Westar Farms

Westar Farms Nationally certified coaches provide equestrian instruction and coaching to children 8 yrs. + and ad All riders are taught based on the same, sound principles.
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In business for more than 30 years, coaches and instructors at Westar Farms have been teaching students about riding, and enjoying a partnership with horses. Jeff McKessock, co-owner and former nationally ranked competitor, is a high-preformance coach and trainer as well as manager of operations. Bridget McKessock, co-owner, also a competion coach specialist and former competitor, is in charge of

administration and event management. Stephanie Wark is a competion coach and professional rider for the farm. Lindsey Murray rounds out our rider instruction staff and is working toward her certification. Our dedicated and experienced barn staff provide professional and personal care to the horses in training as well as our group of 15+ school horses. Nationally certified instructors and coaches teach beginners from 8 years up in one-on-one fully supervised lessons, learning how to work safely around the horses and ponies, grooming and tacking as well as riding. Riders move into groups and may continue in the recreational stream or become competitive. We provide lots of extra-curricular activities to compliment the lesson program, with horsemanship education, fun days and social events. Those who want to, can refine skills in our in-barn clinics, community skills Development Shows, regional Bronze circuit, provincial Silver (Trillium) circuit or national Gold ('A') circuit. Our students compete in Jumper, Hunter, Equitation and Dressage. Westar Farms is also a top notch horse show facility with two sand show rings and warm-up plus grass Grand Prix Ring, grass Hunter Derby ring and warm-up. 14 competitions from development level to Gold are held from April to end of September. Join the Westar family and live your love of horses.

Please note revised dates for Summerset Dressage (Sept 20-21), Ontario Dressage Championships - Eastern Region (Sept 21)...
03/17/2025

Please note revised dates for Summerset Dressage (Sept 20-21), Ontario Dressage Championships - Eastern Region (Sept 21) and OVPSC Bronze Championships & Derby Day (Sept 27-28)

03/08/2025
The Westar Farms Development Series prize list is now available: https://westarfarms.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Devel...
02/17/2025

The Westar Farms Development Series prize list is now available:https://westarfarms.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Development-PL.pdf

01/30/2025

📣 Attention all Schooling/ESD & Bronze Level Coaches!

Please join us at The Pickering Horse Centre Ltd. on Tuesday, February 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a FREE information session on the certification and licensing requirements for coaching athletes in competition. Pizza will be provided 🍕

This session will provide a clear overview of the steps required to meet coaching standards and support athletes at all levels of competition.
‍
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain important information before your competition season and have your questions answered by the OE Coaching Team!

Register Here: https://www.ontarioequestrian.ca/forms/coaching-in-competition-information-session

Westar Farms, located in Ottawa's west end, has been running a highly-respected riding school for more than 35 years. We...
01/28/2025

Westar Farms, located in Ottawa's west end, has been running a highly-respected riding school for more than 35 years. We are seeking an instructor/coach to join our coaching team.
Competitive wages and collaborative approach to teaching.
PM or email for more information.

An exciting season planned at WESTAR FARMS!Information at westarfarms.ca Hunter entries: eqshowmanager.comDressage entri...
01/27/2025

An exciting season planned at WESTAR FARMS!
Information at westarfarms.ca
Hunter entries: eqshowmanager.com
Dressage entries: competeeasy.com
Prize lists: coming soon

10/01/2024

⚠️ Banquet tickets are ALMOST SOLD OUT! ⚠️

🎟️ Trillium & OVPSC (Silver and Bronze) Banquet tickets are available here:
www.ovpsc.ca/awardsbanquet

🗓️ October 19 at the Marconi Centre in Ottawa.

⏰ Ticket sales are limited to 300 on a first come, first serve basis. Sales close Oct 6 but will likely sell out well before then!

Here's another beautiful prize at Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28 donated by Equus Bonnets
09/28/2024

Here's another beautiful prize at Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28 donated by Equus Bonnets

More amazing prizes that will be in the drawn for series award winners at the Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sep...
09/28/2024

More amazing prizes that will be in the drawn for series award winners at the Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28 pizza party!
Saddle pad - Fraser-Alexander Sport Innovation
Show blouse - Harmony Tack Shop - Ottawa & Valley
Stride Control Book - Jen Marsden Hamilton, Equestrian Coach

Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28It's almost time...
09/27/2024

Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28
It's almost time...

Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28 brings the show season at Westar Farms to a close for another year. We'll...
09/27/2024

Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28 brings the show season at Westar Farms to a close for another year. We'll celebrate the 6-show Development Series participants and award winners at the awards presentation and pizza party at the end of the show day. Those riders will also be entered in a draw for this beautiful grooming box donated by Henry Equestrian, Powered by NFP, and Frances MacLaren.

