Ewen B. “Pip” Graham, who lived in Calgary, AB, and Hornby Island, BC and was a a founder and leader of equestrian sport in Canada—particularly eventing, passed away recently of natural causes. Pip was born Oct 31, 1930 in Calcutta, India, where his father was in the tea trade, and his grandfather founded Dr. Graham’s Homes in Kalimpong, India. He was educated in England at Cambridge University where he received his Master’s Degree from Downing College and moved to Canada in 1957.

Pip and his wife of 54 years, Nicki, were instrumental in bringing eventing to Western Canada in the late 50s. Many horse shows and Three Day events were run at Graham Ranches in Millarville, AB, with Pip as course designer, organizer, chief cook and bottle washer. He was chairman of the Canadian Three Day event team from 1970 to 1975, and also served as Chef d’équipe at Pan Am Games in Cali, Colombia, in 1971, the Olympic Games in Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, and he was the organizer of the Olympic Three Day in Montreal in 1976. He was the FEI technical delegate for the Olympics at Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988.

Pip was a founding member of the Canadian Combined Training Association known now as Canadian Eventing and a member of the executive of the Canadian Equestrian Federation for many years. He will long be remembered for his professionalism and attention to detail—always delivered with a healthy helping of his sense of humor.

Pip was the owner of The Tack Shop—once the largest saddlery retailer and wholesaler in Canada—a business he started in a tiny room at the ranch, importing a few saddles from England for friends. Nicki and Pip bred and trained a number of very successful event horses and show hunters and jumpers, several of which went to Olympic and Pan Am Games and World Championships.

Pip was also a successful rally car driver having completed the Shell 4000 cross Canada race three times placing fourth in 1965 and second in 1966.

Upon retirement, Nicki and Pip moved to Hornby Island, BC, and spent most of their days exploring on their 42’ Grand Banks, the MV “Lonely Bird”, navigating the Inside Passage to Alaska at least 12 times with Dusti, their fearless Corgi.

Pip is remembered as a kind and warm man, with a heart of gold and an incredible sense of humor. He will be missed by all who were blessed to know him.

In addition to his wife Nicki, he is survived by his children Juliet, Arifin, Nicholas and Tessa, and grandchildren Annie Bishop Onda, and Christopher and India Graham.

The family has requested that donations in Pip’s memory would be greatly appreciated to one organization that was close to his heart—the International Eventing Rider’s Fund at Equine Canada (www.equinecanada.ca). Pip spent a lot of time and effort in educating and supporting Canada’s international eventing teams.