Just wondering where everyone got their start in horses back in the day. I started at 5 years of age (35 years ago) at Mountainview Farms between Acton and Georgetown (the Listers) and then trained as a teen with Linda Buchanen just outside of Rockwood. I also had my Junior Colours with the Ennisclaire Hunt Club from about 9 years old. Stopped regular riding at 18 for a career & family.

I'm an old Almar Girl (when it was on Burnamthorpe rd) oh.....about 40 years or so ago when I was a teen lol! God I'm old!!!!
Any other Almar girls out there?

Took a one week riding camp during the summer of Grade 5 and 6 at Meadowvale Stables in Brampton. Then kept on with one riding lesson a week for 5 or so years, then 2, then part boarded a horse for a while. When I was 18 and working full time I could finally afford to purchase a horse of my own...a 10 year old off the track TB mare that had not won a dime in her life and did not know the word "whoa" Ahh youth is bliss...I worked with that wonderful mare through all of that stuff and she turned out to be real little trooper in the hunter and jumper classes at the many schooling shows we attended. She was my first broodmare and gave us three lovely foals until she passed on. The rest as they say is history but I still have a special fondness for that very special first horse [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img] After Meadowvale Stables was sold to Danny Foster I believe I moved to Jim Rush's farm (cannot for the life of me remember the name of the farm...perhaps Meadowlarke ?) then on to Bertin Stables in Oakville where I taught part time for a number of years while attending College. Then moved up the road to Chris Zizians place called Oxer Stables on Tremaine Road for a while then to a private farm in Nobleton while I bought my own farm near Schomberg where I have been for 23 years with all my beasties....

Lived in Fort Erie and loved horses and needed a job so lied about my age and went to work at the racetrack. My girlfriend and I were one of the first females (certainly of teenage age) that worked in the backstretch. We had to be escorted in and out to our shedrows for our own safety.

First job was hotwalking for SamSon Farms when Art Warner was trainer over 35 years ago.

Summer camp 28 years ago! Circle R Ranch in Delaware Ontario. Bugged my parents for English lessons and went to London Equestrian for a couple of years as a teen, took Western lessons for a couple of years in my 20's and have just returned to London Equestrian as a "mature" student!

Used to set up jumps in the back yard when I was a kid - lawn furniture, rakes, hockey sticks, etc. and run around jumping them! LOL! Who else did that??

English lessons in 1968 at Sunnybrook Stables in Toronto as a mere baby (yeah right!).

Got thrown, narrowly missed being stomped, and then rolled on over about five lessons.

Somehow I lost my enthusiasm, until my teens when my girlfriend threw me up on her psycho QH gelding and walked me up and down the laneway. It was wonderful. I took lessons in high school and part boarded after we moved to Orillia. After we left school we did the odd "annual" trail ride. I tried lessons again in my late 20s in the summertime at Henry Regelink's farm. Then nothing until about six years ago when my youngest daughter wanted riding lessons for her birthday.

Now we have horses, a farm and I'm happier than the proverbial pig in spit (what did you THINK I was going to type???)!

Ha ha ha!!! Me too! Plus we made the dog jump our courses too! [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Eglington Equestrian Club on John Street was where I started, back in the day when Peter, Margo and Gillian Howard rode there along with Carey Diamond, Monica Bata, Alannah, Nuala and Rosanne Byles, etc

I know that I rode before that though - at the family farm, as well as the Pottery Rd Stables in Toronto for trail rides, Sunnybrook for trail rides as well, the old Circle M Ranch and up at the Ehrlick Farm in Nobleton

Ah ... the "Good Old Days"! [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

I started my days out when I was 7 years old at Bertin Stables on Hwy 5 in Oakville...back in 72 (yikes) The farm is still there run by the son. I have never been back. Mrs.Bertin use to rome the stables in her high heels and fur coat....it was hilarious! [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

I bought my first horse at 19 (37 years ago) from Dot & Jerry Binette in Ste Anne de Bellvue, QC and showed Quarter Horse & Open shows and then eventually Appaloosa shows for a few years. Moved to Ontario and have been doing the general riding thing for a while then got involved with the Ontario Appaloosa Horse Assoc. by doing secretary/treasuer then on to Show Secretary for many years. Not being in a position to ride competitively, the show secretary allowed me to go to all the shows, see all the different horses and meet a bunch of really interesting people and get paid too (BONUS!!) I am doing the EMG Biggist Loser now so hopefully with all of the extra pounds gone I will be more comfortable doing some riding on the trails or some cow work or maybe some dressage lessons, I will have to have Julie F check with Julie to see what her preference would be!!

Here is proof that I have been on a horse at least 2x!!!

[IMG]http://thumb12.webshots.net/t/58/558/3/33/14/2769333140093073312OkZfnr_th.jpg[/IMG]

I started with lessons at Shady Hill then owned by Jack Gisborn. Got my own horse and learned how to ride by hunting with the Hamilton Hunt. This was back in the 70s. I was amazed that I could actually canter up and down hills. Had a great little horse. He was TB/clyde/QH and could jump the moon. 10 years later moved to a friend's (Margot Isbister) who owned a well known jumper called Jibber Jabber. She took be back to the basics. Learned how to do proper transitions etc. Then got my own farm that was 27 years ago. I am still riding though no longer hunting and only jumping very small jumps. We dabble in dressage.

Back then we used to say those that are too chicken to jump do dressage. Of course we knew very little about dressage.

I started about 40 years ago at Tyndale with Joan Clark. I was there until mid 70's when I got into eventing and moved to Maple with Fred Grafi and Captain Dedemetre (sp). Then stopped riding in the early 80's, because my parents stopped paying, and then started again when my daughter asked for lessons in 2000. My husband never really understood where that was going to lead...LOL....

Started in the riding school at 'BRIAR HALL` (1974 - I was) in Oakville. Moved up to Caledon in 1975 and spent the BEST years of my entire life at what was then known as `CHINGUACOUSY COUNTRY CLUB` hacking all over Caledon and competing in their schooling shows. Young horsey girls paradise!! Life has not been better since!! Things got so much more serious with the move up to the À Circuit! Still loved it - but it is was very different experience.

I had my first lessons for my 10th b-day at what is now Bayview farm. It was run by Marge Love (now Tracz) and her sister Barb. Got put up on a pony called Durante and amazed my instructor by being able to post. She asked how i had learned that and didn't believe me when I told her that I'd read how in a book.
Went from there to Bertin's and was one of the teens that taught there- one of my students was Neil Bertin!

Gosh, it would have been about 35 years ago, at Sandy Hill Stables in St.Lazare, Quebec owned by the Greers. Then got my own pony and rode out of Hunts Stables in Hudson, Quebec - I have very fond memories of those times from being a Pony Clubber to hunting with the LTMH Hunt Club. Oh and the trails we used to go on, we could ride for hours and never come across another horse or rider. We used to ride up to the bakery at Mon Village and get day old sugar cookies for the horses, sigh, those were the days.................

What True Colours said. Exactly. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/rolleyes.gif[/img]

I'm from further 'afield' so to speak. When I was 8, begged parents for riding lessons and rode my bike over to a stable on Pine Glen road in Riverview, NB.
Then when we moved to the country to NS (I was 12) I was in heaven. Rode in Wilmot with the Newcombs and did Pony Club there, then, since the people behind showed and bred QH, I switched to western. Picked up my first QH in Pennsylvania and then showed him for several years in the MQHA. Good times. After university down east, moved to the big smoke to attend Ryerson and only wistfully went near horses when it was Quarterama or the Royal. Married, had kids and after 25 years and a daughter who is as horse mad as I was then, bought a horse and sigh, now life is good.

I started riding in Quebec MANY years ago, would have been in the 60's, at Green Meadows on Cote Vertu west of Montreal. There is at least one other person on this board who knows where I mean.
In Ontario, did only trail riding in 1971 at Hilltop (Warden and St Clair) and I believe it was Canadiana on Steeles Ave. Then a few lessons at Sunnybrook in the 70's and more trailriding at Rouge Hills in the early 90's. Started 'serious' riding in 1998.

