Elizabeth Gingras of Edmonton, Alberta, loved horses from an early age thanks to her mother, Patti, an avid equestrian who would often take her young daughter to the farm with her. Having learned to ride at the age of six, Gingras excelled in the sport until she broke her back in 2001, sidelining her for three years. In 2004, she returned to ring and her international show jumping career has flourished.

A turning point in Gingras’s career came in 2014 when she was named to her first Canadian Show Jumping Team, jumping double clear in her Nations’ Cup debut at CSIO3*-W Bratislava, Slovakia, riding Zilversprings. Upon her return to North America, Gingras scored a top three finish in the $1 Million Zoetis Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII in Saugerties, New York, with Zilversprings and, for good measure, won both the $33,500 FEI Open Jumper and the $100,000 Spirit of the West Cup at the inaugural CSI3* Royal West Show Jumping Tournament in Calgary, Alberta. Continued success in 2015 led to Gingras and Zilversprings being named the traveling alternate for Canada’s gold medal team at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

Lizzie has spent time training with Canadian Olympians Jill Henselwood and Eric Lamaze. The years 2015 to 2017 were dedicated to focusing on representing Canada on Nations Cups and qualifying for major games and Grand Prix’s

The summer of 2017, Lizzie shifted her focus back to basing in Canada. Her grand prix horses & staff based out of Brenda Riddell’s Fordville Farm. She returned to teaching clinics, and took on a select number of clients. In the spring of 2019 Lizzie relocated to BC after having her first child with her husband Geoff Nygren. She has re-opened her former business New Heights Equestrian, and is focusing on coaching again.

Elizabeth Gingras is an Equestrian Canada High Performance Jump Coach & completed her Equestrian Canada Registered Coach Status. She has coached riders to CET Finals at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, North American Youth Championships, and had a student qualify & attend Pony Finals 2024.

Natalie Popham’s passion for horses began at age two and has shaped her both as a rider and a person. She spent every free moment in her youth riding, caring for horses, and learning the ropes of the equestrian life. That deep, everyday connection to horses has shaped her not only as a rider, but as a person, making horses a constant and defining presence in her life.

As a junior Natalie spent her time in the equitation & hunter rings, qualifying for the CET & Jump Canada at the RAWF. She finished 2nd in the Jump Canada medal. Her focus on her career has now shifted to the jumper ring, where she has aspirations to jump at the top of the sport. The 2024 season marks a significant step in her riding career, finishing off consistent in the U25 series and making her debut in the 2* FEI division at Thunderbird Show Park.

In 2023 Natalie transitioned into a professional coaching role. This shift has not only sharpened her own abilities but also deepened her understanding of how to help others progress. She finds fulfillment in guiding her clients through challenges and celebrating their achievements.

A key part of her coaching involves riding client horses, which allows her to better understand each horse’s unique needs and temperaments. This hands-on experience helps her tailor lessons to suit both the horse and rider, ensuring effective training and fostering confidence and success in every partnership.

Sarah’s first memories are of wanting to go be with horses and this passion remains. Raised in the hunter/jumper world, she gained experience starting young horses and other disciplines into her early 20s. She moved to New Jersey to further her riding career. She worked as an assistant to top trainers, riding their young and difficult horses. She also managed lesson programs for riders of all levels.
She has always supplemented her riding development with regular dressage lessons, horsemanship clinics and jumping clinics.
She left her riding career at 30 to return to school and now works full time for the government and teaches riding solely for the love of it.
She re-certified her coaching certifications in 2021 and is an Equestrian Canada level 1 coach.
Her teaching focuses on the basics with an emphasis on horsemanship and understanding how position influences the horse. She is available to teach while Lizzie is away and for regular private/semi-private lessons

Liz started riding ponies at 9 years old, and quickly rose through the ranks, representing Canada in show jumping for the first time just a decade later in 1969.  From there, she went on to attain multiple international victories, and by 1972 had risen to 3rd in the world rankings. Liz then switched disciplines from show jumping to eventing, in which she won a team silver medal at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City.  In 1976, Equine Canada named Liz “Canadian Horsewoman of the Year”.  In 1978, she was captain of Canada’s gold medal winning team at the 1978 World Championships and she represented Canada at two Olympic Games.  Liz was intent on giving back to the community.  Her efforts to support sport development were just as impressive as her riding.  Liz helped pioneer Canada’s Equestrian Coaching Certification Program, served as Athlete Representative on the Canadian Olympic Committee (1981-86), and was a Director of the Canadian Equestrian Team (1988-1992).

Since moving to Victoria in 1994, to become President of Camosun College, Liz has continued to participate in the Jumper discipline, competing at shows in Western Canada, California and the Pacific North West.