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Legendary Pepiniere Stables to Continue Under Young Forces (originally on equiworld magazine)
In the spring of 2003, the equestrian community was saddened by the loss of Gladys Adam, 69, who, for decades, had developed and coached some of Canada’s most prolific show jumping athletes and offered world-class show jumping competitions at Pepiniere Stables. By purchasing the 38-stall facility on December 8, 2003, Lawrence and Covert have ensured that the equestrian facility will live on through the operation of their business, Eastwood Equine Inc.
“We
had
a
lot
of
respect
for
Gladys
as a
horsewoman
and
want
to
continue
the
strong
tradition
that
she
established,”
noted
Lawrence.
“One
of
her
greatest
legacies
is
the
horse
show
that
she
established
and
we
intend
to
carry
on
that
tradition
by
using
primarily
the
same
management
team.”
Lawrence
began riding
in his
native
Amherst, NS,
and enjoyed
great
success in
the junior
jumper
division
before
turning his
attention to
his
education.
After
attending
Carleton
University
in Ottawa,
ON, Lawrence
went on to
the London
School of
Economics in
England
before
settling on
a career in
equine
dentistry in
1992. At
only 33
years of
age,
Lawrence is
considered
one of
Canada’s top
equine
dentists and
has a large
practice
throughout
the country. Covert’s first job as a professional trainer came in 1995 working for former Canadian Equestrian Team member Alan Brand in Calgary, AB, and led to a position as Trainer at the famed Spruce Meadows show jumping facility where Covert worked for two years as a rider and instructor. After moving back to eastern Canada, Covert managed a private facility near Bromont, QC, for four years. In 2000, she and Lawrence founded Eastwood Equine Inc. in partnership. In her competitive career, Covert won the hotly contested Combined Working Hunter Stake at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, riding Jackie. In 2003, Covert competed in Florida throughout the winter then focused on the eastern Canada and United States show circuit, winning the Saratoga Cup at the Saratoga Horse Show, NY, in May and being named Open Jumper Champion at the Vermont Summer Festival in July. Riding Lord Byron Z, Covert also won the Coca-Cola Modified Grand Prix at the CSI-W Bromont International, QC, in June. Entering the final event of the 2003 Jump Canada National Talent Squad Series, a program designed to identify athletes with the potential to become future members of the Canadian Show Jumping Team, Covert was leading the standings and finished second overall with Cassis. As a result, she was nominated by Jump Canada to receive one of two Development Cards under the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance program that gives athletes a monthly allowance to assist with the costs of training. In addition to her own competitive accomplishments, Covert is a gifted trainer and teacher. Her successful students include 18-year-old Jennifer O’Neill of Montreal, QC, who placed eighth individually in the junior division at the 2003 North American Young Riders’ Championships. While Lawrence and Covert look forward to the continued future success of Eastwood Equine Inc., the couple is also busy preparing for the Pepiniere Horse Shows that will take place over the two weeks of May 20-24 and May 26-30, 2004.
For more
information
on the Pepiniere
Horse Show
Series,
please visit
www.pepinierehorseshow.com. |
St.
Lazare,
Quebec
–
Thanks
to
Mike
Lawrence
and
Angela Angela
Covert,
the
legendary
Pepiniere
Stables
in
St.
Lazare,
QC,
will
continue
to
operate
as
one
of
Canada’s
premiere
equestrian
training
and
show
facilities.