Wall Of Fame

Ian D. Millar

MEMBER OF BRANCH OR BRANCHES: Ottawa Valley Hunt

REGION: St. Lawrence/Ottawa Valley

APPROXIMATE DATES OF MEMBERSHIP: 1962-1967

HIGHEST TESTING LEVEL ACHIEVED: A

IN WHAT DISCIPLINES DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN PONY CLUB:

A/B Rally, Show Jumping

ACHIEVEMENTS IN PONY CLUB IN ADULTHOOD:

• Conducted clinics
• Acted as a spokesperson for Pony Club

ACHIEVEMENTS AS A RIDER:

• Competed in 8 Olympic Games:
  • 1972 on Shoeman in Munich
  • 1976 on Countdown in Montreal
  • 1984 on Big Ben in Los Angeles
  • 1988 on Big Ben in Seoul
  • 1992 on Big Ben in Barcelona
  • 1996 on Play It Again in Atlanta
  • 2000 on Dorincord in Sydney
  • 2004 on Promise Me in Athens
  • 2008 on In Style in Hong Kong/Beijing (team silver medal)
  • Named to the Team in 1980. This was the year that Canada boycotted the Moscow Olympics, competing instead in the Alternate Olympics in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In this UNOFFICIAL competition (not recognized by the IOC), Canada won team Gold. Had it been recognized this would make Ian's Olympic appearances 9 and the medal his first.
• Competed in 8 Pan American Games:
  • 1979 on Brother Sam in San Juan (individual bronze medal and team silver medal)
  • 1983 on Foresight in Caracas (team silver medal)
  • 1987 on Big Ben in Indianapolis (individual gold medal and team gold medal)
  • 1991on Future Vision in Havana (team silver medal)
  • 1995 on Mistral in Mar del Plata
  • 1999 on Ivar in Winnipeg (individual gold medal and team bronze medal)
  • 2003 on Promise Me in Santo Domingo
  • 2007 on In Style in Rio de Janiero (team silver medal)
• Competed in 8 World Championships (formerly called World Equestrian Games):
  • 1978 on Brother Sam in Aachen
  • 1982 on Wunderbar in Dublin
  • 1986 on Big Ben in Aachen
  • 1994 on Future Vision in The Hague
  • 1998 on Mont Cenis in Rome
  • 2006 on In Style in Aachen
• Competed in 13 World Cup Finals:
  • 1980 on Brother Sam in Baltimore
  • 1984 on Wotan in Gothenberg
  • 1985 on Big Ben in Berlin
  • 1986 on Big Ben in Gothenberg (individual silver medal)
  • 1987 on Big Ben in Paris
  • 1988 on Big Ben in Gotenberg (individual gold medal)
  • 1989 on Big Ben in Tampa (individual gold medal - first horse/rider combination to score back to back victories)
  • 1990 on Czar in Dortmund
  • 1991 on Czar in Gothenberg
  • 1992 on Big Ben in Del Mar
  • 1993 on Future Vision in Gothenberg
  • 1997 on My Girl in Gothenberg
  • 2000 on Ivar in Las Vegas
• In 1988 and 1989, Ian was ranked as the #1 show jumper in the world.
• He has anchored many Nations Cup teams for Canada, placing first in Wellington, Fla and Spruce Meadows, AB in 2006, first in Wellington, Fla in 2007, and second in Lummen, Belguim and Spruce Meadows in 2008, all on In Style.
• Between 1983 and 2007, Ian won the Canadian National Show Jumping Championship 10 times, on 5 different horses; 3 times on Big Ben, twice each on In Style, El Futuro and Warrrior
• Received the Order of Canada in 1986
• Was named Canada's Male Athlete of the Year in 1989
• With his wonderful mount, Big Ben, was named to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. Ben is the only horse other than Northern Dancer so be so honoured

ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MAINSTREAM

• My business IS the horse business - competing, coaching, training and sales. Ottawa Valley Pony Club, under Colonel Arthur McKibbin, emphasized horse care and stable management. The central message strongly emphasized the respect that was always due to the horse.
• Millar Brooke has always been a family operation. Wife, Lynn, until her death, played a major role and now son, Jonathon and daughter, Amy compete in Grand Prix, coach and train. The dream is for three Millars to ride on Canada's Olympic team in London at the 2012 Games.

FAVOURITE MEMORIES YOU HAVE OF OF PONY CLUB

Under the leadership of Colonel Arthur McKibbin and ably assisted by Helen Chamberlain - my main memory of Pony Club is that perfect association with horses which we all love, and great friendships that were forged and remain to this day.