Long faces around horse riding school as it prepares to close after 50 years
An established horse riding school in Centre Wellington is hanging up the saddle after five decades in business.
Judith Johnson created the Travis Hall Equestrian Centre with her late husband Dave in 1974.
The 80-year-old says it’s time to retire considering much of the responsibility has been on her daughter Cindy since 2020, after Dave died. And since Judith is not nearly as mobile as she used to be, she says she can’t help much.
“I would like to stay here, but there’s too much land. Somebody should be able to use it,” said Judith.
Local cash croppers have bought the property and will be farming it for hay. That means 40 horses, seven of which are owned by the family and the rest are boarders, will be riding off from Travis Hall on May 1.
“I can’t do it,” said Cindy, through tears. “This isn’t just a farm. This is our whole life.”
Cindy has taken on the role of manager and has dozens of dedicated riders who she coaches.
The riders say it has been tough to come to terms with too.
“I’m probably going to miss the bond with the horses the most because the bond that you make with the horses is so strong,” said Hope, one of the riders.
For young riders like Destinee, there’s an extra hurdle as she tries to focus on an upcoming competition.
“It’s my first show,” she said. “So kind of just going into the beginner ring, practicing transitions, striding between jumps.”
Grandparents of riders even showed up to Travis Hall on Friday to express how much the business means to them.
“Just the compassion here is amazing, not only for the horses but safety for the kids,” said Cheryl Garnhum, Hope’s grandmother.
Even for parents like Sherri Kamnatnick, who didn’t know much about horses until her daughter expressed interest, this is a big loss.
“It’s going to suck when this place closes because I think it’s going to be really hard to find something that even compares to this,” said Kamnatnick.
But Cindy says – hold your horses. She will continue to freelance coach.
“A lot of my students are placed at areas where I will be going in to coach. I’m not leaving my kids. A lot of them, they are me,” said Cindy.
Judith just wants all clients, past and present, to continue to listen to horses because of how much they can help you grow.
“They become stable people in more than one way,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca