Caledon Equestrian Park celebrates 30 years
By Robyn Clark
The Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave celebrated 30 years in operation during their Caledon Summer Festival and $100,000 CSIW World Cup Qualifier.

Photo by Michelle C. Dunn Celebrating the Caledon Equestrian Park's anniversary were (l to r) Craig Collins, managing partner of Equestrian Management Group; Emil Kolb, Peel chairman; Nancy Stewart, regional councillor; Robert Carey, EMG partner.

The park began as a temporary facility when the original Bolton District Horse Shows Association outgrew the facilities at the Bolton fairgrounds in 1976. Through the '70s and early '80s the facility was only used once or twice a year but was widely admired for its sensational natural footing for horses and the beauty of the vistas.

In 1986, the facility came under the management of Craig Collins, who then added several shows throughout the summer but

the park remained a temporary site. In 1990, Collins put together a partnership of several local professional horsemen and established Equestrian Management Group Inc. with the focus being to establish the Caledon Equestrian Park as the premiere permanent equestrian park in eastern Canada.

They began the process of installing permanent facilities, expanding the schedule of events to include all breeds and disciplines of the equestrian industries and to make use of the facilities during the entire season. By any measure, Equestrian Management Group has been very successful in achieving their goals.

Caledon Equestrian Park is now home annually to 16 of the most prestigious equestrian events in Canada. It offers accommodations for nearly 1,000 horses and five international competition rings. The park also provides first-class facilities for the many competitors from all over the world as well as those living within Canada's largest horse community (the Caledon/King corridor).

The Caledon Equestrian Park is now world famous for what originally made it so appealing the natural footing and beauty.

Since 1990 the park has grown and matured to now host some of the most important competitions in Canada. It has been home to more than 20 World Cup Qualifiers, four Pan American selection trials, two Olympic Trials, and 60 major national grand prix events. These events have offered millions of dollars of prize money that has been awarded to thousands of horse enthusiasts and professionals.

The working partnership of the Town of Caledon, the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority and Equestrian Management

Group has been very successful with this venue. Millions of dollars are brought to the community each year as thousands of horse lovers from around the world visit the region and enjoy the many wonderful activities the area has to offer. The park employs dozens of local residents each year and through its many suppliers has an enormous economic impact on community. Please visit www.equiman.com for more information.

Portions were used with permission of the original author.