When Wrangler, an 11-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, bolted at a horse show in 2018, owner Anjanette Nicolazzo knew something was amiss. “I was baffled,” Nicolazzo said. “I had ridden him for eight months prior to this, and he had never done anything of the sort. I knew his bolting was a cry for help because it was so out of character for him.”

This article highlights the remarkable individuals who have played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing Canada’s equine industry. These trailblazers have not only elevated the country’s position in the global equestrian community but have also inspired and motivated future generations of riders and horse enthusiasts. The success of Canada’s horse industry is driven by a diverse group of passionate individuals who demonstrate exceptional skill, talent, and commitment. In this feature, we celebrate a select few of these influential figures who have helped propel Canada to the forefront of the international equestrian scene.

Beth Underhill is one of Canada’s best known show jumpers, having competed in over 25 Nations’ Cup competitions as well as multiple Olympic Games, Pan Am Games, and World Equestrian Games. I have distinct childhood memories of sitting in front of the TV cheering her on as she and the black Monopoly flew over the fences at Calgary, Alberta’s Spruce Meadows.

Born in Uxbridge, Ontario in 1983, Jessica Phoenix is a veteran Olympic, World Equestrian and Pan American Games competitor. She was named 2011 Equestrian of the Year by Equine Canada following a historic individual gold-medal finish at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. “Probably my most successful off-the-track Thoroughbred was Exponential,” she says. “I rode him at the World Equestrian Games in 2010 and the Summer Olympics in London in 2012. I’m trying to retire him because he’s 19 years old. But he’s such an incredible athlete that he prefers to be kept in some sort of work. He was seventh at Rolex at the Horse Fair in 2011 and he also went to Burghley (UK) and finished in the top 25.”