The Millars pack a punch

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Story Content

• Our timing was wrong
• All must fire at same time
• Competing is second nature
• The cowboy by the store

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Something is missing in Ian Millars dining room.

Canadas most decorated show jumper houses only his most coveted awards here at his Perth, Ont., home. His two Pan American gold medals hang on the wall, mounted in frames. Trophy cases hold achievements earned over the course of a career spanning more than 30 years, two as the worlds number one ranked rider.

Theres no Olympic medal in that collection.

"Its kind of like that quiet elephant in the corner," says Millars daughter, Amy, 31. "We all know its there, but we dont specifically talk about it all that often."

In eight Olympic appearances, Millar, 61, has never stood on the podium. When he rode Big Ben he was part of Canadian teams that placed fourth on two occasions 1984 in Los Angeles, 1988 in Seoul.

The man known as equestrians Captain Canada has had the taste of only an unofficial Olympic medal in 1980, when alternate Olympic equestrian events were held in Rotterdam because the world boycotted Moscow.

Our timing was wrong

"We won the team gold medal, which of course was unofficial in terms of Olympic records," Millar says, laughing. "We got it right, but our timing was wrong in that regard."

That alternate Games does not count as part of the eight Olympic appearances on Millars resume, a career that began in 1972 at age 25.

Thirty-six years later, Millar will step into the Olympic equestrian venue aboard In Style to tie a world record with nine Olympic performances.

Ask him how it will feel to make history at the Beijing Games and his first response is that results count more than how many times youve been there.

"Medals mean more," says Millar, "but its a great honour to have represented our country that many times."

This could be the year he adds an Olympic medal to that collection.

The rider who has won more Pan American medals than any show jumper in history and the first to be part of a horse and rider team that won back-to-back world cups calls this the best team Canada has fielded since Seoul in 1988.

Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, Ont., is the worlds fourth-ranked show jumper and finished one spot ahead of Millar at the 2007 Pan American Games to win bronze. Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, Ont., won gold at the 2007 Pan Ams with Special Ed. Rounding out the Canadian squad that won silver at last years Pan Ams is Mac Cone of King City, Ont.

All must fire at same time

"We have a very strong team if all the horses are on form," Millar says. "The stars have got to line up, and if they do, we have a chance to medal.The horse rider combinations that were zeroing in on have that capability, but they all have to fire at the same time, and thats the trick."

In Style, Millars number one Olympic mount, "has what it takes to be the winner," he says. "Hes fast, hes powerful, and he knows exactly where his legs are. He sees a big occasion, senses it, and he rises to it."

Thinking about what it would mean to her father to win that elusive Olympic medal gives Amy chills.

"It would be so, so special. I mean, I dont know that theres really anything better. Just thinking about it gives you little goose bumps."

Both of Millars kids, Amy and Jonathon, 33, will be watching their dad compete in Beijing. "Weve got a good feeling this time," says Amy.

She and Jonathon are two of the reasons Millar says hes still competing. The Millar kids are accomplished show jumpers in their own right, and its not unusual to find the three of them competing head-to-head.

At a Grand Prix competition in Florida, the Millar clan finished one, two, three. The photo is a favourite of Millars late wife, Lynn, who died of cancer earlier this year. It hangs in the dining room and shows Jonathan in first, Ian in second and Amy in third.

Competing is second nature

Competing against dad isnt weird, Amy says. In fact, the Millars often strategize together before competitions.

"Its almost second nature competing together," she says. "I think the weird part was probably the first time I placed ahead of my father," she added, laughing.

Getting beat by his kids doesnt seem to bother Millar one bit.

"Its a no lose," he says. "If they win, I win. Its just like having more chances. Its great to watch them do what they do."

A graduate of Ryerson University, Amy considered other paths she could take in life, but none stacked up to the family business.

"Every time I went away from riding, I was always drawn back," she says. "We have a blast just riding around on the young horses and seeing the future, how good theyre going to be. I think that has a lot to do with why my fathers still so excited about it."

That love for horse riding started when Millar was 10 years old. He was spending a summer in Alberta with his family when his equestrian career began.

"Id been bugging my parents about horses for years and they said, OK, when we move out west. I guess that was just to keep me quiet," says Millar.

The cowboy by the store

He was in the car with his parents when he spotted a cowboy sitting by a general store with a sign that said Horses for rent.

"I jumped out of the car and that was it. I became his best customer, and pretty soon I would run the business for him, and hed go back to the ranch. My pay really was that I could ride as much as I wanted."

That enthusiasm hasnt faded.

"I love horses and I love the sport and I love competing," he says. "You put it all together and you get the reasons for staying in the sport."

As for a world record10th Olympic appearance, Millar says "theres a good chance" hell be competing in London four years from now.

"As long as Im in one piece and I have a good horse to ride, Ill keep going."

This doesnt surprise Amy. If their horses are in top form, she and Jonathon will also be vying to crack that 2012 Olympic team. Canada could field a one, two, three Millar punch.

"Its not impossible, thats for sure," says Amy. "If my father was there it wouldnt surprise me. He doesnt cease to amaze me. He has a passion for it. Its not just what he does, its who he is."