Introduction and Forewords to “The Greenhorn Chronicles 1: Mucking Around Canadian Equestrians”
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Personal SubStack
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/08/09
Table of Contents
In-Sight Publishing ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
The Greenhorn Chronicles 1: Mucking Around Canadian Equestrians …………………………………….. 3
Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Acknowledgements …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
Introduction by Scott Douglas Jacobsen ……………………………………………………………………………….. 10
Foreword by Deborah Clayton ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11
Foreword by Lynne Denison Foster ………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Foreword by Mac Cone …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 13
In-Sight Publishing …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 14
The Greenhorn Chronicles 1: Joelle Froese on Abbotsford, Bradner Hills Farm, and In Stride Equestrian Training …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
The Greenhorn Chronicles 2: Sandy Bell, B.Sc., M.A. on Mature Equine Life and the Alberta Equestrian Federation (1) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 22
The Greenhorn Chronicles 3: Nadine Bollig on Equestrianism and Reaching Strides Equestrian Centre ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 26
The Greenhorn Chronicles 4: Dr. Julia Jane Stanley on Physics, Show Jumping, and Grand Prix Dreams (1) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 30
The Greenhorn Chronicles 5: Leann (Pitman) Manuel on Becoming a Horse Woman and Riding 4 Life’s Beginnings (1) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 33
The Greenhorn Chronicles 6: Sandy Bell, B.Sc., M.A. on Windhorse Retreat, Horse Sense, and Resources (2) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 37
The Greenhorn Chronicles 7: Leann (Pitman) Manuel on Wisdom, Intuition, Disabilities, and Elitism (2) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42
The Greenhorn Chronicles 8: Rachael Dent-Flynn on Flar Equine Experience …………………………….. 46
The Greenhorn Chronicles 9: Leann (Pitman) Manuel on Issues in the Industry (3) ……………………. 49
The Greenhorn Chronicles 10: Kathy Asseiro on Symatree Farm (1) ………………………………………….. 54
The Greenhorn Chronicles 11: Kailin Howard on Horse Ownership and Care …………………………….. 60
The Greenhorn Chronicles 12: Erynn Ballard on Canadian Equestrianism ………………………………….. 65
The Greenhorn Chronicles 13: Adelle Stewart on Horses, Hay, and Prime Equine (1) …………………. 78
The Greenhorn Chronicles 14: Wes Schild on Dressage (1) ……………………………………………………….. 84
The Greenhorn Chronicles 15: Dana Cooke on High Performance Equestrianism (1) ………………….. 88
The Greenhorn Chronicles 16: Wes Schild on Expense, Show Jumping’s Appeal, and the Industry (2) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 91
The Greenhorn Chronicles 17: Cindy Waslewsky on Operations at Twin Creeks Ranch (1) ………… 95
The Greenhorn Chronicles 18: Betty Asseiro on Symatree Farm (1) …………………………………………….. 99
The Greenhorn Chronicles 19: Will Clinging on Canadian Farriers (1) ………………………………………. 103
The Greenhorn Chronicles 20: Moya Byrne Merrin on High Point Equestrian Centre and Equine Labour Shortages (1) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 106
The Greenhorn Chronicles 21: Lesley Daldry on Experiences with Horses (1) ……………………………. 109
The Greenhorn Chronicles 22: Deborah Stacey on the Origins of Horse Lover’s Math (1) …………. 113
The Greenhorn Chronicles 23: Gail Greenough on International Show Jumping and Equestrianism …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 119
The Greenhorn Chronicles 24: Deborah Stacey on Math in the Equine (2) ………………………………… 126
The Greenhorn Chronicles 25: Moya Byrne Merrin on Horse Care and Dressage Horses (2) ………. 131
The Greenhorn Chronicles 26: Mac Cone on Horsemanship, Canada, and the Olympics (1) ………. 133
The Greenhorn Chronicles 27: Mac Cone on North American Show Jumping History (2) ………….. 137
