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WITS END Horse Trials Background.
Wits End Advanced Horse Trials is the
brainchild of Jo Young and Bill McKeen who are both
International Officials in the sport of Eventing. Jo
and Bill have officiated throughout North America and
their goal is to have Canadian riders and horses become
more competitive in the International field.
To this end they bought Wits End Farm
in 2002 and set about turning it into a Training Centre
for Three Day Event riders. First they bulldozed out
a large dressage arena, created a show jumping ring
and built cross country schooling fences. These facilities
were then enjoyed by riders from Pony Club level up
to Advanced riders training for the World Equestrian
Games.
Jo and Bill felt that without International
caliber courses here in Canada we will not continue
to produce top class riders and horses. Therefore with
the sentiment "If we build it they will come", in 2004,
Jo and Bill took the plunge and built an Advanced course
and ran the inaugural Wits End Advanced Horse Trials.
Sixteen horses entered. It is hoped that in a few years
that number will triple and will include a good group
of foreign entries. The ultimate goal is to run a World
Cup Qualifier in five years time.
Jo and Bill envisage the site being
used as a training ground for International officials
and coaches.
In addition to the Advanced Horse Trials
Wits End Farm will continue to run clinics and educational
training sessions for riders interested in eventing.
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Bill McKeen Biography
Bill was born and educated in Ontario.
He worked as a High School teacher from 1965 to 1994.
His interest in horses began when he
was a young child but he did not start riding seriously
until he joined the Governor General Horse Guards in
1958. During the eleven years that he was a member he
escorted the Queen Mother, the Governor General and
many other dignitaries. He became a Riding Instructor
with the Governor General Horse Guards.
Bill bought Foxhall Farm in 1974 and
rapidly changed it into an equestrian Centre specializing
in Three Day Eventing. He taught riding and ran Foxhall
Horse Trials from 1974 through to 1995. Bill designed
and built the courses at Foxhall and he produced such
riders as Edie Tarves who rode at the Los Angeles Olympics,
Lisa McKeen, his daughter who rode at the North American
Young Riders Championships and Carolyn McKeen, his second
daughter who rode up to the Intermediate Three Day level.
Bill, himself was an active competitor from 1970 through
to 1995.
Bill then ran Checkmate Horse Trials
from 1993 through to 2001. Running all levels of competition
up to C.C.I.***
In partnership with Jo Young he bought
Wits End Farm in 2001 and with Jo organized, designed
the course and ran Wits End Advanced Horse Trials in
2004.
Bill was President of the Ontario Horse
Trials Association during the 1980s and served as a
member of the Canadian Eventing Team Selection Committee
for four years.
Bill is currently Chair of the National
Competitions Committee for Equine Canada. He is an F.E.I.
Technical Delegate and an Equine Canada Course Designer
and Eventing Jumper Judge.
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Jo Young Biography
Jo was born in England. She learned to ride at an early age,
was an avid Pony Clubber before progressing to dressage and eventing.
Jo went to Europe to work and train for three years. Returning
to England, she took her instructors exams, started judging and ran her own stables
until she and her daughters emmigrated to Canada in 1977.
In Canada she continued to judge and coach, obtaining F.E.I.
status in the early 1980s.
Jo has judged such prestigious events as Radnor, Fairhill,
Foxhall the South American C.C.I.*** Championships in Uruguay and the Pan American
Games in Winnipeg.
Jo worked on many different Provincial and National Equestrian
committees for over twenty years. She served as Chair of the Canadian National Eventing
Committee for five years and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Horse Trials
Canada for services to Eventing.
Jo's daughter, Rachael Hunter, rode on the Canadian Team at the
Barcelona Olympics.
In addition to her love of Eventing. Jo enjoys working with riders
with disabilities. She was the Coach for the Canadian Team at the World Dressage
Championships for Riders with Disabilities in England where Canada won team silver.
Jo is also a Paralympic Dressage Judge.
In 2001 Jo, in partnership with Bill McKeen bought Wits End Farm
and in 2004 they ran the first Wits End Advanced Horse Trials.
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