THE FARM
THE BARN
State of the art 20 stall barn
Spacious 12 x12 Box Stalls with wide windows that look outside to the rolling pastures
Each stall is bedded with premium shavings
All stalls are lined with rubber mats and the floors are limestone screened for proper drainage
The Tack Room
Each horse and owner receives their own locker that provides ample room to store their most prized possessions! Each locker is equipped with two saddle racks, two bridle hooks, a top shelf and a bottom area for storage. We have made tack cleaning as easy as it can get, a large saddle stand and bridle hook is located directly in front of the sink!
GROOMING & WASH BAY
Look out windows to enjoy the view of the outdoors while grooming your horse! De-stress with your horse as you peacefully watch the leaves or snow fall all while enjoying the heat, as our entire grooming and wash bay is heated. Each stall is generous in size giving the horse comfort while allowing the rider space to work around the horse no matter the size.
Grooming & Wash Bay Area includes the following:
2 Tack Stalls
2 Wash Stalls
Laundry room
The washroom facilities are fully equipped with a shower, in the case you would like to fit a ride in before that business meeting or dinner with the family!
THE RIDING ARENAS
2 Exceptionally maintained riding areas to enjoy!
BRILLIANT INDOOR ARENA
80 x 220 ft Insulated Indoor Arena complete with mirrors along the full width of the short side of the arena giving each rider the opportunity to ride correct and precise.
Combined with wide windows expanding the length of the arena allowing natural sunlight into each training session. Ride to the beat with our built in stereo system, especially when practicing for your next winning test!
Beautiful OUTDOOR ARENA
*NEW High performance Fibre Footing installed directly from Europe!
Enjoy riding in our 80 x 230 ft Outdoor Arena which gives you the ultimate outdoor experience with beautiful trees around you.
*Our Arena Maintenance Program is Gold Standard which combines harrowing completed daily and consistent irrigation. This ensures the absolute best footing for horse and rider to reach their true potential each and every ride.
*Both indoor and outdoor arena Footing consists of a blend of premium high performance sand and wood material. Optimal for daily training while ensuring minimal stress on muscles, ligaments and joints.
CLIENT LOUNGE
Not riding?
Why not kick back and enjoy a lovely ride by Julie on her Grand Prix horse or maybe an up and coming mount. Or you might even be just in time to catch her teaching one of her students! Make yourself right at home as the lounge is fully equipped with a kitchen.
With that little black book of Julie's... you never know who she may be asking to come over for a tea and schooling session!
THE TURNOUT
30 GENTLE ROLLING ACRES CAREFULLY DESIGNED FOR A NATURAL GRAZING EXPERIENCE
20+ individual paddocks
Full or 1/2 day Turn-Out to meet the specific requirements of each individual
Each paddock is impeccably maintained
3 - Small sand paddocks for limited turnout and rehabilitation
Impeccable Onsite Quarantine Facility
Stirling Hill Farm boasts its own CFIA approved Onsite Quarantine Facility. It can accommodate the importation requirements of mares and geldings of all age, sizes and breeds. Our highly trained staff and veterinarians work closely with the CFIA veterinarians in order to make sure precise testing has been completed.
International travel is incredibly stressful on your horse, our goal is to make sure the transition to Canada is a smooth and comfortable one. Making sure the time your horse is within quarantine moves as swiftly as possible, is our main priority.
The Quarantine Facility is equipped with:
7 large box stalls
Spacious aisle ways lined with mats and cross-ties
Tack Room / Feed Room
The convenience of stirling hill farm
20 Minute Drive to Caledon Equestrian Park
30 Minute Drive to Royal Canadian Riding Academy
35 Minute Drive to Toronto Pearson International Airport
55 Minute Drive to Ricoh Coliseum - Royal Winter Fair!
DAILY ROUTINE
7:00 AM - Breakfast Time!
- First off, a quick round is done to make sure all horses are healthy and happy as morning hay is being fed.
- Breakfast grain is then fed *supplements added if provided - all grain is watered down!
- All feed tubs are rinsed after each feeding
- All horses that are being turned out are dressed in the appropriate clothing/boots for the weather/season
- Horses are assigned to their own individual paddock *on “indoor” days due to weather, horses in full training will be hand walked in the indoor arena if it lands on horses day off.
11:30 AM - Morning Barn Chores Complete
All horses that are turned in
- Blankets/Boots taken off
- Feet are picked to ensure no shoes are loose or lost in the field
- Legs are checked
- Stable sheets will be put on depending on weather and owner instructions
- All horses that are on the “lunch program” will receive a grain feeding
3 - 3:30 PM - Turn In (ALL DAY TURN OUT HORSES)
*Weather depending - Rain, Snow, Wind, Horses running or pacing could change the time of turn in
- Blankets/Boots taken off
- Feet are picked to ensure no shoes are loose or lost in the field
- Legs are checked
- Stable sheets will be put on depending on weather and owner instructions
4:00 PM Afternoon Hay
- All horses will receive hay
4:30 - 5:00 PM Dinner
- Grain is fed *supplements added if provided - all grain is watered down
- Feed pails are collected and rinsed
- Waters are checked and refilled
9:00 PM Night Check
- All horses are checked to make sure they are comfortable, healthy and happy
- All waters are monitored and refilled
- Hay is given to all horses
HISTORY OF STIRLING HILL
Built in 2004
The horse has always been a deep rooted passion, then polo and through it all we discovered dressage.
The love, passion and experience of the horse is vast within the Watchorn family.
Derek Watchorn is known to many, a well respected businessman and lawyer - to Julie he's Dad. Julie and her sister Lauren took English Equitation riding lessons, not with any coach - their cousin Lisa Stanton of Stoneridge Farms.
Each lesson, Derek would do his fatherly duty of watching his girls ride.
Before he knew it, he was on a horse taking Reining lessons from Lisa's husband Tim Stanton. These were no ordinary joe's we are talking about here. More recently - Lisa won the 2010 NRHA Wold Champion Limited Open and Tim earned his keep winning in the 2011 NRHA Reserve World Champion Open.
Some of Derek's friends from the polo community heard of these reining lessons and convinced Derek to try polo. This was the beginning of a beautiful journey which lead to the addiction of polo and of course some amazing ponies. But there was one spectacular gelding that stood out of the crowd named Windchester.
The opportunity to move overseas came forth, Derek and Bonnie had to make the very difficult decision to move the family to England. Which meant Derek had to sell his polo pony, Windchester. However, he knew this was the right thing for the family and that Windchester would be taken care of.
After moving back to Canada, Derek found himself back into the polo industry. Through the years, he discovered it was difficult juggling being the CEO of a large corporation, while maintaining the fitness and training of all the polo ponies. The opportunity presented itself for a professional polo player from Argentina to relocate to the farm for the summer to maintain the fitness and training of the polo ponies.
Saul has showed his value through his determination, attention to detail, softness when working with each animal and all of the experience he brings to the table each and every day it always shows within each and every animal. This is why to this day, Saul is an integral part of Stirling Hill Farms.
Derek has now retired from polo, however, he has remained an integral part of the community as a chairman of the Polo For Heart for over 5 years counting.
Derek's grandson Ryan, has now followed in his Papa's steps. The last 2 years Ryan has competed on the interscholastic Toronto Polo Club Team. In 2015 the team came 3rd at Nationals and in 2016 they came 2nd at Regionals in Texas. Ryan is now attending Queen's University in their Commerce Program.
