Horse Show & Clinic Coverage

Beaulieu Summer Classic - Week 1

June 26, 2007

Nearly eight years ago, Carlo Zimmer and Bea Jarzynska booked themselves and their 23 horses on to a plane from Luxembourg, on their way to their new home in Ste-Justine-De-Newton, Quebec.  

Formerly known as “Windedge”, the dressage facility owned by CEF President Don Martz, the farm boasted 230 acres, extensive stabling, a huge indoor arena, 120 permanent show stalls, a cross-country course and several sand dressage rings. 

The farm was re-named “Beaulieu” in honour of Zimmer’s first International Grand Prix Jumper, a Westphalian home-bred who was enjoying retirement in Luxembourg.   Plans had been made to bring him to his new home in Canada but, sadly, one morning he was found dead in his field – possibly a victim of poisoning.

Nevertheless, his name lives on at the farm, which now has a triple role as a major producer of sport horses, a working farm producing hay, corn and soya, plus a first-class show site.

The pair organized their first show in 2001, but had only 65 entries.  

“But we didn’t give up”, said Jarzynska , “and the next year we doubled the entries to 120”.   Additional prize money and the services of internationally-renowned FEI course designer, Dr. Luc Nguyen Trong have resulted in a steady increase to this year’s total of 360 competitors.  

Beaulieu also enjoys a great deal of local support.  “We find this very, very valuable”, says Jarzynska .

Beaulieu houses about 90 horses at the moment, including 22 brood mares and two stallions, Conquest and Coolman.   The farm is already home to four generations from one of the foundation broodmares.   All the horses are registered in the Luxembourg Stud Book and are from the best European bloodlines.   Frozen semen is also imported from Europe.

Beaulieu is most definitely an “exhibitor friendly” venue.   A generally relaxed atmosphere prevails, with entertaining novelty classes and evening parties for the competitors. 

“We want it to be an enjoyable show for everyone”, says Jarzynska , “but also a good preparation for the big Blainville and Bromont International shows later in the summer”.

Two Regional Quebec “B” Shows, Clinics with luminaries such as Ian Millar and Beth Underhill, plus the annual Harmony Horse Trials round out the activities at this picturesque site, deep in the heart of the Quebec countryside.

One of the feature classes during Beaulieu’s first week was the $5,000 “Four Bars”, which resulted in two riders sharing first place – Francois Lamontagne scoring a “double” with his two horses and U.S. rider, Gruschenka Mojica.   All three horses cleared 5 ft. 11 ins., and then a tie was declared, since the rails were right at the top of the standards!

Sunday’s $25,000 New Holland Grand Prix was won in convincing style from a field of 23 by Jonathan Millar and Fancy Hill 2.   Owned by Jonathan’s mother, Lynn, the 11-year-old grey mare by “For Pleasure” showed a great turn of foot to complete the eight-effort jump-off in just over 36 seconds, closely followed by Myra Simard and her reliable partner, Dutch Treat

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