KIM LEVY animal behaviourist

I can never remember life without horses.  I was riding by 3 years of age on the family ranch.

I was 12 years old when I first became aware of the possibilities of horsemanship.  I was introduced to lessons at the Dwyer Hill Horse Farm which was owned by Jacky Morel, heiress to Coors Breweries.  She brought to the Ottawa Valley a training center and a level of horsemanship that had never been experienced in Canada.  It was here where Ian Miller and other great horsemen honed their skills.

Jacky Morel encouraged and supported my riding by providing access to her many wonderful horses and her head coach Melanie Taylor.  I took lessons and clinics from Ian Miller and Randy Roy.  What an experience for a young rider.  It was there I learned the value and importance of perfecting stable management, horse care and training.

I rode Jumpers and Dressage and took my horses to the hunt field at every opportunity.

In 1998 I did two things that have change my life and my thoughts on horsemanship.

I bought my first Grand Prix Dressage horse, Neron, a Pure Spanish Andalusian (out of the Spanish Stud) and took up polo.  I have been dedicated to both ever since.  I had the good fortune to meet and train with the world’s greatest Polo player, Memo Gracida.  At Memo’s La Herradura’s training facilities I was introduced to the world of high goal polo where Memo's level of horsemanship skills are as great as any I have known.

The greatest Horseman and horse trainer in the world today, in my opinion, is my coach Josh Lyons.  He has transformed my horses and my riding as well as shown me how to be a better trainer.

Today on our Ranch we have 18 horses in total.  Six are my dressage mounts.  I still us Neron for demonstrations but my own home bred Poco is quickly gaining ground on him.

My husband and my son keep taking the horses I like, so I always find myself starting with young ones.  I feel fairly confident they won’t take Poco.  He was bred to be a polo ponie but he grew and grew.  He is now at 6 years old and 16.3hh and still maturing.  I like to call him the little polo ponie that grew.  He is my horse and just lets Josh and I train him.  He has a lot of presence and is not a dead head so he makes a interesting day for everyone.  When I look into Pocos eyes I see his soul.  He is my gift from God.

Before he was born I had a dream that I was going to have a big foal and he would be famous and his name would be Poco.

Horses are woven into everything I have, my husband, my son, my Ranch and my friends.