I started taking lessons in London when I was about 8...I forget the name of the barn. When I was 12 my parents bought my first pony, a hot little Arab/Welsh cross named Tinker Belle. We kept her at Winnie Kamen's in Hyde Park, until moving to Sandy Blackall's when I was 14. There I started Pony Club, hunting and showing. For my 16th birthday I got an Arab/Clyde/Hackney gelding whom I adored. He could do anything. I remember a day my little sister and I decided to see how high he could jump...I ended up going over a 6' vertical. We stopped after that...my sister couldn't reach any higher, and I was too scared to jump higher, anyway. I still can't believe I did that! Now 3 feet looks high! A few months later we moved to the Ottawa area where I continued in Pony Club, got my 'B', hunted and started eventing. I rode with the Laframboise girls, the Irving girls and some others who went on to do very well. I got married at 20 and gave up riding until about 1988. By then I lived in Ancaster and kept a borrowed horse at Gisborn's for a while. When I returned the mare, after about a year, I stopped again until about 3 years ago., when at the age of 51, and now in the Orangeville area, I started riding a friend's horse. I bought my boy, Atlas, who is a Paint TB/QH two years ago and am still trying to regain some of my long lost skills. I've fallen off twice (not the horse's fault, either time)and was badly hurt both times, which makes me wonder if I should really be doing this, but I love it, and I love Atlas. He is such a sweetheart, and the good he has done my soul far outweighs the damage to this old body!

[This message has been edited by Gillian and Vern (edited March 01, 2008).]

I took my first lesson when I was 7 back in 1957 at Three C Ranch when it was in Cooksville (on the north side of Dundas St. just east of highway 10.) Now, that WAS a long time ago.

Am I the only Ottawa area oldie on here?

Actually I got a pony for my 5th birthday. Bless my parents, they meant well but we all knew nothing and said pony figured it out pretty quickly. He was a little black Welsh who started to kick, bite and lay down while being ridden with amazing regularity... He finally picked me up one day by the back of my coat - Dad said he had to go.

I then did Sunday lead line rides at Silver Spur ranch which used to be on Carling Avenue. Every Sunday that I could talk my parents into it, around and around. I'm sure they were hoping it would just wear off but it only got worse [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

I started lessons at Fiddlers Green the year they opened (1976) and rode there for about 5 years (summer camp, winter camps, anything I could go to). I was 8 when I started there. We were at the old Fiddlers (Percy McKinley's farm) and rode at least one or two winters outside with no indoor. I can't imagine doing that now - age must thin your blood.

Got my first pony thru my then instructor - Sandi Patterson - when I was 11. Misty was a Arab/QH cross and my parents paid a whole $700 for her. She was amazing - when I look back now, I realize what a gem she was. She did it all - she was only 14.2, but I got my B on her, showed dressage, hunted with the OVH on Pony Club days, evented (even at Harwood) rode western, even tied a toboggan to my girth and drove her around in the snow [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/eek.gif[/img]!

Is Harwood Horse Trials a thing of the past?

After Fiddlers, I moved to Willowdusk Farms which was located across from where Scotiabank Place is now. I had some of the very best times ever there, and wish I was still in contact with some of the people I rode with there. I can remember hacking to Delby Stables to show, as well as going to Robingreen (when it was still Burt and Dorothy's), Basswood (Power's), Kanata Riding Club, Elchris at Oxford Mills, and showing at Dorothy Leggett's first place on the Ottawa River (all I can think of is Spindrift which is her current place). Oh, and so many good times with the OVH Pony Club. Working rallies at Carp Fairgrounds, regional rally at Williamstown Fairgrounds - we all just stayed in the hall together and slept on the floor - what a hoot. Winning at Regional Quiz which was in Vaudreuil (pardon my terrible french spelling). Testing and clinics and lectures. Just the best times [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Sorry - I have written a novel, but they were sure good times!

[This message has been edited by CdnQH (edited March 01, 2008).]

When I was 15 I took a few lessons during the summer holidays at a place in Snowballs Corners - sorta near Newmarket. I don't remember the name of the place but one of the horses I rode was Mr. Clean (huge white horse) and a small little chestnut horse that was sort of scary. I used to remember her name but it's gone now. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/frown.gif[/img]

Then I waited about 31 years and bought my first horse. Started taking lessons on her every summer and I'm still doing that 6 years later. But we do only ride in the summer. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

My riding started at a rental stable, Bramalea Stables at the corner of Queen St./Heartlake Road, Brampton. My favourite horse ran away with me.

Started riding (not because I was run away with) at Wagon Wheels on McLaughlin Road later. Bramalea Stables had moved. First formal lessons were at Meadowvale stables.

Next formal lessons would be at the Briarwood Saddle and Bridle Club (Jim Carter's farm) on Kennedy Road north of Vodden St., Brampton That was a fun time, different levels to work toward, lectures on history, health, tack, lots of great stuff and where I learned to put a snaffle bridle back together in under five minutes.

[This message has been edited by ride on (edited March 01, 2008).]

CdnQH, did you hear of a summer ranch camp way back when called Ferndale Ranch near Ottawa? I went there when I was 13. Just curious.

Cherham and LadyA - do either of you remember a Cruise Control ( dapple grey tb gelding ) or Image ( bay tb mare?? ) Just curious......

Welsteed - thats funny ...

I boarded ay Snowball Corners when Doug Henry rented a barn there, along with Danny Foster, Rick Hay, Gord Cooper and that whole crew ... Doug was riding in the GP's then as was Danny on a super little chestnut jumper called "Super X" that was owned by his uncle, who owned Super X Drug Stores ...

We had a real blast there - and we actually got some riding done as well ... [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

Chancey, I never rode at Ching Country Club, but I remember going to shows there - and pony club testing (Meadowvale). It was quite posh in the day, had *two* arenas (oooh-ahhh - a rarity at the time). I also remember Kirtons taking over the place for some short period of time before its ultimate demise.

Remember honking to drive through the one lane bridge?

My brother lived in one of the cottages on the property there up until just a few years ago (when he got married and his "swinging single" days drew to an end, his wife insisted on better digs!) It was creepy, kind of like trailer park boys, but with rotting cottages instead of trailers.

Anyways, very sad to go there and see the stables fallen into total disrepair. They might actually be bulldozed by now.

My history would be Creditview/Nethervue/Kinglea/TwinHill (Linda Waxman)...then 20 year hiatus to bring us to today...

(Critters informed me a while ago that I rode with Janet Hall back in the day - who knew? Not me...)

Started out in England at the tender age of 9, remembered I asked my parents for a pony after my rabbit went wild 'cos I didn't take care of it...they didn't get me a pony, but I worked at the barn to pay for lessons until we moved to Canada when I was 12.
Was at Maple too in the mid-70's 'till early 80's....rode with Fred Grafi too. I loved it there, the x-country course was amazing! I also got back into riding when my daughter started in 2000..weird!
I likely know you... [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by ButterflyMom (edited March 01, 2008).]

[This message has been edited by ButterflyMom (edited March 01, 2008).]

guineapigger,

I did??
I guess I must know you since you boarded at Kinglea. WOW, that was almost 30 years ago. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/eek.gif[/img]


[This message has been edited by Critters (edited March 01, 2008).]

I was 9 years old when I started lessons at Central Don Stables (Sunnybrook) in 1967. The first winter we had our lessons in a big green canvas tent. Worked mucking stalls and taking out pony rides and occasionally trail rides thru the park.
I continued there until 1970 when I moved to Vahalla Riding School in Richmond Hill on Elgin Mills.
I also took lessons at Leitchcroft until I purchased my first horse and moved into Amberwood Farms.
I moved to several smaller stables and then to a private farm.
When my boy passed away I stopped riding for 5 years .
When I got up the nerve to start again I returned to Vahalla.

OMG, another place I totally forgot about [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/eek.gif[/img]
Lost In The Fog - Do you remember Meloches on Sources Blvd, D.D.O.?

I actually grew up on the King Side Road between Bathurst and Dufferin. We had 2 acres, the property had been a farm and we had the old drive shed on the property. My dream was to have a pony of my own. My parents knew lots of folks with horses and their impression was that you had to have tons of $$$, which we didn't. They had no idea that they could have sent me 5 minutes up the road to Tynedale to learn to ride. This is one of my biggest regrets in life. I wish that I had learned to ride as a child.

I started riding through the IBM Riding Club at a place on Kennedy just north of Bloomington (can't remember the name) when I was 25. I was there for a year and then moved on. Bought a safe as houses quarter horse, boarded her privately. It seemed I either had money for a horse or money for lessons. The two didn't converge for a very long time.

Ironically, my brother now has 7 (count em, 7) horses on that same property (The King City Natural Health Centre for those in the area). He plays polo, his wife hunts and they have a pony for their daughter.

I knew lots of the farms mentioned in the other thread, but I only drove by them, never rode at them.

Jane, yes I remember the name Meloches - was that a trail riding 'establishment' ? If it's the one I went to several times at 13-14 years old, we would all line up our horses at one end of a huge field and then race to the other end ....without helmets, most of us. I did have a horse stumble and pitch me and was knocked out for a while. Imagine how our parents just didn't know the helmet issue in those days. Sheesh, if I imagine my own daughter doing that !

Horsie girl,

My daughter started her riding at Mountainview with the Listers about 30 years ago [ouch!] and then DH and I figured if we were going to be at the barn we might as well take lessons too! I was around 26 when I finally got to take my first riding lessons after being horse crazy all my life. It was heaven. Such great memories. Do you remember Play it Right, Sonny, Nicky, Little Taboo. Going out for a hack and doing the "Slide"
We started out with Steve as our coach, then Marg, then a girl called Gwen from U of G , then Jennifer Lister. I go by the farm about once a week on my way into town. Everything looks the same except the slide hill looks like it has gotten smaller. LOL!!!

We now have our own farm and have bred some nice "A "horses as well as board a few . Daughter showed hunter/jumper and I did endurance riding until a few years ago. I actually did a one day 75 mile ride, drove all night to get home, unloaded everything and went to work and did a double. Yikes!!
I just hack now and not that often I'm afraid.
And all this started at Mountainview Farm!!!

Great thread. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

I worked at a stable on St John's Rd, D.D.O. a mile or so north of Fairview Shopping Centre in the late 60's, early 70's.
My memory has gotten so bad I remember things but not their names. I remember Meloches also. It is so nice to re-visit the fun and enjoyable times of our youth!

I don't know that place but I do remember walking up the narrow country road that was St John's Rd, north of Hymus Blvd in the early 60's. I remember when Fairview was being built! That's how old I am [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/eek.gif[/img]

I lived in a housing developement up by the stable and went to John Rennie HS and used to walk home up St. Johns on the days I had no classes in the afternoon so I could go to the barn to clean stalls etc.......I wonder where all that incentive has gone??

I started riding at age 9 at Green Willow Stables in Hornby. It was run by Dan Jones and his family. That was in the 60's Anyone else on here from Green Willow?

STONEGATE, drop me an email off the board sally_morrow03@hotmail.com, now I am curious I must know you from the good old days. I still live just outside of Acton, maybe we could get together for a hack one day.

Wow - lots of familiar names here.
Followed my sisters around 3C (about 37 years ago)- we bought our first pony there.
Listers gave us our second (a 17 year old half arab sway back mare)...moved to Misty Acres. Finally bought a place in the country and had them at home.
Later, one of my sisters used to live in one of those cottages at Chingcousy Country Club and teach in the barn.
I totally jumped anything (I mean furniture etc)and made the dog do it, too. Now, I see my daughter do the same thing.....

I started as a kid, went to BSS summer camp and we rode at Eglinton, too many years ago for me to count, but at least 30, after that Cedar Creek in Guelph (if my memory is correct) area and then Sunnybrooke Stables, before the arena went in, we used to ride outside, even through the winter. Those were the days, jumping the piles of wood chips out on the trail.

Can't say I remember those names. But my memory is poor at the best of times. I do remember having a crush on a guy named Jeff, but I can't remember his last name.lol

We grew up in Don Mills and Willowdale as kids, and those were in the days when Windfield's Farm had their broodmare division on York Mills Road just west of Leslie (where the housing development is now ...)

My best friend and I used to bike out there after school and on weekends and "pick grass" for the broodmares and climb on the fence and feed them and pat them and we'd spend hours there at times ... [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

One day Beth got the brilliant idea that we should perhaps take them for a ride [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/rolleyes.gif[/img] so she picked her favorite mare and brought her alongside the fence and I did the same with mine, and I remember who it was to this day - her name was Willow Lake and the dam of the good race stallion - Victorian Prince - and we'd climb on board these girls and they'd wander off in search of their friends and more grass with us on board ...

God must look after idiots and horse crazy young girls (!) as these wonderful mares never did a thing except jiggedy jog a few steps and mosey around with us on their backs ...

If the farm manager ever saw these 2 horse crazy girls on the backs of their valuable broodmares I'm sure that he would have gone completely and totally nuts, and all I can say is that I'm glad we picked 2 mares that had actually been backed and ridden once upon a time and were kind to 2 crazy girls! [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

No. I started riding at the National Capital Equestrian Park in 1985, and me and my friends used to go to Silver Spur when we wanted fun trail rides.

Edited because the quote thingy didn't work.

[This message has been edited by CatBalou (edited March 02, 2008).]

Oh gosh, we must have been practically neighbours! We lived just off Leslie Street, just south of that big white mansion. I used to dream about living in the mansion with all the stables and stuff!!

And there was a riding stable at Finch & Leslie as I recall. My older sister's friend was killed there, I think, after a fall without a helmet. To this day my sister can't understand why we ride [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/frown.gif[/img]

I recall going to the broodmare farm and getting bitten feeding grain to the horses -- I STILL have a kink in my finger from the bite!

Yikes, no that is not the place but I remember where you are talking about, it was just down the road from Meloches. Meloches was a fancy boarding facility, big white house at the front of the property, HUGE x-country jumps in the front field. Friends of my parents kept their horses there for awhile.

GP'r, you may be interested to know that:
- the one lane bridge (sadly) was taken down in the 80's and the road paved (more sadly)

- the cottages on the Ching. property still stand, but most are boarded up now. I was told that the owners had long leases on them and that as the leases were up the owner of the property (Bruce McLaughlin still, I think) was not renewing the leases. Still a few left tho'.

- The pool by the juniors club house is long gone....the wading pool is still there empty and unused except for perhaps a couple of geese when the rainfall fills it.

- The arena by the long 'C' barn is used for equipment for the golf club, the barn is still standing in disuse.

- The 'B' was closed up but has been maintained to some degree.

- The 'A' barn was fixed up and still stands. Sometimes I peek in and imagine what it must have been like back in the day.

- The grass show rings are a golf driving range now, the sand rind, a gravel parking lot.

- The pasture field overgrown with fences falling down and the cross country fences fallen down.

- The path through the evergreens to the corner of the property has grown in with wild flowers and new deciduous tree growth.

But...when I squint my eyes......I can still see the dirt roads, the pine path, cross country fences, horses turned out in the field and hear the whinnying and clinking of tack and clipped jumping poles....Michael Gutowski instructing the riders and envision the mix of horses and people that made up the glory days of the Chinacousy Country Club.

I think the cottage my brother lived in is still inhabited (possibly by his brother-in-law if memory serves me correctly). It was actually very cute and still in decent shape - an A-frame on the river.

I can just recall the last time I went to visit him there (maybe 5 years ago?), I had to drive past several boarded up places, rusted out cars etc. down a potholed laneway, then, as I reached the few inhabited cottages - (you will think I am making this up) - I passed a creepy guy on a minibike with a megaphone (really, I am not kidding), who followed me the rest of the way in to my brother's place, announcing "hey baby, I am "beat-your-meat-pete! Stop by and visit!"

