Canada’s Show Jumping Dynasty: Ben Asselin on family and why he loves the sport
Ben Asselin, September 12th 2021
Can you tell me a little bit about your connection to Spruce Meadows?
I started riding at Spruce Meadows on ponies. I did the pony hunters, pony jumpers, and then kind of just made my way up the ranks. My first time in the international ring was when I was 14 years old.
Wow, that’s pretty awesome – first time in the international ring at 14, that’s young. Tell me how your ride went today (in the CP International)?
Definitely not anything we expected. I’m riding a fantastic horse – definitely capable of being a true contender in that competition. But as the sport usually does, it shows you what can happen when you’re dealing with an animal, several things can go wrong, and it wasn’t our day today. Full faith and confidence that we’ll come back stronger next time.
Are you here next week as well (for the North American tournament)?
Yes, all my horses next week. Looking forward to finishing it off strong. I’ve got a nice three horses here in the FEI division and they’ve all had some great placings and results in the last few weeks.
Where are you off to after here?
Barcelona Nation’s Cup finals is in the plans. If we don’t go to that, I’d like to give my horses a little bit of a rest this fall. They’ve shown quite a bit this year already so I might play around a little bit with Thermal, there’s a couple 5* there in late fall.
How did you choose to be a show jumper? What made you commit to being a pro and really doing this?
Horses have been in my heritage for quite some time. My grandparents founded Spruce Meadows. Both my mother and father were professional jumpers themselves. My dad represented Canada at two Olympic Games, 2000 in Sydney and 2008 in Beijing.
Your dad is John Asselin.
Yes. So I kind of fell in to their footsteps and was surrounded by horses as long as I can remember. When I reached the age of ten I kind of fell in love with the animal then started getting more and more hungry for the sport, and that’s how it happened.
It’s like in Europe there’s those big family dynasties of show jumpers and we don’t really have that as much in Canada, but we do with your family. It’s cool that your family is all about show jumping.
Yeah, I’m very lucky for that reason, very fortunate to have the support behind me to follow those dreams.
But it’s a crazy lifestyle, you’re travelling all the time. Does that suit you, all the change and the fast pace?
I’d say that I’m so lucky to be able to do what I love, but also be a part of something that takes me across the pond numerous times - I’ve seen so many different places, met so many different people, and made so many different connections – it’s a blessing. I’ve made so many great friends around the world and have friends no matter where I go – that’s been an incredible aspect of what I’m able to do.
Ben Asselin