About the People

Adult Amateur Hunter – Trillium Circuit

I started riding when I was 11 and rode, worked and even taught lessons & camps at my barn until the end of high school. I still part-boarded a couple of horses I met while I was in University in Guelph, but had periods of years where I couldn’t… “adulting” took over, I had my daughter… life!

But then in 2016 a friend introduced me to Shaimus, and I loved him immediately. What started as a casual arrangement turned into a part-board, and in 2017 the universe made it possible that he became mine.

I never had the opportunity to show when I was younger, and so to work together with him over these years and go from 2 out of shape dreamers to living our dream in the show ring has been an experience I can’t put into words!

Follow Adrienne on Instagram – @adrienne.fader

Hunter & Equitation – Trillium & A Circuit

Lucy started riding at the age of 7 at a summer horse camp. She had no prior equestrian exposure, but immediately got hooked on the sport! When Lucy was 9, she finally got her first pony and began showing on the Trillium and A Circuit. Since then, she has never stopped working many incredible horses. Lucy has worked as a groom, rider, camp councillor, and was previously president and executive of the Ontario Collegiate Equestrian Association for 6 years.

Lucy has dipped her toes in the hunter, equitation, and jumper rings. She has shown everything from cross rails, to ponies, to the medals, to the 1.10m jumpers. After trying out many different styles of horses and many different divisions, Lucy finally settled her heart on the hunter equitation ring. Her favourite part about the equitation ring is that there are so many different types of equitation classes and styles.

Lucy’s overall equestrian goal is to always have fun, be safe, and make new friends. She loves to inspire younger riders to be kind and show extreme levels of sportsmanship. Lucy honoured the Michelle Monkhouse award in 2017 and the Senior Sportsmanship award in 2018. For the upcoming season, Lucy’s goal is to finish off her young horse as a polished 3’6 hunter. In her spare time, you can find Lucy playing a plethora of video games until the sun comes up.

Follow Lucy on Instagram – @panera.dj

Jumper – A Circuit

Emma has been riding since 2010. She began in a small group program, and eventually convinced her parents to let her lease her 1st pony and show on the A circuit. Emma has always been surrounded by horses. Her family owns a large racehorse farm and her Dad has been an equestrian his entire life, even competing at the Pan Am games.

For years, Emma has competed in the pony, hunter, and equitation rings. She started competing on the A Circuit at the age of 11 in the short stirrups and moved into the children’s pony division the following year. Following the conclusion of her brief ‘pony career’ Emma began showing with her first horse in the low children’s division in 2016 and won the circuit championship. She then competed in the Children’s Hunters for two years, and most recently showed in the 3’3 Juniors and Junior Hunters in 2019.

Now in her 2^nd last year as a Junior rider, Emma is excited to enter the jumper ring for the first time this upcoming season. With her new horse, Zydalgo M, she hopes to work up to competing in the 1.10m jumpers by the end of the season. In her spare time, Emma plays a variety of musical instruments and is also an active member of her school’s tutoring  and peer mentorship programs. 

Follow Emma on Instagram – @emmasamuell

Hunter – A Circuit

Karly has been riding for over 12 years and has been competing for over 10.

She lives on a small hobby farm just outside of Orangeville where she has a large and small pony. Karly has experience showing on the A’s in the larges and children hunters. This year she hopes to be back at the shows soon, continuing to expand her experience braiding as well as working as a show groom. She attends Wilfred Laurier University where she competes on the OCEA circuit and will be a co-captain for the upcoming 2020/21 season Follow Karly on Instagram – @Karly_snyder

Her goal this year is to compete on her new horse in the Children’s Hunters and also do more classes in the Large Pony Division. She will be attending University in the fall where she will be starting her education to become an Equine Chiropractor.

Follow Karly on Instagram – @Karly.snyder

Hunter & Jumper – CE Trillium Circuit

Hailey grew up on a farm and has been competing her whole life.

In 2019 she competed in the Low Working Hunter, finishing 1st at year end, on the Central East Trillium circuit. Hailey captured the championship aboard her own home-trained horse who was once described as a horse that will never compete again and was eventually given up on.

Hailey has competed in the hunters and jumpers as well as one year in dressage. This year (2020), Hailey is working on bringing another project horse along as she has recently discovered that working with rehab and green horses is where her passion in riding really lies.

Follow Hailey on Instagram – @Hailey_lynch_03

Training – OEA Eventing Circuit

Hi… I’m Claudia and I’ve been riding for 6 years and I’m currently competing at the training level throughout the winter down in Ocala, FL and around Ontario through OEA!

I’m happily showing my two awesome horses Thor (God of Thunder) and Frenchie (Femme Fatale). I hope to start competing preliminary/2* soon with Frenchie and go on to Young Riders!

