Staff

Riding Instructor

Ainsley grew up riding in the Southlands community and has loved horses for as long as she can remember. She learned to ride on the Maynard’s school horses and gradually worked her way through the ranks to instructor. Her favourite horse-related experience was getting to be there to watch Canadian show jumper Eric Lamaze won gold at the 2008 Olympics with his horse Hickstead. She also enjoys traveling (35 countries and counting!), puppies, and exploring the great outdoors.

Riding Program Manager

Tasha has been part of the Southlands Scene since age 12. She is mother to Justin (indifferent to horses) & Callie (obsessed with horses!) She is a true animal lover and never hesitates to jump in with a helping hand for the messy jobs! Her husband Telf was born across the road from the farm and has lived in Southlands all his life.

Riding Instructor

Riding Instructor

Katie grew up and around the Maynard family, she trained with Rick and did pony club at the Maynards every Friday and even used to babysit Farmer Jordan. Katie not only teaches lessons here but is also a leatherworker and repurposer, and rescues ferrets and other animals. You can often see her followed by her retriever puppy Tyco.

Owner, Advanced Riding Instructor

Coach to the Vancouver Police Department Mounted Squad, Olympic Horse Riding Coach for Modern Pentathlon, elite show jumper and coach of 50 years, Rick has produced top riding athletes in the sport including Brian Morton and Tik Maynard. Rick was short listed for the Olympics in 1972 and is an EC Competition Coach Specialist.

M. Sc. Wildlife and Range Management
NCCP Competition Coach
Olympic Team Coach ( London and Rio Modern Pentathlon)
​Trainer for the Vancouver City Police Mounted Squad
​First Aid

Educator

Peter started working in outdoor education in 2012, working at the National Trust in Wales delivering Forest Schools and holiday camps. He worked for Wild Elements CIC, a local social enterprise in Snowdonia that aims to bring children closer together with the outdoors through learning and play, with a focus on child-led sessions. Peter has also worked as an instructor at Sayers Croft Outdoor Education Centre near Guildford, England. There he has delivered a variety of sessions ranging from archery, raft building and bouldering through to history, conservation and den building sessions.

Other Qualifications:

• Duke of Edinburgh Assessor and Leader training
  
• ASA archery leader award
• In-house certification from Sayers Croft in ropes course, climbing, rafting and offsite walking.
• John Muir Award Leader Training
• Environmental Conservation BSc

Master Gardener, Farm Educator

Farrier

Connie tends to all the horses feet in the barn! She makes sure they are all sound and happy. A Farrier is a blacksmith specially trained to shoe horses. It is a very tough job. Did you know that 85% of the students in farrier school today are women? (In 1965 there were zero) Connie has also taken it upon herself to look after our retired ponies and give them the best possible quality of life before it is time for them to go to the greener pastures in the sky. She has loved so many... Kiwi, Katana, Sierra, Nikita, Splash, Towhee, .... and all had better lives because of Connie.

Owner, Manager

Jen has an extensive dressage background, both competing and judging at FEI levels. She is proud of her role in creating the STARS programme, and is passionate about judging para- equestrian competitions. She is always followed everywhere by Ginny her dog. And... she is a proud Grandmother to, Justin, Callie & Brooks.
FEI 4* Para equestrian Judge
MSc. Ecology and Ethology
Favourite sayings:
If not you, who? If not now, when?
Don't pass it up, pick it up!
Don't hesitate.... innovate!
Jen's 80:20 rule... ask her about it!

Farm Ambassador

Rachel started riding with the Maynard family when she was 9 years old. She was the first Southlands Therapeutic Riding Society student! Since then, the barn has been her second home and the horses her second family. She rides weekly with Rick and she is excited about the journey she is on with horses. As the Farm Ambassador, she will tell you all about the animals, the farm and our programs. She also works as a Farm Educator for some of the Young Farmer Camps. You can find her riding Teddy or Sprite and sharing her joy at coffee break!

Educator

Educator

Educator

Johnny trained at the University of East London in the United Kingdom. His distinction degree included dramatic training, applied theatre, performance-based knowledge and theatre in education.

His University programme allowed him to work with the prestigious TIE company, London Bubble, which utilised drama as a medium for education to children who had difficulties grasping English reading and writing or who has English as a second language. From that he gained a great number of techniques and teaching methods which he continues to implement in his teaching today.

After University, Johnny trained at the London acting school East 15 to receive his Master of fine arts degree. Johnny also continued TIE after University with the UK touring drama company, Flying Pizza, which brought classic children’s stories to life through dramatic performance and succeeded in getting young children interested and engaged with reading and story-telling.

Along with acting and drama, Johnny is a trained Lifeguard, earning a UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification in 2018 which including such knowledge as CPR, First Aid and Pool-side safety.

Since moving to Vancouver in August, he has been thoroughly enjoying farm-life and is enthusiastic to continue both with farm schooling and also farm maintenance.

Educator