I started years ago at Double J in Beamsville with Virgina Ready who was just back from England. We had a great time back then. Switched to Craig Collins once I got "showing fever". He was just a kid himself and back from a stint in the US. We did all the shows. Remember the Oakville Junior at Cherkas' farm and the Hornby Junior at Samson Farms in Hornby??

[This message has been edited by *Pony Girl* (edited March 03, 2008).]

Redpony
We must have been at both Central Don and Zweibrecken at the same time.
I have a 16 hand quarter horse named Smitty and I was in the upper barn near the road and was attacked by the geese each time I went to go to the arena.

[This message has been edited by Amerghin (edited March 03, 2008).]

I started at the tender age of 4 at Hamilton Equestrian Center in Mount Hope with Capt Werner Wagoner. Was there for over 10 years until we bought my first horse and moved to woodburn Stables in Binbrook.from there I've been at blacks, Sandy Lane and the former Hellyer farm in Waterford. Now we have our own place in Simcoe.
I was also at Queenswood stables as a working student in my early 20's

OMG, another place I totally forgot about
Lost In The Fog - Do you remember Meloches on Sources Blvd, D.D.O.?

That's pretty amazing seeing that here....wow, I lived not to far from there myself! Only for two years though. Just goes to show what a a small world we really do live in! Meloches was quite a nice place at one time.

I started in western at 9 with Al Fox at Circle A in Arkell. After a few years I tried dressage with Travis Hall Arabians (back then just outside of Rockwood). Then I went to Clerview in Guelph to try hunter. I was introduced to my now life-long best friend and rode with her farm in Campbellville on the side training her youngsters. Our family moved and I rode at a few non-descript places before finding Camberwell in St. Catharines where I rode/showed for years. Then I moved again and I bounced around part-boarding here and there, and always riding with that life-long best friend, until I bought my first horse, and that's where I got to where I am today - 25.5 years later [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

I can say that each and every one of those stables were wonderful in their own way. I learned invaluable lessons at each (especially Travis Hall where I learned to control my hot pre-teen temper and that was a true turning point in my riding and life b/c whenever I feel that temper rising, I now take a breath and get control remembering the exact day I learned that lesson - hard lesson to learn!) and have some wonderful memories.

Hey pinkhorse,

I remember Jellybean all too well, one of my favorites...do you remember Jeffrey, who owned Flipper Pie. He used to teach a few of us way back then. I also remember Phoenix. Was Moe, Becky, or Jack there when you were there. I'm sure there are other names I have forgotten.
Who taught you back then?

I started a number of years ago at a small private farm. A student of Sandy Blackhall's (Mary McBernie) taught me at her farm and in the winter at Lindenhoff using their horses.

Moved to Mardon stables in Arva after that was Wilton Grove Equestrian...

I rode at Kilbyrne stables when it was owned by the Blackburns and London Equestrian as well.

Ahhh memories.

Another Eastern Ontario person here- I started riding (actually started vaulting) at age 4 at St. Alban's stables in Brockville (Eve Mainwaring) 27 years ago and went on to join the Temperance Lake Pony Club when it was at Clohbarra Stables outside of Athens (Marg Barraclough and family). Many wonderful memories of St. Alban's, Clohbarra, and the TLPC! I'm still at it and planning to show both of my horses this year.

I started my English riding "career" at Kempers just outside Orangeville. I worked in the stables at Chingacousy in the early 70s during the summer. I graduated from Humber in 74 (any other Humber Horse graduatues out there????) and managed a barn at Chingacousy for about a year, then moved to a private hunter show barn doing the A's for about 4 years, then decided to get a "real job" so I could enjoy my horse and show him. Nothing like a busman's holiday, going to a horseshow on your day off!!!!!!!! Have now switched to driving due to arthritis in my back and loving it. Still get to be around horses and show abit!!!!!!!

I remember the schooling shows at Clarksons. They were fun - no perfect sand footing back then! Nice rolling grass ring. Quite challenging with a greenie!

I started with hourly western trail rides at Circle M on #27, Rouge Hills at Port Union Rd. and Rocking Horse at Yonge & Elgin Mills. None of those exist anymore.

Galactica,

Man, who else taught me? Can't remember (people) names, that was a long time ago. I do remember Moe, a tall bony grey OTTB (killer withers to ride bareback). Others I rode often were Joey, Nada, Megan, Glunt, Tabitha, Molly Bee, Bluestreak, Roadapple.

I remember a Jeff, he had a big perlino horse with blue eyes; think it was named Hepplewhite.

I was friends with two sisters, Jackie and Kristen, they bought from Walter a red chestnut mare named Sahara who loved to jump. Often wonder what ever happened to them!

Hey there Amerghin - I am sure I know you - if I remember correctly, we had Smitty at our place in Millbrook for years! email me at thistlefarms@sympatico.ca - would love to hear from you!

I started at 5yrs old at Anglestone Farms in Cambridge, Ont. Went from there to Imbercourt Dressage Academy. Spent about 4 summers at Kemur Camp, then moved to Niagara and rode out of Hunter Hill Stables(outside of Vineland), moved with my coach to her own place just outside of Fonthill. Her name was Liz Taylor. Then took about twenty years off and started back about three years ago.

Im another Ottawa-ite. I started at 11 at the barn in Kanata in the early 70's. The Queensway didnt even go out to Kanata then. I had to stop after a few years as we just could not afford it. When my daughter decided she wanted to ride at age 8, I started up again. Now, I own a barn. What the heck am I doing???!!! LOL!

I started training with Mike Van Dyke at Concordia Farms at Mt. Hope near Caledonia, that was my first lesson after showing for several years by the seat of my pants. he sure opened my eyes and started my education. anyone remember doing the sleepovers in the dorm over the viewing room?

I can tell by some of the dates that I am a wee bit younger than many who have replied.

I started my addiction at Zweibrecken in 85 or 86.

Clever Girl- I know your brother, and I believe the current count is 8! That reminds me, I need to see him soon.

Well, I started my riding career back in Norway at the age of 7 so 35 years ago (gasp)
My parents bought me lessons and I was "riding" this pony named Bruno (read nasty) that used to get me off by bolting and scraping me against the wall in the arena, my helmet fell off 50 feet before me, cause after all it was meant to grow into and therefore 3 sizes to big,



[This message has been edited by Cartier (edited March 11, 2008).]

I started with Kim Kirton at what is now Pride Stables. I was 4, Kim must have been all of 10 or so! My mom rode Dogherty and I rode Winnie-the-Pooh - both of whom ended up with Felix Rommens at Pineview.
Switched to Imbercourt and did their vaulting program for 6 years, also riding as a Trooper(blue dress shirt, tie, earned my spurs!). Also started lessons with Irene Allison at Brendalwood(became Blackrod and Windever)when I was about 7 or 8, but couldn't tell anyone at Imbercourt because it was Hunter/Jumper(GASP! :rolleyes [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img] as opposed to Classical.
Joined the Grand River Pony Club at 10 and was persuaded to Event as they were short one horse/rider for a C-Rally team.
Started lessons with Col Gutowski at 11 - still showing Hunter with Irene. They both encouraged me to experience different coaches through clinics and different disciplines, something for which I am still grateful.
Spent many week-ends at Blue Ridge riding whatever the Col. threw me on. I doubt I could manage one of his lessons now, let alone 3 horses, like I used to!

I should get my boyfriend Patrick Field to post here - he too rode with Jim Rush for a long time and now every time we drive along the 407 he gets sad thinking of all the places he used to ride.

