Welcome to the Thistledown Equestrian Center Website!

We offer a variety of riding and horsemanship programs in a friendly, supportive, and relaxed atmosphere:

• Centered Riding® for all disciplines
• Lessons for beginners to advanced Adults and Children:
  • Basic English Riding
  • Dressage
  • Jumping
  • Cross Country
  • Eventing
• Horsemanship
• Quadrille (Musical Ride)
• Showing
• Thistledown hosts Cross Country Trials and Events
• Day Camps in the Summer and March Break

We are located 15 minutes outside of Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

Instructor

Ellen Redden is the owner and operator of Thistledown Equestrian Center. Ellen has been riding and teaching for over forty years in Ireland, England, USA and Canada and is a certified Centered Riding® instructor. She has a very open and friendly approach to teaching all ages and levels of experience.
    • Level II Centered Riding Instructor
    • British Horse Society Horsemaster
    • BHSAI
    • Pony Club “A”
    • Teacher/Trainer of adults and children with over forty years of teaching horsemanship.

Alicia Meconi teaches some of the beginner lessons and Pony Pals.  She has a solid grounding in all phases of Eventing and in Centered Riding.  Her “good eye” and quick wit make her lessons both fun and informative.

Facilities

Riding and horsemanship programs operate year-round at our facility. We pride ourselves on the footing in our dust free 62’ x 130’ Cover-All indoor arena – which is equipped with a sound system for rides to music. The indoor arena provides a place for winter lessons and activities such as equestrian soccer, gymkhanas, shows, free jumping demonstrations, and ground driving.

The large outdoor sand ring houses a full jump course, and our cross country course provides a variety of obstacles including ditches, angles and drops for schooling and shows.

Our horses are chosen for their especially quiet natures and well trained to provide you with an excellent ride at any level from beginner to advanced.