. Ralston Purina official Bill Murray and Mai-Liis Todd with horse April. Feed firm makes a dream possible BV MARGARET HAYLOCK Stirlincr Fabric anH .QoAHe onri Walef ™»By MARGARET HAYLOCK Staff Reporter Stirling Feeds and Seeds and Ralston t Purina, to be a sponsor." from England, because it is just an Todd's invitation to pursue her hour's night from there to Austria." STIRLING -- Feeds and Seeds has j career in Austria, followed a five-day Mrs. Todd will arrive in Vienna just made a Christmas wish come true for clinic, presented at the Equinox in t\me to take a taxi to the Spanish Mai-Liis Todd, co-owner of the Training Centre earlier this month by Riding School to watch a fuu per- Equinpx Training Centre on Marsh Arthur Kottas, chief rider of the formance. The following day, she will Hill Road. Spanish Riding School. be allowed free time to rest after her On Dec. 29, she will fly to Vienna, "Kottas was more than pleased flight and will celebrate New Year's Austria, where she will spend approx- with me as a rider. I have reached the Eve in Vienna, imately eight weeks at the stables of stage where I am comfortable °n New Year's Day, there will be a Johann Riegler, a trainer with the teaching the horse the higher levels of traditional ride through the Austrian world-renowned Spanish Riding medium work," she says. countryside, with visits to many School. After his return to Austria Kottas small villages. The following day, she "I was just floored by this op- spoke with Riegler and recommend-wil1 begin work with Riegler. mitv. When I first eot the news, it ed the voune Canadian rider for an Todd ciportunity. When I first got the news, it ed the young Canadian rider for an credits her husband, British better feel for the advanced work and Hirer's stables. While she wanted to accept such an establish myself as a professional in offer for professional advancement, my own right, "she explains, both she and her husband Christopher When she returns to Canada in mid- Todd felt it would be financially im- February, she hopes to describe her possible. iexperierices in Austria through ar- "Then I thought of Purina (Stirling ticles in several equestrian Feeds and Seeds) and I dropped in, magazines. not really expecting anything but She says Riegler receives so many feeling I had to try," Todd says. applications from riders who wish to As a result of her visit, the feed study with him that he no longer company has agreed to sponsor her advertises for apprentices, pit with a cheque for $500, that will cover ing to"pick and choose, the bulk of her travel expenses. While in Austria, M£S. looa ™ Bill Mallory of Woofer, farm con- -J~ -* »«-!«•'« nnvate stab sponsorship is "unusual". "We do other sponsorships, She observes her riding career did not really begin until she started stu- dying with him, seven years ago. •-•- srated F at Marsh Hill Farm. "Kottas says lots of people can ride trained Grand Prix horses but only a ^ like to trajjl a horse to Grand Prix. ^ loye with ̂ process - to me it, more like an art and the finished sultant with Ralston Purina, says the 1̂ ^ backing young ma naana