Description: Dressage | Nicole Stella Dressage | Ontario
training (24192) that (2535) works (1166)
Nicole Stella began her riding career at a young age, starting in the hunter/jumper circuit, and at the age of thirteen, found her love for dressage. Through her teenage years, she quickly developed a keen sense for the horses that needed a little extra time and patience in their training. She was often asked to help with a horse that had behavioural issues, giving her a reputation for starting and re-starting horses. At 18, she started her professional equine career working as a groom for show jumpers at
In 2010, an opportunity came up to work with Grand Prix riders Esther Mortimer and Harper MacKenzie of M2 Dressage, as a working student. It was here where the attention to detail in the care and development of the dressage horse began. Over the four years under their tutelage, she gained knowledge on riding up through to Prix St Georges and Intermediare levels. Through M2, she got to know the late Jon Costin, a World Cup competitor, who ended up taking her under his wing in his final years , riding his Gr
By May of 2017, the owners of Stonehedge Stables decided to retire, leading Nicole to reach out to Catherine Haddad Staller, a long-time idol of hers. She admired her approach to training and how each ride looked effortless. Nicole was offered a position as a groom, which in August of 2017, brought her to Germany to be Catherine's personal CDI show groom, taking her through Germany, France, Holland and Luxembourg at 3-5* horse shows, preparing her top Olympic prospect for competition. During this time, she