NARG grant recipient Sarah Johnstone riding Leonidas won the $25,000 Hayes Co. Grand Prix at the 2011 National Capital Show Jumping Tournaments in Ottawa, ON. Photo by RedRibbonPhotography
NARG Grant recipient Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W, a horse imported and developed by the Hayes family of Orangeville, Canada. Photo by Mancini Photos

February 15, 2012 – Orangeville, ON – Well-known in the sport of show jumping, the Hayes family of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, had two reasons to be proud when the North American Riders Group (NARG) announced its two recipients of the inaugural Riders’ Grant.  Winner Sarah Johnstone and runner-up Kaitlin Campbell both have close ties to the Hayes family.

NARG received 40 applications for the inaugural Riders’ Grant, designed to afford an emerging rider, dedicated to the sport of show jumping, an opportunity to achieve levels of performance they would not otherwise be able to attain.  As the winner, Johnstone of Aurora, ON, receives a $15,000 grant towards her expenses as well as several other prizes while Campbell receives $5,000 as the runner-up.

Johnstone began training with the Hayes family when she was 12 years old.  As a working student for two-time Canadian Olympian Jay Hayes and coached by his daughter, Lauren Hayes, Johnstone was given the opportunity to showcase her talent riding their horses.  In 2006, she joined an elite list of riders who have won both the CET Medal Final and the Jump Canada Medal Final at Toronto’s prestigious Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.  The following year, Johnstone made her debut at the 2007 North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championship, finishing seventh individually.

In 2011, Johnstone laid claim to her first FEI victory, riding Starlet to the win in the $32,000 CSI3* Open Welcome in Bromont, Quebec.  Just two short weeks later, she won the $25,000 Hayes Co. Grand Prix in Ottawa, ON, riding Leonidas.

In the eight seasons she was based at the Hayes family’s North Ridge Farm in Orangeville, ON, Johnstone developed through the equitation ranks to excel as a serious grand prix contender.  Now 20 years of age, she is currently a short listed member of the Canadian Show Jumping Team.

“We have known both these girls since the time they rode ponies,” noted Lauren Hayes who, together with her husband, Johan Letimonier, operates North Point.  “It has been rewarding to see their progression, and it is gratifying for our family to have played such an important role in their success.”

While Johnstone trained with the Hayes family, Campbell has an equally long history, having bought her first pony from the Hayes’.  She is now excelling with Rocky W, a horse they imported and developed.  Purchased as a seven-year-old in Holland, Rocky W was ridden to victory by Regan Hayes in the competitive High Junior-Amateur division at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair before being sold to Campbell in 2007.

With Rocky W, Campbell moved up to the grand prix ranks in April of 2011 and quickly found herself in the winner’s circle.  The pair won the $25,000 Grand Prix in Lexington, Virginia, before a win in the $75,000 Grand Prix in Upperville, Virginia, in June marked their biggest victory to date.

Long-time family friends, Campbell’s parents, Pat and Don Campbell, have been customers of Jay and Shawn Hayes since 1981, investing in hunters ridden by Shawn Hayes as well as in show jumping prospects.  They were behind Solid Gold, the horse Jay Hayes rode in his Nations’ Cup debut, as well as Zucarlos, the grey stallion that carried Jay Hayes to the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

Since 1985, the Hayes’ have purchased their horses from Hans Horn, coach of the Dutch gold medal team at the 1992 Olympic Games.  The long list of mounts that have come from the renowned Dutch trainer include Zucarlos, Flipper, Raven, and Diva, the mare that Jay Hayes rode at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as Lauren Hayes’ grand prix horses Avalanche and Emmanuelle.  Leonidas and Starlet provided Johnstone with valuable experience at the top level of the sport while Rocky W has introduced Campbell to grand prix success.  Both Leonidas and Rocky W are sired by Libero H, winner of the 1994 World Cup Final under Jos Lansink.

“We are very proud to see such talented riders on our horses receive the funding needed to continue in the sport,” said Jay Hayes.  With his trademark sense of humour, he then added, “Now where do I apply for a grant?”

Show jumping is truly a family affair for Jay and Shawn Hayes and their three daughters, Ainsley, Regan, and Lauren, and son-in-law Johan Letimonier.  In addition to operating the training and sales businesses North Ridge and North Point, the family-owned Hayes Co. produces numerous show jumping events including two to be held August 8–12 and August 15-19, 2012, in Orangeville, ON.  For more information, please visit www.hayesco.ca.