The Greenhorn Chronicles 28: Hayley Mercer on Personal Story and Aspirations in Show Jumping …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 141
The Greenhorn Chronicles 29: Kimberley Martens on Show Jumping, the Netherlands, Show Jumping Culture ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 149
The Greenhorn Chronicles 30: Sean Jobin on Personal Story, Work, and Views in Show Jumping …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 156
The Greenhorn Chronicles 31: Leann (Pitman) Manuel on Equestrianism and Horsemanship (4) . 161
The Greenhorn Chronicles 32: Hyde Moffatt on Getting Started and Rankings (1) …………………….. 172
The Greenhorn Chronicles 33: Mac Cone on the Direction of Show Jumping and Its History (3) … 176
The Greenhorn Chronicles 34: L.J. Tidball on Growth as a Show Jumper, George and Diane Tidball, and Show Jumping (1) ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 182
The Greenhorn Chronicles 35: Cindy Waslewsky on the Equestrian Industry and Breeds (2) …….. 190
The Greenhorn Chronicles 36: Hyde Moffatt on the Meaning of Success (2) ………………………………. 195
The Greenhorn Chronicles 37: Deborah Clayton on Equestrian Fashion and a Respect for Show Jumping (1) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 198
The Greenhorn Chronicles 38: Deborah Clayton on Being a Show Jumping Destination (2) ……….. 207
The Greenhorn Chronicles 39: Alicia Gadban-Lewis on Show Jumping Development and Lifestyle (1) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 211
The Greenhorn Chronicles 40: L.J. Tidball on Staffing, Tiffany Foster, Brent Balisky, and Horses (2) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 214
The Greenhorn Chronicles 41: Cindy Waslewsky and Steve Waslewsky on Big Picture Operations, the Township of Langley, ALR, and Bylaws (3) ……………………………………………………………………… 219
The Greenhorn Chronicles 42: L.J. Tidball on Business, the global South and East, Injuries, and International Competition (3) ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 226
The Greenhorn Chronicles 43: L.J. Tidball on Great Riders, SafeSport, and George & Dianne Tidball (4) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 229
The Greenhorn Chronicles 44: Lynne Denison Foster on Parenting Principles (1) ………………………. 234
The Greenhorn Chronicles 45: Conversation with Beth Underhill on Upbringing (1) …………………. 238
The Greenhorn Chronicles 46: Conversation with Beth Underhill on Longevity and Emotional Difficulties (2) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 242
The Greenhorn Chronicles 47: Annette Case Background to 3-Day Eventing (1) ………………………… 248
The Greenhorn Chronicles 48: Lynne Denison Foster on Storytime with Brent Balisky (2) …………. 255
The Greenhorn Chronicles 49: Annette Case on Eventer Stereotypes and Family Life (2) ………….. 259
The Greenhorn Chronicles 50: Conversation with Beth Underhill on Horses and Tragedy (3) …….. 264
The Greenhorn Chronicles 51: Bob Marshall, 5-Time World Champion Blacksmith ………………….. 270
The Greenhorn Chronicles 51: Bob Marshall, 5-Time World Champion Blacksmith ………………….. 287
The Greenhorn Chronicles 52: Quentin Judge on Double H Farm (1) ……………………………………….. 304
The Greenhorn Chronicles 53: Emily Fitzgerald on Equestrianism (1) ………………………………………. 307
The Greenhorn Chronicles 54: Quentin Judge on Top Tier Show Jumping (2) ………………………….. 311
The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (3) ……………………………… 314
The Greenhorn Chronicles 56: Lynne Denison Foster on Recognition & Repetition (3) ……………… 318
The Greenhorn Chronicles 57: Lynne Denison Foster on Hard Work and Helping the Least of These (4) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 323
The Greenhorn Chronicles 58: Lynne Denison Foster on Loneliness and Thunderbird Show Park (5) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 327
The Greenhorn Chronicles 59: Lynne Denison Foster on Last Comments (6) ……………………………. 331
The Greenhorn Chronicles 60: Emily Fitzgerald on Show Jumping (2) …………………………………….. 337
The Good Men Project …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 342
Melanie Rempel and Lauren Rempel on Para Dressage ………………………………………………………… 343
Miriam Alden on Brunette the Label and Horse Girl Aesthetic ………………………………………………… 351
Author Biography ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 356
The Greenhorn Chronicles 1: Mucking Around Canadian Equestrians
Acknowledgements
To the Baliskys and Tidballs for taking in a stray Fort Langleyite, and their employees for training me and being decent varied colleagues over 27 months, and Adelle Stewart, Alicia Gadban-Lewis, Annette Case, Beth Underhill, Betty Asseiro, Bob Marshall, Cindy Waslewsky, Dana Cooke, Deborah Clayton, Deborah Stacey, Dr. Julia Jane Stanley, Erynn Ballard, Gail Greenough, Hayley Mercer, Hyde Moffatt, Joelle Froese, Kailin Howard, Kathy Asseiro, Kimberley Martens, Melanie Rempel, Miriam Alden, Lauren Rempel, Leann (Pitman) Manuel, Lesley Daldry, L.J. Tidball, Lynne Denison Foster, Mac Cone, Moya Byrne Merrin, Nadine Bollig, Quentin Judge, Rachael Dent-Flynn, Sandy Bell, B.Sc., M.A., Sean Jobin, Steve Waslewsky, Wes Schild, and Will Clinging, for the interviews.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Introduction by Scott Douglas Jacobsen
My first experience of a horse was walking with a childhood friend in the outskirts of town—Langley, B.C.—around variegated farms, including Christmas tree farms, up to a fence. A horse came over in a little prance. It peered gently over the fencing, inviting a pet. I brought my right hand forward under its chin and stroked it. Immediately, the horse sneezed in my face as if a booger blaster shotgun—point-blank. Pow! Splat! Ew!
Life has much goofiness to it, often at your expense. Years later, I worked in the restaurant industry during the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected the world, including peculiarly Canada. Near the end of that streak, I worked in 4 restaurants and did janitorial work in 2 of them 7 days per week. The money plus tips were good. The work was hard. The hours were long. The work was invigorating, though dynamic, tiring, and stressful.
Cleaning up the poop stains of heavy drinkers at a pub is not glamorous, but you learn valuable life lessons from it. The things you find in the bathrooms that are not excrement!
As John, the owner of the pub at the time—unsure now—when he took me on a drive once said, “Farms are good to grow up. You learn about life and death.” That is true. I took that to heart. The routine became monotonous. I was not learning anything new in skills. The restaurant-janitorial period seemed to be capping out.
So, I decided to look for newer opportunities for something more invigorating. The farm notion came to mind. ‘Langley, the Horse Capital of British Columbia!’ was in the sub-culture of the area too. I would read and hear that, but I only had horse boogers from many years prior attesting to it.
As with most of these items, I decided to take another leap of trust into the unknown and applied to many horse facilities and farms to transition—leaving those skills and incomes behind for the uncertainty of an entirely new industry with zero experience. Somewhere else I did not belong.
I did one job interview at a horse farm purchased by a wealthy individual who was in transitional ownership. It was pretty good. I never met the owner. The barn manager was a nice lady. The horses were interesting. Then I got the number of one woman, Laura Balisky (née Tidball), who responded to a text inquiry about Thunderbird/Tbird—a well-known and respected brand and show grounds in British Columbia, certainly. I did not know this at the time. I knew—literally—nothing.
Balisky concluded with something to the effect, ‘Sure, let us give it a shot.’ That is about the correct tone, then and now—recalling “often at your expense.” Kindness with a higher-end equestrian facility sensibility, ‘Sure, we’ll put your ass to work.’
And they did, for 27 months. I had no right to be there.
Fast forward to two Workers Compensation Board back injuries later, but learning a lot—thanks to the training generosity—from highly experienced gardeners, landscapers, tractor operators, stall muckers, water bucket cleaners, grain bag organizers, aisle blowers, course setters, and the like.
