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. 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. |
Trish Cowland
Trish has always had a love for horses, when ever she saw a horse as a little girl she would point obnoxiously to her parents. Finally at age 12 Trish was given riding lessons, as a Christmas present, and she has never looked back. She was given the opportunity as a young teenager to ride the different horses at the stable. After taking a few years off riding to focus on a career Trish got back into riding again and began riding with Lynne Denton, from Saltspring Island. Trish also during this time took on a rescue horse whom she brought along from being a un halter broke horse, to in the end was a sweet in your pocket type pony. During this time she learned about Doug Mills and took some lessons on ground work and handling of difficult horses. Trish taked 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 6 years ago. It was three years ago at the Benefit Horse Show that she met her soul mate Chris Cowland, now married the two bought their property together with a dream, now known as Sprout Meadows. |
Shannon Dakiniewich
Shannon has over 30years experience in the industry with a passion for excellence in horse care, stable management and teaching people how to ride. She started riding at age 6 both English and Western, she then started formal lessons under Lisa Mander (well known certified judge, and hunter/jumper coach) and competing in local shows all over the lower mainland and Fraser Valley with multiple awards won. Shannon spent 4 years training and competing in vaulting under Jutta Wiemers (well known German vaulting trainer). At the age of 12 she began training with Dr Susan Thompson (EC coach 2). Shannon has attended many clinics over the years with such notable clinicians as Eleanore Elstone (Paralympian and EC coach 3), Dietrich Von Hopffgarten (well know German dressage philosopher, trainer and author ). Shannon is a true horsewoman, over the years she has helped bring up multiple young and untrained horses. Her dedication to their care and ensuring her students also learn these skills is evident in her coaching. She has Completed EC rider program (1-8) under the direction of Dr. Susan Thompson, Completion of equine specific NCCP (national coaching certification program), and was involved in working student programs through Susan Thompson, shadowed vets through clover valley vet hospital, spent nights on “foal watch”, excellent stable management skills, visited stables in England have helped groom top level performance horses at European horse show. Sprout Meadows is excited to have Shannon be apart of our team. |
Emma Bensen
Emma has always had a passion for horses; she started riding when she was given riding lessons for her fifth birthday. She was riding both English and western. At the age of six, her parents purchased her a pony named Callie, who she still owns today. She was given opportunities to ride different horses at the barns, and was willing to ride any horse. Loving every minute of it, because that meant she got more time in the saddle. Emma competed in the hunter ring for years, before switching to Dressage in 2008. Emma had the opportunity to start her own horse when she purchased her mare Mercedes in 2009. Emma and Mercedes have competed successfully in the Dressage ring on and off Vancouver Island. In 2017 Emma purchased her yearling Hanoverian filly Bellerina, whom she plans to train to Prix St George. Emma is a seasoned competition rider who is passionate about providing a safe, and fun learning environment for horse and rider. Emma enjoys attending clinics and seminars. She believes that in this sport you should never stop learning. Emma was born in Campbell River, and currently manages a boarding and training barn from her family home. |
Monique Fraser
Monique is a very accomplished instructor and has recently moved from the mainland to Vancouver Island. She has bred and raised/trained multiple horses to Pre St George level, along with several other to Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2.
Showing with Rosewyn Rage’n’Sea (by Sea Fox, out of homebred Rosewyn Tai Chi –Lt. Governor’s Cup Winner) Monique has trained for years with top highly sought-after professionals such as; Dietrich von Hopffgarten for four years, Leslie Reid for five years, and Albrecht Heidemann for ten years.
Proprietor of Monique Fraser Dressage, Vancouver Island, since November 2016, Proprietor of Rosewyn Stables Riding School, Langley, 1993—2016
Monique has had multiple Championships with her students over her many years of coaching, in both Dressage Shows and Western Dressage Shows.
Monique is a very accomplished instructor and has recently moved from the mainland to Vancouver Island. She has bred and raised/trained multiple horses to Pre St George level, along with several other to Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2.
Showing with Rosewyn Rage’n’Sea (by Sea Fox, out of homebred Rosewyn Tai Chi –Lt. Governor’s Cup Winner) Monique has trained for years with top highly sought-after professionals such as; Dietrich von Hopffgarten for four years, Leslie Reid for five years, and Albrecht Heidemann for ten years.
Proprietor of Monique Fraser Dressage, Vancouver Island, since November 2016, Proprietor of Rosewyn Stables Riding School, Langley, 1993—2016
Monique has had multiple Championships with her students over her many years of coaching, in both Dressage Shows and Western Dressage Shows.
- EC Hi-Performance theory certification 2015
- EC Level 2 coach since 2002
- EC Level 1 coach since 1980
- CHSA Novice Instructor coach since 1975
- EC Senior Basic Judge since 1996
- EC Para Dressage judge since 1998
- HCBC Western Dressage judge since 2015