We are happy to announce the details of our annual I Ride 4 Erika Equitation Clinic!

Saturday November 18th & Sunday November 19th

Guest Clinician LAUREN HAYES

This year we will be running 4 groups of up to 6 horse/rider combinations. Each group of 6 will ride on both the Saturday and Sunday. The clinic is open to riders showing 2’0 or above or preparing to show 2’0 and above next season. 

Cost is $275.00 for riders for two days, which includes lunch and snacks both days.

Payment will be credit card only and must be paid at the time of registration.

Saturday 

9:00 AM - Group 1 

10:30 AM - Group 2

12:00 PM - Lunch

1:00 PM - Group 3

2:30 PM - Group 4

Sunday 

9:00 AM - Group 1 

10:30 AM - Group 2

12:00 PM - Lunch

1:00 PM - Group 3

2:30 PM - Group 4

Saturday 5:00 PM - Unmounted Q&A session with Lois (coffee, tea and desserts to be served at this time) 

If you have questions as to whether this clinic is right for you or your child please email linda@oldorchardfarm.ca

See below for more information about our 2023 clinician and the “I Ride 4 Erika” legacy.

Rider Cost - $275 for both days

(plus $50 horse use fee for OOF riders using an OOF horse)

Auditor Cost - $35 for 1 day or $60 for 2 days

Lunch included both days.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Lauren is the oldest daughter of two-time Canadian Olympian Jay Hayes and lifelong horsewoman Shawn Hayes (nee Carpenter). It didn’t take long to get Lauren on a horse - she was riding by the time she was two and in the show ring by the age of five. 

As a junior competitor, Lauren took as many ‘catch rides’ as possible on the show jumping circuit to develop her ability to ride different types of horses. The method worked, as she enjoyed a stellar junior career before twice representing Canada at the North American Young Riders’ Championships riding Avalanche and bringing home a team silver medal in 2001. Today, Lauren is an accomplished grand prix competitor who has been racking up victories with Golden Boy as well as Icon NR, bred by her family at North Ridge. 

Show jumping is a true family affair for Lauren. Her two younger sisters, Ainsley and Regan, were also active competitors in the sport. For 20 years, the Hayes family organized the iconic Collingwood Horse Show, renowned for its great sport and gracious hospitality. The family has also managed events in Ocala, Florida, as well as show jumping tournaments in Ottawa and Orangeville, both in Ontario. 

Lauren finished high school as an honour roll student in French immersion before graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON, with a bachelor of arts in psychology. She has two daughters, Sloan and Estee.

The Erika Story

Erika was an independent spirit who loved the challenge of life. She was passionate about all things living and had great compassion for all that needed care and protection.

Erika started riding at the age of five at Old Orchard Farm. Inspired by her older sister, Mimi, Erika’s fascination with horses and riding began early in life.

As so many of the OOF kids do, she learned her first riding skills on Cassidy, a pony with a mind of her own. After Cassidy her next big love was Mel, a young and feisty pony at that time. Mel taught her how to stay in the saddle even under the most challenging of circumstances. As she became a teenager, she found Glassgo, a grey thoroughbred that loved to jump. The pair was meant to be.

As with all things, Erika wanted to be the best she could be with Glassgo and the two went on a journey that took them from the hunter and the jumper rings at OOF to the A-circuit. Although they competed in the jumper division, Erika particularly loved the medal classes because there she was tested on her equitation.

Although Erika showed in both the hunter and the jumper rings, showing was never about the ribbons. It was about improving as a rider and improving her horse.

Erika died in a ski accident, the result of fluke conditions of high temperature and wet snow, on Blue Mountain in 2015. She was 16.

Her young life was cut short but her spirit lives on.

Old Orchard Farm together with the Lamb family founded the Erika Lamb Memorial Equitation Award and the “I Ride 4 Erika Lamb” clinic. Both have been an inspiration to young girls who strive, as Erika did, to be their best selves.

2022 Erika Lamb Memorial Equitation Clinic

Clinician Lois Mulligan and Riders