Jack Pemberton, a true gentleman who had a huge influence on the sport of driving, has died at age 99.
He was a leader who always delighted in sharing his knowledge. Jack competed against and became friends with royalty, but anyone involved in the sport, whether they were beginners or elite drivers, enjoyed his friendship and help. More than 20 equine-related organizations benefited from his involvement over the years.
The inaugural recipient of the Equine Canada Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, he was a past president of the Carriage Association of America and a past director of the Canadian Horse Shows Association.
“When I first got involved with the Canadian Horse Shows Association, there were only two employees. Now you can see how equestrian sport in Canada has grown,” he once recollected, “I am fortunate enough to have stayed on the right side of the grass to see it grow to its present state.”
He started working with the Canadian Equestrian Federation in 1975 and had been an honorary life director since 1981. He also was involved with the FEI as a driving judge and chairman of the FEI Driving Committee from 1995 through 2003.
Other organizations that would not have been the same without him are the Ontario Equine Research Center in Guelph and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. He was involved with establishing the Ontario Equine Research Center in 1981, and later served as a chairman of the Center’s Advisory Committee for six years.
His involvement with the Royal began in 1964, when he started competing in the coaching class. He became a director in 1974, and served as the Royal’s president in 1975, as well as from1978 through 1979.
Jack Pemberton with Sandra Banks at the Royal. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
He chaired the Canadian Pleasure Driving Championships and was a life member of the British Horse Society, the Canadian Combined Driving Association, Drive Canada, the Canadian Hackney Society and the Eastern Ontario Pleasure Driving Society, as well as many other organizations. Outside of the horse world, he had served as a reconnaissance pilot in the British air force.
Dozens of tributes to him poured in on social media.
Christine Reupke, the Royal’s director of equestrian and breed sport, paid tribute by saying, “It’s a sad moment for us at the Royal. A great man, a mentor and complete hero… Jack you’ll be missed.”
Carriage Association of America Past President Natasha Grigg called him “a towering, influential and incredibly sympathetic presence in the formative days of combined driving and subsequently during its heyday in the United States. I feel honored to have been a friend and enjoyed his guidance and humor in all the years that I was active in the ADS and afterwards.”
Pairs driver Tracey Morgan called him “such a wonderful man and horseman. I will always remember his wonderful stories of the early days of driving in North America and be grateful for his work to establish the first World Championship for ponies.”
Sherri Whitworth-Denoouden commented that everyone “will miss his knowledge, skills, dedication and involvement in the sport. A class act through and through.”
He did not want a funeral, so a celebration of his life will be planned for next spring.