Aachen and it is a great thing to have on your resume, but when you win the gold medal, it is an honor that you cherish and carry with you forever,” said Eric.  “The impact of winning the gold medal is huge, especially for our sport in Canada. It is really amazing!”

After the Olympics

For the next three seasons, Eric and Hickstead were fan favorites at every show they entered. An individual bronze for Eric and the ‘Best Horse’ title for Hickstead, who jumped clear for all of his riders in the ‘Final Four’ at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, were their next major games achievement. With grand prix wins at such prestigious venues as Geneva, Aachen, La Baule and Rome, Eric spent the better part of three years at or near number one in the World Rankings. A sponsorship deal with Rolex was a natural fit for the charismatic Canadian.

On September 11, 2011, in front of 89,632 fans, Eric and Hickstead won the $1 million CN International for the second time in their career at the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament, bringing Hickstead’s career earnings to $3.65 million. It would prove fitting that their final win would be at home in Canada.

At the height of their success came the biggest fall. As the pair casually walked out of the arena after jumping the World Cup Grand Prix in Verona, Italy, Hickstead suddenly collapsed and died from an aortic rupture. In a moment, Eric’s life was changed forever. The international show jumping community was stunned and the outpouring of grief both in Canada and around the world offered overwhelming proof of Hickstead’s stature in the sport and the incredible number of hearts he had captured on his way to superstardom.

With Hickstead, Eric Lamaze enjoyed major grand prix victories around the world. Photo by Cealy Tetley

With Hickstead, Eric Lamaze enjoyed major grand prix victories around the world.
Photo by Cealy Tetley

Today

In the shadow of Hickstead’s death, Eric questioned whether he would, or even could, keep going in the sport. Supporters gathered round, ensuring that he had a mount to defend his title at the 2012 London Olympics, with the Fleischhacker’s Derly Chin de Muze ultimately becoming his partner.  After nine months of pushing forward, Eric stepped out of the spotlight in the fall of 2012 to absorb the loss of Hickstead, and to focus on rebuilding for the future.

Thanks to his sponsors Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms, Eric now has a new string of top horses, led by Powerplay, Quelmec du Gery and the newly acquired Zigali P S. As the 2014 season dawns, Eric will compete throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida before returning to Europe, where he has been based in Belgium for the better part of eight years.

“We would normally give the horses a break in Florida, but this year we’ve planned our schedule differently to keep the horses going,” said Eric. “There is more prize money than ever, more world ranking points available than ever, and, with the new Rolex sponsorship, Florida has become a much more serious show. We’re hoping to have a super competitive season.”

Eric will spend the 12 weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival developing his horsepower. “I’ll spend some time getting to know Zigali,” said Eric, of the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding acquired by Artisan Farms in November. “He’s a horse that I love. He’s super, and I think he’s a winner. Fast, careful and easy to ride. He has all the qualities that everyone looks for in a horse these days. He’s the whole package. I put him in the same league as Powerplay.”

For Powerplay, Eric has the Alltech World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy firmly in his sights. “Powerplay is extremely scopey; he’s a horse that has more scope than you need. He’s very careful, but also laid-back and super cool. He doesn’t change from home to the show. He loves showing, he loves jumping and he delivers.

“With those two plus Quelmec du Gery, I think I have a good top string,” Eric continued. “Then, we have four new young ones that are really good, so I’ll be getting to know them more and determine where they all fit in.”

In addition to training and riding his own horses, Eric also coaches several students including his London Olympic teammate, Tiffany Foster, who also rides for Artisan Farms and Andy Ziegler and his daughter, Caitlin. New to Eric’s program is 17-year-old Mackenzie Edwards of Canada, who is competing in the junior divisions during her first circuit in Wellington.

It’s not all horses, all the time, for Eric, however. A natural athlete, the 45-year-old is an avid golfer and also spends time away from the show circuit by hitting the slopes, preferably in Courchevel, France. Home renovations are another passion. He remodels and sells two or three houses each season in Wellington.

“I spend a lot of time with my friends,” said Eric, of balancing his personal life with being one of the top-ranked riders in the world. “For me, I have to find some enjoyment in life and not just spend 24 hours a day with the horses. We do work hard, but then you need a break from it as well.”

With an Olympic gold medal already to his credit, Eric can take all the breaks he needs.

Eric Lamaze and his current top mount, Powerplay, owned by Artisan Farms LLC. Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services

Eric Lamaze and his current top mount, Powerplay, owned by Artisan Farms LLC.
Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services

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Tagged under: eric lamaze, hickstead, March Cover, olympic sidelines, olympic-show-jumping, Powerplay, Sidelines Cover Stor, sidelines-magazine, spruce-meadows

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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