After spending years competing in the same places, the novelty of many horse show venues in the province tend to wear off for Ontario-based A-circuit veterans. The familiar sights and sounds of the Caledon Equestrian Park become a part of everyday life during show season. The sheer size and chaos of the six-ring circus fade into the background and become as commonplace and routine as the evening commute.But the hustle and bustle of an Ontario A show is truly an exciting place — especially for newcomers who have not had the opportunity to experience that type of horse show life. For young Bermudian equestrians Riley Correia and Keira Whited, leaving the Island and competing in Canada this past summer was the chance of a lifetime.“They do have a really good programme for hunters and jumpers in Bermuda, but there are not the various levels of competition, multitude of show grounds, or number of horses, riders and trainers that exist in Ontario. At home we have one ring, one warm up ring and the same riders compete against each other week after week, year after year,” Correia says.For Correia and Whited, spending time competing at Caledon Equestrian Park and other venues across Ontario was a huge stepping stone toward achieving their dreams as equestrians.“It was such a different atmosphere — my first show I was completely overwhelmed because there were about five different rings,” Correia says. “It was an outstanding experience, one I am very grateful for and will never forget. I have learned so much throughout my summer in Canada, skills that will last me a lifetime.”This was both girls’ first time travelling internationally to compete — Whited spending three weeks and Correia spending three months. The pair spent their time training out of Stonewood Equestrian in Pickering with Di Langmuir.“I would love to compete in Canada again,” Whited says, who had multiple sponsors to help fund her trip, one of them being the Bermuda Equestrian Federation. “I am glad I ended up at such a beautiful farm, with such a great team.”Longtime Ontario-based trainer Langmuir has been travelling south to the Bahamas for four years to give clinics during the winter months, also having judged in Bermuda. She says that because the weather is simply too hot in the summer season, she has arranged for several of her Bahamian clients to join her in Canada to compete.“This gives the riders a taste of much bigger competitions. The type they just can’t experience in their home country,” she says.Correia and Whited were directed to Langmuir through mutual contacts in the international equestrian community.“The biggest opportunity for the girls was to experience shows with a variety of classes and competitors. The shows they see at home are very small on Toronto standards,” Langmuir explains. “The biggest challenge was finding quality leases available for the girls to step onto and literally jump right in. Kudos to the skills and riding experience both girls brought to the table — Bermuda may be a small nation, but has a very organised national federation that brings in top clinicians and puts on top-notch shows, despite being smaller in scale than what we’re used to here.”Both girls competed in the 1 Metre Junior/Amateur Jumpers on their leased mounts, Correia aboard Caroline Hawson’s Ceara and Whited aboard Katriina Ruotsalo’s Diamante. After competing for almost an entire season, Correia finished reserve champion overall in the Ontario Hunter Jumper Association (OHJA) standings.“Di is an amazing trainer and I have learned so much from her. Ceara was an incredible horse that had so much heart. She taught me a great deal during my summer with her and I am grateful that I was paired with such an exceptional horse,” Correia said.After an undeniably positive experience with Langmuir, the Correia family has now arranged to lease a horse in Canada to keep at Stonewood and further their daughter’s training.“This winter Riley will travel back and forth to train and prepare for next summer. The key to our success will be communication between myself and her new trainer in Bermuda,” Langmuir said. “Luckily her family is greatly supportive in helping her to live a dream.”For Langmuir and the rest of the Stonewood Equestrian team, the doors are always open when it comes to helping any rider achieve their goals.“I look forward to 2013 and already have inquiries from riders from Bermuda, Nassau, Switzerland and Britain,” Langmuir said. “I love that we are creating a united nations of equestrian learning.”