Horsies – Two days at Spruce Meadows covering the ‘National’

Mexico’s Nicolas Pizarro Suarez, atop Crossing Jordan, competes in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.

The ‘National’ show jumping tournament took place at Spruce Meadows this past weekend. The annual competition opens the Spruce Meadows Summer Series and attracts competitors, both human and equine, from around the world.

The summer culminates with the prestigious ‘Masters’ tournament in September.

Last year, during a brief conversation, a visiting official with the European Equestrian Federation (EFF) explained the significance of Spruce Meadows to me, and in particular the ‘Masters’, by comparing it to Grand Slam tennis.

The international events at Spruce Meadows hold a similar importance on the show jumping calender that Wimbledon and the US Open do in the tennis season, according to him.

He went on to explain that he had been with the federation for a while, but had never made it to Calgary before last year – he had been aspiring for this visit for a long time.

Conversely, the sense of ‘not knowing how good we’ve got it here’ lingers – though there are those who get it, and attend the tournaments at Spruce Meadows regularly. The weekends of the 4 to 5 day long tournaments are always very well attended.

This is world class competition taking place at a grand venue, and that sometimes seems lost on some people in Calgary and area.

Spruce Meadows would do well to average the same numbers that a regular season Calgary Flames NHL hockey game gets. And as anyone who has followed the Flames in the last few years can attest to, it would be pushing it to describe those games as world class – I’m sorry to say.

I only made it to Spruce Meadows twice last week – once for preparations on Tuesday and once for competition on Saturday.

There are worse places to spend an afternoon working – so long as care is taken and you stay out of the way of the athletes, who on average weigh half a tonne.

(Scroll down to view more photos)

Horses are led to and from the Chinook sand practice ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, June 4, 2013. The ‘National’ competition started Wednesday and ran to Sunday.
USA’s Ashlee Bond, atop Wistful, competes in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
Horses are led to and from the Chinook sand practice ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, June 4, 2013. The ‘National’ competition started Wednesday and ran to Sunday.
American Kent Farrington takes first place, atop Uceko, in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
A horse is led to the stables at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, June 4, 2013. The ‘National’ competition started Wednesday and ran to Sunday.
American Reed Kessler, takes second place, atop Cylana, in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
A worker helps prepare the International Ring for the ‘National’ at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, June 4, 2013. The ‘National’ competition started Wednesday and ran to Sunday.
Clouds blow over during the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
Matt Kuechler, of Cremona, prepares a horse shoe at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, June 4, 2013. The ‘National’ competition started Wednesday and ran to Sunday.
A horse receives soapy sponge bath at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, June 4, 2013. The ‘National’ competition started Wednesday and ran to Sunday.
American Kent Farrington takes first place, atop Uceko, in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
USA’s Rich Fellers, atop Flexible, competes in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
American Kent Farrington is all smiles after taking first place, atop Uceko, in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
USA’s Christine McCrea, atop Romantovich Take One, competes in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
Canada’s Eric Lamaze practices in one of the practice rings at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Tuesday, June 4, 2013. The ‘National’ competition started Wednesday and ran to Sunday.
Canada’s Ian Millar, atop Star Power, competes in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
Members of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse regiment at the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
USA’s Lauren Tisbo, atop King Kolibri, competes in the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the ‘National’ in the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.
A possible future competitor tests out the ground in the International Ring during a break in the action at the CN Reliability Grand Prix World Cup Qualifier during the  ‘National’ at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta Saturday, June 8, 2013.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *