Meet the Coaches

Ashton Belcher

Show Team Coach and Head Trainer

Ashton began riding in the Ottawa Valley at age 4. Over many years she’s developed a long resume internationally as a rider, trainer and coach. Ashton is a nationally certified Competition Coach with Equestrian Canada and holds her EC Recorded Judge license for hunter, hack, and

equitation.

Ashton’s focus is always to build a correct foundation for the horses and riders. With a strong emphasis on proper equitation and horsemanship, her students are well equipped on the horse and in the stable.

Audrey Saumure

Riding School Instructor

Audrey was born and raised on a 3rd generation owned hobby farm in Bourget. Horses were always a part of her life. She began riding when she was 7 years old. Audrey's first job in 2016 was as a stable hand and she has worked in various barns around multiple animals since. Audrey's work experience with horses spans from summer camp monitor to stable hand and barn manager.

Audrey graduated from College Boreal with great distinction in 2022 as a Veterinary Technician. Since December 2022, she has worked at Wynbrook with a focus on improving horse care. A few months later she began coaching in our riding school where she loves to share her knowledge and experience with others. Audrey has her 5-year-old horse Nova at Wynbrook. They’re currently working on their riding skills and developing together as a team.

Amy Gagnon

Riding School Instructor

My passion for horses started at the age of 8 when my parents sent me to a summer camp at the Sault Ste Marie Horse and Pony Club. It wasn’t long after that I was fortunate enough to own my first horse.

I competed on the Trillium Circuit in Northern Ontario and the National Gold Circuit in the Toronto area up until I moved to Ottawa for university. I continued horse showing locally in Ottawa as well in Quebec and at the highlight of my show career competed at the Royal Winter Fair in 2011 and the Ocala Winter Circuit in 2014. I’ve owned several young horses that I brought along throughout the years as well as some very talented experienced mounts. I currently own 2 young horses that I look forward to training at the top notch facilities at Wynbrook Equestrian Centre.

I have been lucky enough to train with many talented riders throughout the years and I look forward to passing on my knowledge and horsemanship.

Kristy House

Riding School Instructor

I come from a diverse equestrian background starting out in the Thoroughbred breeding and training industry in King City, ON and then briefly worked as a groom for a high performance jumper. As well managed an A circuit hunter/jumper barn.

After graduating Kemptville Equine management program I was lead of horse welfare and industry for Equestrian Canada. My passion is re-training horses with behavioural and anxiety issues and am continually working on my professional development as a trainer and coach in equitation science, horse learning behaviour and resistance free training.

Anna Ribberink

Therapeutic Riding Instructor

Anna was born and raised in The Netherlands where she had her first riding lessons at the age of 11. Over the years she rode every once in a while, but it wasn't until she found the Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa-Carleton (TROtt) in Greely 9 years ago that she was really able to be around horses consistently.

After volunteering as a sidewalker and a horse handler for a couple of years, taking part in riding lessons and occasionally working in the barn, she was asked to consider taking the Instructor Training, which she did. She was CANTRA-certified in January 2021 and has been teaching at TROtt since then.

Anna is very thankful for the opportunity to use her skills at Wynbrook and hopes to serve the community with her wonderful team of volunteers and Occupational Therapist Laurence Poirier.

Laurence Poirier

Occupational Therapist

Laurence is a Certified Occupational Therapist with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. She has extended experience with working with children of all ages on a variety of goals. She is trauma informed and took a wide variety of courses to better help children with ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorders, OCD and Anxiety, emotional regulation challenges, and more. She is presently working at obtaining the gold standard Hippotherapy Certification with the American Hippotherapy Association.

Since Laurence obtained her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy, she thrives at working with young minds. Looking at the bright side is natural and easy for her and she always wants to look at the children she works with in that way. In her eyes, children’s challenges can become powerful superpowers when channeled the right way! This belief is the driving force of each and everyone of her Therapy sessions. Focus on the strengths, channel the challenges and offer the just right challenge!

Laurence also strongly believes in the power of the environment in a child’s ability to grow and learn; this is why she regularly offers home visits to her clients when the clinic environment does not seem like the right fit. She is delighted to have started this partnership with Wynbrook in order to offer another approach of therapy to her clients, with the help of the gentlest of horses.