SHIRLEY GUERTIN-COOK

EC Level 3 Dressage Coach

Shirley has the second highest available qualification for teaching dressage that presently exists in Canada.  Only a handful of other coaches across the country are fully certified Level 3 dressage coaches.  In both 1989 and 1990 she received recognition as Ontario's Female Dressage Coach of the Year.  She is also an EC Medium Dressage Judge.  She was involved as a Master Coach in a Coaching Apprentice project run by Cadora-Ontario to help in the development of coaches.  She is a skilled rider and trainer, having competed on homebred horses to the FEI levels.

Since 1973 Shirley has been working at Centaur, teaching, training, and in administration.  In 1989 she bought the farm from her parents and has been operating the business since then.  Shirley is available for lessons two week evenings per week along with some week mornings.

Dressage Canada Honours 2006 'Volunteers of the Year'

Shirley Guertin-Cook (Ontario)

Shirley has been instrumental in the organization and hosting of competitions, from friendly 'fun shows', to national competitions in the Ottawa area over the past 30 years...(Read More)

ALISON OVERTVELD

EC Instructor

Alison with Fantôme

Alison Overtveld has been riding at Centaur since 1992. She has been teaching since 2000 gaining much experience coaching both adults and children as well as teaching at some of our summer daycamps. Alison has been instrumental in developing Centaur's Rider Level Preparation Courses. She has attained her EC Instructor Certificate as well as Rider Level 2 and is currently working on Level 3.

Alison is rounding out her knowledge of horsekeeping through online courses with the University of Guelph Equine Science Certificate program. Alison is a very patient and dedicated instructor who is a favourite amongst all students. Alison has two horses at Centaur: Bip and Fant™me de R�ves. Bip has been at Centaur since the late 80's, and is now teaching new riders while Fant™me, born in 2002, is a wonderful talented prospect for Alison.

Valerie Arsenault

Coach

Valerie with Harley

Valerie has been riding horses/ponies for over 15 years, starting in 1984 in Pictou County , Nova Scotia . She became a member of a Pony Club starting in 1985 until 1988 when it disbanded. She was the proud owner of a Registered Quarter Horse named Miss Flicka Dude, on which she participated in various club activities including Gymkhana games, musical rides, vaulting and local fun/pleasure shows. As a result of owning her own horse for 7 years in her own barn and by working on various other horse farms, Valerie gained immeasurable experience in stable management and horse care. Valerie is presently teaching beginner and intermediate riders on Saturdays afternoons. In 2006 she began showing in both disciplines of Dressage & Hunter in the local OESS shows. In March 2007 she successfully completed the old Equine Canada rider level 2 & 3 exams. Valerie looks forward to furthering her teaching experience as well as her overall horsemanship knowledge.

Stefanie Roffey

Coach

EC Level 1 Coach

Stefanie began riding at the tender age of four, competing for the first time at five - in a lead-line class at the Collingwood Horse Show. At the age of eight she rode at Centaur for a few years, and then moved to another local stable where she began taking lessons with Melissa Dust (another Centaur alumna, and present-day trainer at Centaur). This is when Stefanie got her first horse, Fred Astaire, a son of Centaur's former stallion, Solomon. With Fred, Stefanie competed on the National circuit to Medium I (in the old system).

At age 15 Fred was sold and a young Hanoverian horse named Cygnus was bought. With Cygnus, Stefanie competed on the National Circuit to Second Level (in the new system) also becoming involved with the Canada FYRST (Future Young Riders Select Training) program. At this time Stefanie was riding with Olympian Gina Smith and spent several summers as a working student at her barn (Franklands Farm) in Brockville.

Cygnus eventually decided that he liked going over fences better than dressage and was sold to a jumper rider. Currently Stefanie has a Hanoverian horse called Edward and competes with her mother's horse Wendell on the National circuit. Wendell was bought as a two year old and was brought along by Stefanie. Together, they have enjoyed many successes. Currently Stefanie is riding with both Gina Smith and Shirley Guertin.

Although Stefanie has concentrated primarily on dressage, she also enjoys riding over fences, having competed in both Hunter and Jumper and also some low level Eventing. Stefanie is a certified Equine-Canada Level One Coach.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF STEFANIE'S COMPETITVE CAREER (individual show championships excluded):

2007

• Cadora-Ontario, Trillium Challenge Winner
• Trillium Dressage Championships, Second Level Open & Freestyle Champion
• Dr. Lawrence Butler Trophy (won at Eastern-Trillium Championships)
• 2006

Ontario Dressage Championships: First Level JR. Champion & First Level Freestyle Champion

• OADG Year-End high-point National (Wendell)
• OADG Year-End high-point Trillium (Eddie)
• Dr. Brian Mills Memorial Award

2005

• Cadora-Ontario, Trillium Challenge Winner
• Cadora-Ontario, Trillium Scholarship Winner
• Trillium Dressage Championships,ÊTraining level Jr. & Open Champion
• OADG Trillium high-point

2001

• Dr. Brian Mills Memorial Award (won with Fred Astaire)

Emily Teeter

Coach

Sabrina

Coach

Sabrina started riding at Centaur at the age of 8. At the age of 10, she got her first pony named Smokey B. Good that she competed for many years on the National circuit (now named Gold circuit) under the tutelage of Shirley Guertin. Later on, the pair competed at Medium 2 together. She then rode a mare named Gernica and competed at FEI junior at the age of 18. ÊMarquis II was SabrinaÕs next mount that she competed with at 3rd level in 2007. The partnership lasted 6 years and then she acquired a young gelding named ZintŽ F that she has been working with since January 2008. They are currently schooling 3rd level and hope to compete this coming show season on the Gold circuit in Ottawa and surrounding areas. She is currently working with Sue Ziereisen and Robert Gharibzadeh. Sabrina started teaching in 2004 and very much enjoys teaching riders of all levels. Ê Ê

Kendra Atkins

Coach

Horses have always been a part of my life. I grew up watching my Dad with his Trakehners and was given my first foal when I was 6. I spent a great deal of time becoming best friends with that little black filly. I began to take riding lessons for my 9th birthday. I was introduced to the show ring in the short stirrup division on a wonderful pony named Max. I was quite successful in the hunter ring, then I was introduced to the world of eventing at the age of 14. After teaching summer camp for many years I became a certified EC Instructor in 2007. While I still enjoy horse shows, I find great enjoyment in bringing along green horses. Most of all, I have discovered the pleasure, and often the excitement, of watching enthusiastic students succeed!