Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I wish everyone all the best for 2015! Happy New Year!

Everything is going great with the horses. Vitall is on his A game. I am so thrilled with him. We are really progressing. He is getting stronger and stronger every day. Our First CDI will be January 7-11. Full update to come from the show!

Here is an article I wrote for the Atlanta Horse Connection magazine. I wanted to share it with everyone!

Lights! Camera! Action! Is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Wellington. The Winter Season in Wellington is a horse person’s paradise. South Florida is anyone’s paradise. Many people flock to Florida for the winter to escape the cold, but for horse people it is a true paradise.

Wellington offers world class competitions for jumping, dressage and polo. Over 5,000 horses, 2,800 riders and 31 countries gather in Wellington for the winter with six million dollars in prize money. Who wouldn’t want to be here for the winter? All show grounds are minutes away from where we stable our horses. Some people have their own private barns and some stable on the show grounds. There are endless opportunities and options that fit everyone’s needs. Wellington accommodates every rider and horse. Competitions at every level for children to FEI World Rank riders. There is something for everyone.

Wellington offers two fantastic show grounds. W.E.F. for jumping. W.E.F reminds me of something off a movie set. It is beautifully landscaped with endless arenas and stabling. The shopping at W.E.F is incredible. It felt like I was shopping on rodeo Drive.

W.E.F. also offers all sorts of different lectures throughout the season. I was fortunate enough to attend a few last season – one where I actually spoke as well. It was for Horseware Ice Vibe products, and the launch of their new Sports Vibe blanket. I use the Horseware Vibe products religiously with my horses and have had great success and seen huge improvements with my horses.

The other lecture I was fortunate to attend was Equine Nutrition. At these lectures they provide lunch and you can watch the jumping classes at the same time. To me this is an amazing concept and fantastic opportunity for people to get together and learn and support local and international business.

Global Dressage grounds is where I spend my time competing. Global show grounds is state of the art facility with fantastic footing, and is beautifully landscaped. With a one of a kind covered arena and numerous other arenas and the main CDI Stadium.

It’s every dressage riders dream facility to compete at. There is opportunity to compete your international horses at the CDIs but they also offer national shows at the same time. It is a great facility to get younger or less seasoned competitions horses out without over facing them.

I have been riding since the age of three. Horses have always been my passion since I was a little girl. At the age of six I competed at my first dressage championships on my pony and from there I have never looked back.

I competed through the FEI Pony levels, Jr/Yr and competed two years back-to-back at the NAJYRC Championships, winning two gold medals and a silver. I also received the Fiona Bond Award of Excellence. My Young Rider career led me to Europe in 2006 to compete at the Young Rider World Championships where I placed fourth in the World. After I dipped my toes into European competition I had to go back. I moved to Europe Spring 2009 and spend the last four years training with the world’s best in Sweden and in Holland. My most memorable competitions in Europe would have to be the YR World Cup in Frankfurt and competing at Aachen, Germany.

I decided the next best step for me was to be closer to my family. Being from Vancouver, Canada, Europe was a bit too far. I still wanted to maintain European level competitions Wellington felt like the right decision.

I moved to Wellington December 2013. With six horses and two dogs and I haven’t looked back. I absolutely love it here. Wellington offers a great sense of community and as I said before it is a horse paradise. I have rented a five-acre property, with a 14-stall barn, 10 minutes from the show grounds. I call the place my mini oasis. It is one of the most relaxing and peaceful environments, which is extremely important to me. After competing, I like the fact my horses can come home and relax. I am currently competing Grand Prix with my 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Vitall. I bought him Germany as a five-year-old. I also have a few up and coming horses that I will be competing this winter season.

Teaching is also one of my passions. I love to teach and share my knowledge and work with people and horses of all levels.
Other than the horses, Wellington offers a great social life, with fantastic restaurants just minutes away from home. Of course “Players” now known as “Coach House” needs no introduction as the infamous party spot for all the horse people to get together. There is never a dull moment in Wellington. There is always something to do and I think that is part for charm.

I am so grateful that I am able to experience and enjoy the 2014/2015 Wellington season.