Party on.

I did not go back. Ever.

[img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] That sounds like a blast, GP!

I, too, used to ride at Nethervue. Those would have been my first lessons - circa 1978ish... then HSE and Huelyn.

I took a number of years off, then rode and taught at Bertins and now have my horses at home.

Oh, the memories...
Started at Bayview Farms, at Bayview & John Street in Thornhill. Used to walk there every weekend. Remember Marg Glen? Helen Strawbridge? Geraldine Stinchcombe? (Parents did not want a rider in the family) Bayview moved to McCowan & Stouffville SdRd. I stayed there for a year, then rode with Norm Sutcliffe (OMIGOD) for another year, then got my own horse, and moved to Redstone, and then to Valhalla. Taught at Valhalla, rode a lot of other people's horses.
Went to University, and groomed for Craig Collins for a summer, at 1354 Burnamthorpe Rd., Oakville.(Cherkas's old place, where the Hornby horse show was held, for awhile). (I remember watching Beth Underhill at that show, early in Sagan's career, and hearing Jimmy Elder saying, that girl can RIDE, because Sagan was such a stopper, except for Beth. Craig's became Twilight Farms (Williams), and then Breakaway, with Peter Stoeckl. I taught Ainsley first!
Anyway, no longer riding, missing it every day, for the rest of my life...

[This message has been edited by GoLightly (edited March 02, 2008).]

I started at age 10 (1975) at Central Don - rode in the big green thing for a year then moved to Foxhunter with Alan for 2 years (learned awesome equitation) and then moved to Zweibrucken with Richard Chase for 3 years and learned to ride jumper - after 6 years, I had collected enough ponies and a jumper that my parents bought a farm in Millbrook, Ontario.

Hi Diane,

I was at Halton for a couple of years buck in 1970 but I also was at Kinglea for about 12 years. Moved out in 1980-81 or there abouts. Then headed down to the place I'm at now which is across the road from the old Catchpenny.
I bet we have crossed paths numerous times.

[This message has been edited by Critters (edited March 02, 2008).]

Hey TrueColours, I used to set up jumps with my friend and we would see who did the fastest round! We also set up a dressage arena and made up tests!

I started out on Saddlebreds at a farm that is now an office building at Warden Ave. and Hwy7 in Markham. The farm house was moved and is raised up sitting in a field. I think it must be historic. Part of Warden Ave. has been paved over what was the sandring! How sad is that? The girl who ran the place had to close up shop as her parents were getting divorced. My cousin boarded at Redstone Farm and my poor Father got suckered into paying for lessons there and my cousin thought it was so funny how I was Daddy's little girl! Still am after 35 years!!
I stayed at Redstone for 3 years and then moved on the Foxhunter. It's still there and doing well. My guess is they are just waiting for the right offer from the evil developers!

Cheers!

Started riding at Central Don Stables in the mid-70s...with Norm Elder, who I remember jumping on a fat chestnut called Jellybean, to make some point about jumping. For fun, we would ride through the trails in the park and jump the picnic tables.

We had a "tennis bubble" that went up over that ring in the winter, the horses had to learn to go through the airlock to prevent the thing from collapsing, and when snow slid off it, we had a rodeo! I worked there as a groom too, looking after ex-police horses owned by the Bundy's...my favorite was named Major. I also loved an appy boarded there by the Weston family, an ex-polo pony I think, named Phoenix.

Rode at Sunnybrook in Richmond Hill and showed at the Fair (ferris wheel and all).

Worked at Horse-Lover's Day Camp in Gormley...tons of fun! Also worked the YMCA riding camp at Governor General's Horse Guards. That was crazy...trying to teach beginners to ride on the polo ponies (no mane to hang onto; when they had enough, they would run back into the barn and scrape the kids off!

Also rode at Leitchcroft for some time, with Martha Griggs and Topshi Hari (sp?). Loved that place, especially going for gallops around the field out back.

Worked for a couple who lived near Joker's Hill, to exercise their horses...used to hack over to JH and play on their fantastic x-country courses!

While going to university in the 80's, rode at ClerView in Guelph (favorite horse; a buckskin called Molson) and Travis Hall in Fergus.

Moved to Oakville and rode at Bertin's briefly (favorite horse; Alize)...moved to Schellenberg in 2002 and have been there since! No more schoolies though, I am on my second horse [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img].

Hey Guineapigger and Ride On - I knew I couldn`t possibly be the only one to know about Chinguacousy! It was a going concern in the old days. I too, am sadly aware of the disappearing old facility. On a regular basis would ride my pony bareback - under `the bridge` to take her for a swim in `the river` beside the golf course. There is NOTHING like the feeling of riding a horseépony who is REALLY Swimming - She LOVED TO SWIM - incredible experience!! I had a friend who lived in the summer in those cottages - spent lots of time there!. Drove through the old barn areas a couple of years ago and felt like I was in a weird movie - quite surreal and almost creepy. I was there when Kirton`s ran the barns for a bit. --yep - I too could write a novel about those days!!

Our first horse was a 5 week old from a PMU farm in Martintown. Because of her my parents bought a second farm in St Lazare where we moved to in 1962. It was Horse Heaven as we got so many more in the following years. That horse (14:2) was the first pony to place (5th)in Preliminary at the Eastern Canadian Championships at Angus's Estate in Senneville(3 day event) ever. Prelim was the lowest level in those days, mid 60's I think.
I think Jerry Binette was our Blacksmith, he was really good. Rodney Greer lives quite near where I live now in Ontario.
I saw Sandy Babich last year at Lachute, Had't seen her for over 40 years, she used to keep her horse at our place.

- When I was 5 I took lessons at a Pony Club somewhere in Campbellville but quit after a few years because I wanted to play soccer with my friends (no one else I knew rode)
- When I was 12 I went for a public trail ride at Palomino Ranch in Carlisle and realized how much I missed it and started working there (yes, I was 12). We got to ride for free when we weren't working. That job lasted until I got into high school
- In grade 12 I went with a friend to see her horse and behold I was hooked again. The owners of the barn came to know me and when I would go up with my friend they would have me ride their horses. I fell in love with a horse there and began part boarding and then onto a free lease with him - showed very successfully and then retired him at 25 years of age whereby his owners moved him to Florida where he peacefully passed away a year later ....
Side note: in the second half of grade 12 we were allowed to register for 'co-op' classes outside of the school if we could tie the job to a high school subject. I was determined to get in as much riding as possible with my new pal so I 'co-oped' at the barn citing that I wanted to own a riding stable hence the tie to my business class. At 17 I though that was very clever.
- Now last year (15 years later) my 7 year old daughter has started taking lessons and you guessed - I'm hooked again. After a year of taking lessons with my daughter I have adopted 6 year old TB named Tall Glass from the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society and we are in love and couldn't be happier!
~'Horses leave hoofprints on our hearts'~

Anyone here ride at Lamont Training Centre? Ian & Roseanne Black's place?

Very sad to read about Ching CC. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/frown.gif[/img] It was a place that I dreamed about having a horse there.

I started riding at 8 at my father's boss' place. He made the mistake of picking me up and sitting me on a horse. I screamed and refused to get off. That's was it. I was hooked!

I also rode at a lovely facility that was right across the road from Joker's Hill. I believe it was run by Ann Munroe?
Can't recall. Sound familiar to anyone???

My girlfriend Ruth boarded her POA pony Amigo at Greer's and when I boarded at Dot & Jerry's place we used to ride thru the Arboretum (sp?) behind MacDonald College Farm thru to Senneville and there was a Hunt club or at least the kennels with the hounds on the other side....a really nice ride!!

The first horse I ever rode was named Sundance and it was on a trail ride at Circle Square Ranch in Arden Ontario about 30 years ago. After the trail ride, Sundance stepped on my foot. I had officially been bitten by the horse bug.