Someone mentioned Cruise Control from Bertin's - after two years of day camp at Zweibrucken I moved to Bertin's - would take the train from toronto and get picked up by my grandfather in Oakville, who would bring me out to the first group bright and early Saturday mornings at Bertin - but before I could ride I had to "free lunge" haha Cruise Control around the arena to let off steam lol which of course meant having a brown horse by the end of it... Was it Egypt who bit me in the back when I tried to mount? Seems like such a long time ago. Rode with Penny McEachern at Fieldstone, then took a break to go to school. Still on that break I suppose [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

I'm sure some of you will know Patrick. I must get him to read this thread.

mcd

Hey Mdunnphoto- I am less than sure here, however did Patrick ever work for Torchy?? I remember a Patrick when I had my hunter with Torchy in the early 90's??? I could be wrong, but thought it may be the same guy??

mdunnphoto - that was me mentioning Cruise Control at Bertins. He was my first horse!!!!!!! I leased him until my parents bought him for me. I remember Egypt too!!!!! Too funny!!!!

holy cow President... yep that would have been Patrick. He still talks about him [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img] He (Prez) was still on the circuit when I was still showing, he was a machine. Wow.

I LOVED Cruise Control. Rode him near the end of my tenure at Bertin - other memories include going to my VERY first horse show in East Aurora (which now I realize must have been probably at Missy Clark's mom's place? had no idea then) where I promptly went so far off course not once but twice... but stayed with a very nice family whose daughter showed me how to play pool and go for waffles for breakfast [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Also did overnight camp there the year we had this freak hailstorm the Saturday morning when we were all riding in the indoor around 8:00am... talk about fireworks, nothing quite like torrential hail on a nice steel arena roof in the middle of summer!

Yep Patrick worked for Torchy as well. He pretty much has worked for / with everyone - Creditview I think was highschool, then put himself through University, then I don't know... then onto grooming / working for the Team horses (Torchy et al was in there somewhere) went to Olympics, WEG (the year Gail won), Aachen etc. Looked after Zucarlos mostly but it was the years of Ben, Kahlua, etc. Took a hundred horses a week with Christina Schlusemeyer (?) to Florida for a few years... all of this before I knew him of course lol! Now he runs a nice dining room and sells lots of wine [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img] I guess if you can sell horses you can sell wine!

mcd

Ah, I think I know who you are. Did your parents buy you Cruise say, 10ish years ago? I was teaching for the Bertins at the time. I'm not far from you now... I'm NE of
Orangeville and have the horses down the road at my Dad's place. I remember your first name, but not your last. Mine's Kelley.


Wait... I see you say Cruise was dapple grey - the Cruise I knew was bay. Carry on. Maybe they had more than one Cruise Control @ Bertins'? It wouldn't surprise me.




[This message has been edited by horsemad! (edited March 13, 2008).]

TB_Girl

Would the pony club in Carlise be Carlisle Pony Club? Back in the 70's.
My parents started it up again back then, we had a boarding stable on Mountsberg Road called BJ Equestrian.

Before that they started a boarding stable in Mississauga on Burnhamthorpe Road. Blue Spruce Stables.

I got my first pony at 6 (I'm now 42!)

After BJ and Carlisle Pony Club, I got out of horses for a while.

Now back into horses for the last 10 years, and loving it!

Horsemad - my parents bought me Cruise Control when I was 16 and I could only wish that was 10ish years ago LOL!!!! Can you email me off board ?? loraleefarms@sympatico.ca.......the Cruise that I owned was a dapple grey gelding.

Email on the way... [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Craig you will not remember me but you used to teach me every once in a while at a farm called OXER STABLES which was located on Tremaine Road in Oakville. That was at about 32 years ago I think. No indoor arena or anything just a large rolling grass field with a bunch of cross country fences. That was "our" hunter course.....and it was a blast! Still have very found memories of my many years there and up the road at Bertins.

I started out at 28 taking western lessons at Cinch Stables and taking english lessons at Sandy Blackalls both at the same time.

After a while, I decide that western was the direction I wanted to go. Met my husband and gave up riding for about 7 years. We then bought a farm, and now have 4 horses of our own.