THE FOUNDER OF SPRUCE MEADOWS THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE 53 T hey are standing next to each other at the fence, the construction plans laid out in front of them on the top rail like a map. The bright morning sun illuminates their almost lifelike gaze, as they look out over the drawings studying the vast area in front of them. In 1973, when the photo was taken – that on which the bronze statue was later modelled – an expanse of open meadowland stretched out in front of Marg and Ron Southern. Back then, Spruce Meadows existed only in their minds and on the paper they were holding. Now, their bronze reproductions, unveiled on the occasion of Spruce Meadow’s 40th anniversary last year, look out over Founders’ Plaza, constructed in their honour at the heart of Spruce Meadows. The history of Spruce Meadows is not just closely linked with Ron Southern’s life; it is an intimate part of it. His vision and his untiring efforts to bring that vision to fruition are what have made the equestrian complex what it is today: one of the most famous venues in international show jumping, where, since its opening in 1975, sportsmen and women from 61 nations have competed, followed by more than ten million spectators. Ron Southern himself was not a rider. Born and raised in Calgary, he founded the Alberta Trailer Company with his father while still at high school. Under his management, what started off in 1947 with 15 rented trailers, developed into a global company, the ATCO Group, with numerous subsidiaries and 8,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Ron ran the company for 48 years, and received countless distinctions. He was a businessman through and through. The company was his profession and his vocation, and the reason that equestrian sport became increasingly important to him was due exclusively to his wife. Marg Southern had had her own pony as a child and passed her love for horses on to her two daughters, Nancy and Linda, who became keen riders themselves. The more successful they became, the greater their parents’ awareness of the lack of sport venues for young showjumpers in Canada. But as their daughters eventually began participating in competitions further and further afield, Ron Southern’s entrepreneurial spirit came into play: “But maybe instead of going to the world, why couldn’t the world come here?” he thought. And the idea for Spruce Meadows was born. Yet, his new project was not destined merely to be an international centre for jumping; from the very start the idea was that it be a place of friendship and commerce. A place, which was to open up the fascinating world of horses to all its visitors, regardless of who they were and where they came from. In 1971, Ron Southern bought the farmland south of Calgary, and in 1973 the construction of the first riding hall and the first two stable blocks began. Two years later, on April 13th, 1975, Spruce Meadows welcomed the world to the official Opening Ceremony. In 1976, the first international show was staged, and
Rolex Grand Slam magazine - Number 4
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