Barns in Edmonton, Alberta

[airbourne1]

I have a very good friend who is moving to Edmonton in September, and she is looking for a nice barn to board her horse in the area. Anyone have any recommendations? It does not need to be fancy.... but I know she is looking for a facility that has the following:

experienced coach
All day turnout
Hands on care
Adult friendly

Thanks for your replies.....

[klmck63]

I would not recommend White Mud Equine Center. I was there six years ago when I was too young to know better and it seemed to be very lesson oriented and not so professional. Plus there were different coaches in and out every month.

So no recommendation for a barn (I only lived in Edmonton for a year) but a recommendation against one! Hahaha.

[shire_flyer]

I'm not sure that Whitemud would be the best barn for a working adult. They have a very large lesson program in addition to a therapeutic riding program. I know in recent years (I left Edmonton a little over 2 years ago), there policy was that boarders could not ride in the arena while lessons were going on, which in Edmonton in the winter could be quite an inconvenience.

There are a lot of great barns around in the Edmonton area depending on how serious you want to be, etc. Caledonia has a lot of junior and amateur riders that do both local (schooling and A shows) and the A shows at in Calgary, Spruce Meadows and British Columbia. I've also heard that Blarneystone has a great program, but from what I can recall, their program is largely juniors, with the occasional amateur. Gorsline has mainly adult riders and is primarily focussed on the jumpers. I rode with Val Archer (who is now at Sherdon Farms) and I would absolutely recommend her- her family has been a big part of the Edmonton horse industry for many, many years and her program is very adult-friendly.

[MTshowjumper]

I would recommend Gorsline. I used to clinic with Judy quite often and she really knows her stuff. It is a very fun and friendly group, and the Gorsline family is very nice. I even stayed at their house while I was showing at Edmonton Northlands one year!

[eclipse]

I'm not sure that Whitemud would be the best barn for a working adult. They have a very large lesson program in addition to a therapeutic riding program. I know in recent years (I left Edmonton a little over 2 years ago), there policy was that boarders could not ride in the arena while lessons were going on, which in Edmonton in the winter could be quite an inconvenience.

There are a lot of great barns around in the Edmonton area depending on how serious you want to be, etc. Caledonia has a lot of junior and amateur riders that do both local (schooling and A shows) and the A shows at in Calgary, Spruce Meadows and British Columbia. I've also heard that Blarneystone has a great program, but from what I can recall, their program is largely juniors, with the occasional amateur. Gorsline has mainly adult riders and is primarily focussed on the jumpers. I rode with Val Archer (who is now at Sherdon Farms) and I would absolutely recommend her- her family has been a big part of the Edmonton horse industry for many, many years and her program is very adult-friendly.

These barns are probably the best in Edmonton, plus I'll add one more: Dayton Gorsline & Lisa Carlson (can't for the life of me remember their barn name!). If you're very very serious about show jumping & want to travel to some big shows, including the States, I'd definatly train with them!

If you're serious about hunters, medals & eq then I'd go with Caladonia (Lynn Macyk)

[CdnJumper]

Big thumbs up for Lynn Macyk at Caledonia, I highly recommend her. My coach here in Calgary works closely with Lynn and as a team effort (along with Gail Greenough) managed to coach the 2007 CET Finals winner at the Royal, Michelle Wheeler. I've taken a few lessons with Lynn and she's always very friendly, easy to get along with and seems to bring the best out of her horses and riders.

Currious who your friend rode with out in Ottawa though as I just recently returned to Calgary from a 2 year stay in Ottawa... knowing who she trains with now may help with suggestions for someone similar. Feel free to PM me if you'd like :)

[klmck63]

I'm not sure that Whitemud would be the best barn for a working adult. They have a very large lesson program in addition to a therapeutic riding program. I know in recent years (I left Edmonton a little over 2 years ago), there policy was that boarders could not ride in the arena while lessons were going on, which in Edmonton in the winter could be quite an inconvenience.

If this is in response to mine, I also said NOT to go to Whitemud! :) Hahaha.

[shire_flyer]

If this is in response to mine, I also said NOT to go to Whitemud! :) Hahaha.

Yeah, I noticed that when I re-read after I'd posted, but then decided that it wouldn't hurt to leave my post as is, to reiterate the fact that Whitemud is not somewhere you want to end up, despite how ideal and convenient the location may seem :)

[klmck63]

I WISH that a barn existed which was both nice, well run, has good coaches AND was close to my house! Hahah :) I guess that's just too much to ask!

[hanoverian_mare]

Lynn Macyk is really nice, I know a few people that train with her and they just adore her. Also Cheri Anderson at Blarney Stone Farms is very good. I think her barn is pretty full and she has quite a lot of clients, however she is an amazing trainer and has helped train olympic riders from what Ive heard.

[Denzel]

Another recommendation for Cheryl Anderson at Blarney Stone! I have done a clinic with her (at our barn in SK) and I found her to be a very good coach! She seems like she is more oriented towards the hunters/eq.

[horseluverz]

I would recommend Gorsline. I used to clinic with Judy quite often and she really knows her stuff. It is a very fun and friendly group, and the Gorsline family is very nice. I even stayed at their house while I was showing at Edmonton Northlands one year!

I agree! I rode with Dayton when we were at Spruce, excellent trainer!!

[Moogles]

I wouldn't reccomend Blarney. PM if you want details but it's in regards to the rider's education.