Shirley Thomas, the first woman to ride on an International Canadian Team, captured the hearts of her generation as the ‘Teenage Jumping Ace’, a nicknamed coined by English Sporting Life. She is remembered for her groundbreaking accomplishments as a female equestrian athlete.

Shirley’s riding career began with ponies and hunters before she graduated to her first jumper, Pale Face, at the age of 12. At the young age of 17, Shirley and her mother, Laura, traveled from their hometown of Alymer, Quebec, to compete in Toronto at the selection trials which determined the Canadian Team for the 1953 indoor fall circuit. Winning three of the six trials held at the Canadian National Exhibition horse show aboard her dun mare, Princess Midas, she secured her spot on the Canadian Team for the prestigious North American fall circuit. At the same horse show, Shirley showed her versatility by also winning many ribbons in the hunter ring, including the Corinthian Hunter Stake with Revlon’s Paint the Town Pink.

Having rightly earned her place on the Canadian Team, Shirley joined Bud Baker, Jim Elder and Bob Ballard in Harrisburg, New York and Toronto with her jumpers Princess Midas and White Sable. Purchased from Vernon Cardy, White Sable had been competing as a green hunter. Shirley and her renowned trainer, James Pogue, handily retrained the handsome grey for his international jumping debut. As the rookie team member, Shirley excelled. At Madison Square Garden in New York City, she won the International Goodwill Challenge Trophy. Not only did Shirley beat British superstar Pat Smythe, she became the youngest rider to ever win an international event in New York. Returning to Toronto, Shirley provided the only clear round in the Nations’ Cup and, by week’s end, was named the leading international rider.

Shirley also qualified to represent Canada on its 1954 European tour. The team of L.J. McGuiness, Walter Pady, Jim Elder and Shirley Thomas headed to Europe with a six-city itinerary. After a bad fall during the first week in London, Shirley enjoyed great success in Dublin. She won the Government of Ireland Trophy with the only clean round from a field of 65 starters. Later in Rotterdam, Shirley won the European Ladies Championship after defeating her rival, Pat Smythe. She was the darling of the European media with her consistent placing against their local heroes.

Shirley’s international show jumping career was cut short due to the injury sustained in London. She continued to be involved in the sport as a hunter rider, owner and breeder. Shirley captured the imagination of all Canadians with her spirit and tenacity.

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