Reaching Strides Equestrian Centre

Nadine Bollig

Owner, Trainer, Coach, Instructor

Reaching Strides Equestrian Centre has been successfully owned and operated by Nadine Bollig since the spring of 2000. Nadine has been involved with horses since the age of 9 when she started to take lessons at a local stable, and within a year had her own first pony, an Appy mare named Sassy who is still a successful member of the school string at the ripe age of 24. Having nearly 20 years of horse experience, Nadine is a current certified Instructor, Equine Behaviourist and Trainer through the Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation and Equine Canada, a certified Level 1 Coach with NCCP Canada, and is currently working to achieve competition coach status.

Nadine has been showing competitively since she was a child and showed in many disciplines including dressage, western pleasure, reining, english, hunter, jumper, driving, and even some barrels and poles. She was an active member of Pony Club and 4-H well into her teens. She uses her extensive experiences and her own training, and puts her heart and soul into the operating of the stable to bring out the best in all of the students and horses at Reaching Strides. Nadine has worked with several trainers throughout her career on the methods of non-resistance training through Natural Horsemanship and implements this into every horse or pony that comes through the training program at RSEC.

Nadine acts as head coach and trainer for the stable and continues to enjoy competing, now mainly in the hunter discipline. She acts as competition coach and travels with students at all levels and disciplines to competitions from fun/schooling shows to Provincial Bronze and National Gold competitions. Horses and Equestrian are her business and her passion, and she is proud to provide to the stable an environment that is family-like, safe, and friendly, and treats all clientele - whether they are horses or people - with open friendship. One of her biggest beliefs is "you walk into the stable a stranger, but you leave as a friend".

Nadine's Gallery

David Hayne

Farrier

David Hayne is the Professional Farrier and Hoof Care Specialist for Reaching Strides Equestrian Centre and our clientele. He is the best farrier around and does his job thinking about what is best for the horse. He focuses on balanced as well as therapeutic hoof care for light horses, draft horses, ponies, miniatures, mules and donkeys.

David has been shoeing horses professionally since 1987 and has spent the last 30 plus years in studies of Farriery Science. He is a member of the American Farrier Association and has written and passed the Certified Farrier Written Exam in 2002 in Rochester, New York. He is actively involved with the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Veterinarian College on Prince Edward Island in the Vet/Farrier Course Programs, and works with vets in therapeutic and pathological cases.

David attended the Atlantic Farrier School in 1987, which was the extension department of the Nova Scotia Agriculture College. He mentored under Rocky Irons and was hired as the substitute instructor at the Atlantic Farrier College. He acts as the Vice President of the Nova Scotia Farrier Association and believes in the motto "Educated Farriers Educating Farriers".

He has mentored with Farriers from the RCMP Musical Ride and participated in clinics with Certified Journeyman Farriers Andrew Elsbree, Fred Bowers, Myron McLean, Dave Farley, Danny Ward and the gentleman who wrote the book on Principals of Horseshoeing, Dr. Doug Butler.

His work is mainly focused on hunter/jumpers, western pleasure and driving horses. You can learn more about his farrier services on the Hoof N' Forge page.

Holly Hartman

Massage Therapist

Holly Hartman is the resident Certified Message Therapist for Reaching Strides Equestrian Centre. She has been involved with horses from the time she could be propped up in a saddle. Her horse-filled life began with the calmest pony a child could ever hope for, then went on to a big, goofy Arab/Belgian cross, and then to an abused Standardbred mare (among many others), and finally to her registered Arabian mare Rain. Every single one of them taught her a great deal, and she realized that she will never be done learning from them or about them.

Holly has been showing horses since 2000, competing in all disciplines including both english and western, over fences, and barrel racing. She loves it all. Holly considers her horses to be her best friends and realizes that they do so much for her by being her main source for relaxation and enjoyment. There is nothing more humbling than these noble animals having such trust and faith in a person that they will come right to you, allow you to handle them, tack them up, climb up on their backs and control their movements. It is for these reasons and so much more that she decided to take the Equine Massage Therapy course through Equanimity Edge EquineRehab Education. With how much her equine friends have done for her, this is her way of giving something back.

Samantha White

Web Designer, Website Maintenance

Samantha White is RSEC's Web Designer and also maintains and updates the website. She has been involved with horses since she was 11, when she became a volunteer stablehand at a breeding stable. During those 3-4 years she learned an incredible amount, and realized that horses were her true passion. She hasn't looked back since, even though she has taken several breaks over the years. In 2006 she decided to realize her dream and got her first horse, an ugly yearling named Susie, who is a Standardbred/Percheron mutt. Susie is now nearly 5 and they have overcome many trials and tribulations (including a broken back!) and Samantha looks forward to the next few decades with her horse.