My next ride was at a trail riding place in Ottawa. My friend and I took the bus to this beautiful stable. It was so clean and the horses were beautiful. Unfortunately they didn't do trail rides for people who weren't taking lessons, so they gave us directions to this trail riding place behind their stables. We walked for what seemed like forever, but found it and had our trial ride. I was so small my feet didn't reach the stirrups, so they wedged my foot in the leathers! At the end of the trail ride, they tended to gallop the horses home and the horses knew it so they all took off and my friend fell off, but because we were riding in running shoes, her foot got caught in the stirrup and she got dragged for quite a distance. It was so scary!

Next my friend and I answered an ad in the Toronto Star to clean 3-4 stalls for free riding for this man named Chris who lived at Yonge Street and HWY 7. What a dumpy little place, and my friend only went once or twice, but I went up almost every weekend to clean the stalls and get my free riding. lol I basically taught myself how to stay on and he had everything from foals, to mares, to a stallion. Looking back now, the guy was definitely a dealer. lol

Then came the lessons off and on at Sunnybrook Stables, Exhibition Riding Club (before Sunnybrook owned it), and Jolly Huntsman (where my friend bought a huge grey gelding named Big Steel).

Had the chance to go to Ocala and work at Mockingbird Farms with a co-op 'twin' on an exchange program in grade 12. It was the first time I had ever seen a foal born. It was so exciting!

Worked for a summer at Day by Day farms with the mares, foals and retired race horses.

Still best friends with the girl in Ocala and went to my first schooling show there when I visited her. She threw me up on a green broke 3 yr old tb that was afraid of puddles (of which there are every day in the summer since it rains almost every day!) I fell off into a puddle just before my walk/trot class. lol Still did the class though, but refused to do the walk/trot/canter with that horse since I was too freaked out. (she kept taking off to try and catch up to her pasture buddy) Talk about a stressful first show! I did do the second class on someone else's horse and it went great! That horse was so perfect in every way! lol No ribbons, but lots of fun.

Many more lessons off and on through the years until I bought my girl one year ago this month! And I love her to pieces! [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Another Ottawa area oldie here -- I first started riding at Double D Ranch in Cumberland. I attended the summer camps every year, for many years. Don, the owner at the time, used to pick up all the camp kids in the little bus. In the mornings, we had a lesson and in the afternoons a trail ride + swim at a nearby pool. What a great place it was! I believe it is now an English riding facility, but I'm not sure.

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.

Well I started very tiny... about three years old... standing under a kindly old Clysdale patting her belly...my mom freaked!!! Real riding began in Fredericton,New Brunswick at the Fredericton Pony Club.We used to compete against the Halifax Junior Bengal Lancers, the Rothsey Pony Club and a pony club from the States [Maine] the Braley Gray family

I started at 5 star ranch. about 13 years ago

Hey there pinkhorse & Galactica. I used to ride & help at Central Don with Walter & Norm. I remember Jeff Bowden (& Hepplewhite) & Sue McGreal teaching as well as Norm & Walter. I remember Fat Jellybean, Pete & Jack the Clyde crosses, Sahara, Phoenix, Cobbler, Edna, Hershey, Hathaway, Trinket, Magenta, Renard, Bay Rum, Meerschaum, Medusa, Morsar, Midnight, & the ponies, Bluebell, Cain & Gunther. I also remember Jackie & her sister Kristen, Michelle & Annalease. I would pile them into my Camero & take them to McDonalds. No bubble when I was there though....we rode outside. I had a blast at their monthly schooling shows.

I used to live at the house at the front of Cinch Stables, worked for them and took out the trail rides.Took my lessons there as well....Aw the good old days ..lol

Appylover- your name was Laura, right? I have a recollection of you and I in the same lessons with Mr.B, I often rode Crackerjack and remember a giant brown thing called Charlie, a really fat probably Clyde cross called Poker Chip but we called him Porker Chop. I taught Neil as a very small kid out in that little arena to the left of the driveway...All back when Dinosaurs roamed the earth...

Hi - Another neighbour. I lived just north of that big white mansion. I moved to the area in 1963 when I was 5. There were farms all along the west side of Leslie where the townhouses and Medical Building are. The girl who got killed (I'm sure it was the same girl) lived in the street behind us one or two houses to the east. Because of her, my parents wouldn't give me riding lessons. I had to wait until I was 20 and could pay for them myself. They did lend me the money for my first horse - which ended up being a "grant" so I guess they bought me my first horse after all. They talk about trail riding through the Don Valley as children so it seemed very unfair.

Near the white mansion (isn't that part of the Bloorview Children's Hospital now?) there was a little stable with a paddock. A paint horse called Apache lived there. I'm not sure how we (the neighbourhood kids) all seemed to know its name. A man came daily to feed him and we thought he was mean but he probably wanted us to leave the poor horse alone. We all had our turns hopping on Apache who understandably did his best to buck us off and discourage us! Because of Apache I always make sure my horses are turned out in very private areas where no one bothers them.

My grandparents lived at Bayview and Eglinton and when we visited my Dad always drove by Winfields Farm so I could see the horses. Never got to feed them though.

When I finally started riding it was at The Horse Place in Oakville. Sue ran it - I remember Jigsaw and Star and Count2 who certainly taught me to never beleive your horse was really going to jump until you landed on the other side. Those horses were so physically challenged that they would tell us that horses jumped differently over 3' - of course they just didn't want to jump them too much as they were on their last legs. However they certainly put that thought in my mind and for as long as I jumped I always worried "Is it over 3 feet"???? Oddly that farm also had a cottage which they managed to rent to the hottest guys. For some reason all the horses were afraid of that cottage but they guys made it worth going past it!

Hey Spots,

Was Shirley there doing pony club? Do you remeber they used to have a group lesson for thoseof us who help groom and take care of the school horse.
There was also Michelle, later Linda and Norris.
I also remember, the old Bluestreak, who used to buck everyone off. Also Hastings, Gertie. I sed to ride Becky and rode with Jeffrey Sunday mornings.
Those were wild times. At the schooling shows they used to have fault and out.....not anymore I am sure.
I wonder if any use rode together.

Hey Jude,
I started at Grren Willow too- I can name every pony & horse & what stall they were in-just don't ask me what I had for Breakfast!

Hey Fox Run! Great to see another Green Willow rider! Not sure if I can name each one but I probably can. Probably wouldn't remember the riders names though!

double post

[This message has been edited by Jude (edited June 15, 2008).]

Hey Jude and Fox Run
I was at Green Willow. Rode Donegal and Richie. Took Richie to the Ford Show and didn't even make it over the first jump.
Sooo sad. But things got better.
My parents bought Colleen, the New Forest pony in the second barn and I won the junior champion at some gymkhana that we went to. What an amazing little jumper she was!! Oh the memories.
I was there probably in 1960ish?
Do you remember a mare called Dogpatch or something like that?

Rode my uncle's old QH mare when I was 3-5. Got my first nasty spotted shetland pony named Red when I was 5. Out grew him, got my second pony at 8 her name was Tweetybird. I had them both at Cherry Hill stables. Small place in the middle of nowhere. 5 stalls!lol.

Outgrew Tweety, got my first horse at 14. Appy mare. Always rode and took lessons with my cousin Roger Clairmont.

14-16 rode TBs for an old trainer by the last name of MacDougal. He raced out of Ft. Erie. I didn't get to Ft. Erie to gallop till I was 16. Rode for Mac and Bosco Buttigieg till I was about 18 and just got too tall and decided I wanted to show.

Rode at Silver Acres a bit, Henderson's which is now Camberwells, rode and showed at Four Seasons, Bill Barber's old place.

Even did a stint of exercising horses at the Old Double J when the Hermanns owned it.

Wowwwwwwwwww... I AM SOOOOOO OLD!!!

