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Tamarak Equestrian

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Canada
Saint Catharines, ON
Tamarak Equestrian

Tamarak Equestrian An individualized, boutique hunter/jumper show and training program. We are located in St.

We focus on building confident, successful riders and producing top quality hunter ponies that are extremely rideable and competitive at the highest levels. Tamarak Equestrian aims to find talented hunter prospects, polish them, and match them up with the right rider. Catharines, ON, approx 1 hour from both the Toronto and Buffalo airports.

02/28/2025

Jumpers are a place for technique, precision, strategy, efficiency, and eventually adding speed. Jumpers should not be a dumping ground for the unsuccessful or difficult to train.

Lower level jumpers in particular are good for:
* Green horses being developed by experienced riders
* Riders who are already proficient at jumping and are now learning the ropes of jumpers specifically

Lower level jumpers are NOT the answer to:
* A horse that is uncontrollable over fences
* A rider who can’t “find” 8 jumps to save their life

Jumpers are also NOT where we should:
* Gallop flat out at breakneck speed at a jump
* Be unsafe for the sake of a ribbon
* Kick and flap like our lives depend on it (if Kent and McLain don’t need to do it, neither do you)

Jumpers still requires discipline and rideability, and if you’re aiming to move up the levels, riding like a “cowboy” isn’t going to cut it.

You cheat your and your horse’s development when you value a poor quality round that’s crazy fast over focusing on honing the skills you’ll need later.

02/20/2025

to Mickey D, reserve champion in the small horse division at Silver Playoffs 🏆. Thanks once again to for sponsoring this division ❤️

02/05/2025

This is Shooter. Did he end up being a successful show pony? No. Did he end up being a great lesson pony? No. Did he become the cutest lawn ornament I’ve ever had? He sure did.

That being said, he is the pony who taught me the most about how to ride, train, and troubleshoot green ponies.

He was spooky, always anxious, easily stressed, incredibly sensitive, stubborn, extremely fussy about bits, mistrustful, threw tantrums during training, and could be set right back by one bad ride.

If you knew me back then, you know I would typically never have volunteered to ride one like that. But for some reason he was different.

I studied bits and bought as many as it took to figure out what he liked.

I researched horse behaviour and pain responses.

I tried all kinds of different training exercises, supplements, and treatments.

But most important of all:
➡️ I learned to separate my body and mind to communicate confidence even when I didn’t feel it myself.
➡️ I learned to remain calm, pat him, and continue on with compassion when he spooked, understanding that he didn’t mean any harm.
➡️ I learned that prioritizing flatwork and basics over practicing full courses will give you a more rideable pony.
➡️ I learned that patience and praise will always give you a better horse than punishment and frustration.

After he developed heaves and was struggling with work, I retired him from riding altogether. But while he may be a “failure” by many standards, he’s still a happy pony with a good life. And the knowledge he gave me helps me develop other ponies and set them up for a good, happy life with their kiddos (and lots of ribbons too).

01/31/2025

One of my training mottos is this: the more I can get a horse to understand how to do on their own, without a rider, the easier the rider’s job will be.

Most people just want to get right on, but there are SO many things you can accomplish through lunging and other groundwork. You can work on laterals, driving from behind and into the bridle, improving balance and symmetry, responsiveness/attentiveness, building confidence, relaxation, developing the top line etc etc etc.

In some of these scenarios, you may actually be better off going to ground work. For example: if your horse has a weak top line, getting on them and asking them to use their top line is not going to be super constructive. Give the horse the opportunity to build that muscle slowly on the ground, without a rider, so that when you DO get on, they are capable of doing what you ask.

As a true horse person, sometimes we need to put our desire to ride aside for the benefit of our horse.

You don’t always need to be ON your horse to be training and developing your horse.

01/26/2025

A bit is not a bandaid for training problems.

A physically strong horse working in a correct outline should only need minimal contact. The bit is ideally just a means of communication, not a method of control or a way of “fixing” undesirable behaviour, such as being heavy on the forehand, difficulty turning, rushing to the jumps, etc.

The only time I have EVER had a bit be a successful “quick fix” is when I went DOWN a level, to a softer mouthpiece.

➡️ Example: I had a pony in that liked to be short-strided and didn’t like to jump from a gap. Went down to a more sympathetic mouthpiece, and those problems were almost immediately resolved.

Even when a stronger bit appears to be fixing the issue at hand, you may actually be creating a secondary issue.

➡️ Example: your horse is being strong, so you get a harsher mouthpiece. Now your horse isn’t pulling, but instead they’re sitting behind your leg. Congratulations - you’ve just replaced one problem with a new one!

I’m not saying that every horse on the planet should go in a plain snaffle, and I’m not saying that gags are innately awful. It’s not that black and white. What I AM saying, is that if you want to actually resolve undesirable behaviour, you likely need to look a lot deeper than just what’s in your horse’s mouth.

It’s one of the main reasons why I consider troubleshooting to be a key skill for me as a trainer. There is almost always a reason your horse has a particular habit, and it is much better for the horse (and easier for you in the long run) if we can get to the source of the problem instead of just slapping a bandaid on it ❤️‍🩹

01/24/2025

This is a “measurement of success” TRAP that I see a lot of riders (especially juniors) get pulled into.

“I’ve been riding for 6 years and I’m only doing 2’9” but she’s been riding for 2 years and jumped 1m.”

SO WHAT?

If you put me on United Touch S, could I stay on over a 1.50m jump? Probably. Does that mean I’m as good as Richard Vogel? Of course not!

There are soooooo many more factors at play in assessing how “good” a rider is.

Maybe you iump lower than another rider, but your horse is really green.
Maybe you execute the jump height you do to a higher standard.
Maybe your technique is better.
Maybe you’re a softer, more sympathetic rider.
Maybe you’re doing full courses and they’re just doing the odd single.
Maybe you’re on a pony and they’re on a former 1.40 horse.
Or maybe that other rider really is a naturally talented prodigy after all.

But even if they are - that doesn’t mean you’re not ALSO an extremely good rider.

Jump height isn’t everything. It isn’t even half of it.

01/22/2025

You don’t need unlimited funds to be successful.

When you sit back and look at the people who seem to have it all (spoiler alert: not all of them actually have boatloads of $$), you give away your own power. You create a narrative about why you can’t have what you really want.

I’ve been the “rich kid” of the barn, who was “lucky” enough to have her own pony - this did not come from endless wealth, but from a family that was willing to sacrifice and get creative. We gave up family vacations, I quit all my other sports, my tack and show clothes were used. My first pony didn’t do lead changes. My second moved like a sewing machine. We part-boarded them out to cut down on bills.

Fast forward a few years and I made the leap to the A circuit - my ultimate dream being the Royal - and I ended up being one of the poorest kids at the barns I rode at. Little known fact: I only half-owned Kelpie as a kid. There were still no vacations, no latest phone or new car, still no other hobbies, still used tack, we drove 2 hours each way for me to ride, I got a job to pay for the new show boots and jacket I needed, and we eventually bought a fancy-but-spooky gold-on-a-budget horse that we half leased in-barn to the other kids trying to chase their dreams on a budget.

And we did it. All of 3 of us kids who showed my horse during those years got to the Royal. All of 3 us who invested what we had as wisely as we could and made the most of my quirky boy.

THAT’S what it’s about - maximizing what you have by investing in the RIGHT THINGS. You don’t need a First Lady, Tuccis, a new CWD, a D’yon bridle, an iPhone 16 pro, or any of the other things you THINK you need to “fit in” with the A circuit kids. You need the most capable horse you can get in your budget, a good trainer, and the willingness to work hard and do whatever it takes.

You can sit back and scroll through TikTok in your jealous girl era, or you can commit to achieving your winning girl era ✨

01/20/2025

Due to the extreme cold, there will be no lessons or training for the next couple days. We advise no more than hand walking for your horses during this time. Regular operations will resume on Thursday 👍

01/10/2025

The right coach can change everything if you’re willing to go all in on yourself.

01/07/2025

❄️Winter time❄️ is also ✨grind time✨

That means we bring it right back and tighten up the basics from the bottom up.

Ground work, bending and suppling, rideability, turns, pole work, grids, you name it.

NOW is when we build a stronger, better horse and a more balanced, educated rider for next season 💪

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our two and four legged friends!

12/20/2024

Had a wonderful time with our Tamarak family for a little Christmas cheer 🎅🏻🎄

12/17/2024

I said what I said.

➡️ If your horse needs extra blankets, it gets them (no extra fee).
➡️ If your horse needs boots, it gets them (no extra fee).
➡️ If your horse needs dry or soaked grain, either is fine. And we include a variety of different grain options in our board (as well as having optional add-ons).
➡️ Every stall is well-bedded with however many shavings that requires.

I could go on, but you get the point. The horse is meant to come first, and therefore my first priority is your horse being happy, healthy, and comfortable. I keep my program small so that I have enough time to give each horse, because I truly do believe in treating your horse like it’s my own. And I want the best for my horses.

12/08/2024

Congratulations to the inaugural winner of the Berylyn Tamarak Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the high point Canadian bred pony, Northwind Liam! Fun fact: Liam is actually the full brother of one of the first green ponies we ever had, so it felt very fitting that he should be the first name on this trophy. Our sincerest congrats to his riders Charlotte and Elle, the team, and his breeder Prue Richardson 🏆

11/21/2024

Ponies are no exception to greatly benefitting from professional riders.

Kid miles are obviously super important. And I understand that a full time program isn’t always in the budget for every family. I have complete respect for the hard working kids bringing along a pony; it’s not always an easy job.

That being said, as a professional, I can almost always feel the difference when I get on a pony. There’s just certain details and nuances that a professional will feel and correct differently than a jr/am, solely because of experience and a deeper understanding of technique and mechanics.

Professional rides can help a pony make that extra leap from ‘a good pony’ to reaching its highest potential. Even if your pony isn’t in a full time program, I highly recommend having a pro get on it at least periodically to help you narrow in on areas of improvement and give you exercises to develop those areas.

For me, it’s not enough for a pony to just go around ‘well enough’. A truly top notch pony hunter should be as rideable as an equitation horse and have almost all (if not all) of the same buttons.

Whether you’re looking for a full time program or freelance help, feel free to DM for a chat. And if I’m too far from you for freelancing, I’m happy to make a recommendation 😊

11/15/2024

We are huge believers in private lessons in our program for so many reasons; these are only a few.

1️⃣ One of the most common comments I get from parents is how happy their child is to get so much attention from their coach. They never have to fight for the spotlight and it gives them a safe space to tell me how they’re feeling or if they’re nervous about something without feeling embarrassed.

2️⃣ I am almost NEVER on my phone during lessons unless I’m referring to notes I’ve taken on exercises I want to do. I often don’t even have my phone ON me during lessons. I don’t like to have my attention split when I’m coaching.

3️⃣ Peer pressure is big for young riders, and even some adults. My riders never have to worry about looking silly in front of others, having an audience if they make mistake or fall off, or hearing comments from their peers.

4️⃣ Every student gets to progress at their own pace. No one is waiting for others to catch up or “get” the exercise, and no one feels pressured to keep up with the rest of the group.

5️⃣ There is also no mis-match of ages, personalities, etc. and no “cliques” that leave some riders feeling left out.

6️⃣ Our facility is very calm and stress-free; there’s never a ton of people or kids running around, it’s not noisy, and there’s no chaos, so the rider (and horse) is rarely distracted by something happening around them.

We strive to develop happy and confident young riders who are independent and always look forward to their time at the barn, and these 6 points all stem directly from positive feedback we’ve received from our students and parents 😊

11/14/2024

Halle’s been keeping a secret… she’s actually a unicorn! 🦄🦄

11/11/2024

2025 ➡️ WEST ZONE

Address

2835 Oille Street
Saint Catharines, ON
L2R6P7

Opening Hours

Tuesday	8am - 9pm
Wednesday	8am - 9pm
Thursday	8am - 9pm
Friday	8am - 9pm
Saturday	8am - 9pm
Sunday	8am - 9pm

Website

https://www.tamarakequestrian.com/info

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Videos

Meet the ponies (and horse) currently owned by Tamarak… and learn the tag lines they’re known by 😉

