Eventing near London, Ontario (+ Equine program at U of Guelph?)

[Henlie]

My husband is looking to apply for his dream job in London, Ontario in the near future. I’m loving what I’ve seen so far about the Equine Management program at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus (I’m currently an Equine Science & Mgmt major elsewhere) and hopefully that transition will be smooth. Anyone here have experience in that program?

My big question is regarding the eventing circuit; obviously my husband doesn’t want to have a huge commute to downtown London, so I’m pretty restricted to the area (which is a bummer due to the utterly breathtaking stables I’ve been seeing around Toronto) as I don’t really want to have a stables commute over an hour. Any recommendations for the best eventing programs around London? I think I’ve Googled as much as humanly possible lately and have found a couple places that could be a potential fit, but am definitely wanting some human reviews. Figured I’d ask the COTH crowd!

Additionally, as a potential Canadian Transplant, does anyone have advice on how the horse world might differ there from the US? Anything I could learn about the culture and area is so appreciated!

<3

[SolarFlare]

I’m not really familiar with the stables out that way (I’m in Hamilton) but I know there is Sprucehaven. The coach there is Jennifer Pejic - I know she’s been involved in coaching Young Riders for Canada before, and I’ve heard good things about her. They are also a host on the SOCTA circuit (Southern Ontario Combined Training Association), which you should check out. These are great schooling shows at a variety of venues. SOCTA runs both CTs and HTs.

www.socta.info

Our provincial rated shows are through Ontario Eventing Association (OEA): http://www.ontarioeventing.ca/

Those venues are more east of London - a couple in Hamilton area, then a bit north, and some further northeast (and some much further east). I scribe at about 10-12 rated events a year so may be able to answer questions about the venues.

For horsekeeping…from what I’ve read on here, there’s a huge variation on how horses are kept across the US, so I don’t know how we’ll differ from you as I don’t know how yours are kept where you are.

Generally, in this area of Ontario, you’ll find indoor or outdoor board (not pasture board - generally these are relatively smaller paddocks compared to huge acreage). Hay is grass, alfalfa, timothy or mixes. Lots of local hay as we have lots of farmland so you won’t have to ship it in from afar. Anywhere I’ve been feeds grain/concentrates twice a day, and we have a good selection available (off the top of my head - Purina, Tribute, Masterfeeds, Shur-Gain, Brooks should all be easily available, and you might be able to find Triple Crown).

Summers get hot, humid, and buggy. Winters get cold and humid (ie. damp cold, not dry cold). Many horses get fly sheets/masks in the summer and blanketed in the winter.

You’ll also want to find a barn with an indoor if you plan to train year-round. We do get snow, and London particularly is in the snow belt (comes up from the US and follows hwy 401 to about Guelph, then heads a bit north). If we’re not snowy, then we get ice which is worse, because then you can’t hack out. You may want to check on turnout policies and paddock maintenance at any barn you’re looking at. I’ve heard of some that won’t turn out for MONTHS if there’s any ice, which I would not be okay with.

I hope that helps!

[Henlie]

@SolarFlare

I’m not really familiar with the stables out that way (I’m in Hamilton) but I know there is Sprucehaven. The coach there is Jennifer Pejic - I know she’s been involved in coaching Young Riders for Canada before, and I’ve heard good things about her. They are also a host on the SOCTA circuit (Southern Ontario Combined Training Association), which you should check out. These are great schooling shows at a variety of venues. SOCTA runs both CTs and HTs.

www.socta.info

Our provincial rated shows are through Ontario Eventing Association (OEA): http://www.ontarioeventing.ca/

Those venues are more east of London - a couple in Hamilton area, then a bit north, and some further northeast (and some much further east). I scribe at about 10-12 rated events a year so may be able to answer questions about the venues.

For horsekeeping…from what I’ve read on here, there’s a huge variation on how horses are kept across the US, so I don’t know how we’ll differ from you as I don’t know how yours are kept where you are.

Generally, in this area of Ontario, you’ll find indoor or outdoor board (not pasture board - generally these are relatively smaller paddocks compared to huge acreage). Hay is grass, alfalfa, timothy or mixes. Lots of local hay as we have lots of farmland so you won’t have to ship it in from afar. Anywhere I’ve been feeds grain/concentrates twice a day, and we have a good selection available (off the top of my head - Purina, Tribute, Masterfeeds, Shur-Gain, Brooks should all be easily available, and you might be able to find Triple Crown).

Summers get hot, humid, and buggy. Winters get cold and humid (ie. damp cold, not dry cold). Many horses get fly sheets/masks in the summer and blanketed in the winter.

You’ll also want to find a barn with an indoor if you plan to train year-round. We do get snow, and London particularly is in the snow belt (comes up from the US and follows hwy 401 to about Guelph, then heads a bit north). If we’re not snowy, then we get ice which is worse, because then you can’t hack out. You may want to check on turnout policies and paddock maintenance at any barn you’re looking at. I’ve heard of some that won’t turn out for MONTHS if there’s any ice, which I would not be okay with.

I hope that helps!

This is helpful, thank you! Yes, I’ve definitely poured over those websites, and that’s where I found some seemingly good eventing barns, but I haven’t actually heard of Sprucehaven, so I’ll look them up! Some others I’ve listed as potentials are Highland Green, Warwick, and Con Brio, although I believe the latter may be just H/J as opposed to eventing? Do you know much about any of those?

I’m happy to hear familiar-sounding feeds, and so grateful it’s mostly local, as I’ve owned in places before where you had to ship in and that was definitely not budget-friendly. The humid-cold is good to know, I will definitely be looking for a place with an indoor then.

