Frenchman, the only son of Le Tot de Semilly standing in North America, is one of Armstrong Farm’s flagship stallions. Photo by Andrew Bailini
Ruth Armstrong, pictured here riding Urban Legend, was named the Leading Lady Rider by the Ontario Horse Trials Association for the second year in a row. Photo by Andrew Bailini

February 10, 2009 – Orangeville, Ontario – Armstrong Farm of Orangeville, ON, enjoyed a banner year of accomplishments in 2008 ranging from its breeding program to the show ring.

Ruth and Morley Armstrong, owners and operators of Armstrong Farm, saw their hard work come to fruition with numerous accolades earned in 2008. For the second year in a row, Ruth Armstrong was named the Leading Lady Rider by the Ontario Horse Trials Association (OHTA). One of her many mounts, Urban Legend, topped the OHTA Open Preliminary year-end standings and, for the second year in a row, received the OHTA Leading Thoroughbred Award.

One of Armstrong Farm’s top breeding stallions, Frenchman, was third overall in the OHTA Open Preliminary standings. Two young breeding stallions also enjoyed great success in the competitive arena with VDL Ulando finishing as the runner-up in the Open division of the Young Event Horse Championship while P.S. I Love You placed third in the Five-Year-Old division. Whether she was riding one of her proven stallions, a young home-bred, or a catch ride for another owner, Armstrong was rarely out of the ribbons.

Ruth Armstrong, whose love of equestrian sport was cultivated in her native Great Britain, has competed internationally in both show jumping and eventing. In addition to being an active competitor and level 2 jumping coach, her Armstrong Farm has gained a reputation for its breeding program, which features proven Selle Francais bloodlines that have produced talented young stock that excels in all three Olympic disciplines. In addition to carrying famous pedigrees that are genetically predisposed to reproducing performance via the Blup index, Armstrong ensures that her breeding stallions are also proven successful competitors themselves. As the President of the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWHBA), Armstrong has a keen knowledge of both bloodlines and the breeding industry that she directly applies to her own breeding program.

Ilian de Taute is a perfect example of the stallions featured in Armstrong Farm’s breeding program. A Selle Francais stallion by Narcos II, Ilian de Taute competes in both the grand prix show jumping ring as well as at the intermediate eventing level with both Armstrong and her trainer, Canadian Olympian Gary Roque. His offspring are proving to be well-rounded sport horses. Oberon D’Orange is currently competing at the two-star level, having spent a year in Scotland training with Ian Stark; Lavento claimed the Ontario Reserve Dressage Championship under Carolyn Shea; and Privilege placed fifth in the five-year-old division of the 2008 Canadian Young Horse Jumper Development Series National Finals.

Bred by Armstrong Farm, P.S. I Love You, a son of Ilian de Taute, became the first Canadian-bred stallion to enter the Selle Francais stud book as an approved stallion. The two French judges, E.G. Sarl and J.E Camenen, who traveled to Canada to conduct the approval process were impressed by P.S. I Love You’s overall type, conformation, temperament and incredible scope, and awarded him Elite status. One year earlier, P.S. I Love You topped a field of 18 horses presented at the Canadian National Stallion Licensing.

A new addition to Armstrong Farm is VDL Ulando H. Shown successfully in the Canadian Young Horse Development Series by Canadian Olympic show jumping rider Beth Underhill, VDL Ulando H is proving his versatility by also winning novice horse trials and placing second in the Open division of the Young Event Horse Championship. His offspring are also showing promise with their movement and athleticism, and have been very successful on the line.

Another stallion with proven versatility is Holberg, a Swedish Warmblood stallion that excels at eventing and dressage. His daughter, Arwen, is the successful intermediate mount of event rider Edie Tarves while another daughter, In Vogue, carried her owner to victory at the 2008 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in the amateur equitation divisions.

Frenchman, the only son of the recently deceased Le Tot de Semilly standing in North America, features impeccable French bloodlines. Equally talented as a proven two-star event horse and a grand prix show jumping horse, Frenchman passes his superb athletic abilities to his offspring. With the oldest crop now five years of age, Quattro D’Orange and Quest D’Orange are excelling on the American eventing scene, and Pele D’Orange has begun a dual career in eventing and show jumping in the U.S.

Although Armstrong trains regularly with Canadian Olympian Garry Roque, she had the opportunity to spend the winter of 2008 training in Florida with a string of horses, including ‘the boys’. There, she was working with Jonathon and Jennifer of Holling Eventing.

“Ruth’s years of experience make her an excellent horsewoman and a pleasure to coach,” said top American eventing competitor, Jonathon Holling, who has bred one of his own mares to Ilian de Taute. “She has used her wealth of experience to collect and breed an extraordinary string of breeding stallions and competition horses.”

In reference to her successful 2008 competition season, Roque added, “Ruth had another great season and continues to grow her string. She has some super new prospects and 2009 will be very exciting.”

Armstrong Farm is a true family affair. While Ruth is in the competitive spotlight, her husband, Lieutenant-Colonel Morley Armstrong, works tirelessly behind the scenes. Their nine-year-old daughter, Tiffany, has also been bitten by the eventing bug and has started her cross-country training.

In addition to standing stallions at stud, Armstrong Farm also produces approximately 10 foals each season through its breeding program. Armstrong trains these young prospects and, every spring, debuts a new crop of talented youngsters in the show arena. For more information on Armstrong Farm and its stallions, please visit www.armstrongfarm.com or e-mail armstrong.farm@sympatico.ca.