Marjorie Dennis, one of Canada’s most respected judges and educators in the equestrian industry, has passed away at the age of 86, surrounded by her family.
The Montreal born, Caledon, ON, resident was an Equestrian Canada Senior status national hunter, hack, jumper and equitation judge for decades before earning FEI International 3* Jumper judge status in 1993. She contributed to the sport in Canada by conducting educational programs for national officials and clinics for judges for Jump Canada (now the EC Jumping Committee.)
A tireless volunteer in the horse industry, Marjorie was a past director of Equestrian Canada (when it was known as the Canadian Equestrian Federation) and the Ontario Equestrian Federation (now Ontario Equestrian); chairman of the Jumping Committee for the 1992 North American Young Riders’ Championship (now NAYC); program coordinator for the Canadian Equestrian Team in 1985 and co-chair of the CET “Go for the Gold” Gala in 1984. She was also instrumental in launching the popular Trillium Circuit in Ontario, and was the president and past-president of the Ontario Hunter/Jumper Association from 2000-2005. She was the recipient of Jump Canada’s Official of the Year Award for 2007.
“Marj epitomizes every quality we look for in a judge: integrity; complete knowledge of the rules; absolute fairness; and calm under pressure,” said Elizabeth Bordeaux, chair of Jump Canada, on that occasion.
Beginning in 2008, Marjorie served as chair of the Officials Committee on the Jump Canada Board. More recently, she was named the 2016 Greenhawk Jump Canada Volunteer of the Year in recognition of her longstanding dedication and invaluable contributions to the hunter/jumper sport in Canada.
Marj’s name was synonymous with the Royal Horse Show; she served as Chairman of the show from 1985-89 and in 1990 became Horse Show Manager through 1997. She also served on the Administrative Committee (1982-84) and the Executive Committee (1985–89). In 2021, she became an Honorary Governor of the Royal. In her nomination letter, Royal Board of Directors member Willa Gauthier remarked, “It was a different governance model at that time and her responsibilities were enormous. She garnered the respect of both staff and competitors and knew just about everyone who had anything to do with the show. She was known for her integrity, knowledge, graciousness, fairness and always conducted herself with composure, dignity and a legendary sense of humour… She was highly and affectionately regarded by all. She had the ear of the riders at all levels, officials and sponsors and always worked to make the Royal better.”
One of three children, daughter Lisa Cieplucha remembers horse shows as just something their family did together. “You look at the years mum spent volunteering, and I don’t remember there ever being a ‘down’ time, it was all extremely positive and always for the benefit of others in the sport. We weren’t ‘in the business’ until we started competing more seriously. Mum just wanted to stay busy. It always seemed more like fun than work for her – I guess it helps when you love what you’re doing.”
Marj leaves three children, eight grand-children and five great-grandchildren.
– With files from Horse Sport Magazine.