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Five Questions with Ryan Roy
1) AST: Congratulations on your win in the Derby at the Angelstone National Phase I. Bayview was amazing, can you talk a little bit about Bayview and your history with the horse?
RR: “We bought Bayview as a five-year-old in Europe, he was actually a dressage horse (although not a very successful one). We brought him over and right away he adapted to being a hunter like a duck takes to water. He’s just been a rockstar in the ring, giving a hundred percent every time. He’s one of the greatest horses I’ve ever had the privilege of riding”
2) AST: Derby classes are a relatively new thing for Hunters in Ontario. They’ve become very popular this year; there were over 40 in the derby you won last week at Angelstone. How do you feel about the addition of the derbies to the horse shows?
RR: “I think the derbies are great. They give the hunters the excitement and prestige that has been lacking in Canada. The excitement is back in the hunter ring. People want to come out and watch the derby, and riders look forward to riding in the derbies. The horses I think really enjoy it – something new and different. The best thing about the derbies is there is no clear-cut winner, everybody is on an equal playing field every week.
3) AST: You’ve had a lot of success as a coach with your students. What is the most rewarding part of teaching?
RR: “I have a great bunch of clients and horses right now, which makes success easy. The best part about it is watching my students go in the ring and proving themselves week after week as they achieve their own personal goals. To me, that is the greatest satisfaction a trainer can get.
4) AST: You’ve been doing really well at Angelstone this summer. Have you and your students enjoyed the show?
RR: “I think that what Angelstone is doing is amazing. They are giving everybody the opportunity to feel special. They have feature hunter classes, as well as feature jumper classes. They are always willing to listen to the exhibitors to make their horse show even better. Angelstone is a great environment for everybody – whether you’re a spectator or a competitor.
5) AST: You’ve also had a lot of success in the jumper ring. Who’s your main mount this year, and what are your plans in the future?
RR: Right now my main mount is a horse called Limbo 124. We compete in the smaller Grand Prix events. My goal is to move up to the FEI with him next year. This year has been kind of a learning process, and I’ve gained lots of good experience with him. Although jumpers are not my background, I’m really enjoying learning and hoping to keep improving. Angelstone has been great for that because they get all the top riders from around Canada, so not only do you get to compete against them, you also get to watch and learn from the best. |