Follow Claudia on Instagram – @Claudiaeventing_21

Hunters – A Circuit; Equitation – OCEA

Sarah has been riding for almost 16 years, competing on the Central East Trillium circuit for 2 years, and the A Circuit for 8 years. Before that Sarah competed in local schooling shows starting at Cedar Creek, Sunnybrook, and Pause Awhile before making the move to the Trillium circuit and finally the A Circuit.

Riding has always been a passion for Sarah! Before she was allowed to ride Sarah would attend all her older sister’s lessons while consistently begging to ride herself. Some of Sarah’s earliest memories start atop a wooden horse in the tack room with the window ajar so she could listen and practice alongside her sister’s lessons.

Fast forward many years, several exciting thrills and spills, horse show nerves, and learning curves, Sarah surpassed her wildest dreams and competed at the Royal Winter Fair three times where in 2015 she won the Children’s Hunter Under Saddle.

During university Sarah remained passionate for riding, showing, and frankly all things horses. When she wasn’t able to come home from Queen’s University to ride, Sarah practiced with the Queen’s Equestrian Team and watched all available live-streams. During her time with the QET Sarah won the Intermediate Under Saddle at her first OCEA (formerly OUEA) finals. After moving into an executive role on the team Sarah won the Intermediate over fences clinching both the finals championship and top honours overall in the division.

Although Sarah has taken a step back from competing to finish her education and pursue her goals, riding, horses and the horse community remains close to Sarah’s heart.

Jumper/Equitation – A Circuit

Hey! I’m Natalia and I’m a jumper/equitation rider on the Quebec and Ontario ‘A’ circuit. I moved to Montreal for university last fall, and of course my two horses soon came to join me. I currently ride with Vanessa Roberts at Les Ecuries la Montée, just outside on Montreal.

I have competed in many different rings, from eventing, to dressage, and many pony club events before settling in the jumpers. I also joined the McGill Equestrian Team last fall and am very excited to be co-captaining the team this year!

I took a break from showing last year to focus on my dressage training as I believe proper flatwork is essential for a strong show jumper. Although it was strange to not spend every single weekend at a horse show, I rediscovered why I began riding and competing in the first place – for the love of the horse. I’m excited to make my comeback in the 1.20m jumpers this summer with my better half, Cory.

I always love seeing Life With Horses Photography ringside with her camera and encouraging words. She has been a part of my riding journey for many years now, capturing my happiest memories on camera.

Follow Natalia on Instagram – @taliaheinke

FEI Junior Dressage Rider

Ava started riding when she was 7. When she was around 10, she fell in love with dressage. She now trains with Jacqueline Brooks and rides FEI Junior Dressage. She was lucky enough to go to Wellington in 2015 and won her first CDI! This past winter was busy for Ava, working and advancing to be the 25th best Junior Dressage Rider in the world.

Ava has a passion to represent her age group. She wants kids to know that dressage is tough yes; but it is fun and challenging. When she shares her pictures with her friends, she loves that they get to see what she does. It is amazing to her and she just loves what she does.

Follow Ava on Instagram – @avamaccoubrey

Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunter – A Circuit

Leah has been addicted to horses since the young age of 5. She’s done pretty much every English discipline from eventing to dressage to jumpers and now hunters!

Last year she took a sabbatical to travel, but previously she’s shown the 1m jumpers successfully, 2nd level dressage and up to training level in eventing. She feels she has been lucky to have a lot of amazing horses, from schoolmasters to greenies, that she has competed on. 2016 will be her first year doing hunters and she is looking forward to the learning experience!

Follow Leah on Instagram – @leah_wellard

Jumper – 1.20m – A Circuit

Hi! My name is Alyssa Smith-Avery and I’m a jumper rider on the Ontario A circuit! I ride with Christine Smith-Avery at Laurelcrest Stables located in Mansfield, ON.

I have made my way through pony land, into the Childrens, Juniors, and Adult Amateur hunters, the equitation ring and lastly, but my favourite of them all, the jumpers!

I compete in the 1.20m on my little mare I’ve had for 13 years now. I plan to continue through the stages with her and see where it takes us!

I’ve been apart of Life With Horses Photography for a few years now and I always look forward to seeing the encouragement and smiling face of Janice by the ring side!!

Follow Alyssa on Instagram – @alyssasmithavery

Jumper – A Circuit

Hi my name is Rylee Poole-Kohli! I am a 16 year old rider from Oakville, Ontario and ride with Susy Niles at Iron Horse Performance.

I mainly show on the A circuit, and over the years have made my way through the small, medium and larges pony hunters, debuted in the junior hunters and am currently hooked on the jumper ring thrill.

I have high hopes to make the Canadian Junior Team in the next year and with the help of Onatrio Equestrian’s GRIT program, I think my dream can be achieved!

I’ve been an ambassador for Life with horses Photography since 2015 and am so proud to be a part of the team!

Instagram: @rylee.poolekohli