Programs

Gordon Dalshaug

Gordon is well-known as an instructor of adults with a focus on dressage and classical equitation. With Gordon, the focus is on developing the partnership between horse and rider, and the conditioning of both.

His keen eye has made him popular as a clinician in more than just dressage, identifying and resolving the bad habits that hold back talented riders and horses.

Gordon’s  45 years of experience in the horse world includes showing, training and coaching in dressage and hunter/jumper disciplines. Specializing in “Equitation Overhauls”, Gordon believes “that once the rider is fixed the horse problems disappear.”

Gordon brings a wealth of experience with dressage as a competitor, coach, and judge.  Gordon represents Saskatchewan’s coaches to Equine Canada, and is a master course conductor.

Karen Coates

English Instructor


Julia Keil

Western Coach I

My goal

I have been training horses for 10 years and a few years ago I decided to broaden my horizon and get further into educating the human side of the partnership.  It is my goal to not only provide my clients with a well trained, confident horse but to also bring the rider along at the same time.  I want to give them tools to maintain a certain level of training, to prepare them for competitions and to teach them to understand equine learning behavior, basic exercise, physiology and anatomy.  I feel that the horse-human partnership can only be successful with a solid education on both sides.

What I offer
Here at Willow Ridge Stables I am offering weekly group lessons to teach students with positive and effective methods to improve their skills and gain confidence.  I am available for EC Western Rider Level preparation lessons and testing (1-4),  as well as private lessons upon  request.
I also accept a limited number of horses for training. I specialize in colt starting and Reining foundation training. My ground work establishes trust and respect and leads into a solid and honest foundation that enables the horse regardless of discipline to stay supple in a frame and between the rider’s aids. From this point on they can go in any direction.  I also offer “tune-ups” and correction of seasoned horses of any discipline.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me for details and references.
Background
I was born and raised in Germany where I grew up riding English until I switched over to Western about 15 years ago.  I have lived in Canada for almost 7 years working intensively with several mentors along the way.  People who have taught me so much about training horses and people include Wendy Nelson (Western High Performance Coach specializing in Reining), Nicole Brown (internationally renowned Reining trainer), Kelly Simpson (Western Coach Level 2), Wendy Johnston (Western Coach Level 2) and Bernie Hoeltzel (internationally renowned Reining trainer).  I moved to Saskatoon in 2009 after I graduated with a BSc in Equine Science and Management from the University of Vienna, Austria.  In October of 2009 I successfully completed the Equine Canada Western Level I coaching certification program.  I have extensive experience showing horses successfully in Reining (e.g. 2010 NRHA Rookie Pro Champion @ CCRHA Slide’n'Spin) and general performance classes.

Contact me – I would love to hear from you!

JULIA KEIL equine.edu@gmail.com or give me a call: (306)880-1645



Cindy Johnson-Klassen

Hunter/Jumper Coach

As a child riding and owning a horse was always a great desire for me. My dad although, would not get me my own until he knew I would stick with it. I started riding at Rusty Spurs using lesson horses until I proved that, yes, I would stick with it. When I got my first horse I rode at the Pavilion, which at that time was at the Exhibition grounds, then a few years later I moved my horse to Rusty Spurs (which is now Willow Ridge Stables).

I have coached with Connie and Donnie Dorsch, Gordon Dalshaug, Henk Glenn, Elaine Partington, Dayton Gorsline, Bonnie Bonnello and Frank Hough. I moved to Brandon, in 1991 and ran our family boarding & training stable, Tally Ho Stables for the past 20 years. For the last 14 years I have been riding under the instruction of Karen Cudmore from Omaha, Nebraska.

  • I have competed in Hunter/Jumpers across Western Canada as well as the USA.

  • I have coached riders from beginner level to advanced level, competing across Western Canada.

  • I have actively participated in the Pony Club program providing coaching throughout Manitoba .

I am thrilled to be back at the stable that help me get started.


Nicole Brown

Nicole Brown & BSF Shortypoo

Nicole is best known as a reining trainer and coach. She has competed in Open NRHA and FEI levels successfully across North America with over $70,000 LTE in reining alone. But her success in the reining world is built upon her experience growing up in Saskatchewan as an all-around competitor on the SHF Open Show circuit. She has extensive experience in all areas of western riding including western pleasure, horsemanship, trail, cowhorse, and gymkhana (barrel racing, pole bending, etc.), as well as a competitive background in english equitation and english hacks, and in case that wasn’t enough, also helps train and exercise thoroughbred racehorses.  Her incredible skill combines brilliantly with her enthusiastic creativity in her very fun and memorable reining freestyles.

Nicole’s  approach to instruction starts with a solid foundation of classical horsemanship, developing a rider’s equitation and training goals to help and shape a horse towards success.