The Equestrian Canada Jumping Awards are determined by the EC Jumping Committee and celebrate contributors to the sport of Jumping.
Toronto, ON, Nov. 15, 2025 – This year’s Equestrian Canada Jumping Committee National Awards were handed out during the EC Owners & Donors Reception, the evening of Wednesday, November 12, at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario.
The EC National Awards celebrate the impressive achievements of individuals and organizations who have contributed to the growth and success of the equestrian community each year. This year’s recipients have gone above and beyond in their respective fields.
The Equestrian Canada Jumping Committee Owners of the Year for 2025 was awarded to Patricia Overlund and Patrick Overlund O’Brien, as well as Millar Brooke Farm. Ian Millar accepted the award presented by EC’s Karen Hendry-Ouellette, Manager of Sport - Jumping; Mark Samuel, Former Vice-President of the FEI, Deputy Chair of FEI Group IV and Chair of the Jump Canada Hall of Fame; and EC Board member Audrey-Julie Dallaire. Photo: Mackenzie Clark
Owner of the Year: Patricia Overlund, Patrick Overlund O'Brien & Millar Brooke Farm
First introduced in 1995, the EC Jumping Committee “Owner of the Year” Award was created to recognize the exceptional level of dedication, commitment, and generosity that owners demonstrate when supporting the Canadian Show Jumping Team athletes. This year, Patricia Overlund, her son Patrick Overlund O'Brien, and Millar Brooke Farm are recognized with Owner of the Year honours.
The friendship between the two families began around 20 years ago when Patrick and Patty, both competitive riders, came to the Millars for training at their winter headquarters in Wellington, Florida. They travelled to Canada to continue their training; their first horse show with the Millar Brooke team was at Spruce Meadows.
Photo at Right: EC Jumping Committee Owners of the Year: Patrick Overlund O’Brien, Millar Brooke Farm and Patricia Overlund. Pictured here with Amy Millar and Truman.
The relationship eventually gravitated towards horse ownership, with the Overlunds and their Irish Oaks Farm LLC owning four talented show jumpers with the Millars over the years. The first, Piccobello du Val de Geer, was developed to the Grand Prix ranks by Amy Millar and her brother Jonathon before being sold on to continue her successful career. The next purchase was Tidam, then in 2014 a promising prospect named Heros was acquired, which Amy would ride on the fourth-place Canadian Show Jumping Team at the Rio Olympic Games two years later.
While training in Europe with the rest of the Canadian Team prior to Rio, Amy was introduced to "a handsome bay horse" that, thanks to Patty, Patrick and her father Ian, would become "one of my best friends and most trusted partners over the next nine years."
Together, Truman and Amy competed in the World Championships in Denmark in 2022, helped Canada win a team silver medal, and finished sixth individually at the Pan American Games in 2023, and jumped at the Paris Olympics in 2024. They represented the maple leaf on many Nations Cup teams, and finished second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows in 2024. The bay gelding, at 16, is now retired and "living his best life" at Millar Brooke Farm, in Perth, ON.
Upon his retirement, Patricia Overlund described Truman as both "a humble, gifted athlete" and "a workman," adding "His heart and kindness are only to be matched by his incredible work ethic and talent. He is very special to me, and I’ll miss watching him in the ring. However, it warms my heart to see him happily retired and playing in the fields. He is well-deserving.”
"We all enjoyed the partnership and developing these horses together," said Amy. "They really got behind me as a rider, and wanted to help me realize my dreams, which is pretty amazing.
She summed up the importance of such generous owners. "I am only as good as what I'm sitting on. This sport is very demanding, and it's very difficult to keep yourself mounted at the level that you would like to be. There's zero chance that I would be where I am, or could do what I do, without people like Patty and Patrick."
Official of the Year: John Taylor
First introduced in 2004, the JC Official of the Year Award was created to shed light on the talented and knowledgeable officials who help ensure EC-sanctioned competitions are safe, fair, and fun for all participants.
John “JT” Taylor of Mono, ON has been a licensed FEI official since 2003, and is currently a Level 3 Jumping Judge. Over his 22-year FEI career, Taylor has become well known for his fair and conscientious judging at major events across the globe.
Photo at Left: Equestrian Canada Jumping Committee Official of the Year: John ‘JT’ Taylor of Mono, ON, a long-time EC and FEI official and active volunteer within the Canadian equestrian community. Photo: Michelle Dunn
Taylor grew up riding in the former British colony of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and earned his British Horse Society certification in the U.K. before making his way to Canada. He married Barbara Mitchell, and together they operated CornerStone Farms until 2004, and also hosted FEI-rated CDI dressage competitions through CornerStone Dressage, including Canadian Olympic Trials, until 2017. The pair were named to the dressage management team for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, ON.
Taylor's illustrious career as an official has included the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Mill Spring, NC, 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Final in Omaha, NE, American Gold Cup, Split Rock Jumping Tour, Washington International Horse Show, Longines League of Nations in Ocala, Ottawa International CSI5*, and the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, where he most recently was president of the Ground Jury in 2024.
Taylor has also been an active volunteer within the Canadian equestrian community, including seven years as Jump Canada Chair, plus time spent as a director and Competitions Committee member with the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association (OHJA).
Taylor reflected fondly on his long career, and encouraged others to follow his lead to become the next generation of horse show officials – even though the pathway can be a bit arduous.
"Getting to the FEI judging level takes a long time, and that's not a bad thing," he noted. "To become qualified and have all the base and knowledge without rushing up the levels is always good. If you look at most of our great judges, they spent years judging at the lower levels."
He added, "It's a nice career for somebody who loves the sport. And you've got to love the sport, because you've got to be prepared to deal with everything that comes up. People think it's just 'four faults for a rail and four faults for a stop', but there is so much more to it."
Despite travelling the world to officiate, Taylor's heart remains much closer to home. "The Royal is my favourite show, because it's in home territory, you're downtown in a fabulous city, and you have the crème de la crème of our show jumping world coming to compete. It's a great opportunity for everybody to get together, socialize and do business. It's a fantastic show."
Photo at Right: Lawren and Kyle Ecclestone of Ecclestone Horse Transport were awarded the Equestrian Canada Jumping Committee Sponsor of the Year award for 2025. EC CEO Meg Krueger presented them with the award during the EC Owners & Donors Reception during the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Photo: Justina Reinhart
Sponsor of the Year: Ecclestone Horse Transport Inc.
Ecclestone Horse Transport Inc. in Queensville, ON, has been instrumental in supporting many equestrian events over the past few years. The company provides discounted shipping for horses travelling from the west to the National Championships in Toronto, has supported the Canadian Hunter Derby Series, and shipped many Canadian competitors' equine partners to Traverse City for the North American Youth Championships. The company is the official transporter for the Royal Horse Show and Angelstone Events.
Founder and president Kyle Ecclestone is a lifelong equestrian with a passion for both horses and logistics. He grew up riding hunters and jumpers, and was later involved in Friesian and Saddlebred breed sports. Since its inception, Ecclestone Horse Transport has provided Canada’s riders and their horses, from grassroots to Olympians, with local, long distance, and overseas horse transportation.
Ecclestone is appreciative of the industry and gives back through class sponsorships and a working student bursary program which provides free transport for their horse to and from Florida.
"As an entrepreneur within the equestrian community, I understand firsthand the logistical challenges that athletes and team organizers are often faced with," Ecclestone explained. "I am very passionate about our sport, and take pride in our many initiatives at EHT to help give back.
"I am also very passionate about helping young athletes grow and develop within the sport. Our working student bursary program has been one of several initiatives we expanded on to help develop our future professionals.
"It is a true honour to be in a position to help give back to an industry that has given me so much."
EC Jumping Committee’s Sponsor of the Year, Kyle Ecclestone’s EHT is an active supporter of equestrian sport in Canada including this year’s Longines FEI World Cup™ presented by Ecclestone Horse Transport at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Photo: EHT/Justina Reinhart
Source: Equestrian Canada