Thank you for your help!!

[SolarFlare]

Well, I just judged a show at Sprucehaven yesterday and got to see most of the facility, as it was a TB show with pretty much everything (hunters, jumpers, XC, dressage, trail). They did a wonderful job of it and the property was lovely. I would add that to your list to check out! They are in Ingersoll.

I have shown once at Highland Green (SOCTA) but that’s all I know. I think Con Brio is immediately across the road from them. I know someone whose horse was leased to Con Brio and was very happy. The facility is gorgeous! I know they specialize in H/J - I don’t know if they allow outside coaches in.

I have not been to Warwick so can’t help there either.

As an aside - Purina Canada is different than Purina US. I hear Purina getting a bad rap on here but in Ontario, Purina manufactures all feed in a horse-only facility (so no chance of drug contamination) and they are fixed ingredient (not fixed formula, but they vary the quantity of each ingredient to keep the same nutrition profile). That means you won’t get random ingredient substitutions. My horse is not an easy keeper and he actually seems to do quite well on Purina. (I don’t work for them I just see people saying Purina feeds are terrible. Maybe that’s true in the US, but up here they’re not a bad choice).

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Lots of barn options in London Ontario, many different approaches to suit your needs. For eventing specifically, I think the biggest limiting factor from London is distance. The recognized events tend to be north of Toronto, meaning you are at a minimum 2 1/2+ hours away from events. Bronte Creek is probably the closest as it is off of the 401 before Toronto, meaning you can get there in about 2 hours or so. Caledon, Grandview etc. all tend to be a bit further.

In no particular order, here are some suggestions:

Highland Green - about 20 min northwest of London. Lots of shows on site, for better or worse, strong jumping coach on site and dressage coaching available.

Con Brio Farm- about 20 min northwest of London. Mainly hunter/jumper A shows (some trillium), stunning facility and strong jumping coaching (not sure about dressage availability). For sale if it really is a dream job :winkgrin:

Mardon Farms - about 20 min northwest of London. Maybe a 3 minute drive from the above, mostly adult amateur barn, excellent care with a dressage focus. They do have jumper coaches available, I know some have shown high level hunter/jumper.

StoneyGate Farm - about 20 min northwest of London. Smaller barn, personalized instruction, eventing focus.

Bel Tempo Farm - In the area, close to Highland Green & Con Brio but I’m not sure of the programs they are offering

Sprucehaven Farm - Ingersoll, so probably 30+ min away from downtown London.

Woodacres (London Horsemanship Club) - mostly a lesson barn so probably not your thing (but helpful for schooling shows!)

Eastwood Stables - co-op barn with a resident hunter/jumper trainer; all the local London Dressage Association Shows are held at this facility (southeast, just south of airport, probably 15 min from downtown).

Kilbyrne Farm is in the north east, about 15 min from downtown but more of a dressage focus. I’m not sure if there is anyone teaching jumping/competing. They do have an older XC course on site if I recall.

There are a couple of dressage barns in the area as well. I will leave it to you to follow up on the links/sponsors from the LDA shows above.

The local eventing circuit is SOCTA: https://www.socta.info/

Ontario Eventing is the provincial circuit: https://www.ontarioeventing.ca/

[Piaffe11]

Sorry - jumping in from the dressage side!

I lived in London for 20+ years - moved northwest of Toronto 7 or so years ago.

Lots of good options listed. I think the horse scene is pretty good in London. It doesn’t compare to the Palgrave-ish area (north of Toronto), but it’s definitely the hub of southwestern Ontario. Highland Green has jumper shows throughout the winter and there’s everything from schooling shows to rated shows throughout the summer.

Are you bringing a horse with you? Or planning to purchase/lease? That could change where you are looking as not all barns listed have lesson horses available (but most likely have leases I am sure). I rode at EWSZ for 15 years (looks like their website is under construction) and my mom still rides there. They are more jumper/dressage focused, but have lesson horses available.

London is definitely a University town, with fluxing populations based on the school year. It’s “central location” makes driving to the beach (45 min northwest or southwest) easy and is generally not a terrible drive to the GTA. It’s a quiet city that likes to pretend it is much bigger than it is lol

Good luck to your SO! PM me if you have any more London questions or want some info on anything specific - I’ll do my best!

[Jealoushe]

@Mouse&Bay

Bronte Creek is probably the closest as it is off of the 401 before Toronto, meaning you can get there in about 2 hours or so. Caledon, Grandview etc. all tend to be a bit further.

And now we have Cherrylane in that area too!

[Samondel]

I rode with Alison Warwick many (many!) years ago, at a different facility, and she’s a fantastic coach, and offered really good horse care. I had my first horse (pony) with her, and she was so wonderful with the many questions of the new horse owner.

Jen Pejic at Sprucehaven might be a little far to drive every day, but she’s a wonderful coach, and I had a ton of fun last summer when I hauled in for a couple lessons.

London is a pretty darn good area for eventing, or it looks great when I look on in envy, from the wilds of Windsor!

[Henlie]

@Piaffe11

Are you bringing a horse with you? Or planning to purchase/lease? That could change where you are looking as not all barns listed have lesson horses available (but most likely have leases I am sure). I rode at EWSZ for 15 years (looks like their website is under construction) and my mom still rides there. They are more jumper/dressage focused, but have lesson horses available.

I looked into EWSZ and actually contacted them about a working student position, so I’d LOVE to hear more from you about them!! I’m in the process of purchasing a horse now, so I’d be bringing a greenie with me.

Thanks so much to everyone for your additions, this is so helping my anxieties!! I will definitely be looking into your suggestions!