The Summer Fort Series, which has spanned much of August, is a variety of show jumping competitions at Thunderbird Show Park (tbird) that basically wraps up this weekend. While it has included a series of competitions at 91原创鈥檚 premier equestrian facility, the biggest event this weekend is the $50,000 CSI** Paladin Risk Management Solutions Grand Prix happening Sunday afternoon.

In addition to various coverage about the events and local participation in the riding series, this time out the 91原创 Advance Times talks with one of tbird鈥檚 top leaders, offering a little insight into one of the players at the helm.

.

by Ronda Payne/Special to 91原创 Advance Times

There are often a lot of athletes at Thunderbird Show Park (tbird), both human and equine.

Chris Pack, the venue鈥檚 president and operations director, also has a past filled with athletics and competition; and while he definitely has experience with horses, that isn鈥檛 where he learned first-hand about the nature of competitive sporting events.

鈥淢y mom had horses. I guess I started riding when I was three or four,鈥� he said.

鈥淢y parents bought a little ranch up in Kamloops. My mom always had a retired warmblood, which was a jumper and my dad had a few quarter horses.鈥�

Though he never ventured into participating in a riding competition, he did take riding lessons from one of the best female riders in the world: Canada鈥檚 Tiffany Foster.

READ MORE: 91原创鈥檚 Tiffany Foster ranked number one in the world

With that much equine background, Pack had the skillset to compete, but he chose rugby as his athletic force. He played for Canada鈥檚 Men鈥檚 Sevens team at the international level.

Horses obviously were, and still are, a keen interest to him. But as he said, it鈥檚 his and Jane Tidball鈥檚 (tbird鈥檚 board chair and CEO) exposure to world-class events outside of the equestrian industry that have made the difference at the show park.

鈥淏oth Jane and I come from different sports, but we did them at a high level and we鈥檝e been to a lot of other high-level sporting events,鈥� he explained.

鈥淢ost horse shows are run by horse-show managers, or someone who rode, or a trainer. They get really honed in on little details.鈥�

Sometimes those little details may detract from the overall experience of guests at an event, Pack suggested.

There can be a sense of not belonging at the venue at some horse competitions, but tbird is definitely not one of those places. Everyone, regardless of their level of equine knowledge, can enjoy the horses and marvel at their power.

ALSO AT THE HELM: Her family lays the groundwork

鈥淥ther sporting events have different things than your regular horse show,鈥� Pack said.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 technology or different people. I think it really helps us. We understand that we don鈥檛 have the comprehension that a trainer would have. We are trying to create the best competition platform for them and their clients to achieve success.鈥�

This wider focus extends to the types of things offered during a championship event.

Music, facepainting, picnic spaces, and retail shops for guests are a for instance.

Immediate video replays, wifi everywhere, online supply ordering and onsite veterinary facilities for participants 鈥搃t all contributes to the overall experience, he insisted.

Plus, there are those on the tbird team who round out the necessary knowledge to bring the finite details to the grounds for the competitors.

鈥淲e bring in really competent people who know more about those technical aspects,鈥� he shared. 鈥淭hat mix is very successful for us.鈥�

He takes great pride in seeing how each of the tbird team members works hard and celebrates their success. Pack said that leading up to a competition week is a culmination of the show park鈥檚 whole season.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of work prior to each week,鈥� he said. 鈥淥nce the week is completed, it鈥檚 just very gratifying to see all of our staff and how they鈥檝e succeeded.鈥�

Pack concluded that for those who don鈥檛 have horses, one of the things that continues to bring them to tbird is the ability to watch a massive animal doing seemingly impossible things like jumping six feet high.

Experiencing the rider and horse partnership can be a magical sensation for those who know horses, as well as those who don鈥檛.

RECENT: Britain鈥檚 Matthew Sampson wins $100,000 ATCO Cup at 91原创鈥檚 Thunderbird Show Park

.