The Orangeville Show Jumping Tournament, operated by Hayes Co., has been cancelled for 2016.
The Hayes family has been organizing show jumping tournaments in Ontario for more than 30 years in locations ranging from Sutton to Collingwood to Ottawa. This year would have been the fifth edition of the CSI2* Orangeville Show Jumping Tournament, previously held at the Orangeville Agricultural Society (OAS) Event Centre in Orangeville, ON.
The Hayes family, a well-known fixture in the show jumping community, includes Canadian Olympian Jay Hayes and his wife, Shawn, and their daughters Lauren, Ainsley and Regan, all of whom have played vital roles in the tournament’s organization and success.
In a letter to their supporters, Jay and Shawn Hayes said:
“When we started this event 32 years ago, it was a way to give back to the community and to fill a need that was missing in show jumping events; listening always first to the riders and the horses – our motto then and still now; “For Horsemen, by Horsemen.”
“Over the past 10 years the sport of show jumping has changed drastically in North America and especially in Canada; continuing to do so with each passing year. Management relies on multiple weeks with varying number of rings during each of those weeks and some events simply turning in to ‘shows.’ One thing that has set Hayes Co. apart is we have always strived to be a unique event which filled a need in our sport. With the landscape of the sport drastically changing we have decided it is best to take some time off to figure out what that need is and what Hayes Co. has to offer.
“This is not a decision that has been taken lightly. We are passionate about the direction show jumping is taking on all levels, and because of that, this is not necessarily the end. In the immediate future, we are putting our focus back to the efforts of achieving success with our horses. We will strive to continue to create unique opportunities within the equestrian world; whether through a reborn event, syndicates, clinics or other equine avenues.”
The CSI2* Orangeville Show Jumping Tournament has been host to a wide selection of hunter and jumper classes, attracting competitors from across the province and country. Last year’s $56,000 CSI2* Grand Prix was won by Calgary, Alberta’s Darrin Dlin on Ridley. In 2014, Perth, Ontario’s Amy Millar topped the $50,000 CSI2* Zucarlos Grand Prix.
Very sad news!
I along with my clients, have attended Hayes Co. shows since the beginning. They overcame circumstances beyond their control in the early years and every year improved each event and never compromised their standards.
Hayes Co. is a class organization, running efficient events. I hope they will come back. As great as the EMG and Angelstone personnel and facilities are, we need more facilities. Please don’t leave us hanging Hayes Co.
I would like to thank the Hayes family for their years of dedication to bettering the sport in Canada. They have run years of excellent horse shows with attention not only to the show ring but also the sponsor, visitor, and all the people who work behind the scenes from grooms to show staff.
I wish them all the best.
It is with great sadness that I heard this news this morning. Since my return to this sport 6 years ago Orangeville has become a highlight in our show schedule with Hayes and Co courteous service and excellent courses they will be greatly missed . Hopefully Jay and Co. Come back with a vengeance in the future we need them in the game .
Sad to see another unique location event cancelled. This is happening at all levels as many schooling shows have cancelled their series and many have reduced their size.
This horse show was not only fun and well organized but the organizing committee were flexible and tried to accommodate riders to the best of their ability.
I think the sport is loosing sight of some of it’s fundamental purpose when organizers like the Hayes family feel like they can no provide “a unique event which filled a need in our sport” because I think this is exactly what Orangeville did.
Hopefully in the future this will change but for now a big thanks to the Hayes family for their dedication to the sport!