Contributors

Featured Writer
Off to the Races with Nick Costa

Nick Costa
Nick has been a thoroughbred owner for 11 years or more. He is currently the Co-Vicepresident of the Southern Ontario Thoroughbred Association, formerly Thoroughbred Niagara. He was born in Niagara Falls, NY, now residing in Lewiston. Equine Niagara News is glad to have Nick providing information on racing venues to our publication. Click here to read Nick's blog.

Featured Writer
Training Tips from Tom Shields
Tom Shields entered the world of horses at the ripe old age of 35 and very soon found a passion for these animals. While learning to ride at a local schooling barn he began pursuing more detailed information to help in the process along. With an interest in training and teaching he was asked to teach beginner riders at this riding school. Tom eventually felt the need to choose a specific path for learning and chose Chris Irwin (Canada's Horseman) as a mentor and teacher. He entered the "Train the Trainer" program and is now one of Chris Irwin's top Canadian trainers. Tom has been co-coaching with Chris in Ontario and Alberta for several years gaining insights and skills for the training and rehabilitation of horses of all backgrounds. Tom also spent 22 months as the trainer at a local horse rescue helping horses get another lease on life and a new start. With 40 plus horses to play with it was a wonderful time of honing skills and learning to read and understand these beautiful creatures.
Tom, being an educator at heart, is passionate about bringing this horse friendly approach to training and riding to horse enthusiasts looking for a better connection with their horses. Tom coaches clinics, workshops and provides private training for clients looking for specific work with their horses. Tom coaches both ground work and riding based on the principals of "non-resistance training" so that the relationship between horse and handler is a win-win relationship. Tom enjoys working with horses labelled as behaviour problems, starting young horses and helping with performance issues in competition horses.
Tom and his family have 97 acres in Dunnville, Ontario and eight horses of their own to keep and train. Their daughter Briea is also a trainer in training under Chris Irwin ... and Dad. See their web site at www.ironhorseec.ca or email at tom@ironhorseec.ca

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Featured Writer
Debi Katsmar
Debi Katsmar is a horse-enthusiast creating Equine Niagara News in 2009 after seeing a need for horse-news in the Niagara Region of Ontario. "There was no one place to go to find out what was happening in Niagara with and for horses." And thus ENN was born. Debi has been the President of the Upper Canada Equestrian Association and works diligently on behalf of horse-owners every where.

Due to circumstances beyond her control, Debi no longer has horses but remains active in the equine community. Her drive has shifted to making her marketing agency YDV Group a success by helping small to medium-sized businesses grow through the use of email marketing and social media. Debi has worked in the marketing field for almost 30 years. When not at her computer she is most likely crocheting and designing another pattern or two for the equestrian community. Her patterns can be found at www.crochetdodads.com and sell world-wide. Debi can be reached by email at graphics@designsbydebik.com

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Heather Baiano
Heather Baiano is a married, mother of two, living in Welland, Ontario.  She has a background in Equestrian Studies and writing for horse related newsletters.  Heather spends her time with her family, dog and morgan gelding named Northline Rainmaker.  Heather and Rainmaker have won many awards and achieved much in the few years in the show ring, including the Wind Rider Challenge when it was held at the Niagara Regional exhibition. Her passion is spread equally between writing and horses, and writing for Equine Niagara News combines the two wonderfully.

Scott Carmichael
Scott Carmichael is an AQHA Professional Horseman and AQHA Novice Judge. Scott trains Western Pleasure and All-around horses at his farm in Fenwick Ontario. Scott has trained multiple futurity champions and has placed in the top five in almost all the major NSBA futuritites. Prior to starting his own operation he spent several years working with many of the top trainers in the pleasure horse industry while living in Texas. Last winter Scott travelled to Australia and worked on a large Thoroughbred breeding farm.

Rose Cook
Rose Cook is strictly a Canadian horse Breeder. Moving back to the country after our children grew up, I wanted a different breed of horse, something unique. While visiting the Royal Agricultural Fair I saw my first Canadian Horse and was sold on its history and temperament.

 serenitygladehorse@yahoo.ca

Jenn Downie

From a farm in Beamsville ON,

UCEA member.

Horse owner & enthusiest.

General wise cracker!

Marilyn Lee-Hannah

Marilyn Lee-Hannah, writer/editor and new owner of Sherwood Farm with family Robin, Jacalyn and Tommy.  A native of Montreal, she spent many years training and showing junior, amateur, and open hunter on the A circuit with Ann Hodgson of Hudson Quebec. She also trained with both Ian Miller and Torchy Millar.  Marilyn rekindled her involvement in the sport some 15 years ago when both her daughters Robin and Jacalyn began riding and competing here in Niagara.  The family bought Willomar Farm in 2008 and now operate a full training, showing and boarding facility, "Sherwood Farm".

Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard

AQHA Professional Horsemen and creators of Two as One Horsemanship and the Wind Rider Challenge™, Bob and Suzanne’s unique horse training partnership strikes a perfect balance between the English and Western riding disciplines that inspires equine enthusiasts worldwide, from pleasure rider to pro. Together Bob & Suz have taught horse lovers around the world how to bring out the best in their horses, and themselves, for over 10 years. As international performers of the “horse whisperer” variety, they train horses, write books & columns, have created and co-produced seven DVDs on horsemanship, and run the ProTrack™ Horse Trainer Certification Program. Bob and Suzanne are both AQHA Professional Horsemen, and will teach clinics at the Alltech World Equestrian Games. Suzanne also CEO of Beyond Your Wildest Dreams, a company that specializes in helping people establish their own businesses in the all natural health and wellness industry.Visit their website,

TwoasOneHorsemanship.com, for free training tips, articles and videos!

Jenny Jelen

Jenny Jelen is a 21-year-old journalism student and horse-fanatic from Sudbury, Ontario. She has been in the Niagara region for the pas six weeks on a school placement, and looks forward to exploring it further. She has ridden for as long as she can remember, and hopes to begin competing again in eventing. She has high expectations for her five-year old paint mare Chili, and even though her feet nearly drag on the ground, she still enjoys riding her twenty-year appaloosa pony Abu.
jennyjelen@hotmail.com

Shannon Mossey
I am 15 and I have been riding for over 5 years at B'n'R Stables. I love horses and I love to show in barrel racing and other games events. I recently got my own horse in April and I would love to show at the Calgary Stampede with my first horse, Hailey.