Hi Carron! Nice to find someone else. Sheesh we are not that old! [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] Yes I remember Dogwood. She was an old hunt horse that was in the school. I gather her owner was elderly and loaned her to the school so she would have a good home. She was old but full of spunk! I got run away with one day when we all went out into the fields for a ride. Yikkes! Didn't fall off though and ended back with the group. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Collen was lovely. I remember her. Lucky you to have had her. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Wow. It is amazing how strong the ties are. Some of you are remembering friends and horses from a quarter century ago and I can still read the joy in your memories. How beautiful.

I learned to ride at home and home is where I still ride. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Yes I do have fond memories of Big Dan and the Jones family who ran Green Willow. The horses were always happy and well fed. They lived outdoors 24/7 in the good months. Mr & Mrs Jones made sure we kids had a great time and kept safe. There was a Gymkana every summer and a Christmas party in Dec. Lots of fun.

I learned to ride at eight. A girl down the road had a few ponies and loved people to ride with her as long as you didn't fall off. lol.. her nasty shetlands were the best teachers ever. We also went around to anybody that had a horse and asked if we could ride them. - some were broke some wern't but we didn't know any better My parents did not have a CLUE what we were up to. We rode bareback all over town at least 2-3 hours per day - terrorizing everyone, jumping ditches and hedges and anything else we could find. Including the picnic tables at the park. I would love to have the seat now that I did then.

After many years of begging I finally got formal lessons at Maple Valley with the Captain then rode with Barry Bull in R.Hill and Cedar Valley. Only a few of you may remember that name and Oxford Glen. [img]http://www.equiman.com/cgi-bin/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

I also earned more than one or two summers wage teaching at Horse Lovers Day Camp - what a blast and good parties. The weeks before camp started, sorting and starting the horses and trying to figure out which ones were broke were the best. I wonder how many parents knew their kids were riding GREEN GREEN horses.

If nothing else, I certainly had fun and loved working and volunteering at most of the local shows and some not so local.

I remember Shelley Johnstone & Daphne Porter,I thought they both leased Colleen
until Daphne got Sultan & Shelley got Crackerjack .Penny Rose had Mallory & Heather Hope had Flicka ?Brian Maloney had Mayo. I often wonder if any of the Jones kids post on here or even still ride?

Hey Fox Run
What years were you there. I remember Sharon Johnstone? I think. She owned a beautiful little grey pony. I had Colleen and Sheila was riding Donegal at the time. When we left Green Willow to go to Brian Hall my parents bought my second horse from Doug Hood and Colleen went back to Dan Jones, so that would make sense. But it would have been in the early sixties some time. I'm a little blurry on that.
Heather MacArthur owned Royal Skye.
Sheila, Sharon and I were all about the same age so used to pal around. I spent a couple weekends at the Jones' homestead on sixth line, getting up and eating breakfast at that long kitchen table in that old farmhouse. I've wondered the same about Danny and Sheila. Wonder where they ended up?

Hey Carron,
I was there in 60 or 61.Shelagh was still
on Donegal. I also stayed on 6th line.
Big breakfast(cause they got up so early)
I remember jumping Colleen bareback over
the course in the field.She was great.
Were you at Briar Hall with Jen Astles,Edie Craddock,Terry Leibel
& the Scott girls?

Oh my lord Foxrun.
I used to have overnights at Jen Astles place. And yes, Edie Craddock was there. Nancy Bragg with Nimrod. She was my idol. There was another girl there that we hung out with. Phillipa who lived right on the Lakeshore with this big tennis court. I had Christopher Robin and showed him. I think my parents were supposed to buy him but it seems to me that it ended up as lease situation.
If Terry Leibel was there I had no idea or appreciation of who she was at the time. The Scott girls rings some sort of bells but I can't place them. Who did they ride?
I loved their cross country there. Used to ride through there and up Upper Middle Road and back in.

Carron,
I am having lunch with Jen tomorrow.
Nancy Bragg still sees her alot. They went to the Queens Plate together.
I think Liz Scotts horse was Brush Lightly
(but maybe that was at Samson)
I think I remember Christopher Robin
a Bay? Do you remember Mary Bailey(?)

Hey Littlecreek...sorry just saw your post now. Yep you are right. I don't recall some of those horses though, but my memory isn't as good as it once was!!!! Thinking back I can only remember the boarders horses names and not the lessons horses. Good to hear from you!!!!

What a memory Fox Run! Yup, he was a 16 hand bay. I don't remember a Mary Bailey.
Did you guys all continue to ride together at other barns?
And did you come from Green Willow over to Briar Hall?
You are welcome to email me off the board.
carron at rogers dot com

Hi Debbie, long time no see... hope all is well and having fun in life. Yup there are a lot of Almar people out there, I run into them all the time in surprising places.

Cheers!
Tina W.

What are your parents names? my partner boarded there during that time ..... his horses were Noble and Bradoor?

I sarted riding at a stable called the Three Hussars when I was 13 - it was in various places - the king side road, then near Bradford, then on Woodbine near Stouffville road. It was run by a Hungarian named Cornelius Jeges. That was 42 years ago. I was very spoiled - took two or three lessons and ended up riding there, and working there all the time. Rode some fantastic horses, and loved every moment of it. Boy did I get a shock when I actually rode a school horse in my early thirties after being away from riding for 10 years. I think of him often, he was a fabuous teacher.

What are your parents names? my partner boarded there during that time ..... his horses were Noble and Bradoor?

I'm the parent (Jo Davis) that owned and ran BJ Equestrian Club, along with my husband, Bill. We had few male boarders, as do most places. I'm searching my senile brain to recall the owner of "Noble and Bradoor", without success. Unless it was Brad (whose last name I won't post for privacy reasons).

I often wonder what became of our boarders, Pony Clubbers and students. Anyone here hang out with us in the seventies/eighties? Would love to hear from you. Prior to that we had a little stable on Burnhamthorpe Road (Blue Spruce Stables) - torn down and built on long ago.

I took a break from horses after we sold the farm to one of our boarders. It's changed hands twice more since then - presently Penny Lane. I'm just getting back into pleasure riding now, at the ripe old age of 66 yrs. Do you think I can do it??

Any old Five Star Ranch people? I started riding there I think in 89?

It would be Bradley he's stayed in horses, various aspects .... QH, standardbreds, hunter/jumper ..... was a coach for a number of years, and now shows as an amateur again and works as road manager for a top A circuit barn

I started riding with the Eglinton Pony Club with Jim Henry and Doug Henry and Jane Murray. That was 51 years ago when I was 13. Anybody around from that vintage? Scary eh?

Man, Diane, you are even older than me! yes, you can do it. I am 64 and just bought a trailer for myself and my 10 year old Rocky. I bought one of the light German ones that old gals like me can move around. My only advice at this age is build your core strength for balance. The rest will come!

Diane, please say "hello" to Bradley for me. I'm so glad he stayed in horses. I'll embarrass him here, and say he always had a "good seat". lol

I think you meant me and not Diane, Pekoe. I'm sure Diane is a lot younger than both of us. I sure am working on my core now - I watch Nancy Grace every night, sitting on the exercise ball. I rode briefly a couple of weeks ago, for the first time in about 30 years - Oh My! Definitely not as one with my horse. Horsey has been somewhat of a pasture pet for quite a while before my daughter gave her to me, so groundwork and some long in hand walks will help us both. Thank you for cheering me on.

Just getting caught up on this thread on a cold, dreary snowy night. Littlecreek I also rode CrackerJack (at Bertins) and taught both Jessica and Neil Bertin when they were about 4 and 6 years old. Used to babysit those kids too.

I just about dropped to the ground when a few years ago I met a lovely young lady that said she was Neil Bertins wife....HUH? He's only a little kid for heavens sake....I guess I am getting old these days.

And speaking of Bradley.....oh man I still see him at the A shows and I remember him as a young kid too. Used to win everything on this really neat little brown pony that I cannot remember the name of. And of course I know both his business partners too from the Canadian Sport Horse world.

Boy am I feeling old here.

I started out at Almar in Oakville in '75- taking the Parks & Rec course and going on to camps and "Saturday riding", where you went for the whole day on Saturday for $5 - those were the good old days. Interestingly, I learned more at those short sessions at Almar than I did for many years after... I remember going to camp at Bertins when I was about 11 and astounding people with my ability to put together a bride so fast!

After Almar, it was Bertins, Bar Nine, Lynbarry and Woodlands before I headed off to Humber.

Wow - now that was a fun read!

I loved Chingacousy G&C Club so much, we had our wedding reception there 24 years ago this weekend. Remembering the barns, pony club shows (Meadowvale) and swimming in the river as well. And the dirt roads - might have even driven down them with a case of beer in the back!

Started at Creditview with Jim Rush...lived at Steeles and Mississauga Rd and used to gallop down Hallstone Lane, and ride to lessons down Queen Street - can't do that anymore! Also used to ride up and down Mississauga Rd to Bridlewood.

It is like driving through a different world now...makes me sad.

Moved to Doug Hoods, then onto Horse Place with Edie Craddock (Blueprint was my boy).

Married and headed to Grey County and was horseless for 13 years, then bought the kids a pony.

So many memories and I hope I have given my daughters lots to look back on as well.

We are so lucky.

We certainly are lucky, I agree.

An afternoon's ride for me was from where the Swiss Chalet is now south of Steeles in Brampton on Hurontario St. (Hwy 10) across the two lane highway (then late 70's), across the cornfields to McLaughlin Rd., cross that road and wind through Wagon Wheel Dude Ranch, fields and forest; go in through the back of Davidson's cornfield and trot through the rows of corn with the cobs smacking us; then across Chingacousy Rd. through Meadowvale Stables area and into the Meadowvale conservation area.

Then I'd ride through the river and gallop the old overgrown roadway, go through the narrow railway tunnel below the tracks and head across more fields to Creditview Rd. Oh yes, there were some jumps we had to stop and do... a few times. We didn't stop there though, we went down to Derry Road and across to Mississauga Road, in through Bridlewood Stables and run around the old Boy Scout Campgrounds. That was 1/2 way because we always had a fun return trip! Probably about twelve miles or so by the time we got back because we didn't ride a straight line.

I miss those days!

I started at Bertin Stables in Oakville... for a 2 week riding camp… ohhh about 16 years ago (Eeek!), then was recruited (by a friend) to Five Star Ranch also in Oakville... (literally right across the street from each other) and rode and worked there as a trail guide/barn staff for about 7 years.

Hi Polara aka Tina...Life at Almar way back then....those were the days. Lots of good memories of horses, friends and of course Allan and Mary!!!!
Hugs

I started lessons at Baracka with Sue Ramsey when I was 9. Wow that was 24 years ago now!

I stared riding at a place called 2RC ranch LOL had a bad spill there and switched to english riding at Merriden Stables with Margy (I think her last name now is Godson)

I was told about several of you that rode at Sunnybrook/Central Don and to check it out. I too rode there in the 70's and 80's. I rode with Walter, Jeffrey, Ashley (who got me into dressage)and Auben. I remember the horses as well that True Colours, Lost in the Fog, Ameghin, Redponygirl, pinkhorse and Galatica named. We might have all riddent together......

When I couldn't afford the lessons anymore I was very lucky to have Rescue, Dylan and Wildfire to ride.

Would love to catch up with you guys!

Is that Gord Cooper from King City? He would be about 55 now? When I knew him he had a thoroughbred named Beau G, and I dated him briefly. Ha ha that is a ling long time ago!

Lisa, I started out there too, although it was Joe Thauer who owned the place back then and it was called The School of Classical Riding. I was 13. This would have been, oh...30 years ago. I mostly rode a white (grey) mare named Candy who dumped me every lesson. I also remember Duke, Sundance, Sundown, Ma, Duchess and several others.

I also rode at Pineview Stables but Felix was not my coach.

Woah, chenders and LisaW -- you are mentioning some familiar names! I remember The Kirtons from the old days when they were at Beechwood Stables ... now covered in houses! Gives you some idea of my excessive years.

And though I didn't ride with Jo Thauer back in the day, I actually had a lesson with him this past summer!!

I first started riding at Holiday Ranch -- back when they used to have public trail rides. I became a typical barn kid there -- hung around & did little chores just to spend more time with the horses. I remember Darlene Lesperance was so kind to all of us horse-mad kids. Sadly, I heard she passed away a few years ago ...

I started out at a camp up in the Owen Sound area. I would spend every weekend out there doing whatever I could to earn riding time. I distinctly remember dragging around a milk crate for standing on so I could groom and bridle the horses but I couldn't lift the saddles so someone else had to do that part - lol! wow ... where does the time go?

If I remember correctly, I went for a few trail rides at the Circle M on #27. It would have been around 1969. I'm pretty sure I rode a mare named Wendy that was blind in one eye.
I also remember riding a dapple grey named Misty but I can't remember if it was at Circle M or not!

Started out with my first pony in 1969 in Chilliwack, BC - I was 9 and Misty was a heavy pony of no known origin. She loved to lull you into a sense of relaxation and then make a dash for her run in shelter whose roof was about neck (mine)height - I learned to duck well!
Moved to Kingston for University and took lessons with Manfred Hundert - learned a lot in between being screamed at and humiliated! Love that German style!
Had to retire for awhile after school and make a living. Married hubby 1 and took up breeding thoroughbred's in Newmarket for a number of years. Bought a retired dressage horse named Sir Gallahad from a riding school at Warden and Bloomington (can't remember the name) and rode Gallie for years - he died about 5 years ago.
Hubby number 2 is not horsey so have been bringing him along slowly. Got my first horse with him last week and he's already complaining about my other man!
I still maintain horses are an illness that we cannot be cured of - it will always resurface along the way!

LOL that is true! Mine resurfaced as soon as my kids were raised and gone. Now have own horse, my "other man" LOL same birthday as my husband.

I must know some of you out there. I rode at Halton and Kinglea when Dave Ballard was there. I had a thoroughbred named Imp and later Joshua. There was no such thing as grooms back then. We did it all. Fun times and great people.

I had a bay mare named Imp (Woodland Imp), would this be the same horse?

Wow, this takes me back to my barnrat heyday!

Windrush, The Horse Place, Hendervale and Brain Manor were all places I lessoned, mucked or boarded at back in the mid 70s to mid 80s.

I remember going to shows at Robin Hill, Catchpenny, Kinglea, Jokers Hill and Eglinton.

Remember the big Cheltenham horse show? Big thrill when Big Ben pulled a shoe in the jump-off, my girlfriends and I ran in the ring, found it and returned it right to Ian Millar - we were all business when we spoke with Ian but were hysterically giddy schoolgirls when we drove home.

Windrush....wasn't that owned by Lesley Rideout?

Yes! I took lessons and mucked stalls at the farm on No 1 Sideroad in Burlington back in the 70s. I recall years later Lesley had a place on Hwy 25 just above the QEW (at the old Woodlands property).

Yes, Woodland Imp. There could only be one of them surely. Either I bought her from you, or you bought her from me, through Jane. After that I bought an ex-race horse named So National aka Josh.

I remember when Lesley had her farm on #1. My friend used to take lessons there and I went to watch. And Lesley's sister Andy rode at Bayview park. Geez, talk about a walk down memory lane. That's where I started showing. When Lesley moved to Hwy 25 she had all what she termed the "retired" show horses there. The one I remember the most was "Sorcha", not sure if he rings a bell to you. But you may know quite a few people from there that I did.

There is now a barn on, I think #1 or #2 side rd in Campbellville that has a sign saying Windrush and I keep thinking of popping in to see if this might be Lesley, just for old times sake. One day, I just might.

Yes, I remember Sorcha - a chestnut QH. My fave was Foxy Brown, a bay QH. Only good memories of Windrush!

I remember Imp ..... so this must be Maria? I don't remember who I had while you were at Halton .... but could have been Tango, Secret, Thomas, Talisman or Teagan?

