Ian Millar of Perth, ON has been chosen by Jump Canada as the ProChaps ‘Athlete of the Month’ for May.  This is the third time in three years that the eight-time Olympian has earned this title.

This time, it was a special honour that garnered Millar the ProChaps ‘Athlete of the Month’ title.  On May 22, a commemorative sculpture of Millar and his legendary mount, Big Ben, was unveiled in a picturesque park in Millar’s hometown of Perth, ON.  A day of celebration saw 4,500 attending an Open House at Millar Brooke Farm, Big Ben’s final resting place, despite poor weather, followed by the unveiling.  The life-size statue, with its incredible attention to detail, will serve as a permanent reminder of Millar and Big Ben’s awe-inspiring accomplishments.

“It's an incredible testament to Ben's memory to see the effort, and effect, of so many volunteers to create something so lasting and beautiful in his honor,” Millar commented about the sculpture.

In a partnership that spanned more than a decade, Millar and Big Ben won more than 40 Grand Prix events, including two victories in the du Maurier International, the flagship grand prix at Spruce Meadows.  The pair set a record by becoming the first horse-rider combination to win back-to-back World Cup titles in 1988 and 1989 and competed in a record-setting three Olympic Games (1984, 1988 and 1992).  Millar and Big Ben’s immense success earned them a place in the hearts of fans world-wide and resulted in both Millar and Big Ben being inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Millar continues to excel at the top level, as he proved one week before the sculpture unveiling by taking three of the top five spots in the $50,000 Grand Prix held at the Classic @ Palgrave Phase 1 in Palgrave, ON.  He claimed victory with In Style, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Sue Grange of Lothlorien Stables, placed fourth with Jebb’s Creek Investments’ 14-year-old selle francais gelding, Sweet Dreams, and placed fifth with his 2004 Athens Olympics mount, Promise Me, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by The Baker’s Dozen.

“It is always an honour to be chosen athlete of the month,” noted Millar.  “I am very excited and proud of my current group of horses which include Promise Me, In Style, Redefin, Aftershock, and Sweet Dreams.  As I look forward to the next four-year cycle and the Beijing Olympics, I believe I have excellent depth for the challenges that lie ahead.”