Local dressage rider and coach Wendy Christoff will soon have a new facility to work in.
Christoff and her husband Gordon are building an equestrian facility on their property just off 56th Street at the north end of Tsawwassen.
"It's the new and improved version of the old arena," said Christoff. "It's what we had before but just better and more efficient.
And what we've learned in 28 years over there, we've put into practice over here."
The South Fraser Perimeter Road's arrival prompted their move from 28th Avenue.
"It became pretty clear our paradise was being compromised. So we started to look for somewhere else to go."
Having everything under one roof, paddocks attached to every stall, a better viewing area and more efficient lighting and sprinkler systems are among the improvements. A more up to date footing, sand and Nike rubber, is also being used, she notes.
"The type of riding that I do, most of the arenas are going to the sand and Nike rubber. So, you want to train on what you compete on."
Christoff teaches as well as competes. She has around 15 students, who range up to international competition, she teaches on a regular basis.
Christoff, who also gives clinics around the province, has been a certified coach through Equine Canada for 15 years and just recently completed a high-performance coaching program from the organization (one of two dressage coaches in Canada to have done so at this point).
Christoff was the Canadian reserve rider at the World Equestrian Games in 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky.
She was planning to qualify for the London Olympics but the horse she was competing on, Pfalstaff, passed away last year.
She has a new horse now, Aleden, that she has "really high hopes" for and is aiming to qualify for the Pan-Am Games in Toronto in 2015.
After scoring high in prep classes and getting a permission to compete score a couple of weeks ago, Aleden is ready for international levels.
"I'll probably take him to California next spring. Then based on that we'll compete in Europe and so on. Once you have your permission to compete score then you can go anywhere in the world and compete in those tests."
Christoff said she loves both coaching and competing internationally.
"I'm 58-years-old so continuing to compete at the level I'm at is physically taxing. So there's not too many more years left," she said. "I'll be happy to be a coach and riding locally after that."
Christoff currently doesn't have room to take on any more full-time students but said anybody interested in dressage can contact her at alfie@dccnet. com and she could direct them to a certified coach in their area.
. Gordon Christoff, who owns a few race horses, notes one of his horses will be racing on B.C. Cup day at Hastings Park.
