Ian Miller - TENTH Olympics?!?

[Antaeus]

[QUOTE=windsor81;6479785]
That’s incredible, but not surprising! I remember watching him on TV competing at Spruce Meadows when I was very young. I fell in love not only with the arena, but with the whole sport while watching them. They were amazing! I’ve fallen out of touch with how he’s done since then, but he has a very special place in my horse loving heart for showing me how it could and should be done :)[/QUOTE]

Maybe because his famous partner, Big Ben, jumps the pastures of Heaven? I wasn’t young, but I’ll always associate show jumping with watching Ian Miller/Big Ben/Spruce Meadows on TV.

[Foxtrot_s]

If I am not mistaken, Ian’s groom looks very like Sandy (?) who used to groom for Big Ben - that’s been a few years.

[FalseImpression]

It’s MillAr!
I like him and admire him but I find him a little bit presumptuous at times. I like Lamaze’s attitude of thinking of the younger riders. I have never heard Ian say it was time for younger riders to shine. He is approachabl
e at shows, but I hope he wins a medal and retires.

[mikali]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;6480298]
If I am not mistaken, Ian’s groom looks very like Sandy (?) who used to groom for Big Ben - that’s been a few years.[/QUOTE]

Yup, that’s the very same Sandi Patterson. She has worked with Ian and Jill over the years since Ben retired!!

[MHM]

[QUOTE=mikali;6480501]
Yup, that’s the very same Sandi Patterson. She has worked with Ian and Jill over the years since Ben retired!![/QUOTE]

Holy cow! Short Sandi?!? That might be another record! Longest employment by a GP rider to match Ian’s record number of Olympic appearances! :lol:

[Foxtrot_s]

Yup - couldn’t pull up her surname without looking it up. Remember how short she used to look next to Ben?

[MHM]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;6480657]
Remember how short she used to look next to Ben?[/QUOTE]

Yes! It looked like she needed a ladder to put on his bridle. :lol:

[Ravencrest_Camp]

[QUOTE=Antaeus;6480152]
Now I remember that flag bearer was up for a vote and Ian lost out by a small margin.[/QUOTE]

The flag bearer is decided upon by the Canadian Olympic Committee.

The poll was conducted by the CBC just for general interest. It’s not like the COC was bound by the results.

Lately in Canada it seems like the flag bearer has generally been someone with a record of success (ie medals) at previous Olympics. That is probably what worked against Ian.

[Fred]

Ian is amazing. I’ve been watching him ride pretty much my whole life, and he really does look as good now as he ever has.
One of the other great things about him is that he is excellent in interviews and on camera. He understands that the sponsors always need to be recognized and thanked as well. He has been a great representative for horse sport in Canada.
In my former life as a television writer/producer/interviewer I had to interview him (as welll as other Cdn riders such as Mario Deslauriers, Gail Greenhaugh, Jim Elder, Christelot Hanson Boylen) and he was a perfect interview.

One of my personal ‘great moments’ was at a horse show, I was riding AFR’s older brother Bob - Ian watched him as we rode by and said, ‘beautiful horse’.

[trafalgar]

They should have told us more about him…has he ever won a medal. I remember the irony of Big Ben, along with that British gray horse who was so famous, never winning a medal. What was his name? I am such a geezer!

[Foxtrot_s]

Milton and John Whittaker.

[Ravencrest_Camp]

[QUOTE=trafalgar;6482322]
They should have told us more about him…has he ever won a medal. I remember the irony of Big Ben, along with that British gray horse who was so famous, never winning a medal. What was his name? I am such a geezer![/QUOTE]

He won a silver in Beijing for team show jumping.

[BAC]

@Ravencrest_Camp;6482591

He won a silver in Beijing for team show jumping.

Yes, and that was his first, and only Olympic medal, so far. Maybe in Rio?

I thought Ian had carried the flag in a previous Olympics or am I imagining that?

[MHM]

[QUOTE=BAC;6484092]

I thought Ian had carried the flag in a previous Olympics or am I imagining that?[/QUOTE]

If he did, I guess it could be considered a “once-in-a-lifetime” honor, and that a different person should get a chance every time.

[Ravencrest_Camp]

[QUOTE=BAC;6484092]
Yes, and that was his first, and only Olympic medal, so far. Maybe in Rio?

I thought Ian had carried the flag in a previous Olympics or am I imagining that?[/QUOTE]

Ian has never been a flag bearer at the Olympics. (opening or closing ceremony)

[jvanrens]

@Foxtrot's;6480657

Yup - couldn’t pull up her surname without looking it up. Remember how short she used to look next to Ben?

That’s because she is short! :lol: I brought her a case of beer at the Royal Winter Fair a “few” years back when Ian was still showing Big Ben when she added her request to our liquor run list that we were making up in the stable restaurant late one night and she took us to see Ben after it was delivered the next day. I’m about 5’9" and she came maybe up to my shoulder. :yes:

Last I saw her she was coaching, but that was over 10 years ago.