About Rivendale Equestrian

---

Rivendale Equestrian is owned & operated by Clarissa Hills. 

Clarissa began teaching in 2013 and worked her way to becoming manager of a large riding school.  During this time she dreamed to create her own program that focused on not only developing skilled riders, but passionate equestrians who understand the importance of treating their horses with love & respect. Along with this, she wanted to offer a program that ensures all of her lesson horses' physical & mental well being are prioritized. 

In 2018 she opened Rivendale Equestrian and began offering training and freelance coaching. Her business grew and in the spring of 2023 she opened her own facility offering boarding & lessons. 

Clarissa enjoys consistently improving her own skills as an equestrian and has ambitions of continuing to train her own horses up through the levels with goals of showing in the Grand Prix ring and to become an EC judge.

Clarissa is a certified Equestrian Canada coach and formerly an Ontario Equestrian Dressage judge before the program was discontinued in 2024. Although she has paused on pursuing her dressage career; she trained in dressage with Olympic rider Cindy Ishoy & daughter Kahla Ishoy for several years. She has plans to return once she reaches a personal goal within her business Rivendale Equestrian.

Katie Petrella is a farm sitter extraordinaire, coach in training and personal trainer. 

Katie’s passion for health and fitness began in 2011. She trained as a competitive powerlifting athlete & placed first in an Ontario competition in 2017 and at two Alberta competitions in 2018. Additionally, she has experience from the sidelines, coaching powerlifting clients at their own competitions.

 Alongside her studies at the University of Waterloo, she became a certified personal trainer and began her business, “Petrella’s Powerlifting and Personal Training" which she rebranded to Iron Horse Fitness in 2023. 

Katie first began riding as a child in a Western saddle at horseback riding summer camps; however, she progressed her English riding skills through the University of Waterloo Equestrian club and now focuses on dressage. She is working towards her Equestrian Canada Riding Instructor certification.

Iron Horse Fitness trains clients of all levels but specializes in training Powerlifters, Pregnant and Postpartum mothers, and Equestrians. She is working with Rivendale Equestrian to develop a program to help increase riders fitness.