Vendors on site:
Fraser-Alexander Sport Innovation
Harmony Tack Shop - Ottawa & Valley

Thanks to ALL our Development Show season sponsors:
Anderson Farm
An anonymous throughbred lover
Pat Barnhouse in memory of Lynne Barnhouse
Nancy Binnie & Andy Fytche
CCWG Carleton Place - Ontario for donating gift cards all through the season
John Driftmier Productions
Encore Equestrian
Equus Bonnets who have donated a bonnet for every show this season
Flow Mineral Spring Water
Fraser-Alexander Sport Innovation
Grace Equine Therapy
Greenhawk Equestrian Sport
Jen Marsden Hamilton, Equestrian Coach
Harmony Tack Shop - Ottawa & Valley
Henry Equestrian, Powered by NFP, and Frances MacLaren
Horse Community Journals Inc. & The Canadian Horse Journal
Little Iron Horse Farm
Cal & Dawn Loveless in memory of Jazzy Alibi
North Stone Farm
Skyline Farm and Nonie Smart
Stittsville Trailers
Vision Saddlery & Vision Apparel

Thanks for an amazing year and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2025!🎉

09/25/2024

Update to Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28.
We won't be accepting any more entries at this time with the exception of Beginner Show Rider and Poles to Xs. If you'd like to go on a waitlist if spaces open up, please email [email protected].

An information note will go this evening (Wednesday) to all registered competitors re: schedule, stabling, pizza party and series awards.

Send a message to learn more

09/24/2024

Due to the high entry volume for Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28 we have paused accepting entries until we can determine the timing of the day. If you are hoping to make an entry please send an email to: [email protected] and if we're able, we'll accept entries in the order in which they are received in the divisions where we have the space.

Send a message to learn more

What a super finish to the dressage show season with Summerset Dressage & Ontario Dressage Silver Championships - Sept 2...
09/23/2024

What a super finish to the dressage show season with Summerset Dressage & Ontario Dressage Silver Championships - Sept 21, 22. The weather was beautiful and it was a fun weekend of showing!

Congratulations to all the Ontario Dressage championship competitors and Westar Series winners.

Thanks to the generous sponsors for donating so many amazing prizes and thanks to all the riders, coaches, owners, supporters, officials and volunteers for coming to the shows over the season, and of course, thanks to the lovely horses!

09/23/2024

Westar Farms Development Show Finale - Sept 28
Complete your Development season, bring your new partner or young horse for a fun, low key competition before winter. All are welcome to enter.
We will finish off the day with the show series awards and pizza party.
Enter by tonight (Sept 23) to avoid a late entry fee.

Send a message to learn more

Address

8132 Fernbank Road
Ottawa, ON
K0A1B0

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 9:30pm
Thursday 8am - 9:30pm
Friday 8am - 9:30pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 9:30pm

Telephone

+16132530078

Website

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Jen Hamilton Clinic - April 19 - 21 at Westar Farms Get inspired and build your skills!

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Our Story

Live your love of horses at Westar Farms. In business for over 30 years, co-owners Jeff & Bridget McKessock having been sharing their equestrian knowledge, teaching riders in hunter, jumper, dressage and equitation. Jeff is former nationally ranked competitor, a high-performance coach and trainer as well as manager of operations. Bridget McKessock, also a competition coach, is in charge of administration and event management. Stephanie Wark is a competition coach and professional rider for the farm. Our teaching staff is rounded out with Shawna Carlton, Alyson Seinsch and Mackenzie Whitman, all certified instructors. Our dedicated and experienced barn staff provide professional and personal care to the horses in training as well as our group of 15+ school horses. Westar Farms instructors and coaches teach beginners from 7 years up in one-on-one fully supervised lessons, learning how to work safely around the horses and ponies, grooming and tacking as well as riding. Riders move into groups and may continue in the recreational stream or become competitive. All riders are taught based on the same, sound principles. We provide lots of extra-curricular activities to compliment the lesson program, with in-barn clinics, horsemanship education, fun days and social events. Those who want to, can compete in Development shows, regional Bronze circuit, provincial Silver (Trillium) circuit or national Gold ('A') circuit in Hunter/Jumper or Dressage. Westar Farms is also a top notch horse show facility with two sand show rings and warm-up plus grass Grand Prix Ring, Hunter Derby field and warm-up. Shows from development level to Gold are held almost bi-weekly from May to October. Full day summer camps run through July and August, providing fun and education for children from 7 to 12 yrs. Two daily riding sessions as well as horsemanship activities nurture the love of horses and ponies. Join the Westar family and live your love of horses.