The Saskatchewan Horse Federation assists athletes in their quest to reach High-Performance (
HP) levels of competition through both programming and funding. In the “excellence” category, we allocate grant monies for athletes competing in the recognized High-Performance (HP) disciplines of Dressage, Hunter/Jumper, and Reining. We do this through Athlete Assistance grants, the HP Symposiums, and now, the Pathways to High-Performance clinics.
The clinics will provide training opportunities as well as allow us to keep track of athletes who may be identified to be part of a team to represent Saskatchewan at championship events such as CIEC. The targeted group is High-Performance, but the clinics also support Talent ID Athletes who show the ability, motivation, and competition results indicative of someone who is on the pathway to becoming a High-performance athlete.
Note that the priority is to support HP athletes wherever possible, and to open it up to Talent ID where space permits.
2026 Pathways to High Performance
Technical Package
Hunter/Jumper - Alex Grayton
May 15th, 16th, 17th
East Edge Equestrian Saskatoon
The Saskatchewan Horse Federation is excited to invite Alex Grayton for our 2026 Pathways to High Performance Clinic! He is an accomplished Grand Prix rider and highly sought after clinician. Alex has competed around the world and is known for his compassionate, fluid riding style on all kinds of horses. He has worked at Spruce Meadows as the head of sales, training and competition for the Horse Program for 3 years as well as the trainer at Miller Brooke Farm LTD under the direction of 10-time Olympian Ian Miller. He has worked with top athletes and horses at his own Grayton Farms Ltd since 2008. Alexander’s approach to training is rooted in precision, patience, adaptability, and a fundamental understanding of the horse. We are very fortunate to be able to offer his skill set to riders seeking to improve their abilities.
Dressage - Belinda Trussell
June 20th, 21st
Avondale stables Saskatoon
Belinda Trussell spent her childhood in locations across the globe and dabbled in multiple disciplines before focusing on dressage at age 13. She represented her native Australia in FEI competition until 1994, when she became a Canadian citizen. In 2002, Trussell represented Canada as the youngest member of the Canadian Dressage Team at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Jerez, ESP, with Royan II. They then competed at the 2003 European Dressage Championships in Hickstead, GBR, and won the Swarovski Canadian League World Cup Final at the 2003 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON. They also represented Canada at both the 2004 World Cup in Dusseldorf, GER, and the Athens Olympic Games.
Trussell returned to WEG in 2010 and in 2014 in Normandy, FRA, where she was Canada’s highest-placed individual in dressage, finishing in the top 25 with Anton. They then representing Canada at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games, where they helped the Canadian Dressage Team earn the silver medal and break the Canadian record for the highest team average score achieved at a major games. Trussell also broke a Canadian record in Toronto for highest individual score after receiving 75.078% in the Grand Prix Special. Trussell and Anton by broke the Canadian record for the highest score in a Grand Prix Special at the prestigious Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL, with 75.529% in 2016. She returned to the Games in Rio de Janeiro, BRA, aboard Anton. Tattoo 15 then took over as Trussell’s top mount; he kept her winning record alive throughout the 2017 season and made his major games debut at the 2018 WEG in Mill Spring, NC. In 2019, Trussell switched her focus to Carlucci, and together the combination helped Team Canada secure the silver medal in the CDIO 3* FEI Nations Cup in Wellington, FL.
Reining - Tanner Boyes - Rescheduled to Fall
Tanner Boyes today is an accomplished trainer beginning to put his own business into the works of the reining world. However, Tanner, just like every other trainer in this business started from the bottom in order to work his way to the top. Throughout his life Tanner has been in the presence of horses, but it was not until college that the exciting sport of reining drew him in. While attending Lamar Community College he earned two degrees: Horse Training and Management and Equine Business Management. Under the instruction of Jason Kravig and JJ Rydberg, Tanner found his desire for reining uncontainable.
In the year of 2011 Tanner continued his education by completing an internship under the instruction of three million dollar rider Tim McQuay. Following the completion of the internship Tanner went on to work for McQuay Stables. After about a year working for McQuay Stables Tanner made the 24 hour drive up to Wilsall, Montana to work for Jay Dee Anderson at Anderson Training Stables. From there Tanner ventured out on his own to fulfill his dream of running a business of his own. Tanner now has his own business and on a regular basis receives help and encouragement from Shane Brown.
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