On November 4, 2018, four new inductees were welcomed into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame. Since its inception in 2006, a total of 57 champions have been honoured for their contributions to Canadian hunter/jumper sport. In this issue, we look back on the accomplishments of Olympic course designer, Robert Jolicoeur.
Official: Robert Jolicoeur
PHOTO – Robert Jolicoeur (centre) was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in the category of Official. Presenting are his brother, Pierre Jolicoeur (left), and Michel Vaillancourt.
Photo Credit – Michelle C. Dunn
Every course designer dreams of one day seeing their vision come to fruition at the Olympic Games. For Robert Jolicoeur, that dream not only came true, but it also kickstarted his career.
As young professionals, Jolicoeur and his brother, Pierre Jolicoeur, operated their training stable, Robespierre Stable, west of Montreal in St. Lazare, QC. As a hunter/jumper rider competing locally, Robert got his start by telling show organizers how poor their courses were. Organizers happily invited him to “put his money where his mouth was,” and Robert did just that, designing both jumping and eventing courses. When the 1976 Olympic Games came to town, a young Robert was appointed assistant course designer to Tom Gayford. The accolade would become a turning point in his career and set him on his life path.
Inspired by the landscape architect responsible for decorating the show rings at the 1976 Olympic Games, Robert returned to school at age 28 and spent four years earning his degree in landscape architecture from the University of Montreal. Upon graduating, he founded International Equestrian Design in 1981 and quickly accelerated from designing city parks to specializing in the building and design of equestrian facilities ranging from commercial racetracks to Olympic stadiums.
When the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) introduced a licensing system for officials, Robert became the first course designer in Canada to hold his ‘O’ license, denoting his ability to work at the Olympic level. He course designed at some of the biggest events in the world, including Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and acted as FEI Technical Delegate at three World Cup Finals and over 80 World Cup qualifying events. He excelled at designing jumping derby courses, as his early years designing cross-country courses, including steeplechase tracks, had provided him with great experience working with natural obstacles.
His empathy as a horseman, skill as a course designer, and education as a landscape architect combined to give Robert a unique view on equestrian venue planning and construction. With a vision that expanded far beyond the show ring, Robert was soon in demand as a facility builder for racing, competition, and private venues. Renowned for keeping the safety and comfort of the horse at the forefront of his plans, Robert’s designs are both functional and attractive. He is also considered the first footing expert in North America and always took drainage and appropriate materials into consideration in his ring designs.
At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Robert designed the show jumping courses. Twenty years later at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Robert had designed the entire facility. In Canada, Robert is responsible for the grass grand prix fields at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, and Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa, ON, both of which host FEI-sanctioned competitions to this day. South of the border, he designed such well-known venues as the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, and Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano, CA. All told, Robert estimates that he has built over 1,000 rings during his career.
A true innovator in his field, Robert Jolicoeur has literally built a legacy in hunter/jumper sport. It is with great honour that we welcome him to the Jump Canada Hall of Fame.
Presented by Thunderbird Show Park
To watch the tribute video highlighting Robert Jolicoeur’s extensive accomplishments, click here.