I started out at Roverdale Stables at Hwy 7 and Warden, when Henry and Sue ran it..
then moved to Howard Lee's on Kennedy for a bit
then off to Markham Lane (previously Cedar Rail) at Major Mack and Mccowan..Jane and someone who's name I cannot remember from Eglinton had just come to take it over when they closed...
(all farms are now developed so sad...)
There is no where to ride in Markham anymore!!

phids - when you were at Markham Lane (Cedar Rails) What school horses were there?Do you remember a palomino called Buttercup? A little bay called Susie? A standardbred called Jimmy?

I'm especially interested to know if anybody remembers Buttercup because I ended up part-boarding her (at White Oak Stables) and then owning her for a long time after buying her when she was 22 years old. She died at 40.

Just reading through alot of the posts in this thread and even though I haven't ridden in the Toronto area for years - alot of memories were stirred up. I started riding at age 10 at Eglington Equestrian Club (did my Pony club D) and then moved to a stable I recall as Sunset Farm for a few months before relocating to Ottawa. In Ottawa I rode at Silver Springs for a few years before getting my first horse at 15 and keeping her at Greenbelt Riding School. Moved from there to Rideau Ridge just south of Rideau Carleton Racetrack and got into eventing. I did return to Toronto and complete the Humber College Equine Studies program in 1980. From there to our own farm in 1986 when I got married. Started collecting horses (CSHA and three PMU's) but didn't really ride again for 14 years (amazing how family and job can get in the way!). Now up to 7 horses and when I started back riding in 1999 decided to study dressage. Even though I have learned to love dressage, I do miss the eventing but just don't have the time to commit. I am always simply amazed at how small the horse world really is!

Echo...I grew up in beautiful downtown BC (Bells Corners) and so envied those that had horses at Silver Springs Farm. Such a pretty place in its time.

We probably have common friends from the good old days....

Hi Dee-Vee - Silver Springs was a beautiful place in it's day, especially the "private" barn (one farthest from the road). And in reality had two small arenas, one actually in the basement area joining the two barns. When I drive by now I often wonder what it's like inside. It had so much to offer for both horses and riders. My favourite horse for lessons was a rough looking Paint cross called War Paint who was actually very much like the guy I am currently riding. Good memories from that stable.

Intuition - do I know you? I boarded at Brain Manor too and went to all those shows. Hung out with Lisa and Laura. We just bought a farm in Erin a year ago too and have a thoroughbred gelding and pony. Email me off the board if you like at mariaandjohnrobson@gmail.com.

Started riding in Calgary at age 12 - saved for my first horse - $90 named Apache. Rode bareback for two years because I couldn't afford a saddle. Did some Pony Club. Got out of horses at 16 - finances - they ate or I ate. Got back into them after we (got married) bought our farm at age 48. Had several unsuitable mounts and then found a true gem - just when I was planning on quitting cause I was sick of getting hurt. Since then am taking regular lessons and am eventing at pretraining thinking about moving to training this year. Also dabble in dressage and want to do some jumper stuff. I will work until I die as my retirement fund was invested in a Coverall arena about 5 years ago. Have always been horse crazy and cannot imagine life without them. Funny as I came from a totally non horsey family. Husband took up riding so we could spend time together (smart man). I am 58 and plan to ride long into the future. My horse is just rising 10 so we have many years left together. I think I have a perfect life - I am getting to live my dream. The only thing more perfect would be winning a lottery so I could retire and have more time to ride! But if I don't, I am still one lucky person.

Cool!

I lived in Kanata, and rode in the area, but never at Silver Springs Farm. It looked very nice and so close!

I actually started riding western, and attended a camp on White Lake - Frontier Ranch.

Then I began lessons at Spiritwood Farm in North Gower.

I rode at Fiddler's Green in Stitsville (William and Gunner) -had a blast there.

Parents bought me a perch/TB cross, from Paul Morgan, owned and I beleive still owns the tack store (Used to be West End Tack Shop) and kept it a Delby Stables, on Fernbank Road. I did some schooling shows around the area.

Got out of riding for university (silly me) and only got back in the saddle again 20 years later.

Now I'm is SW Ontario - riding as much as I can manage and am raising my Holsteiner filly and loving evey minute of it .

Anyone else

Familiar story Im sure....started riding as a child- typical riding lessons, rode English at Bertin Stables near Burlington. Rode as a teenager western at Palamino Ranch...spent every weekend there...then part boarded a horse at Dykeman stables from a guy who was headed out west to wrok in the oil fields so he wasnt going to be riding his horse. the horse was a large tall appendix qh that had a history of dumping its riders and heading back to the barn and didnt do that with me- so he let me ride him. I loved it- would have friends come out and ride the trail horses- we would be out all the time.
I rode 3-4 times a week as a teenager and a young adult. Rode until I was 7 months pregnant with my first child then immediately following her birth for the next 5 years. She would also ride with me- first on my horse but by 3 on a trail horse ponied with me..I didnt ride during my nxt pregnancy and injured my back with the epidural so didnt ride for the next 6 years.

I continued my passion of riding through my daughter riding..she rode at Dreamcatcher stables with Kelley Kay from the time she was about 6 until she was 12.

I started to ride again with a friend who had horses at home- we would go out on her boys bushwacking for 3-4 hours at a time at her place off indiana road near fisherville. I remembered how much I missed riding and that year my 12 year old told us she wanted a pony...."go to your room" was my answre- then I told my hubby- we have a problem...I dont mind telling the kids no- but I want a pony too.

That christmas, my hubby, decided he would buy me a horse for Christmas-now my idea of a horse is 16+hh sturdy gelding- QH or Draft x- but hubby brought me to this ranch where he had picked out for me a rising 3 year old- green broke 14hh sorrel red breeding stock paint mare...she was far too little and green- but we immediately fell in love with her sweetness- the darling cherokee- she was where it all started again....

I rode her for the next year- falling off her 3 times a week- while we were trying to get her to not spook and spin at everything...and then decided I needed to find a horse for my hubby who ddnt ride- ended up with the unbroke- 8 year old horse now known by all as "The wonderhorse"....

Now its 9 years later....and the rest is.....well..history..

Kennisis - maybe I do know you?? I was at Brain Manor from 85-87 and had a chestnut TB named Intu.

We too have a small farm in Erin with a TB & a pony -- what a coincidence! Will definitely send you an email to find out if our paths ever did cross.

Wow. Just WOW. I also started at Fox's and rode at Travis Hall and Clerview. It was the few lessons I took at Travis Hall that made me decide to learn dressage later in life. Real eye-opener.

I wonder if we know each other??

How long ago did you ride at Al's? Yes, in Arkell and not after he sold the place to the Dingmans.

Eileen

I started out at J E. St Louis in Saint Bruno Quebec. Mont Bruno riding school. We used to have the jumping course outdoors all winter.The only time he cancelled was when the wind blew to hard the jumps would not stay up.
I'd love to talk to people who also started with "Mr St. Louis.'

I bought my first horse when I was 20... as soon as I was old enough to buy and keep her. I took lessons with Dave Ballard at Torchy Millar's place on Nun's Island in Montreal.

When I moved to Toronto I started back riding at Hendervale but decided to ride dressage and moved to Sagl. When they started the OEF coaching program I graduated in the first class in 1988....yikes that's before some of you were born. How times flies when you're having fun.

My first lessons were at Voortmans on Centre Rd at the 6th concession back in the late 70's...I went to high school with Brad and he boarded his pony Pugzley at the same barn my girlfriend kept her horse...we used to lay under the jumps and he'd jump over us...crazy kids!

Leslie Rideout's Windrush farm is on First Line Nassageweya right by the 401. She does Therapeutic riding there now and there was an article on the farm in the Milton Champion. The people who had the farm before was called Royal Gold and they had arabs. For those who wondered...

Stonegate.....thanks for posting that. I have seen the sing many times and wondered if that was her all the way out there now. I will definitely have to pop in to say hello for old time sake. Gee, wonder if she remembers me...lol.