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I haven't mentioned it recently, but I've really been enjoying the horse riding a lot. Its great to put my head in a completely other space and I can't tell you how much difference its made to me over the last (nearly a) year - health wise, outlook wise. Its been really rewarding, just so you know.

I have always wanted to learn horseback riding, and finally at the age of 53, I have time to pursue this dream. My two daughters and I are currently taking lessons at Country Hill with Western riding coach, Lydia Grimes. She is not only very knowledgeable about her profession, but is also patient, never pushes me when I feel uncomfortable, and has made each lesson so much fun. I have been taking riding lesson for about 6 months and have quickly improved from a person who could barely sit properly on top of a horse, to a person who is able to do some cantering. Thank you Country Hill and thank you Lydia! Looking forward to our next lesson!

You shared your extensive knowledge of horses and the horse business with me, and I know you genuinely cared about my learning and my time here. I've gained so many opportunities and experiences that I never would have gained otherwise. You took me under your wing and helped me blossom - I'm a better rider and a better horse person for everything that you've taught me. I wouldn't change these last months for anything. Thank you for giving me a truly life-changing experience.

I couldn't be happier, my coach Kathy (Fremes) and everyone else at Country Hill have been amazing, helping me to get my confidence back and improve. I am not the rider I was when I first came here two years ago, ant that is all because of Kathy, and the amazing horses here.

Laurie, I have to thank you a million times for telling me about Kathy Fremes & Country Hill Stables. I started riding there in January and I am in heaven! I'm in love with Josh (I took his picture today) and I have learned so much in a few lessons. I had resigned myself to not being able to progress any further. Now I smile all the way home. You're a darling!

Thanks so much for the lovely retreat. Your meals were divine and Larissa and I enjoyed ourselves so much. It is such a lovely, country environment. The lessons were a treat too. I will be laughing for weeks over the fact that the horse's name is Couch.....that is just great!!

Hi Kathy, I was telling Carol how much I enjoy taking lessons with you, when I thought how silly it was that I was teling her and not you! So I just wanted to send a brief note to thank you for our Sunday hacks/lessons - it is definitely something that I look forward to all week! See you and Chocolat next week.

It's been over 10 years since Luc and Ari moved to your barn. They're as happy as I've ever seen them, if not happier. They've both come through the winter with a shape, a sheen and an attitude that really tells of the quality of care. I've appreciated your staff's quick intervention at the first sign of illness; the boarders are fun; the facility is good; and the opportunities are endless.

If I let loose and tell you how wonderful it was it there will be too many superlatives for it to sound real. Suffice it to say, this was a wonderful weekend. I was a fearful rider because of some past events and hadn't been on a horse in about 15 years. Kathy crafted a gentle progressive series of lessons based on my needs, just for me. It was absolutely perfect and every member of her team played a part in getting me back on a horse. Friday the intro with Kathy was so subtle, unpressured and gradual that I was on beautiful Chocolat before I knew it. One of the four lessons was horse-handling. What a great idea! Stephanie did a beautiful job of helping me to get to know the horse and walk around the grounds with him on my own two feet. That session definitely prepped me for a ride in the outdoor arena in the afternoon with Lydia where I achieved another personal best of the weekend. The last morning I tried a hint of dressage and fell in love with it immediately. I feel ready and very much want to continue riding here at home. The accommodation and food were blissy - kind of like a fairy tale with wonderful tasty meals arriving as if by magic. I got to see the workings of a group of riders getting ready for a show at dawn and to have down time for reading, embroidery, cat cuddling and napping. The location is absolutely gorgeous. The stables are exceptional and the horses beautifully schooled and obviously cared for with great intelligence and attention. All my needs were met and I feel as though an entire layer of anxiety has been simply and permanently removed. I will keep riding and plan to return to Country Hill Farm often. Thank you Kathy. That was a game changing weekend.

I have been riding at Country Hill Farm for almost eleven years now, and through countless summer riding camps and clinics, I have as yet failed to find a more thorough yet informative yet approachable coach as Kathy Fremes. Her ability to make a complicated subject seem straightforward and engaging was perhaps no more clearly evident than during my first driving lesson with her. She took me through the steps of tacking up and driving in a professional and easy manner. She sat in the cart with me to demonstrate the appropriate techniques and give much needed hand-on support and encouragement. She managed to teach me all the basics of driving in a one hour period without making me feel rushed or flustered. She was perfectly able to judge my growing confidence and presented me with a variety of exercises which were in my skill set and yet interestingly challenging. Kathy Fremes gave me the most complete driving lesson I could ever wish for - she was also able to respond to all my questions about technique, equipment, history and the modern driving scene with confidence and poise. I have been taking lessons with her since I was seven, and she has never disappointed me once. Without a doubt, she will give you the most complete, informative and interesting lesson in driving you could ever wish for. Her pony, the Splash wonder, is also the definitive driving pony - small enough to be comfortable for beginners, and gentle and experienced enough to deal with a newbie's mistakes without batting an eyelash. I could go on and on, but my point after taking one of Kathy's driving lessons is - they are fantastic! If you want to learn to drive, then Kathy and Splash await you. Drive on!