Everyone there, then and now, knew more than me and was a source of data. These seem like basic tasks, but they are not when done correctly. There are a few right—so more than one correct answer, certainly—and a lot more wrong ways to do these things to optimize both quality and time expenditure.
Labour is one of many overheads in a financially constrained and pressured industry. I did one horse lesson while working with the Baliskys and Tidballs, but at a different facility—do not tell Laura, Brent, and L.J., please! I did not want to mix work and leisure too much. In hindsight, it probably was a stupid move. Think about how many laughs we all missed on me trying to ride a horse!
I lived there, worked there, shared sentiments and struggles with the girls there, made a small family there, learned janitorial cleaning of human waste is not much different from mucking horse shit, and—indeed—learned a little about ‘life and death’ in a way.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Foreword by Deborah Clayton
In a world where stories often go unheard, Scott has tasked himself with being a voice for the voiceless. He is a talented journalist and, most recently, an embedded reporter in the Ukraine. Now, in his latest work, The Greenhorn Chronicles, Scott takes us on a different journey—one that gallops through the captivating and intricate world of equestrianism.
Scott’s passion for storytelling and a keen ear allows us insight into the elegance and grace of the equestrian world and its many facets. The Greenhorn Chronicles is not just a collection of anecdotes, it is a deep dive into the lives of those who dedicate themselves to the art of riding, training, and showcasing these magnificent horses.
Through his thoughtful questioning and heartfelt narratives, Scott reveals the profound connection between humans and horses and brings a fresh lens to this beloved sport, making it accessible and relatable to both seasoned equestrians and newcomers alike.
Join me in celebrating this remarkable journey into the equestrian world as Scott invites us to explore the beauty, challenges, and triumphs that lie within. The Greenhorn Chronicles are a testament to his talent as a storyteller and his unwavering commitment to shedding light on the passions that define us.
Deborah Clayton
Lead Buyer/Vendor Relations, Thunderbird Show Park
Foreword by Lynne Denison Foster
Greenhorn Chronicles is an insightful and enlightening exploration of the foundational influences within the world of equestrian sport. Through interviews with individuals deeply involved in the infrastructure of this unique sport—where two athletes, a human rider and a horse, must work in perfect harmony—Scott offers readers a perspective that is often overlooked.
As the mother of a Canadian show jumping athlete who has represented her country in three Olympic Games and held the title of leading lady rider in the world rankings on more than one occasion, I’ve had a front-row seat to the challenges and triumphs of this extraordinary sport. My daughter’s journey, from humble beginnings with minimal financial support to reaching the highest levels of competition, has been nothing short of remarkable.
When Scott approached me to share my perspective on the pivotal role parents play in helping their children achieve such lofty dreams, I was intrigued by his curiosity and dedication to uncovering the often unseen aspects of show jumping—especially in Canada, where the sport doesn’t always receive the spotlight it deserves. His genuine interest in this world led me to contribute my story to Greenhorn Chronicles, and I’m proud to be part of this fascinating project.
I believe that when you read the interviews Scott has conducted with the many dedicated behind-the-scenes people who support this sport—just as much as the riders and horses themselves—you will be both amazed and inspired by the depth of commitment, passion, and hard work that goes into the world of show jumping.
Lynne Denison Foster
Former Aviation Professional & BCIT Instructor
Foreword by Mac Cone
As a child, I learned a Bible verse, “Only fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Scott Jacobsen has gathered 62 interviews from various people who are involved with horses in many different capacities. Their different visions into their world of horses give the reader an opportunity to gain wisdom and instruction from the backgrounds of many people.
Scott’s interviews do not attempt to be a manual of horse riding or training, but a more overall view of living a life around horses. Anyone considering becoming involved with horses as a professional will find many little clues from Scott’s work that might tell them if horses are where your professional effort should be applied.
Whether an amateur or professional horse person, Scott’s interviews will provide both knowledge and entertainment.
Enjoy the read!
Mac Cone
Former Olympian, Canadian Equestrian Team & United States Equestrian Team
Southern Ways Equestrian Ltd.
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