The Facility
Spruce Ridge is located between Pembroke and Cobden, Ontario at 20771 Highway 17.

It is a small, professional stable of 17 stalls, an indoor arena measuring 70 feet by 150 feet and a large outdoor sand ring. There is both group and individual turnout including several grass turnout areas.

Spruce Ridge is an accreditated member of the Associations of Riding Establishments. This is an organization that inspects riding establishments to ensure that the stable has reached an approved level for safety standards in the facility and instruction, including first aid training and appropriate training or experience. The inspections also verify appropriate levels of liability insurance, care and training for horses and plans to ensure that standards are maintained.

The Coaches

Martha Corker
Martha has spent many years riding, both recreationally and competitively. She attained her Pony Club B2 and competed both as a rider and in the theory/quiz portions of Pony Club. Martha won the A/B Western Regional Quiz and was Pony Clubber of the Year in her last year as a Pony Club member.

Martha has worked for Torchy Miller (member of the Show Jumping Team at the Mexico Olympics). She has ridden with Martha Griggs (member of the Three Day Event Team at the Los Angeles Alternate Olympics, at Millar Brooke Farms (home to Ian Miller) and with Eve Mainwaring. All of these high level coaches have given her a broad base of expertise.

Her extensive riding experience encompasses Medium Level 1 dressage, eventing up to the Training Level and the 3'6" jumper ring. Over the years Martha has learnt that life's lessons such as only perfect practice makes perfect, and, it is not enough just to do something, people should be proud to do it to the best of one's ability, are relevant to riding and life.

Martha's coaching experience spans the various disciplines as well. Her riders compete at the schooling show and Trillium/A levels in the hunter ring as well as in the dressage ring and at events.

Of particular note is how well her students ride and the quality of school horses available. Most of the students compete on school horses, even at the 'A' shows.

Martha is an active EC Level 2 Coach who prides herself on continuously learning. This not only gives her the opportunity to improve, but helps keep her own coaching fresh and interesting.

Edith (Edie) Edwards
Edie is a certified instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association; a certified Assistant Instructor with CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association); holds the Equine Canada Riders level 1, 2 and 3, passed the National Coaching Certification program level 1 theory course and is first aid trained. Edie was the Equestrian Director for CARD (Community Association for Riding for the Disabled) in Toronto and she has extensive experience in the planning and conducting of interesting and enjoyable therapeutic riding lessons and as well as conducting training of the horses used in the therapeutic riding lessons. The introduction of the Therapeutic Riding Program is an exciting time for Spruce Ridge. Although Edie's prime focus will be on the Therapeutic Riding Lesson Program, Edie has also taken over the Recreational Riding Lesson program.

Working Student

Flexible working student programs are available to the highly motivated rider dedicated to professional development through the Equine Canada Rider Levels or Canadian Pony Club. Opportunities for competing can be negotiated. Flexible work schedules accommodate working students who are pursuing related college education (business, marketing, accounting etc) at the nearby Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus.

Horses and Ponies

There are a wide range of horses and ponies available for use in riding lessons. Each horse or pony has been carefully selected for their temperment and level of training. There are mounts suitable for the first time adult or child rider as well as the more accomplished rider who wants to participate in the training process and those riders interested in showing hunter, jumper or dressage up to trillium level or eventing up to the pre-training level.