Hi all!
Are there any Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) local COTHers around? I’m trying to help a friend out. She is looking for a dressage coach in the area. The only catch is that she will need access to school horses/schoolmasters as she does not currently own. So does anyone know of any coaches with school horses, and even better a schoolmaster or two, in and around Ottawa? Thanks!
The lesson horse / schoolmaster thing will really limit your options. Try Simone Williams at Queenswood Stables.
You could try Ron King? Or farther out a bit, Erin Josey. Maybe Huntleigh?
I didn’t love Queenswood but YMMV - what level is she looking to train? I’ll ask my friend where she currently rides.
Ron King is a fabulous coach but he does not have lesson horses available. He does have some clients that may have horses for lease or possibly even available for lessons if that’s something your friend would consider.
I ride with Robin Brent at Stone Meadows in Metcalfe (about 25 mins from downtown) - I started riding with her on her school horses (who are excellent quality, including her former FEI horse) and eventually moved my own horse there last year when we switched from h/j to dressage. I’ve learned a ton and have been super happy there. Feel free to PM me.
Second Robin Brent 
Third Robin Brent, even though I’m a western rider. I run a gaming club out of Russell, it’s about 30 minutes east of Ottawa
I “fourth” Robin Brent. She is a good coach and has good quality lesson horses. I don’t know Ron King as a coach, but I know him as a judge and he seems very kind and knowledgeable.
Also would add Janine Little , Liz Steacie and Gina Smith in the Brockville area. I’m not sure if they have school horses though.
You would have to be flying to get to Robin’s place in 25 minutes from downtown! 😂 It’s almost impossible to get to Metcalfe in that time, I grew up there, Metcalfe that is. Robin is about another 10 minutes south east of there.
I’ve never ridden with Robin, but did watch her give some lessons at a farm I boarded at and I would recommend checking her out. All her students seemed to enjoy working with her.
I used to be a working student for Simone at Queenswood. She (at the time, it’s been a long minute since I was there) always had lesson horses or schoolmaster types available. There are a couple of other trainers working there that I would also highly recommend.
My friend rides with Emmanuelle (Emma) Lord and likes her a lot. She said that Emma doesn’t have school or lease horses of her own, but she may have places/contacts where she teaches with horses though (Huntleigh or Ashland).
Janine does clinics in the Ottawa area. I am not sure she is taking on students. She has a certain clientele.
Based on the experience of friends, including a working student to one, just…no to the other two. They have distinct training styles that may not be everyone’s cup of tea so to speak.
Suggestions, depending on the level your friend aspires to: Jen Rodehutskors in Perth, Siri Ingebrigtsen in Luskville, Sian Fernandez Thomas in Wendover. If your friend is a beginner, suggest Fiona Henderson in Kinburn. Fiona puts an excellent seat on her students and has a range of horses, but not a higher level “schoolmaster”. She genuinely cares about horse and rider.
Mickey Green is an excellent coach, but does not have horses and takes on a limited clientele. She offers clinics in the area. However, she can make arrangements for the right student.
Hope that helps.
Janine Little is a fantastic trainer but you would need your own horse, plus there is the added issue that she would be in Wellington for the winter season. The requirement for a school horse definitely limits the type of coach / trainer you’re looking at. I don’t know enough about the area - is there anyone between Ottawa and Montreal that might be an option?
…oops! Pebble Creek. Abdullah Patterson. Kids I know that ride with like him. Don’t know about adults.
I rode there several years ago myself, and always really enjoyed the lessons with either Simone or the other instructors that worked there. They had a good stable of schoolies of various levels. I still follow them on FB, there are still schooling shows and an active group that show recognized.
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