WATCH: Lisa MacGregor takes a look back at the history of Spruce Meadows, from one tiny barn to a premier show jumping facility.
CALGARY- Spruce Meadows, a world-renowned equestrian competitive venue, celebrates 40 years this season.
A doorway into the modest past of the southwest Calgary spot can be found in the centre of the grounds, in a little red barn.
It’s where Masters trainer Albert Kley was sold on a vision by his boss Ron Southern, one of the founders of Spruce Meadows.
“We won the draw on the property and he said, ‘Oh I’d like to keep this red barn.’ I looked at this and said to myself, ‘Oh he had talked about a nice stable,’ and was worried I had committed for something I didn’t like,” Kley said.
Just a little stable is what Southern promised Kley, asking him to stay a little longer–but forty years later, the trainer ended up with something much bigger.
“I don’t think anyone including (Southern) ever thought that it would get so big and get a name internationally. Any rider around the world who knows this sport a little bit, knows Spruce Meadows by now.”
Riders don’t just “know” it, they train in order to put it on their resume.
“It’s very, very tough at any time at Spruce Meadows. If they don’t have the top horse, they don’t even come here.”
For family members that grew up on the grounds as kids, like Southern’s granddaughter Kelly Koss-Brix, it has a lot of advantages.
“I walked around with my pony when I was a little kid and watched the big grand prix riders and got to develop my dream to ride professionally and internationally,” Koss-Brix said.
It also made for a not-so-average childhood playing in the yard.
“My fondest memory is when we were little kids, school was out and we were on the property all summer. We would make little jumps out of whatever we could find on the ground.”
What’s found on the ground these days is quite extravagant: Flowers handpicked from the very best growers.
Darcy Finlay has been the vice president of operations and management for Spruce Meadows for 17 years. He says crew members are perfectionists when it comes to making the flower arrangements.
“We’ve chosen the best, to provide us with the best, so we can be the best,” he said.
Most of the season, handpicked flowers are brought in from a florist in Red Deer, and once they hit the Masters tournament, they go all out.
“Those flowers are imported from Holland. So they’re all cut flowers that we use for the arrangements that are on the jumps. We also bring the florists from Holland to build the arrangements for us,” Finlay said.
Every last detail goes into making Spruce Meadows a top show jumping destination and a dream come true for a family that saw something bigger in their little red barn.
“I hope it keeps going forever,” Kley said.
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