Sonnenhof Stables

My daughter has been riding with Ute for several years and has always found her to be an insightful and helpful coach. I have watched many lessons over the years and can clearly say that Ute sets high standards and challenges her students to achieve at whatever level they ride. She has the skills to support competitive riders with high asperations as well as those just wanting to "get more from their riding". I would certainly recommend this barn to anyone looking to challenge themselves to improve.

I have known Ute Busse since 1993, and have been a student, client and boarder at Sonnenhof Stables for the past 27 years. Ute is a superb horsewoman, an excellent trainer, and a sensitive and effective coach. Her priorities have always been the health and welfare of the horses and the safety and enjoyment of the riders.
Ute and I have owned several horses together that she has trained to the Advanced level. One of her great talents is using her knowledge and experience as an ‘equine matchmaker’, finding the right horse for her clients. In 2001, she helped me find El Cid, my ‘horse of a lifetime’, for which I will always be grateful.
After 27 years at Sonnenhof, I can say unequivocally that Ute not only runs one of the top Dressage stables in the province, but also she is one of the top coaches and trainers in the country. Sonnenhof is without question a five star facility.

I have been riding with Ute for 4 years now and can equate almost all of my training and dressage abilities to her! She helped me understand not just what I was doing when training dressage but also why. Ute also came with me when looking for a new prospect. She has worked with us for the past two years helping me bring him from a just-broke 3 year old to a confident young horse consistently bringing home 70%+ scores and top placings.

Although my horses and I specialize in eventing, I have and will continue to take my dressage lessons from Ute. As a coach, she is very knowledgeable and gives clear, effective instruction with lots to take away from every lesson!

I started riding at Sonnenhof Stables just over a year ago. I have a ridden a little bit in the past but felt that I needed to start with a new and experienced coach at a beginner level. When I reached out to Ute, she invited me out to watch a lesson and see the facility, right from the start it felt like it was a great fit and remains that way until current day. Ute matched me up with the perfect horse for my skill level, and my riding journey begun. I have taken private and group lessons before I decided to part-board a horse at Sonnenhof. Thanks to Ute, her barn manager and her staff I have gained a great wealth of knowledge over the past 12 months. Sonnenhof truly is a happy place for any horse lover. Everyone is friendly and helpful and to be completely honest, they have the patience of a Saint. If you're looking for a place to take riding lessons or board your horse, you will not be disappointed when you join the Sonnenhof family. Great environment for any skill level and any age.

Sonnenhof Stables is the highest quality in dressage training and coaching you could hope for. To give this review some context -- before riding with Ute, I had ridden on and off for over 30 years, did a year in the Humber College Equine Studies program, was a nationally certified riding coach and dressage judge in the 90's, and was trained by a Canadian Dressage Team member. I had known of Ute over the years, seen her ride at shows, and had always thought - "wouldn't it be amazing to live in the KW area and be able to work with her?" Then I had the chance to move to KW.

When considering the quality of a dressage trainer - it's a huge accomplishment if they have trained one horse to Grand Prix level - the highest international level. Ute has trained several. I started riding with Ute taking group lessons on excellent and well cared for horses.

After a year of part-boarding, Ute found my current horse - and has been training him and coaching me for 6 years. He started at Training Level and is now a confirmed 3rd Level horse - beyond the dreams of most adult amateur riders. Over these 6 years, my respect and admiration for Ute has grown. She creates a professional and collegial atmosphere at the barn. I have also had the pleasure of getting to know the several national and international working students who have supported the excellent care the horses consistently receive. If you are serious about riding in general - and dressage in particular - you'd be lucky to get to ride here.