Welcome To Whitaker Stables

Bordering along the shore of the Saugeen River on Steam Show Road, just outside Paisley, Ontario, lies beautiful rolling hills dotted with horses that are home to Whitaker Stables.

Anita and John Whitaker and their daughter Jasmine relocated here from North Carolina, in 2007 and started their new business called Whitaker Stables. Offering training, boarding and lessons in dressage and jumping.

The amenities include large and roomy stalls (approx 10 x 10) with an attached 120 x 60 indoor arena. Outside there is also a 150 x 60 sand ring and various fields and paddocks for regular turnout. There are also acres and acres of forested trails or just enjoy the view of the Saugeen River when you go out for a hack. The Rail Trail is also located close by. Each horse has their own diet based on requirements needed. If your horse requires blankets or boots or any extra special care, we are able to accomodate them as well.

John and Anita chose Paisley because of the quality of the riverside property. If you would like a tour of the farm and stables, just email or call us.

ANNOUNCING Clinics and More... Ite O'Higgins-Young was at Whitaker Stables in both May and June, 2010. Check back for FUTURE DATES, or contact Anita to be put on our notification list for future lesson and clinic dates with top professionals, as lesson spaces are limited! Please check out our Clinics Page for more info. Our 2010 show schedule is now on-line. If you'd like to see us in action feel free to meet us at the shows!

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About Anita (Odfjell) Whitaker

Anita's career began in Norway with her being on the Norwegian Pony Equestrian Team at the age of 11. Anita comes with a resume, eight hands tall, which is longer than average in the arena of horsemanship successes. She was the Anchor/Captain of the National Pony Show Jumping Squad and placed individually in Italy, Sweden and in Holland in the European championships. She competed in the many large competitions winning at least 4 gold medals, 3 silver medals 2 bronze medals and much more.

Anita has had a lifelong passion for horses. She has managed many stables including Britt Farm Chapel Hill and Heart and Hoof in Herdel HIlls, NC. She has taught therapeutic riding lessons, assisted in organizing a National Handicap riding competition, given private instruction to riders of various ages, worked in a Race Stable learning to handle trotters and thoroughbred race horses, including the care, grooming, feeding, exercising, and bandaging, as well as groomed at the races. She also helped out in training and as she was very light she was used to help break in the youngsters.

With Anita's knowledge and varied experience she enjoys training horses of all sizes and shapes, and is able to ride the difficult / problem horses. See our Services page for more information.

Anita is currently the owner and breeder of "Sir Draco" who participated in an American warm blood inspection as a yearling and scored the highest there eventually winning the title of best young sport pony for the year (2007) in the US. See Our Horses page more more information.

Besides her husband John and her daughter Jasmine, her passion is horses. You might say she has lived, breathed and slept ponies all her life.

Riding Career Highlights:
- On the Norwegian Pony Equestrian team at age 11
- Competed internationally on ponies from age 11 until 16 jumping 1.30m
- Anchor/Captain of National Pony Show Jumping Squad
- Placed individually in Italy, Sweden and in Holland in the European championships.
- Competed in the Scandanavian championships, winning gold medals in both individual and team jumping.
- Competed in Yverdon, Switzerland where the team won a bronze medal, and I had several individual placings
- International Show-Jumping Turin, Italy, placing 3rd in 1.15m, and a 9th in the 1.20m class.
- Competed at the indoor European championships in Hannover, 1992, placing 4th & 8th Individually and 7th in Team,
- Competed at European Show-Jumping Competition for ponies in 1990, near Rome, Italy, placing 10th out of 56 riders.
- Won the National Champion at the Indoor Norwegian championship as well as 2 silver medals
- On Team winning Gold at the Nordic Championships (now called CP.A Nordic Cup), in Halmstad, Sweden, 1992
- Won Individual Gold at the Nordic Championships (now called CP.A Nordic Cup), in Halmstad, Sweden, 1992
- Won the Winter Cup
- Silver medals from the Outdoor Norwegian championships.
- Several medals from county championships.
- Member of Sarpsborg Riding Club (SRC)
- Named Best Pony Rider of the year 1991, by the Norwegian Riding Association (NRA) at sixteen years old.
- Started to Compete on horses in 1.40m at 16 years old
- Showed and placed at the Raleigh, NC State fair grounds

Trainers and Mentors Anita has worked with:
- Amund Eide (Norway),
- Bjorn Johannesen (Norway),
- Geir Gulliksen (on the 2008 Norwegian Olympic bronze medal team)
- Stein Endresen (also on the 2008 Norwegian bronze medal team)
- Stephen Whitaker (brother of John and Michael Whitaker, both competing internationally)
- Trained at 'Stall Hojmark' in Denmark for Anders Halvorsen
- rode for Ole Strigel in Durham/Hillsborough, North Carolina
- rode for Allison Finch (Eventing) North Carolina
- My mother Winilou, owned 'Tune Ridesenter' in Norway. Dressage and show jumper clinics were available in addition local, national and international competitions were also held there. The Norwegian equestrian show jumping teams trained regularly there as well.

For further information please feel free to inquire call 519-353-4502 or Email Us!