GRIT – Great Rider Intensive Training

Welcome to Ontario Equestrian’s high-performance program, GRIT – Great Rider Intensive Training! GRIT athletes are between the ages of 13 and 27, reside in Ontario, are current OE members, and compete in any one of the following three Olympic disciplines – Show Jumping, Eventing, or Dressage.

GRIT is targeted at podium-bound athletes with successful competition experience, whose goal is to represent Ontario in one of Equestrian Canada’s National Team programs.

Entry into the program will require the athlete, their parents, and their coach to commit to participating in a series of cross-discipline training camps, led by top international discipline experts. This program will also include sport-specific training in partnership with CSIO (Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario) located at the Pan Am Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

GRIT is led by GRIT Coaches and Technical Advisors Christilot Boylen and Ian Millar, and Performance Advisor, Ruth Allum with the assistance of additional discipline advisors who will provide their expertise to build the program. 

The 2024 GRIT Application is now closed. For information regarding eligibility please click on the links below:

GRIT Press

GRIT Team 2024

Victoria Andersen-Helwig

Kelly Belanger

Emalee Bodimeade

Sydney Boldt

Georgia Bunting

Ashlynn Crowley

Olivia Gowan

Saffron Klotz

Ruby Stringel

Avery Tallman

Kyleigh Whitwell

Taylor Wood

GRIT Grads

Grit Grads

The GRIT Grads archive is a collection to celebrate the graduates of the program. Search or browse the directory to read more on their success stories and connect with them through social media.

GRIT Support Team

Christilot Boylen

TECHNICAL ADVISOR

Hilary Gregory

PROGRAM MANAGER

Ruth Allum

PERFORMANCE ADVISOR

Funding Generously Provided By

Coaches Association of Ontario
Quest For Gold