Spruce Meadows

[Maci]

Does anyone watch the competitions held at Spruce Meadows for show jumping? Anyone who doesn't know, Spruce Meadows is an international show jumping ring, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It holds alot of s.j. events teams from all over the world (Britain, Brasil, etc.) come to compete.

http://www.sprucemeadows.com

Awaiting Another Show Jumping Season To Begin At SM!
Maci :)

[laurel]

I think ive seen a show on the telly there. A while ago though. Its that really gorgeous Green place. OK, that sounds dumb! Well if its what i think it is its cool.

[Maci]

I haven't been there personally, but hope to go with my aunt either this show jumping season or next. But from what I see on TV, in magazines, and in the newspaper, the actual show jumping ring is a HUGE green "field", with LOTS of bleachers and even just plain grass to sit on. It's kind of like a soccer/football stadium. And there's lots of buildings around it, and a few paddocks, stables, and warm up rings.

I'd Love To Go Someday!
Maci :)

[Gracie]

I love watching the show jumping competions on TV! I even tape them if I'am not home! Last year Beth Underhill wasn't at a lot of the shows! I hope she comes this year, she's my favourite!
Any how GO CANADA GO! For the 2001 show season!!LOL Beth anyways!!LOL!

[Maci]

Ian Millar is my favourite, and my favourite show jumping horse will always be the famous Big Ben!

Maci :)

[Lizabelle]

I love Spruce Meadows!
I try to always watch show jumping on tv and from what I've seen, Spruce Meadows is the prettiest. I'm so glad its Canadian. I have relatives in Calgary and I was trying to persuade Mum to go visit them this summer and take a side trip out there. She wasn't taking it though. I love Big Ben too. It was so sad when he died. His groom does some private lessons at my barn.
Bye for now, Elizabeth

[Maci]

Seriously? That's cool! Yah, I'm going to try to pursuade my aunt, who also LOVES horses, to go with me to a Spruce Meadows competition, hopefully this summer.....for now, God bless TV!

Maci :)

[Lizabelle]

You're lucky to have relative that likes horses. My family knows nothing and are not interested to learn. The closest we have ever come to anything vaguely horse-like (other than me) was when my brother dated someone who did some higher level dressage. However, my best friend is horse crazy so its not like I've no-one to talk to. And I love reading the message board!! :D

[LadyLimerik]

I've seen some Spruce Meadows shows on tv. The only big horse show I ever really got to go see was The Hampton Classic. My favorite show jumper is Mclain Ward. He always seems so gutsy but in control all the time.

[horsy]

My favourite showjumper is John Whittaker, but thats only coz hes a Brit! :D I used to watch Spruce Meadows showjumping all the time, but because im in the UK i could only get it on a channel called Eurosport GB on Sky digital, but we havent got digital anymore, and im really missing it :( But it does look like an absolutely GORGEUS place, and i would love to go, but its a bit far for me!:)
horsy
xxx

[Maci]

That sounds so cool! You're lucky! Yes, Ian Millar and Big Ben were my favourite horse and rider partnership! I like watching all the events on TV, but that's cool how you get to watch them in person! Spruce Meadows sounds like fun!

Maci :)

[horsiegurl]

Hey, I love watching show jumping from spruce meadows! I have the whole 1999 and 2000 season on tape. (or at least the part of it that they showed where I live) I love Altair and Beth Underhill best:D (the reason they were out last year was an injury to altair) anyway, I'm new to this message board, so please bear with me if I mess anything up:eek: fell free to email me if u share the same interests or whatever and want someone to talk with. :)

PS what do people think of spruce meadows saying that eric lamaze is not welcome there because of his drug use? I would love to hear people's opinions...

[Maci]

As much as he was a good jumper, I support SM's decision! Until he can clean up his act, why should he be rewarded by attending international shows in Canada? I think if he was allowed to still showjump at SM, it would make a mockery of Canada, Spruce Meadows, and Canada's equestrian team.

Just My Thoughts!
Maci :)

[horsiegurl]

I have to agree. Earlier I was posting on a different message board on the same subject, and the response was overwhelmingly different. Everyone seemed to think that just because eric had been unfairly banned from competition at first, that gave him the right to get away with what he did. Although eric is a great horseman, that shouldn't give him the right to use drugs. I mean, think of the poor horse. There are other sides to the story, and I can see why people would be against the decision, but I personally think Spruce Meadows did the right thing.

[horsiegurl]

Yup, I think we are talking about the same thing:) For those of you who are unsure, here goes:

In 1996, just before the olympics, Eric Lamaze was kicked out for drug use. Because it was his first offense, he was later allowed to compete again. In 2000, he again tested positive, but this time for drugs in a diet supplement. The supplement was incorrectly labled, so he was reinstated, but by this time he had once again used cocaine, because he was "suicidal" (according to him.) he later changed his story and said he hadn't realized he was smoking cocaine. Although he was legally reinstated, SM is against this decision, and sayd that he isn't welcome there. Now there are many people who are angry at SM for their decision.

As for altair, you probably did see him, cuz he is finally back this year. Although he is fully recovered, he is a bit out of practice, and had some problems. I'm sure he'll be better by the end of the season though:D

[JumperGirl]

I went to spruce meadows this year while I was visiting my aunt in alberta, i live in ontario.

It is BEAUTIFUL!

I wasnt there during a competition, but the week before one, and I saw ppl exersizing their horses, and while I was there like all the horses were being hand grazed by grromms, so I saw TONS of lovely horses.

It is SOOOO green there, the international ring looks HUGE with no jumps in it, I also saw all of the extra pole ofr jumps, there were zillions! I saw some of beezie maddens horses there.

AT spruce meadows, you can go like everywhere, I walked through the barns, and "met" one of their most famous stallions Foxhunter, he looked so different cuz I had only seen him in pics, and he was like white in them.

I loved it there, but I couldnt stay long cause we had my two little cuzins with us, so we couldnt stay long, well im blabbering, so bye!

[Maci]

That must have been awesome! If I went there this season, I would want to go and see the foals that they had the contest for (naming them). A filly and two colts- Smooth Flight (filly), Sequoa (sp?) (colt), and Fasination (colt). Check out there pictures on the Spruce Meadows site (http://www.sprucemeadows.com)! They're so cute!

Maci :)

[fiesty_filly]

Tomorrow (Sat.) if it hasn't been cancled (due to hyjacking) Then the Nortel International should be on. I think it has something like a million dollar purse or something like that!!

[JumperGirl]

Maci-

I did see all the name the foal foals, they had special signs on their stalls saying it, and I saw some that had been named in previous years, and they had the name of the person who named them.

THey were adorable!!! i sent in names, but I didnt win. lol

I was so pretty there, and I saw the clock tower in the international ring where they enter, and mum took pictures of me standing infront of it.

There were a couple of ppl there that were speaking german and stuff, and we met one girl who let us pet her horse while she was grooming, and she was from california, and had three horses there. cool eh?

well i gtg.

EMily.

[Maci]

JumperGirl- I agree; the international ring probably would look huge without jumps up! I've always wanted to go there and see the stables and exhibites they have when major competitions are going on! I was just on their site to see if they have a working-student program, but sadly, they don't! :( ;)

Maci :)

PS- Who won the Nortel International? I fell asleep during it! :o