I began riding at the age of four at a local stable that was located just one mile down the road from my home. It was here that my love for horses was born!
I spent several years riding a variety of different ponies and horses before my parents were kind enough to buy me my first horse: "Fly Away Champ" - a black 15.2hh, AQHA gelding.
Champ and I moved from that first local stable to one on the other end of town so that I could further my education and begin showing.
At this new stable we began on the Trillium circuit (now referred to as the Silver Circuit). It also introduced me to Pony Club.
As a member of the Saint Lawrence Ottawa Valley (SLOV) Pony Club, I enjoyed great success playing Prince Philip Games. Participating in these Mounted Games I was a member of the National Championship team in 1992. I was also chosen as one of five members from across Canada to compete on the International team in 1994 and compete in Perth, Australia!
Although I started out in the Children's Hunter Division, by the time I moved to my first big "A" circuit stable some seven years later, I had been regularly competing in both the Trillium Hunters on my Thoroughbred mare Montego Bay and the 3'6" Trillium Jumpers with my Mom's horse Calarco, then later on my Belgian Warmblood Luka.
At the age of 16, Luka (a 17hh, Belgian Warblood gelding by Lys de Darmen) and I began training with Bob and Jill Henselwood.
Under Jill's tutelage, I qualified for the High Junior/Amateur Division at theRoyal Agricultural Winter Fair in my first full year competing at 1.40m.
During my time at Juniper Farms, I was able to develop and compete with my various horses (Luka, Platoon II, Chakotay, Leobalia and Gloria) from the Low Junior/Amateur Division up to the Rising Star and Modified Grand Prix's.
Highlights included being selected as the junior representive for Canada at the 'Copa Caracas' held in Caracas, Venezuela (1995) and a memeber of the 1996 Ontario Young Riders Team held at Temple Farms (Chicago).
With more than one million dollars in lifetime earnings, Chianto finally retired from competition at the age of 20.
He is currently enjoying his retirement and living with John Pearce at his home farm in California.
The last decade has been spent developing a nice string of well-bred horses competing under saddle, as well as, breeding and raising the next-generation of sport horses.
The young products of our breeding have already been successful in earning top honours from their registries:
I always look forward to seeing what each new generation will become as they grow and develop!!
Last Update: January 04, 2021