Horsing Around At Kirton's Stables In Harrowsmith

Jeff Green | Jun 13, 2013

Judy Kirton, owner of Kirton's Stables and Kennel in Harrowsmith, is now offering horse riders a place to improve their skills in a brand new facility that she recently completed at her home business, which is located near Harrowsmith on Colebrook Road.

In addition to her deluxe dog kennel, which was completed in 2011, Judy recently erected a 150 x 60 foot riding arena, which boasts long windows that span its length and bring in the sun, making it comfortably warm in the winter months. The deluxe facility was carefully built, with special attention paid to giving the horses the best possible footing conditions for indoor riding. Kirton specially designed the floor area, which was taken down to bare limestone, then covered with multiple layers of different-sized rocks held together with black webbing and then covered with stone dust and two inches of sand, which Kirton waters and harrows twice a week.

Kirton, who has been working with horses for over 50 years, is a Canadian certified coach. She previously headed up a junior team in Quebec prior to relocating to the Harrowsmith area just a few years back. She also showed horses in Dressage and Combined Eventing, both of which are her special areas of expertise. When she sold her horse farm in Quebec prior to building the new facility in Harrowsmith she thought she would be retiring from horses and coaching, but as she said when I interviewed her at her farm, “I soon realized that I just couldn't stay away from it. I really love teaching and horses.”

On the day that I visited Judy had just finished a lesson in dressage with Margaret Bignell of Kingston and Margaret's 18-year-old, quarter horse/Arabian mare named Sky. Asked about what makes a good teacher and coach, Kirton said, “Patience is one of the most important aspects when it comes to coaching and teaching. The student, the horse and myself are all working together as a team.” Kirton says she begins by teaching her students the natural rhythm of the horse they are riding. “It's kind of like building blocks. You start with the rhythm of the horse and then move to the upward and downward transitions. I teach the student how to use their body to transmit their body language to the horse.”

Kirton hopes to offer her know-how to horse riders, whom she is inviting to her facility where the animals can be easily trucked in. She also has available one last roomy stall for boarding in her new barn, which boasts windows for each animal with views of the extensive grassy fields where they are turned out daily to graze and relax.

Kirton takes both dog and horse care very seriously. “Care of the animals is my number one concern,” she said. “The fact that I live here at the facility is a great benefit to the animals since I can tend them and their needs daily.”

Margaret Bignell, who has been taking lessons from Kirton for three years, said she is very pleased with the results she is getting. “She (Judy) is really enthusiastic and really knows her stuff. Today we were concentrating on bending, and getting Sky to turn without falling in or drifting. A good teacher helps a rider to develop confidence while at the same time not letting them develop any bad habits,” she said.

Margaret's daughter, who has been riding since she was six years old and is more experienced, is also working with Judy.

Sky also boards at the facility and Margaret attested to the fact that she is very well cared for. “It's great for Sky because she is in the company of other horses, gets regular treats and has gorgeous grassy fields outside where she can roam.“

Kirton also wants to remind dog owners that she is open for dog boarding. For more information contact Judy Kirton at 613-372-5540.