About Us
Follyfoot is home to Nicole, her unwaveringly supportive partner, Shayne, the twins, Luke and Sophia, Oscar and Penelope, the absolute cutest sibling kitties and Simon, our Shepherd X puppy. When Shayne isn't working or helping Nicole with the ongoing requirements of a horse farm, he can be found enjoying the mountain bike trails at Mount Tzouhalem. Luke's interests are fixing anything mechanical and electrical, both of which he is an absolute whiz at! Sophia loves to sing, is athletically inclined in pretty much any sport she tries and is the proud teammate of Petunia.
Nicole grew up as a horse crazy kid in Wales riding and reading everything she could. At the age of 11, she took in a 13.2hh Cob X mare named Beretta, that had been abused and neglected by a previous leaser. Unbeknownst to Nicole at the time, her journey with the little mare was foreshadowing the path that Nicole would eventually find herself on decades later. Moving to Canada in 1981, Nicole rode western for three years and at age 13 she backed and started her first horse, a young QH mare named Sassy, that she had watched grow up from the age of six months. Plans to buy Sassy fell through as Nicole's family was on the move again. Life and university took her away from horses until one fateful day at the Saanich Fair, she realized what had been missing from her life for far too long. With 35 years of experience with horses, Nicole has experienced a little bit of everything. From the British Pony Club and gymkhanas to the hunter/jumper world, eventing, dressage, "natural horsemanship", Equitation Science, working equitation, trail riding and wilderness guide training.
Unfortunately, for the pocketbook, Nicole has a bit of a soft spot for animals in need. Consequently, several of the animals here were once, or are ongoing, rehabilitation cases. Nothing brings Nicole more happiness than watching animals thrive under proper nutrition, care and love.
Nicole is an Equine Canada Licensed and insured coach. Certified by CHA in english and western, Nicole also has her Equine Canada Rider Level 8, NCCP Equine Coaching Theory 1 and Standard First Aid. She has over 17 years of experience working with varying personalities, breeds and training levels of many different horses, and with riders of different confidence levels and interests as well as varying backgrounds and goals.
Over the years, Nicole has regularly pursued her own riding education through local and regional competitions, clinics, seminars and workshops with top riders and professionals in their field such as Beth Underhill, William Fox-Pitt, Jimmy Wofford, mental skills training with high performance sports psychologist, Dave Freeze and Annika McGivern and many lessons with Jane Stone. Nicole's background combined with her friendly nature and sense of humour make her a fun, safe and knowledgeable coach. Whether you would like to further your skills in dressage or jumping, venture out on a cross country course for your first time or would just like to learn how to enjoy your horse out on a safe and enjoyable trail ride, solid equitation and horse handling skills are taught with an emphasis on safety and fun.
“Horses and children, I often think, have a lot of the good sense there is in the world"
— Josephine Demott Robinson