Spruce Meadows is widely regarded as one of the most iconic venues in the sport. From your perspective, what makes the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament such a unique test for the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations?

DL: Spruce Meadows is such a special event because of the way it has been built up over so many years. From the beginning, they took inspiration from venues such as Hickstead and, perhaps because Canada has such strong British connections, I have occasionally said that going there feels a little like going home.

The Southern family have done a fantastic job. They truly know how to run a show, and the way they have developed it over the years is amazing. Spruce Meadows was a leader in the sport for many years and remains one of the best venues in the world.

It is also an enormous logistical operation. Horses fly into Calgary from all over the world, and the way those flights are coordinated, right through to transporting the horses to the stables, is exceptional. Everything about the venue and the organisation makes it a true Major.

The International Ring at Spruce Meadows is renowned for its scale, natural fences and atmosphere. What qualities does a horse need to be successful in such a demanding arena?

DL: There is no feeling quite like riding through the clock tower and into the International Ring. The reception the riders receive is amazing, and everything about the arena is vast.

The courses are unique. The fences are not only big in height, but also in width, and Spruce Meadows has retained more of that traditional, old-fashioned style. The course designer [Leopoldo Palacios] has been building there for many years and he always creates a genuine challenge.

A horse needs to be experienced and seasoned enough to cope with the flight and the change of environment. When you enter such a bold and vast arena, you need a brave horse,  and it must also be careful, because there are many delicate fences too.

They need to be athletic, scopey and rideable, with enough blood to cope with the size of the fences and the distances. The courses are careful, technical and big, so the horse needs to possess that same mixture of qualities.

Great Britain enjoyed significant success at Spruce Meadows last year, winning the BMO Nations’ Cup. What did that result mean for the team, and how important is it to return to a venue where British riders have such positive recent memories?

DL: There is never any shortage of riders who want to compete at Spruce Meadows. We are still some ways out from the show, and I already have a very long list of riders who would like to go.

We had not won the BMO Nations’ Cup there for many years. Nick Skelton told me that morning exactly how long it had been, so it was a real relief to get that victory under our belts. It was a fantastic win and meant a great deal to the whole team.

Great Britain has such a strong history at Spruce Meadows. During the 1990s, British teams won the Nations’ Cup there year after year, and we have also had numerous winners of the Grand Prix. To return to that level of success last year was incredibly special.

When you go back to a venue where you have performed well, you return with even greater enthusiasm. Success gives the riders and the wider team confidence and momentum, and naturally everybody wants to go back and try to achieve something similar again.

As Chef d’Équipe of the British Show Jumping team, how do you help riders prepare for venues such as Spruce Meadows, where the challenge is unlike almost anywhere else in the world?

DL: Preparation begins with selecting the right partnerships. Spruce Meadows is a daunting arena, so the horse must be brave, confident and genuinely suited to the challenge. The horse determines a great deal because, ultimately, it is the partnership that has to go into the ring and perform.

I would not take a combination if I had doubts about whether the experience would be right for them. When you take a rider to gain experience in a particular arena, especially a younger rider, you want it to be a good and positive experience. I feel very strongly about that.

I also watch as many rounds as possible in the International Ring. You are always learning from the sport. I look at how the different partnerships cope, which combinations the other nations bring, what they declare and how the courses ride. You try to gather as much information and insight as possible so that you can support your own riders in the best way.

Having competed at the highest level yourself, how does your own experience as a rider shape the way you support and guide athletes at major international events?

DL: Having been a rider, I understand many of the feelings the athletes experience, particularly around selection and being part of a team. When I ask questions or suggest something, I normally have a fairly good idea of how the rider may be feeling and the best way to approach them.

Different riders need different forms of support. Some need an arm around them and plenty of encouragement, particularly younger riders who are stepping up. Some need a little more reassurance, while others need more of a push and to be told: “Come on, you can do this.”

I have also known many of these riders for a very long time. I was coaching pony teams when some of them were coming through the ranks, including riders such as Ben Maher and Robert Whitaker, and I knew their parents very well.

You see everything from a completely different angle when you are no longer the rider. I can look back now and recognise things that I could not see at the time, including some of my own shortcomings as a rider.

There are no real shortcuts for experience, but having good people around you can help to guide that process. I try to use everything I have learned to support the riders and help them as much as possible.

