MAY 2010 THE RIDER /53 New Facility Educates and Inspires Ontario Dressage Community


Submitted by Hilary Chambers, PR/Web Designer M2 Dressage


A new full service Dressage facility has recently opened in Flamborough, Ontario. Owned and operated by Esther Mortimer, her partner Harper Mackenzie, and her father Ralph Mortimer, M2 offers dressage training for horses and riders of all levels from training to Grand Prix and boarding services. M2 personnel are additional- ly able to share their personal expertise by helping riders find and purchase suitable mounts at home or from Europe


Dressage. They have already hosted a couple clinics and in the future plan to invite Olympic level riders, top - judges and other experts to educate and inspire members of the dressage community in Ontario. —-


and back muscles of the rider increase control and improve all movements in every level of horse and rider.


Their expertise is abundant. Esther Mortimer has been showing at the PSG level since the age of 9! In 2003 she was the highest scoring rider on her team when she showed at the Pan Am Games for Guatemala. Esther has a very positive and upbeat coaching style, inspiring for riders of all levels. Esther plans to compete at the 2011 Pan Am Games with her promising young mount Viva’s Veroveraar owned by Hilary Chambers. Harper Mackenzie who has trained with Cindy Ishoy, Diane Creech, and Norbert Vonlak and has competed through FEI levels is an excellent trainer with young and challenging horses. Ralph Mortimer has competed at the international level in three day eventing and Dressage. He was recently honored by Cadora and holds a silver instructors certificate. Ralph coached the Guatemala Equestrian Team and Pan Am Games, receiving two gold medals. His unique training methods bring out the best in both horse and rider.


Jacquie Brooks with Sue Schraymer on Story. Photo by The Rider.


FEI Judge Lorraine Macdonald


The M2 Dressage barn has roomy box stalls built so horses can put their heads out. The stalls are full right now but the ongoing renovation of a second barn on the property will provide space for more boarders soon. Amenities at the facility include large indoor and out- door riding arenas, heated viewing room, washroom, tack rooms, wash & grooming stalls as well as a dirt conditioning track.


Clients have already traveled from as far away as British Columbia to ride and receive training at M2


The newly opened M2 Dressage held a Jacquie Brooks clinic on April 3rd which was a huge success with standing room only. Riders and auditors at the clinic were treated to a delightful lunch and shopping at vendor booths. Door prizes were donated from Running Fox Equestrian, Wellingtons, SunDog Designs and Beautiful Browbands and were given out by Jacquie Brooks to lucky winners between each ride. Jacquie’s relaxed coaching style made her an entertaining clinician, and riders seem to agree they noticed remarkable improvement during their session. For example, When the young German horse Westeross owned by Pat Douglas was working on getting his changes. Jacquie wowed the crowd by getting on this powerful gelding and worked him into clean changes. Another highlight was the coaching demo with chestnut gelding Viva’s Veroveraar, (a PSG/I1 horse owned by Hilary Chambers,). His rider, Esther Mortimer wanted to work on improving pirouettes. Jacquie coached her to near perfect Pirouettes, which Esther performed one handed to the delight of the crowd.


Jacquie’s main theme for every horse in the clinic was controlling the hind quarters by riding with your back muscles and managing the movements in relation to the horse’s tail in line with your head. Jacquie’s phi- losophy that in controlling the hindquarters which are the main engine behind movements it is easier to achieve lightness, and having the horse through his back. Many people get it wrong by pulling the horse in and down through the bridle or using spurs. Used properly, the seat


Can Am Gives Donation to Equine Guelph


M2 Dressage also held an Educate Your Eye Clinic on April 24th with FEI Judge Lorraine Mac- donald, also a a former FEI competitor. Her judging highlights include the European Young Riders in Rome, many CDIs and N.A. championships, the FEI Challenge Tours in South America, Asia, India and Africa. The Educate Your Eye clinic was a resounding success. Again M2 Dressage had a packed house. Auditors at the clin- ic had copies of the dres- sage tests and were able to judge each horse and rider, while Lorraine explained


Karen Mortimer, Lukas MacKenzie, Esther Mortimer, Harper MacKenzie and Ralph Mortimer. Photo by The Rider.


how she would score each movement. Lorraine then helped each horse and rider through movements she


felt needed improvement so that the horse and rider teams could improve their test scores.


Can Am Equine Emporium President Ross Millar presents Gayle Ecker –Equine Guelph Director a cheque and contribu- tion to Equine Guelph. “It is our mandate to support Equine in Ontario and we are proud to be able to help our University that is such a leader in the Equine industry world wide. Ontario is very fortunate to have Equine Guelph in our backyard and we enjoy a tremendous working relationship with them for the bet- terment of the horse. We are excited for Gayle Ecker and her group on their invitation to the World Games in Kentucky. They will show the world the marvelous work she and her team have done with Equimania, helping educate people of all interests and ages in Equine welfare. “ stated Ross Millar :”It personally mar- vels me at the amount of research that is done and the communi- ty involvement that University of Guelph accomplishes , know- ing that they are always under financial restraints .


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