Lorraine Stubbs

Lorraine Stubbs was born in Toronto and grew up in York Mills — “a real Toronto girl.” Already with interests in music and figure skating, Lorraine began group riding lessons at the Eglinton Pony Club in 1962 and, a few years later at age 18 purchased Da Capo — a three-year-old Canadian Warmblood — from Stu Holding. Da Capo proved a good all-arounder and together they won many hunter/jumper and dressage competitions in North America. It was while Da Capo was stabled at Eglinton that Lorraine met Christilot Boylen — at one of Christilot’s mother’s exercise classes at St. John’s Anglican Church.

Around the same time, Lorraine and Da Capo participated in a clinic with Fritz Tiedeman and General Niemack. This motivated her to specialize in dressage, and over time the pair went on to win many dressage championships. Eventually Lorraine sold Da Capo and he found a new home in The Netherlands.

In 1973, Lorraine purchased Faisal (True North) — a Swedish-bred born in Denmark — through her coach at the time, Willi Schulteis. Together they ribboned at the 1974 World Championships at Copenhagen, achieved Team Silver at the 1975 Pan Am Games in Mexico, and enjoyed a top ten finish at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. That same year, Lorraine purchased her farm in Rockwood and finished her Masters in 18th century English Literature. True North died of colic complications in 1977, a year which also saw Lorraine appointed to Sports Ambassador for the U.S.A. by President Gerald Ford.

During her career, Lorraine was Canadian Dressage champion 15 times. Perhaps one of her most notable achievements was with Firmus, when they won double Gold at the 1991 Pan Am Games in Havana, Cuba, a year in which she was also named Horsewoman of the Year.
Lorraine has acted as Equine Consultant to the RCMP Musical Ride, and is the author of "Winning Dressage" and many other published articles on horsemanship. As well, for many years she bred racehorses, producing three track record holders and nine stakes winners.

The first Level III Certified Coach in Canada in any equestrian discipline, Lorraine continues to coach at her farm and internationally. Her judging career began at age 17 through Pony Club, and she became an FEI judge in 1980 and an “I” Para judge in 1986. Lorraine wrote the Third Level Judging Manual in 1984.

When not coaching and running her farm, Lorraine maintains a busy travel schedule as an international dressage judge and clinician. When judging or giving a clinic in central America Lorraine likes to indulge her interest in archeology by incorporating a few extra days to explore local archeological digs.

Lorraine helped found Toronto CADORA and remained on the Executive for more than 15 years.

Career Highlights

 
1971   Pan Am Games, Cali, Columbia — Team Gold Medal
1972   Member, Canadian Olympic Dressage Team, Munich, Germany
1974   World Championships, Copenhagen, Denmark
1975   Pan Am Games, Mexico — Team Silver Medal
1976   Member, Canadian Olympic Dressage Team, Montreal Canada — Top Ten finish
1977   Appointed Sports Ambassador for U.S.A. by President Gerald Ford
1978   Achieved FEI judge status
1979   Wrote the Third Level Judging Manual
1980   Achieved “I” Para judge status
1991   Pan Am Games, Havana, Cuba — Double Gold
1991   Canadian Flag Bearer, Pan Am Games, Havana, Cuba   
1991   Canadian Horsewoman of the year

• International Dressage Judge
• First Level III Certified Coach in Canada
• Equine Consultant to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride
• M.A. English Literature - University of Western Ontario and York University
• Author of "Winning Dressage" and several other published articles on horsemanship in Canada and the U.S
• Canadian Dressage Champion 15 times
• Breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses including three track record holders and nine stakes winners