Kenneth Peterson, a long-time supporter of Canadian show jumping and the former chairman of the Canadian Equestrian Team, passed away in Ottawa in February, following a long illness. He was 87.
Born in the United Kingdom in 1938, Ken came to Canada in 1967 and worked as a surgeon at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto beginning in 1972. Horses became an important part of the lives of Ken and his wife, Gillian, following a move to King Township in 1979. Ken became an avid supporter of the sport of show jumping in general, and Jay Hayes in particular, forming the Solid Gold syndicate, which purchased Zucarlos, the feisty grey stallion aboard which Hayes competed at the 1989 World Cup Final in Tampa, the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where they were the top-placed Canadian pair.
Peterson was a co-founder of the Collingwood Horse Show in 1987, alongside the Hayes and Chapman families, and helped organize many fundraising activities for the Jumping Team. Jay Hayes remarked, “His greatest strength was pulling people and their resources into the sport. He was a magician.” Gillian Peterson agreed, saying, “Ken persuaded many of his doctor friends from St. Joseph’s that they would LOVE to get involved with horses!”
As an avid fox hunter with the Toronto & North York Hunt, Peterson mingled with many TNYH members who were involved with the Royal Horse Show and the Canadian Equestrian Team. “He arranged coverage with his doctor friends so there was always a doctor on-site at the Royal!” said Gillian. “He competed a bit himself and hunted with the past (CET) chairman. They suggested to Ken that he might want to become involved with the team, and it seemed like a natural progression.”
Peterson became the chairman of the Canadian Equestrian Team in 1991 and acted as chef d’équipe at the Pan Am Games in Havana, Cuba, where Canada won team silver and individual gold (Danny Foster) in show jumping. He supported the team at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, and the Pan Am Games in Argentina in 1995, after which he became part of the transition team that formed Jump Canada. “Ken was always very enthusiastic. It was a great break from medicine for him,” noted Gillian. “He loved being involved with anything to do with horses.”
Longtime Jumping Team member Beth Underhill recalled, “His enthusiasm for the sport was infectious. He was always willing to be a part of it in any way: volunteer, owner, show investor, team manager, board member, owner’s committee… there was nothing he wouldn’t get involved with in order to move the sport forward.
“He was in the warm-up ring, giving last words of encouragement. He was always the first one to congratulate you as you walked out of the ring. He was the guy you wanted to be better for. Just a lovely person ‒ I still think of him often.”
Away from the horse world, Peterson also pursued golf and fishing with equal enthusiasm. In 1997, Ken and Gillian moved to warmer climes in the Turks and Caicos islands, where they lived and where Ken worked as a urologist at a small clinic for the next 20 years before returning to Canada.
Peterson leaves his wife, Gillian, and daughters Jayne, Nicola, and Caroline. A Celebration of Life is being planned for later this summer.
Photo: In 2011, the 1991 Pan American Games Team was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame. Sandra Anderson, Danny Foster, Beth Underhill, Ian Millar and Dr. Ken Peterson attended to celebrate the honour. © Michelle Dunn.
Watch the induction video here.