Nova Scotia’s first horse simulator is getting a lot of miles

A new tech simulator in the Annapolis Valley gives riders an authentic equestrian experience.

Nova Scotia’s riders have a new, safe way to train.

The province’s first horse simulator, “Will-oh!” arrived at Willow and Withers stables around 10 days ago and the owner says she’s been getting a lot of mileage.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun with her,” says Melanie Taljaard, the owner of the boarding barn in Sheffield Mills, N.S.

Taljaard says she got the Dressage Pro model from Racewood Equestrian Simulators from the U.K. so she could train without passing her mistakes on to her horses.

“Almost like a treadmill but for a horse,” she says. “I discovered these simulators and quickly found out there wasn’t really anything in Nova Scotia.”

Taljaard discovered one in Toronto and says she fell in love with the tool after training on it for a few days. She said the simulator helps her learn all kinds of skills.

“She has a really neat module where she’ll do an assessment of your riding,” she says. “She just reflects back everything the rider is doing and helps us then improve to be a better rider for our horses.”

Equestrian Kristen Pyke says it feels like riding a real horse.

“She’s quite smooth so you don’t have to be scared of falling off,” Pyke says. “She definitely doesn’t buck or rear or do anything real crazy.”

Pyke says experienced riders can improve advanced techniques using the Will-oh! simulator.

“She’s much better trained than my horses,” she says.

Willow and Withers is accepting online bookings from riders who want to try the simulator.

“It’s incredibly authentic,” Taljaard says. “You have a good ride and you find yourself petting her neck and saying ‘thank you.’”

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