About The Coach

Sandra is a Nationally Certified High Performance (Level 3) Coach with Equine Canada, CanTra Instructor and is one of 40 PATH Int'l (formerly NARHA) Master Instructors in North America. She has international coaching experience and competes at the FEI levels in dressage. She is also a certified STOTT Pilates instructor.

Among Sandra's coaching accomplishments is the development of senior members of the Canadian Para Equestrian Team in preparation for the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games; including her long time student 2008 gold and silver medalist Lauren Barwick. Since 2001 Sandra has travelled both independently and with the Canadian team to international competitions including; 2 Paralympic Games, 3 World Championships, 4 European Championships, and numerous other CPEDI's around the world. In 2008 Sandra was awarded the Horse Council BC Coach of the Year and in 2012 the Equine Canada ProChaps Coaching Award.  She is currently working with some promising up and coming young riders with sites set on the North American Young Rider Championships in Kentucky.

Using her knowledge of dressage and Pilates together with her understanding of horse/ rider biomechanics, Sandra has created a unique program that allows her to incorporate; dressage lessons, mounted lunge lessons and Pilates workouts. The results are progressive training plans specific to each horse and rider that support long term athlete development. Sandra has been certified through Equine Canada since 1994. In that time she has successfully developed able bodied and para equestrian athletes from the grassroots to seasoned competitors.

The Fit To Ride Pilates for Equestrians Program is designed to address individual rider needs. The workouts incorporate total body fitness, flexibility and coordination with a focus on core strength and stability. It has proven to be effective in helping riders develop an independent seat with better balance and therefore more effective communication with their horses.

From the onset of her riding career, Sandra has had the opportunity to train with professional coaches who gave her a solid foundation of dressage principles and a clear understanding of the dressage training scale and its application to different horses. With numerous trips to Germany she had the opportunity to train through the FEI levels with trainers Stephan Kiesewetter, Christiane Borchort, Conrad Schumacher and Ellen Bontje. She currently trains with Leslie Reid in Langley, BC.

Sandra has been involved with therapeutic riding and para equestrian since 1991. In 2001 she became the youngest PATH Int'l (formerly NARHA) Master Instructor in North America. PATH Int'l Master Instructors are the leading professionals in therapeutic riding in North America. In her capacity as chairperson for The PATH Int'l Certification Committee, Sandra was involved in developing the onsite workshop and certification program for Instructors. As Lead Faculty and Evaluator for this process she trained and evaluated hundreds of riders and instructors across North America. Sandra now offers an online service which evaluates and provides feedback to improve horse and rider performance.