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
- 2023-12-21 – Hitting your Stride Podcast – Episode 71 – Canada’s Future is in Ruth Allum’s Hands
- 2022-03-25 – Horse Sport – 2022 GRIT Team Announced
- 2022-03-15 – 2022 GRIT Team Announced
- 2022-03-10 – Hitting Your Stride Podcast – Episode 33 – Dancing Through the Tough Times: with Christilot Boylen
- 2021-04-02 – Hitting Your Stride Podcast – Episode 8 – GRIT: More than just a mindset
- 2021-03-10 – Ontario Equestrian Announces 2021 GRIT Team
- 2020-10-02 – Ontario’s GRIT Team Holds Second Training Camp
- 2020-01-17 – Ontario Equestrian Announces GRIT Training Program Athletes
- 2019-11-04 – GRIT Program with Christilot Boylen launched by Ontario Equestrian
- 2019-11-01 – Press Release – GRIT
GRIT Team 2024
Victoria Andersen-Helwig
Kelly Belanger
Emalee Bodimeade
Sydney Boldt
Georgia Bunting
Ashlynn Crowley
Olivia Gowan
Saffron Klotz
Ruby Stringel
Avery Tallman
Kayla Welsh
Kyleigh Whitwell
Taylor Wood
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.