Our Team

Barn Boss & 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.

BA Speech Sciences - University of British Columbia
MSc Audiology (in progress) - University of British Columbia

Barn Boss & Riding Instructor

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, Horsemanship Instructor

Riding Instructor

Riding Instructor

Office Admin & Instructor

Master Gardener, Farm Educator

Farm Educator

An experienced outdoor educator, farmer, certified Permaculture Designer and community organizer. Liticia brings a compassionate and creative approach to experiential learning using improv theatre, hands-on design and building and creative writing to develop deeper relationships to land, plants and animals.

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!

Bookkeeper

Millie is the most indispensable bookkeeper in the universe. (Did you know bookkeeper is the only word in the English language with three double letters in a row?) Millie has been with us since the beginning and runs everything from behind the scenes and keeps us all in check!

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.

Office Admin & Riding Instructor

Office Admin & Photographer

Farm Educator

Riding instructor

Farm educator

Instructor

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

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!