Local News

Ian Millar recently announced his retirement from equestrian competition after representing Canada at 10 straight Olympics, including the most recent 2016 Games in Rio which saw Ian compete alongside daughter Amy. 

At an event dedicating a room in his honour at the Perth Best Western Plus yesterday, the 72 year-old Millar said while he was stepping away from higher-level equestrian competition like the Olympics, Pan-Am Games and the World Equestrian circuit, he will still be on the road quite a bit competing at other events. 

Millar told Lake 88 he will continue working with his son Jonathon, daughter Amy and daughter-in-law Kelly Soleau-Millar and will focus on training younger riders and developing horses at Millar Brooke Farm in Perth. 

Millar and his wife Lynn purchased the initial 500 acre farm on the outskirts of Perth in 1972 and has transformed it into a world-class training facility with state-of-the-art amenities, including a stunning six-acre Grand Prix field complete with a collection of replica jump obstacles featured at the International Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows.

At the dedication, Millar paid tribute to his most celebrated mount Big Ben who competed with Millar for 10 years on the international circuit. 

Millar says of the 50 horses he’s taken to world-level events during his career, Big Ben was by far the brightest and most-skilled competitor. Big Ben’s stable door now adorns the breakfast room at the hotel.