In 2009 Samantha got her diploma for Web Design from the Centre for Distance Education. When she's not brushing her pony or riding, she's messing with the computer (or making crafts or cuddling her other pets!), and was self-taught for as long as she has been into horses. It was her hope to focus on equestrian themed websites, and she was incredibly lucky to have RSEC as her first job. She is now a freelance web designer and you can view her portfolio and/or contact her at her site, Zhuria.com.

Samantha's Gallery

Dixi

Senior Dog in Charge, "Security"

Dixi is our senior dog and also the boss. She's a lick-your-face and if-you-pat-me-you-can-take-anything watchdog. Dixi just turned 9 and is a very lovable Lab/Golden Retriever mix. Dixi takes great care of the stable and is a fantastic alarm with her bark that announces the arrival of everything living that ever comes up the driveway. But fear not - it's all a show; as soon as you pat her it's all over, and she won't leave you alone and looks for pats for the rest of your visit. Aside from that, she loves to eat, sleep, show her tricks, swimming and playing fetch.

Dixi's Gallery

Ebony

Trail Supervisor

Ebony is the middle child and has that type of personality. She is a 6 year old black Lab/Jack Russell mix. Slightly laid back and not much of a people person. She's more of a one person dog, but does enjoy a pat or two. She keeps the herds in order and loves nothing more than to run around with the horses when they have an exciting exercise session. Ebony loves to supervise trail rides, sit in her chair, play fetch, roam the pastures and swimming.

Ebony's Gallery

Lucy

Cuddle-Bug

Lucy is the baby, a 3 year old Lab mix with more personality than most people. She is the most lovable, personable dog that you will ever meet. She craves attention so much that she literally cannot stand anyone else to receive any in her presence. Lucy loves to dance, cuddle, drive in the car, sleep on Nadine's bed, go on trail rides, swim, cuddle, help people with their chores, cuddle, and oh yeah, did we mention cuddle?

Lucy's Gallery

Beautiful

Head Mouser

Beautiful is 4 years old and teeny weeny, but the best mouser in the barn. If there is one out there a runnin', she gets it immediately. She has a sweet, very cuddly personality, loves to be picked up and cuddled, and she thinks that it's great when all the horse blankets are out for a great spot to sleep. She is the sister of Timbit and they love each other very much.

Beautiful's Gallery

Cricket

Hayloft Guard

Cricket is the hayloft guard cat. She has a bit of a split personality where she looks for your love, but as soon as you give it to her she eats your face. She is big, fluffy and black and white, and unfortunately we have to ask people to be cautious around her - as much as she likes to be patted, she was abused before she came to the barn and hasn't quite forgotten her old life. She makes a great guard for the hayloft and keeps it clear of rodents for us.

Cricket's Gallery

Muffin

Bird Hunter

Muffin has a short tail and is also known as Humpty Dumpty because he's as tall as he is wide. A bit on the plump side, Muffin enjoys eating, sleeping, cuddling (when he wants food), and occasionally going to hunt birds on the neighbours' lawn. They really like that! (wink, wink!) Muffin is the 4 year old cousin to Beautiful and Timbit.

Muffin's Gallery

Nico

Pigeon Population Control

Nico is the bigger, twin brother of Nikita. They are both part Siamese, but their daddy was obviously a big fluffy black tom. Nico is 12 years old and is a very good hunter. He is especially wonderful at keeping the adult pigeon population under control. We have actually seen him jump 10 feet in the air to catch and kill one - quite the athletic little fellow.

Nico's Gallery

Nikita

House Security

Nikita is the very petite twin sister of Nico. Although she is fluffy and black, you can see her Siamese heritage in the way she acts, moves and looks at you. She is very loving, loves to talk, and she guards the house, especially the beds. She is very prissy and rarely is seen outside unless its a beautiful sunny day.

Nikita's Gallery

Timbit

Jump Inspector

Timbit is also 4 years old and the biggest cuddler in the barn. He has used his nine lives over and over, as he thinks it's fun to participate in lessons. He will run across the rail as someone is cantering by, or sit in front of or under a jump as someone is approaching. He thinks it's great when the hay delivery arrives and jumps right on up to the top of the full trailer. He's also been known to sneak into car windows and "accidentally" go to sleep in back seats.

Timbit's Gallery

Ted

Herd Protector

Ted aka Totally Excellent Donkey is our resident herd protector. Teddy is a 5 year old donkey that was originally purchased as a baby buddy for Pride when he was a foal, as he had no other foals to play with. Teddy was brought all the way down from Miramichi in New Brunswick. He was born on the same day as Pride and proved to be an awesome buddy for him to play with. Ted is currently just a pasture ornament, but we fully intend to do some training with him and teach him to drive a cart for driving lessons. He loves to be groomed and fussed over, treats and being hugged and cuddled. He doesn't like the dogs and keeps them out of the pasture, except for Ebony, who is too fast and smart and just loves to torment him. His girlfriend and the love of his life is Tinkerbelle - he absolutely adores her and thinks she is the queen of the world.

Ted's Gallery