Candace Nilsson
Barn Staff & Instructor
Candace’s passion for horses began in childhood, during trips with her brother to the auction mart at Clyde Corner. She would eagerly watch the horses move cattle up and down the alleyways. Frequent outings with her dad to look at cattle often ended with the chance to hop on different horses, further fueling her love for the equine world!
Her horsemanship journey formally began at the age of seven with beginner lessons at Rocking Bar Ranch. From ages 11 to 15, she continued developing her skills at Horse Sense, where she learned how to start young horses, drive, and refine her overall horsemanship. These experiences led her into low-level showing in dressage and jumping, and eventually sparked a greater passion for buying and developing project horses. Throughout this time, Candace worked with and under several coaches, continually pushing herself to expand her knowledge and skill set whenever possible.
In 2021, Candace began coaching and quickly discovered a true passion for teaching. Although she had owned her own horse since the age of 11, she shifted her focus toward buying and flipping projects rather than maintaining a single personal mount. Nearly three years later, this path led her to her 16-hand Thoroughbred mare ... a “failed” sales project who ultimately became a permanent partner.
After high school, Candace pursued a diploma as an Animal Health Technologist through Lakeland College and is now a Registered Veterinary Technologist. Over the past two years, she has worked as a veterinary technician in both a 24/7 emergency hospital and a general practice. She is currently continuing her education to become an Equine Dental Practitioner and looks forward to putting this certification into practice by the end of June 2026.
Today, she owns two horses, attends the gym daily, and balances full-time schooling with her professional and coaching commitments. Outside of horses, she enjoys playing guitar, traveling, reading, and going for walks with her chihuahuas.
Candace loves riding and is passionate about continually learning and refining her skills under the guidance of others. She is equally dedicated to setting her students up for success throughout their equine journeys. Her coaching is rooted in a deep commitment to positive, relationship-based horsemanship, with a focus on fostering a welcoming and encouraging community for riders of all levels. She believes strongly in cultivating a healthy barn atmosphere that benefits both horses and riders at every stage of development.
Sarah Miller
Barn Staff & Instructor
Sarah Lindsay Miller is a dedicated horse trainer, therapist, hoof trimmer and riding coach who loves helping riders of all ages grow in knowledge, confidence and skill. She is passionate about developing capable riders and well-cared-for, happy horses.
Sarah believes that great horsemanship begins with kindness, patience, and putting the horse’s well-being first. She teaches riders how to sit balanced, communicate clearly, and work as a team with their horse. Her lessons focus on building strong fundamentals in a supportive and encouraging environment where riders feel safe to learn and improve.
With a background in physical education and kinesiology, Sarah understands how both horses and riders move and function. A student for 10+ years of the Science of Motion, Sarah uses her knowledge of the horse’s functional anatomy to improve horses fitness and soundness.
She uses this knowledge to also help riders develop good habits, proper balance, and confidence in the saddle, while also ensuring horses stay comfortable and sound.
Her goal is simple: to create positive partnerships, fun learning experiences, lasting skills, and a lifelong love of horses.
Mona Beckmann
Instructor
Mona started riding and joined Canadian Pony Club at the age of 7 years old. She quickly rose up through the levels, competing across BC up to Third Level Dressage, 1.20 Show Jumping, and schooling up to preliminary level eventing. In August of 2015 Mona became 1 of the 3 candidates across Canada to achieve the ‘A’ Level in Canadian Pony Club. Shortly after she received her Level 1 English Competition Coach license and certification under Equestrian Canada and the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).
In addition to Mona's certification, her experience includes training client horses from backing to competition ready, and training her own horses up to preliminary level in 3 day eventing. In addition to this she spent time working at K & L Quarter Horses training ranch colts and schooling show horses. In 2017 Mona achieved a diploma in Animal Science with a major in Commercial Beef Production from Lakeland College. Mona moved to Sherwood Park in 2022, and her and her husband currently farm 2800 acres of grain and raise a
commercial flock of sheep.
Rebecca Hibbs
Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Rebecca is a proud Newfoundlander and began her journey teaching therapeutic riding at Rainbow Riders in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She became a CanTRA certified therapeutic riding instructor in 2021. Rebecca has nearly 4 years of experience teaching mounted and unmounted therapeutic lessons and has been riding horses for 15 years. She has ridden in the Canadian Pony Club and continues to ride in an Equestrian Canada Rider Level focused program.
In addition to teaching therapeutic lessons on Saturdays, Rebecca works
full-time as a registered social worker, supporting families and children with disabilities. Therapeutic riding is more than a job to Rebecca, it is a passion project and she takes great pride in ensuring the safety and enjoyment
of all program participants.
Stacey McIntyre
Instructor
Stacey McIntyre has put a lifelong passion into loving and riding horses. Originally from Victoria, BC she started her journey with English riding lessons and horsemanship at 6 years old. She trained under numerous coaches in Victoria and the surrounding areas. This has given her a strong background in English equitation, jumping and dressage. As her riding progressed, Stacey learned about training horses from the ground up. Although she has never competed on a serous level, she has always taken the step to learn new and
different disciplines of horseback riding.
In 2007, Stacey made the move to Alberta where she continued to with her riding and training. She met various people in the western world and began her journey into the western side of horsemanship. This included everything from cattle sorting, penning, gymkhana, mountain riding, training, and competition. She was blessed too be able to work closely with a trainer and learn more about horse behaviour and foundation training in the round pen. This is one of her favourite passions with horsemanship, besides teaching and sharing her love of horses with others.
In 2017, Stacey received her CHA coaching certification for western and jumping. In 2019, Stacey decided to expand her education with horses and combined her love of helping people and achieved her Equine Assisted Learning Coaching certification. She strongly believes that all new riders need to have a firm grasp and understand the basics of horsemanship on the ground before they even put a foot in the stirrup. Stacey currently is in the Leduc area, loving country living, where she shares her life with her 6 horses and 3 dogs!
Christel Chattargoon
Barn Staff & Administrative Assistant
Christel is an Equine Canada licensed coach and a full-time junior high teacher who primarily works out of our sister facility, Mission Ridge Stables. With nearly a decade of experience in barn management at lesson barns, she brings her practical knowledge and leadership to the team. Above all, she feels that successful programs must foster a genuine love and respect for the horse, and encourage students to develop meaningful connections that extend beyond just riding.
Christel assists with administrative responsibilities at Meadow Ridge and looks forward to building positive, lasting relationships with clients and families.