Ian Millar is one of Canada's greatest athletes and the most successful Canadian show jumper in history. Millar was selected as Canada's lone representative in show jumping, one of three equestrian events, for the Olympics. It is Millar's eight Olympic appearance and the ninth time he has been nominated to a team (he was on the 1980 team that did not go to Moscow). The streak started in 1972 at Munich, Germany.
Millar will take Promise Me, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by The Bakers Dozen with him to the Games. They were the top Canadian performers at the Pan Am Games last year, which was the Olympic qualifying event for the Canadians. Those were Millar's sixth career Pan Ams.
The 57-year-old Millar is still in the hunt for his first Olympic medal but did win the gold at the 1980 Alternate Olympics in the Netherlands. "I'm a great believer in perseverance," said Millar. "I keep planning to keep going to the Olympics until I get an individual medal."
He was first named to the Canadian equestrian national team in 1971 and has represented Canada in 97 Nations' Cup competitions. He is an eight-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion and holds the North American record for Grand Prix and derby wins. Millar was also Canada's first World Cup champion earned aboard the legendary Big Ben in 1989 and 1990.
In 1986 Millar was awarded the Order of Canada and in 1996 both Millar and Big Ben were inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, making Big Ben the second non-human to be inducted. The other was thoroughbred racing legend Northern Dancer.
Millar has coached some of Canada's most successful show jumping riders, including 1986 World Champion Gail Greenough. Millar trains and operates Millar Brooke Farm in Perth, Ontario, with his wife, Lynn. Their two children, Jonathon and Amy, have both represented Canada in international team competition.
Millar started riding at age 10 at Lacombe, Alberta where he rented a horse from a cowboy at the general store near his cottage. Millar spent the summer riding and helping the cowboy run his business. In the fall, he started lessons from a Mrs. Gardiner in Edmonton.
