Ian Roberts
Birthplace: Victoria, British Columbia
Birthdate: October 28, 1958
Hometown: Port Perry, Ontario
Ian Roberts has a family history with horses as his grandfather rode in the British Army and the Calvary during the First World War. He spent 1978 in England as a working student for Bertie Hill and returned home to train with Liz Ashton. In 1982, Ian was named Canadian Intermediate Champion and was first long listed to the Canadian Team.
Ian has brought Zappa and Invicta to the CCI*** level. In 1995, Zappa won the Primer Concurso Internationale in Mexico and went on to win the 1996 Canadian Advanced Championships. Invicta won the 1996 Canadian Intermediate Championships, making Ian the only rider to win both titles in the same year. In 1999, he was listed for the Pan American Games with Shermatic.
Ian is currently a short listed member of the Canadian Eventing Team, having enjoyed a 15th place finish with Mata-riki at the CCI**** Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. With Napalm, Ian finished eleventh at the CCI** Radnor Hunt.
A Level III coach since 1987, Ian was voted the 1989 Ontario Horse Trials Association's Coach of the Year and was named both Male Rider and Male Coach of the Year by the Ontario Equestrian Federation in 1995. Ian and his wife, 1984 Canadian Olympic Three Day Event Team member Kelly Plitz, operate Dreamcrest Farm. When he has free time, Ian enjoys cross-country skiing and spending time with Kelly and his sons, Waylon and Wyatt.
HORSES
Mata-riki 1993 brown NZ thoroughbred/quarter horse-cross gelding, 16.1hh
Owner: Kelly Plitz
Napalm
1996 grey Irish Sport Horse gelding, 17.2hh
Owners: Ian Roberts, Kelly Plitz and Tracey Newman
Tang
1999 bay Irish Sport Horse gelding, 16.2hh
Owners: Ian Roberts, Rein Lehari and Joe Bailie