Wall Of Fame
Jim Henry
MEMBER OF BRANCH OR BRANCHES: Eglinton
REGION: Central Ontario
APPROXIMATE DATES OF MEMBERSHIP: 1950's to 1956
HIGHEST TESTING LEVEL ACHIEVED: A
IN WHAT DISCIPLINES DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN PONY CLUB:
D Rally, C Rally, A/B Rally, Dressage, Quiz, Show Jumping
ACHIEVEMENTS IN PONY CLUB IN ADULTHOOD:
Helped form the "King Pony Club" which we dissolved in order to take over the "Eglinton Pony Club" which is still located at our facility "King Equestrian Club". Have lectured and helped kids at National level. Believe it or not I was a "Stable Judge" at one of the rallies!
ACHIEVEMENTS AS A RIDER:
- Eastern Canadian 3-day champion 1965, 1966 and 1967 on a Pony Club horse named "Woodbine".
- North American Junior Jumper Champion 1967 - Woodbine
- Junior Jumper Champion at The Royal Winter Fair 1967 - Woodbine
- Ontario Zone Champion - Advance Dressage Division 1967 - Woodbine
- I represented Canada at the 1972 Munich Olympic in 3-day eventing. Horse - Harper. Was top Canadian.
- Canadian Advance 3-day Champion 1973 and 1974 - Harper
- Represented Canada at the 1975 Mexico Pan American Games - Horse - Law & Order. Was 4th individual (top Canadian) and received the Team Silver Medal.
- Short listed for the 1976 and 1984 Olympics.
- 1992 - 1998 showed on the Grande Prix Circuit. Finally showed at "The Royal Winter Fair" in the Jumper Division.
- Coached the "Young Riders" 3-day team for three years in the late "80's.
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MAINSTREAM
I graduated from grade 12 and spent the next two years at Ryerson completing a business course. I then decided I wanted to fly for a career and spent the next three years at Seneca College and graduated from the Aviation and Flight Technology Course with a Multi engine IFR commercial licence. I flew DC 3's and Cansols in the Hudsons Bay and Hudsons Strait area in Northern Ontario. Valued my life and so I came back to the Toronto area and became an Air Traffic Controller for the next twenty years. This is when a good friend offered to back me with the horses. I took the offer and here I am running the King Equestrian Club and the Eglinton Pony Club!
In 1990 my wife Kathi and I formed the "King Equestrian Club". The "Eglinton Pony Club" and the "Wall of Fame" are located at our farm. We do lessons, shows, and camps.
I am asked many times why join the "Pony Club"? My answer - "If you want to just be a rider, then don't join. But if you want to be a "Horseman (person)" then the Pony Club is what you want. The Pony Club teaches a person horsemanship!
FAVOURITE MEMORIES YOU HAVE OF OF PONY CLUB
The best years of my life were with the Eglinton Pony Club. The friends you made, the horses I rode, the places we went - what a trip! Even to this day, I still meet these friends at horse shows and favours would be welcomed. Thanks "Pony Club". It's been fun!