The coaching staff at Twisted Pine Farm is composed of experienced dedicated individuals committed to improving the riding skills of our clients in a safe and enjoyable manner.

Our school horses and ponies are carefully selected and trained to assist our coaches in enhancing our clients riding experiences.

Dana Balfour: Head Coach

Dana is the head coach at Twisted Pine Farm. She has had a highly successful coaching career spanning 20 years. Her students have won numerous dressage and jumper championships and a multitude of eventing competitions from Entry to Advanced throughout North America.  She has produced numerous Young Riders Team members, OHTA Horse of the Year awards, OHTA leading Male Rider, and OHTA High Point Young Rider and numerous Royal Winter Fair conformation champions.

Dana is a highly motivated coach who specializes in producing riders who wish to excel in eventing. Dana’s own competitive experiences are international. She has evented in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Over the years Dana has been involved in many aspects of the horse industry. For a number of years Dana developed and ran Express Air Canada Cargo Equine Services, has imported European Sport Horses and has bred both thoroughbred race horses and Canadian sport horses.

Like the rest of the coaching staff at Twisted Pine Farm, Dana attends many clinics and forums in the quest for excellence.

Leah Simpson: Riding School Director

Leah has been involved in the horse industry for over twenty years. She has produced horses to Intermediate level eventing and is currently enjoying success in the recognized Dressage circuit. Leah’s riding coaches include Ian and Rozanne Black, Morag O’Hanlon, Bruce Davidson, Stuart Black and Jo Young and Dana Balfour. Leah has coached at large and small riding schools. She enjoys helping her students learn to communicate with horses and progress in their riding skills.

Leah married her husband Greg and they have 2 young children.  They recently bought a farm and now enjoy a country life together, with horses in the backyard.