Leadership Team
We proudly offer an exceptional team of high-performance competition coaches.
Owned by internationally certified coach, judge, and trainer Linda English, and led by her son Stav Adler, we represent a multi-generational equestrian landmark that has served the equestrian community since 1979.
Together, our team has trained hunter and equitation riders to the highest levels of competition in North America. Many of our former students have become prominent professional riders, with some achieving top rankings at the pinnacle of the sport. As true teachers and coaches, we are proud to present an unparalleled team of equestrian professionals.
On April 5, 2025, Natalie Adler, coach of the UBC Equestrian Team, led three students to the Zone 8 Finals at Stanford University. One of them, Clare Carmichael, qualified for the National Finals at Tryon International.
STAV ADLER
Equestrian Canada Licensed Competition Coach
As a second generation equestrian, horses and riding are in my blood. Dedicating myself to the art and science of equestrian sport, I taught and competed in hunter competitions and in jumper competitions to the Grand Prix level. Many of my students have won provincial and national championships/awards and some have become highly skilled professional riders.
I am delighted to share my knowledge with a select group of ambitious equestrians and contribute to their growth and success.
NATALIE ADLER
Equestrian Canada Licensed Competition Coach
I began my equestrian journey as an international-level show groom and competitive equitation rider. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from UBC in 2018, I continued into graduate research, focusing on metabolism, which I completed in 2021.
While riding for UBC on the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) circuit, I competed at three IHSA National Finals in the Open Equitation Division and earned two consecutive Zone Championships. My intercollegiate experience developed my skills in teamwork and deepened my passion for coaching.
In 2018, I was honored to join the leadership team at Riverside Equestrian, marking the beginning of my professional career as both a rider and coach.
Since then, I have led the UBC Equestrian Team to two Regional Reserve Team Championships and coached 2-3 individually qualified riders each year to Zone and National Intercollegiate Finals, including two consecutive Open High Point Riders representing the Pacific Northwest.
LINDY TOWNLEY
Equestrian Canada Licensed Competition Coach
Lindy’s coaching career has been defined by a long list of achievements that has made her an icon in the equestrian world. Her riders have excelled in prestigious competitions like the CET Medal Finals, with Erica Reilly, Erica Lim, and Meg Coombs earning top victories.
Cathleen Calvert and Lindsay MacLean, who began their riding journeys with Lindy, went on to win team gold at the NAJYRC, with Calvert also claiming an individual gold on a horse Lindy helped develop.
Former students such as Tosca Kocken, Desiree Johnson, Debbie Garside, Chelsea Jones, and Morgan Thomas have gone on to build prominent professional careers in the equestrian world. Morgan Thomas specifically has been a champion trainer and rider at every major national horse show, including Devon, WEF, Pennsylvania National, Kentucky, and Capital Challenge, and has won numerous International and National Hunter Derby Championships.
Her expertise extends to horse development, with several horses she produced winning major titles, including Horse of the Year honors in the United States.
On January 11 2025, Lindy was honored to be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award by the BC Hunter/Jumper Association.
LINDA ENGLISH
Owner
As the daughter of diplomats, I discovered my passion for horses at the age of four when I saw two people riding horses down the road in Washington DC. I started riding at six and was inspired to focus on showjumping at the age of nine when I saw a young woman win a jumping competition in Vienna, Austria. I have had the privilege to receive riding experience in the United States, Austria, Italy, Israel, Canada, and England.
In 1979 I founded Riverside as a center for equestrian sport that included, coaching, horse training and breeding, and as a competition venue that also hosted an Equine Canada Symposium and the Paralympic Games.
Having acquired British and Canadian certification throughout my career I have had the pleasure to coach dozens of students who have earned provincial and national awards in hunter, jumper, and equitation competitions.
As a nationally certified Equine Canada judge, I continue to learn and share my knowledge of horses and equestrian sport.