Ian Millar and Big Ben

jumping

I chose Ian Miller and Big Ben because I am a 10 year old rider and my horse and I are getting ready to go to go to Spruce Meadows to compete, so it is thrilling to see such a successful horse and rider.

Millar

Ian Millar was born on January 6th, 1947 in Halifax NS. He first represented Canada in 1971 and won big. Big Ben and Ian Millar won the Spruce Meadows Masters Grand Prix twice in 1988 and 1989. Millar rode on about 80 Nation’s Cup teams and won 17 times. Ian holds the North American for grand prix and derby wins with 120 wins. If you total it up, Millar has won about a 1.5 million dollars in prize money.

Even though Big Ben's first owner paid 1,000 for him Millar paid 45,000, once he started to win and bring home championships almost every time, his price rose to 1 million dollars.

big ben

Ian Millar had lots of courage. In 1995, Ian suffered a bad injury that contained 5 broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a separated shoulder. He returned two months later and had a successful fall circuit.

Once, Big Ben hurt his leg while training for a big show, Ian noticed, but Big Ben really wasn’t reacting to the wound. Millar took a chance and entered him in the show, and even with his hurt leg, he still brought home the best. Unlike other horses who usually don’t make it through, one colic attack Big Ben made it through also. Now Ian owns and operates Millar Brooke farms.