MEET THE COACHES

Trish Cowland

Trish has always had a love for horses, finally at age 12 Trish was given riding lessons as a Christmas present, and she has never looked back.

Trish has always enjoyed starting and backing young mounts. She equally enjoys spending the time with horses that need a restart or require more training and are considered 'difficult'. Trish uses natural horsemanship, working with pressure and release when training the horses.

After taking a few years off riding to focus on a career Trish got back into riding again and began riding competitively. Trish takes regular clinics when available to always be learning.

Born in Campbell River, Trish has always had a love for the up island lifestyle and was lucky enough to move to the Comox Valley with her previous career.

It was at the Benefit Horse Show in Victoria that she met her soul mate Chris Cowland, now married the two bought their property together with a dream, now known as Sprout Meadows.

Chris Cowland

Chris has always had a passion for animals and when Chris began his riding career when he was 12 years old, with coach Judy Cummings in Victoria, BC. This passion grew to another level. Chris believes strongly in letting horses be horses, when they are happy and relaxed you will get consistent and peak performance from them. It was at a Courtenay horse show where he met his famous horse Condor, the two became an unstoppable pair at any show they entered. He later went on to ride with Peter Holmes, competing all over BC. They went on to compete at Spruce Meadows were they held their own in the Grand Prix rings, 1.40m-1.50m. While riding at these shows Chris was offered coaching from many other German riders in the grand prix rings, even Ian Miller helped him out a time or two during warm ups at Spruce Meadows. Chris trained with German dressage coach Alex Wortmann, a German F.N. certified dressage coach (Reitlehrer), whom helped get him a job at Parkland Meadows in Alberta, where he also began training with German instructor Hartmut Gutzmann. While at parkland Meadows, Chris would ride 15 plus horses a day and would be doing anything from breaking new horses to riding seasoned show horses.

Chris has taken many clinics over the years some of his more memorable clinicians were Michel Vaillencourt (when chef d'equipe), Judy Gullelis and Daton Gorslan.

Although his heart is in the jumper ring Chris has a very strong dressage back ground and believes that all great jumpers begin with a strong solid foundation of dressage.

Taylor Ryan
Taylor teachs a variety of levels along with managing our Kids Camps through out the year. She challenges riders when they need a push or patiently waits till they are ready, Taylor is a fun, positive instructor who is a great role model for the riders. She is focused on the horses well being and that they are happy.

Taylor is from Newmarket, Ontario , and that is where her passion for horses and teaching began. Taylor started riding in formal lessons at the age of 7 at Whitchurch Riding Academy and never looked back. She was part of one of the biggest Pony Clubs in Ontario for many years where she was able to dip her toes in many different disciplines including dressage, hunter/jumper, eventing, PPG, Pony Club Rallies, as well as horsemanship events in Pony Club known as Quiz. Taylors favourite past time is in the Jumper ring where she spent many of her weekends competing. Throughout her riding career she has applied for, and won, bursaries and scholarships to help her through the Jumper Show circuit, resulting in her being able to go to championships in 2010, where she brought home first place. In Ontario, Taylor grew up working on the farm as a stable hand, instructor, camp councilor and eventually assistant camp director at Whitchurch Riding Academy.
With 22 years riding experience and 13 years of coaching, no matter where she goes, she finds a farm to teach. Taylor has spent many years living in Alberta, where she worked as a Wrangler for the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation for 3 years. At the ranch she learned the ins and outs of western and trail riding. When it was time to step away from the ranch she, along with her Fiancé Alex, and their dog Brodie, landed here on the island in May 2019. Now at Sprout Meadows since then, Taylor loves sharing her knowledge and riding experiences with her students, and finds great joy in teaching all levels of riding.

Joey Kerr
Joey is a long time resident of the Comox Valley. Joey joins the team as our resident Dressage Coach. Lessons are taught on Mondays and Tuesdays. She welcomes Haul-ins or use of one of our School Masters. Lessons with are $70 (direct to Joey) and if you require use of a school horse an additional $35 (invoiced by Sprout Meadows) for use of a Sprout Meadows school horse. Joey is an outside coach working out of the facility, outside coach ring fees apply (invoiced by Sprout Meadows)

Joey Kerr, previous Manager and Trainer at Country Lane Stables in Courtenay BC. Joey has been riding for almost 40 years in multiple disciplines. Hunter/Jumpers as a young lady with a love for the cross country. With a real interest in Dressage starting when she moved back to Canada from California as a 22yr old. Joey has started many young horses who have gone on to have great carriers in both Jumping and Dressage. She has spent the last 4 winters in California as a Traveling Groom and rider for a Canadian Long Listed Team member. Joey has worked for the US Dressage team in Europe as they ramped up for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. This year 2020 brings a new chapter staying home and focusing on the young horses. Joey is an Equine Canada Certified and Licenced Instructor and fully insured. Years of Experience watching the top riders in the world has given Joey the experiences and eye of an advanced trainer. She can teach to her top Show level of Pre St George and is happy to teach the beginners as well. Her home teaching business is busy with riders from 4 years old on the tiny pony to advanced level riding on privately owned horses.
Joey is happy to travel for clinics and full or half lesson days.

Dallen Ferrie
Dallen is one of our Beginner Rider Instructors, she is focused on horsemanship and the foundation for learning about the world of horses in our Tiny Tot and Learn to Ride classes. Dallen also helps to teach beginner Western classes for anyone interested.

Dallen was fortunate enough to get to live out every little girl's dream of being raised with a pony in the backyard. From the time she could walk all she wanted was to be out with the horses and the love of horses has never gone away. Through her childhood years Dallen took lessons at many different stables around the Victoria area as well as going on many all day trail riding adventures with her mom around Elk, Beaver and Prospect lakes. At 13 Dallen bought her first project horse with the help of her parents, a 6 month old rescue foal. Through working with the rescue foal over the next 5 years Dallen learned a lot about the importance of patience, good horsemanship and a strong understanding of the basics for both horse and rider, something she still believes in strongly. Through her twenty's riding took a backburner while Dallen focused on growing and raising her family with her husband, however she always managed to keep horses close by. Now that all 3 of Dallen's children are in school full time she is enjoying getting to spend more time trail riding her mare around the Seal Bay Park area and rebuilding some of her lost riding muscles through her own lessons at Sprout Meadows.

Laura Windale
Laura is new to the team and we are excited to have her join us. She will be working with new riders as a Beginner Rider Instructor.

Laura grew up in England in a small country town next to a farm where animals, especially horse were always a big part of her life. Laura was lucky enough to start riding lessons at 8yro after begging her Mum. Not long after she was given her first pony, Flash.

Laura joined the local Pony Club and competed in anything from showing, jumping and gymkhana games. Going on summer camps with her pony in tow. Later into her teenage years Laura began show jumping competitively and working at the local equestrian centres and riding schools where she gained valuable experience and knowledge.

After traveling for many years Laura and her husband emigrated to Canada where she started a family. Laura's daughter has the same love of horses and is learning to ride at Sprout Meadows.