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping brings together four of the sport’s most prestigious Majors. In your view, what sets these Grands Prix apart from other 5* competitions?

DL: They attract the world’s very best. There are no two ways about it. A normal 5* Grand Prix is already of an extremely high standard, but when you have a Major of this stature, it attracts the cream of the crop from all around the world.

Everybody wants to try to achieve the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. It is an amazing feat that has only been completed once by Scott Brash, and being part of that journey was unbelievable.

It is something that the leading riders and nations across the world aspire to achieve. These Grands Prix bring the very best combinations together, which is what makes them so special.

Spruce Meadows has played an important role in Rolex Grand Slam history, most notably when Scott Brash completed his historic Grand Slam there in 2015. How significant was that achievement for British show jumping?

DL: It was an extraordinary achievement and an unbelievable journey to be part of. I will always remember the atmosphere when Scott entered the International Ring. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Nobody made a sound until the final few fences, when you could begin to hear a little noise and hope building around the arena. The reception when he completed the round was incredible. It was a truly iconic and very special moment.

Achievements such as that inspire people throughout the sport. Whether it is the Rolex Grand Slam, an Olympic gold medal or another major championship success, it creates so much motivation and discussion. Everybody wants to be part of it.

It brings more followers into the sport, but it also encourages owners and supporters to become involved. The messages and support increase when the British riders are competing at major shows, and that creates a wonderful spirit around the team.

You also see the impact further down the pathway. We have seen more partnerships coming through and performing at 3* level, as well as at 5* level, and more people wanting to become part of that success. Owners and supporters want to buy into a plan and work with a rider towards achieving something at the highest level.

That inspiration is incredibly important. It gives people something to believe in, creates momentum throughout British show jumping and helps to support the next generation of riders and horses coming through.

At this level, success often comes down to the smallest margins. How important is the partnership between horse and rider when competing in a Grand Prix of this magnitude?

DL: The partnership is absolutely crucial. Spruce Meadows requires a brave and confident horse, but it must also be careful, athletic and rideable. The rider has to understand the horse and give it the confidence to cope with such a vast and demanding arena.

Nothing is set in stone in that ring. We have seen some of the world’s very best combinations caught out, sometimes very early in the course. A shadow, a bold filler or one small moment can make a significant difference.

That is why the partnership has to be completely ready for the challenge. The horse determines a great deal, and I would not take a combination there if I had doubts about whether it was prepared for the experience.

British show jumping continues to benefit from a strong mix of experienced championship riders and emerging talent. How important are shows such as Spruce Meadows in helping develop the next generation of British riders?

DL: From the moment I took the role, my ambition was always to have a mixture of experience and youth within the teams. It takes time to develop that balance, but I believe we are beginning to achieve it now.

During the 1990s, when Great Britain was winning so much, it was often the same very successful riders competing on the teams. That made it difficult for other riders to break through. There were perhaps fewer 3* opportunities available as well, and when those senior riders eventually retired, it left quite a significant gap.

I have always wanted to create a system where we can rotate riders, give them enough opportunities and allow them to gain experience alongside established championship athletes. If things do not go perfectly the first time, they need to be given the chance to come back and have another go.

The younger riders are now performing at a high standard much earlier, and there are more of them coming through. I get so much pleasure from seeing partnerships perform well, but being able to involve the younger generation is particularly rewarding.

Spruce Meadows can play an important role in that development, but you have to select very carefully because it is such a daunting arena. The horse must be brave and confident, and the partnership must be ready.

Last year, we had a lovely balance with Ben Maher, Joe Stockdale, Donald Whitaker and Matt Sampson. I would love to take younger riders there again, provided they have the right horses and the partnerships are ready for the challenge.

Looking ahead to this year’s CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, what are you most looking forward to seeing from the British riders and the wider international field?

DL: I am interested to see the field as a whole and how the different combinations cope with the challenge. We all continue learning from the sport, and it is fascinating to see which partnerships the different nations bring and which horses they declare.

It is amazing to watch the very best horses competing in that arena, but we have also seen plenty of surprises over the years. Nothing is set in stone at Spruce Meadows. The size of the arena, the atmosphere, the shadows and the fences can all play a part.

I try to watch everybody as much as possible because there is always more information and insight to gain. From a British perspective, I want the riders to perform well, but I also want every partnership we take there to have a positive experience and to come away having learned something.