This is one of the things in the industry that I would love to change the conversation around. Changing programs can be so scary and stressful for people, and it really doesn’t need to be. When someone is truly in your corner, they want the best for you no matter what. I have and will always happily help move on clients who have outgrown me and are ready to go further than I can take them. When I get an inquiry from someone who doesn’t necessarily suit my program, I’m happy to make a recommendation to another trainer who might be a better match. If my teaching style doesn’t work the best for you, no hard feelings. Not every program is right for every horse/rider. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good program or you’re not a good student, it’s just not the right fit. No matter how long or short your time in my program is, I’m always going to be cheering for you and you are always welcome here. I have riders who are no longer with me who still come by my stalls to say hi and catch up. That’s just the vibe we roll with. When all is said and done, we’re meant to be a COMMUNITY of people brought together by our love for horses. We all have to make decisions about what’s best for us and our horses, but we don’t have to be divided by it.

The beautiful Riviera finishing 7th under saddle in a big and very impressive group of 3 year olds at the LG Cup Qualifier. Thank you (and congrats!) to @summershaikh and @andrews.equestrian for giving me the ride on Vie this weekend ❤️

When you accidentally turn the jumper into a hunter pony 🙊

When this pony first came to me, he went in a very tight, upright frame and needed constant management or he would rush. Ears back, tail swishing nonstop, very tense. This video is just under 3 months after he came. I never once rode him in draw reins, bungees, a chambon, etc. And only near the end did I switch him out of a plain snaffle. A consistent and predictable hand with suppleness and balance work will teach your horse to truly relax and move into soft contact. My favourite comment I got about this guy from someone in my barn was “wow, he looks like he enjoys being ridden now”. It won’t happen overnight, and every horse learns at its own pace. This pony is only one example of several horses/ponies that I’ve done this with, each on its own timeline. You absolutely CAN achieve the carriage you want without going out and buying a bunch of fancy tack.

We had some technical difficulties with the live today, so here’s a brief summary of the key points for each question. 1. What is the care like at Tamarak? 2. What kind of riders do we accommodate? 3. What is our show schedule? If you have any further questions, shoot me a DM. Currently 2 stalls available for July ✌️

The difference a year (or even just a few months!) can make is truly incredible. This pony was a whole lot of patience, sweat, and tears, but boy was he ever worth it. He went from tripping over canter poles, kicking flower boxes, and being terrified in the ring to jumping around at the Royal in a year. We kept showing up, we kept putting in the work, and so did he. TEAM WORK truly is what makes the dream works! Are you ready to challenge yourselves and see how far you can go?

From one of the lowest points in my riding career to one of the highest highs in less than a year. This is how I took my biggest setback and used it as an opportunity to pivot and aim higher.

Have questions for me? Something you’d like my help working through? This one is for 🫵 YOU! I’m offering a 15 minute, 1:1 zoom call to discuss a topic of your choice. Dealing with performance anxiety? Having a problem with your green pony? This is your opportunity to get a personalized walk through for whatever element you think is holding you back. The catch? There’s only 1 spot available! The first person to DM me this emoji 🦄 will claim it. If you missed out this time but would like me to make this a regular offer you can subscribe to, let me know! *Note: if you are a junior, you will need to have a parent/guardian present for the call, per safe sport regulations ✌️

What is Tamarak Equestrian really about?

With show season rapidly approaching, let’s remember the truth about showing (that isn’t talked about enough)… At a show, you are judged on a tiny snippet of riding time. On one set of jumps. And in the hunters/equitation, your results are usually based on only one person’s opinion. Do you really think that is the most accurate representation of your ability? 🚫 Ribbons (usually) just tell us who rode the best round at that given moment on that given day - not getting one doesn’t mean that you’re not also a great rider. If you focus on personal wins instead of ribbon wins, you will be in a better headspace to keep growing and improving. #mindset #mindsetmatters #mindsetcoach #selfimprovement #progressnotperfection #equestrian #pony #ponyhunter #welsh

When I introduce the idea of a positive mindset, I often hear “so I’m just supposed to be happy all the time?” 🚫 That is NOT what having a positive mindset means. Having a positive mindset doesn’t mean we ignore our mistakes or negative feelings, it means that we choose to reframe them and think about them differently. You can still have your moments of sadness and disappointment, we just don’t stay in those feelings and dwell on it. #mindset #positivemindset #mindsetcoach #mindsetmatters #equestrian #warmblood #selfimprovement #selflove