Ewen B. “Pip” Graham, Calgary, Alta., and Hornby Island, B.C., died Oct. 20 of natural causes. He was 76.
Mr. Graham was born in Calcutta, India, where his father was in the tea trade. His grandfather founded Dr Graham’s Homes in Kalimpong, India.
Mr. Graham was educated in England at Cambridge University where he received his master’s degree from Downing College. He moved to Canada in 1957.
Mr. Graham and his wife of 54 years, Nicki, were instrumental in bringing eventing to western Canada in the late 1950s. Many horse shows and three-day events were run at Graham Ranches in Millarville, Alta., with Mr. Graham as course designer, organizer and “chief cook and bottle washer.”
Mr. Graham was chairman of the Canadian Three-Day Event Team from 1970 to 1975, and he also served as chef d’equipe at the Pan Am Games in (Colombia) in 1971, the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972, and he was the organizer of the Olympic Three-Day in Montreal in 1976. He was also the Fédération Equestre Internationale technical delegate at the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988.
Mr. Graham owned 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.
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The Grahams bred and trained a number of successful event horses, show hunters and jumpers, several of which went to Olympic and Pan Am Games and World Championships.
Mr. Graham was also a successful rally car driver. He completed the Shell 4000 cross-Canada race three times, placing fourth in 1965 and second in 1966.
Upon retirement, the Grahams moved to Hornby Island and spent most of their days exploring on their 42-foot Grand Banks, navigating the inside passage to Alaska at least 12 times with Dusti, their fearless Corgi.
In addition to his wife Nicki, Mr. Graham is survived by his children Juliet, Arifin, Nicholas and Tessa, and grandchildren Annie Bishop Onda, and Christopher and India Graham.
Memorial donations may be made to The International Eventing Rider’s Fund at Equine Canada, 2685 Queensview Dr., Suite 100, Ottawa, Ont., Canada K2B 8K2.