about myself

I have worked with various top trainers in North America; the most influential of these is my long term coach and mentor, Olympian Leslie Reid. I have also spent many years as a working student in Germany. I have competed at both the National and International level on multiple horses in Canada, the USA and Europe.

My biggest, unwavering passion is riding, training and competing the wonderful horses that come my way. They all contribute to my education in and my understanding of Dressage.

I have trained quite a few horses to Grand Prix. The majority have been started as green 3 year old’s as the cost of a ‘trained’ horse can be prohibitive. This has taught me patience, helped me develop an eye for an equine ‘athlete’ and shown me that as a trainer I have to be aware that not every horse ends up at Grand Prix. Each horse can specialize at the level at which they show the most talent. Some are perfect Second Level amateur horses, some work their best in the Small Tour (PSG/Int 1) and a few have the mental and physical capacity for Grand Prix.

Regardless of the breed or height, age or temperament I know that the majority of horses can benefit mentally and physically from a well thought out and managed training program.

my background

I am a Grand Prix level trainer and rider, an NCCP Level III Dressage Coach, an EC High Performance Coach and have been the Canadian National Team Coach of the Canadian Para Equestrian/Paralympic Team.

The start of my Dressage career began with the completion of my Canadian Pony Club ‘A’ on my first horse ‘Martins Gyseyn’. He was a 15 hh gelding who helped teach me how to barrel race, jump, swim (!), event and ride Dressage. In 1989 we earned a spot on the Canadian Team at the North American Young Rider Championships in Chicago, Illinois where our Team won the Gold medal. That year we were also named the Canadian Individual Young Rider Champions. Gyseyn ended up retiring on my parent’s farm many years later where he lived until the age of 36!

Dressage became the sport I was most passionate about. The inspiration to work hard and excel came from the relationships I developed with the horses.

In 1996 I moved to Germany to train with Udo Lange and Christilot Boylen. I took not only the many years of training and knowledge from my long time coach and mentor, Leslie Reid but also my 18 hh partner, Dior. Leslie helped me find Dior in California as an unstarted 2 year old and from there unfolded an exciting career.

During my three and a half years in Germany, I competed for Canada Nationally and Internationally. I had success from PSG through to GP in Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Showing horses of different levels and also coaching enabled me to fully immerse herself in the sport at it’s highest level and against the world’s best. An amazing experience!

Upon returning home in 1999 I set up my own business coaching, training and competing Dressage horses and riders. Dior came home too as he was an integral part of my success and an invaluable partner. We continued to compete at Grand Prix up and down the West coast at National shows and CDIs.

In 2000 I was asked to represent Canada at the Trivett Classic CDI*** in Sydney, Australia riding borrowed horses. There I won the Leading Foreign Rider Award and was on the Bronze medal winning Derby Team. This competition was the perfect opportunity to put the skill of ‘figuring out a new horse fast’ to the test!

Following that year Dior and I were the leading pair in the Canadian League of the Swarovski Dressage World Cup. We flew to Toronto for the finals at the Royal Winter Fair in November. The Freestyle in front of hundreds of people was an absolute highlight!

Dior then reached retirement from the Grand Prix level. He embarked on a whole new career in the discipline of Para Dressage. Dior became a Paralympic Team member with Para athlete Lauren Barwick and traveled to Athens in 2004. He loved the job and being the centre of attention!

This successful interaction lead me onto an additional career path; Canadian Para Equestrian, National Team Coach. In this role my coaching beliefs and approaches have been challenged, expanded and broadened. I coached the Canadian Para Equestrian Team from 2007-2016 at the following International Competitions and have received the following awards:

• 2007 World Championships at Hartpury College, England

• 2008 Paralympics in Beijing (Hong Kong), China

• 2008 Petro Canada Coaching Excellence Award

• 2009 CPEDI*** at Hartpury College, England

• 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky

• 2010 and 2011 Two time recipient of Petro Canada FACE Program Funding

• 2011 CPEDI’s in Del Mar, CA, at Hartpury College, England and at Bishop Burton, England

• 2012 Paralympics in London, England • 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient

• 2013 CPEDI’s in Florida

• 2013 CPEDI** at Bishop Burton, England

• 2014 CPEDI’s in Belgium and Germany

• 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France

• 2014 Petro Canada Coaching Excellence Award

• 2015 CPEDI at Hartpury College, England

• 2016 CPEDI’s in Florida

• 2016 CPEDI at Thunderbird Show Park in BC, Canada

• 2016 Paralympics in Rio, Brazil

When my role as Team Coach came to end after the Rio Paralympics, I developed many young horses and got back into the competition ring at the National level. This reminded me how much I love to train and compete!

As of 2021, I have my sights set on a future spot on the Canadian Team. I have a few top youngsters in my program who I am truly excited about! Moving forwards I will be focused on reaching the goals set for both myself and my students!

I want this website to be a link between myself and the Dressage community. I love to teach and ride and I want to help others enjoy this fabulous sport.

I also want to use this platform to thank the riders, owners, businesses and people who support me and cheer me on!! Without you, it would be impossible and definitely not as fun!

My coaching

At the core of my Dressage program is the German Training Scale. As a coach I am here to help riders navigate and understand how this scale and it’s principles work within their daily training. My goal is to encourage each rider to find the best way to communicate with their particular horse. I believe the more a rider can understand the mechanics of both mind and body and how they interact, the greater their relationship with their horse will be.

I enjoy working with other Professionals, Adult Amateurs, Juniors and Young Riders who are passionate about Dressage and learning to improve their riding. I also work with many Hunter/Jumper riders and Eventers. Anyone who wants to improve their connection with their horse is welcome! For some of my students the next step will be to compete and put their skills to the test.

Once there, we see how their partnership functions under pressure and where we can make adjustments and improvements. I see competitions as one of the many steps needed to produce a strong yet harmonious partnership between horse and rider. I love to train and develop horses to their maximum potential and if I can help others find the same enjoyment in their own riding, regardless of level, then we have success. I am driven to bring out the best in both horse and rider; separately and as a Team, in competitions and at home.