My entire focus right now and for the rest of the year is becoming a better rider for the sake of my two horses. I really cannot thank you enough Kathy for your wonderful instruction and most of all your patience (when I can't seem quite to get it)!

After seeing the death of the actress Richardson, it is a constant reminder of the use of helmets in riding. I am so glad that I went and bought all new helmets after you mentioned I should as they were all old. There's wear and tear on helmets and just cracking or something we cannot even see because of age... It honestly was something I never thought about until you mentioned to me personally... You have been the Safety Queen always! This is one of the reasons always loved riding at Country Hill Farms.

Thanks for taking the time to teach Jenna on Monday, your one day off. Jenna felt very privileged. She is just loving Axel and your lessons. Thanks so much.

Kathy and her staff are incredible! We recently celebrated a 40th birthday/girls weekend away and my expectations of the... weekend were over surpassed as I drove up to the farm house! The location was incredible, the hosts (Kathy, Shraga, Krista and all of her staff) were AMAZING - talk about a gourmet cooks! Food was incredible, ambience was perfect and the horse back training, lessons and experience was FANTASTIC (there aren't enough adjectives to describe or do the weekend justice)! To top it all off, we all fell in love with the wonderful Whiz 😀
Thanks you Kathy! We'll be back next year for our new Annual Girls Weekend!

Yesterday was great, and I had a lot of fun on the hack. I also wanted to thank you for all the advice you've given me, and the great lessons. Even though I've only been at Country Hill for a month, I've learned a ton, and Sundance and I are both improving. It's also great to know that Sundance is getting the royal treatment.

If you're thinking of coming to Country Hill, I can only ask - how soon can you get here? Your horses will think they have died and gone to heaven. Let me give you a few examples of the care at the farm - and it's not just one person being nice, it's the entire staff - the culture that is oriented to doing the best for the horses.
"I have a 26 year old gelding who foundered badly last year. We found he was insulin resistant and required hay soaked to remove the sugars, until the hay could be tested and a feed regimen could be developed. Well, that little guy had all the hay he could eat, all the attention he could want and he has recovered to the point where he is being ridden again. He is on an individual feed regimen and the staff gladly gets it ready for him.
"I also have an off-track injured mare (badly bowed tendon) who was on stall rest at another location for a year. Kathy agreed to take her and used special fencing that could gradually increase her turnout area until we knew she wouldn't endanger herself. She was in that paddock for months and months and has done so well she is now on 24 hour turnout. She has settled from nut-case to intelligently alert.
"And oh yes, a rescue horse - I got a Tennessee Walking Horse from Heaven Can Wait - "20 years old, looks like Cushings". Well, he went on the insulin resistance diet and is now a normal horse and the esteemed partner of the mare mentioned above.
"Other horses I've brought to Kathy's who needed some weight - they are now so round I may need to buy larger girths (but it's not an unhealthy weight - and there's a diet paddock if necessary).
"Compared to many other locations, CHF has a lot of advantages - open 7 days a week (no off day); all sorts of safety precautions in place that address various conditions including my worst nightmare - hay stored over the stable and no page wire fencing. For years Kathy has practised common sense but ultimately worry-free safety; riding on and off the property; good turnout and great quality hay; employees who enjoy working there; long-term relationships (people who were kids when they started are in and beyond university, but keep coming back); regular clinics and get-togethers.

Country Hill has a great group of horse people no doubt about it! Terrific to hear that your riders did well at the horse trial last weekend. Why am I not surprised? Kathy’s leadership and athlete support shows up yet again.

I just want to say thank you for how you've been helping Alexi get over her fears... You've been really great. I know the more mileage she gets, the less it will be an issue, but I bet it wouldn't be going as well if she didn't have such great instruction. Every week I see progress and her confidence is building.

I wanted to thank you for a wonderful stay at Country Hill Farm. Your family, friends and staff were wonderful and I can't believe how much I learned about farming and looking after horses. In addition, the meals were excellent! Thanks again for taking such good care of me, I had a blast!

Roger and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with you and at Country Hill Farm. You run a 5-star facility in every way. Thanks for all your great instructions too—you impart knowledge in such a great way.

Country Hill was the perfect place to stay. After working the Can-Am trade show in Markham, it offered serenity in an absolutely beautiful setting. The beds were super comfortable and waking to a stunning display of nature showcased out of the plentiful windows was the ultimate in tranquility. Not to mention the breakfast was a gourmet delight that kept us going well past lunch time. We would definitely go back again!

Country Hill students should be very grateful for the support, guidance and dedications that Kathy gives them. At the Cherry Lane show this weekend I observed a lot of riders looking for their coaches who were no where to be found. Kathy was right there all day, for her students. And that is one of the reason I think they performed so well.

I have been taking Western riding lessons at Country Hill for more than half a year now; when I began I had minimal knowledge and experience with horses. However with Lydia as my coach, I feel I have learned a lot about both Western riding and horse behaviour. I really enjoy my lessons with Lydia; they are often challenging and a lot of fun. As a coach Lydia is encouraging and helpful with her critiques, I feel my improvements in Western riding would not have happened so quickly or smoothly without her as my teacher. I strongly recommend taking Western lessons at Country Hill, the staff is engaging and the horses are friendly and full of character!