In 1998, she received her Level 1 Western Coaching after completing one year as an apprentice with Jim Durling, a Level 3 Reining coach and previous owner of Equine Excellence.    After completing her level 1 certification she returned to Newfoundland where she managed and taught a successful western riding school and horse training program outside St John's.

In December of 2000 she moved back to Nova Scotia to complete her Level 2 Reining certification and to work full time with Mr. Durling.  Here she started, trained and showed horses as well as taught full time. In 2003, along with a partner, she purchased Equine Excellence where she currently is owner and manager.

Left: photo supplied by James P. Brown,
Steady Brook Saddlery

During her time working in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia she and her students have competed in Reining and Western Performance events.  She and her students have won many awards. 

While her specialty is Reining, Lisa has worked with many different breeds of horses and trained horses for many different disciplines.  She herself has competed successfully in the Maritime Reining circuit. 

Lisa has also been featured in the Atlantic Business magazine in the 2006 Women in Business Issue.

Lisa continues to further her education by taking clinics with many professionals in the horse industry, such as Bob Grimshaw, Stacy and Jessie Westfall, Shawna Sapergia, Nick Valentine and Jim Durling. She is constantly working on educating herself with the many Equine Canada Programs. She has attended Judging Seminars in General Performance and Reining and is Course Conductor with Equine Canada. She loves to train and teach and is always happy to pass along her knowledge. Some of the awards she has won are: