Ottawa's Grass Grand Prix Field: A Legacy Field, Engineered for the Next Generation of Performance

As part of an ongoing commitment to delivering world-class sport, the Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments team has invested in improving the performance and consistency of its iconic grass Grand Prix field. Central to this effort has been collaboration with internationally renowned turf specialist Richard Hayden, B.Agr.Sc., C.Sc., M.Eng. of Hayden Turfcare, whose experience includes work at some of the sport’s most renowned venues, including All England Jumping Course at Hickstead and RDS Arena in Dublin. The improvements focus on optimizing footing conditions to support horses and riders competing at the highest levels of the sport. Work has included a coordinated series of field improvements, such as surface levelling and the installation of a new automatic irrigation system to deliver more consistent moisture across the field. Additional efforts to improve drainage, reduce compaction, and strengthen turf density are helping to create a more reliable and resilient surface, while a more data-driven approach to footing management will support ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement over time. Learn more: https://www.ottawaequestriantournamen...