GRIT Spring Training Camp
The GRIT Spring Training Camp marks the beginning of an exciting 2025 season, bringing our athletes together for a weekend of growth, learning, and high-performance development. This camp will set the tone for the season, focusing on skill refinement, mindset development, and building the resilience needed to excel in and out of the saddle.

Audit the GRIT Spring Training Camp!
April 25-26, 2025
Learn from a growth Mindset framework
Athletes in the GRIT program are encouraged to push past their comfort zones, embrace challenges, and develop resilience. This camp will provide a structured approach to understanding where athletes are in their journey and how they can continue to grow.
Train Like a High-Performance Athlete
As an auditor, gain insights from Ian Millar, Amy Millar, and Christilot Boylen, along with professional strength and conditioning coaches and mental performance experts.
Understand the Journey from Comfort to Growth
Growth happens when we push beyond what feels easy. Through expert-led discussions and live demonstrations, this camp will highlight how intentional challenges in training help athletes build the skills, strength, and mental fortitude needed for long-term success.
Network and Learn from Industry Leaders
Connect with Olympic and international equestrians, top coaches, and professionals shaping the future of the sport in Canada. Whether you're an athlete refining your approach, a coach looking for new strategies, or an industry professional wanting deeper insight into equestrian development, the auditor experience will provide invaluable takeaways.

AGENDA
14875 Bayview Ave, Aurora, ON
April 25, 2025
Opening
Light breakfast and coffee
Welcome
We are excited to kick off the camp with an energizing start, featuring opening remarks and a special address from Ontario Equestrian. This will be an opportunity to hear from key partners and learn about the exciting themes that will shape our camp experience.
Strength and Conditioning for High-Performance Equestrian Athletes
In this session, participants will have the unique opportunity to engage directly with the GRIT Strength and Conditioning Coach. This interactive experience will focus on the key elements of strength, flexibility, and endurance necessary to excel in the sport of equestrian. Participate in targeted exercises designed to enhance physical performance, improve core stability, and build the resilience needed to thrive in both training and competition. Whether you're looking to improve your fitness routine or gain insights into tailored strength training strategies, this session will provide valuable tools to elevate your performance or your athletes both on and off the horse.
Dressage
This dynamic session will begin with Christilot Boylen focusing on the fundamental principles of dressage, guiding athletes, through the essentials of keeping the horse on the bit and maintaining correct position. Athletes will work to refine their connection with the horse, building a solid foundation for both flatwork and jumping. Following the dressage portion, the session will transition to jumping with Ian Millar, where athletes will tackle grid work designed to enhance their rhythm, balance, and approach to fences. This combination of dressage and jumping ensures a holistic approach to rider and horse development, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation in flatwork to support effective jumping technique.
Guided debrief
Athletes, auditors, coaches, and parents will have the opportunity to join guided debriefs led by performance advisor Ruth Allum, alongside equestrian experts Ian Millar and Christilot Boylen. These debriefs create a collaborative environment where participants can ask questions, reflect on the day’s lessons, and receive constructive feedback. Emphasizing a growth mindset, the discussions are designed to promote continuous learning and improvement, offering insights not only for the athletes but also for coaches and parents, helping everyone involved support the athletes' journey. This is a unique chance for all participants to engage, learn from each other, and deepen their understanding of the sport.
Dressage & jumping
This dynamic session will begin with Christilot Boylen focusing on the fundamental principles of dressage, guiding athletes, through the essentials of keeping the horse on the bit and maintaining correct position. Athletes will work to refine their connection with the horse, building a solid foundation for both flatwork and jumping. Following the dressage portion, the session will transition to jumping with Ian Millar, where athletes will tackle grid work designed to enhance their rhythm, balance, and approach to fences. This combination of dressage and jumping ensures a holistic approach to rider and horse development, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation in flatwork to support effective jumping technique.
Lunch
Join us for a delicious and nutritious lunch provided by Healthy Now, served in the GRIT event tent. This catered meal is designed to fuel your body with wholesome, energizing ingredients to keep you feeling your best throughout the day.
Dressage & jumping
In this second set of jumping sessions, athletes will work directly with Christilot Boylen and Ian Millar to further develop their skills and refine their jumping techniques. Starting with Christilot, the focus will be on perfecting flatwork to ensure that riders maintain a correct position, effective communication, and the horse’s focus through the approach to jumps. Following the flatwork, Ian Millar will guide athletes through a series of grid exercises designed to improve rhythm, timing, and precision over fences. This session will provide valuable insights into how strong fundamentals can elevate jumping performance, ensuring athletes leave with practical tools to enhance their approach to both technical and competitive jumping scenarios.
Guided debrief
After the second jumping group session, athletes, auditors, coaches, and parents will come together for a guided debrief with performance advisor Ruth Allum, alongside Ian Millar and Christilot Boylen. This session will focus on reflecting on the key takeaways from both the first and second jumping groups. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss challenges, and receive valuable feedback on technique, positioning, and overall performance. Emphasizing a growth mindset, the debrief will encourage open dialogue and learning, allowing athletes to reflect on their progress and set goals for continued improvement. This is a unique opportunity for everyone to gain deeper insights into the day's sessions and further support the development of both the riders and their teams.
Dressage & jumping
In the final jumping session, athletes will work with Christilot Boylen and Ian Millar to fine-tune their jumping techniques and develop their skills under pressure. Christilot will begin by focusing on refining rider position, balance, and the horse’s responsiveness to subtle aids, ensuring that athletes can maintain control and precision throughout their rounds. Following the flatwork, Ian will guide the group through more advanced grid exercises, aimed at improving rhythm, timing, and jumping technique over more complex obstacles. This session will challenge athletes to push their boundaries while maintaining focus on the fundamentals, providing them with the tools to excel in both training and competitive environments.
April 26, 2025
Opening
Light breakfast and coffee
DRESSAGE
This second day of training builds on the momentum established during the first, as our 2025 GRIT Dressage riders continue to deepen their work under the guidance of Christilot Boylen. The focus remains on growth and progression, encouraging riders to step outside their comfort zones, push past perceived limits, and apply a mindset of continuous learning and high performance in every aspect of their training.
Guided DEBRIEF
On Day 2, athletes, coaches, parents, and auditors are invited to join guided debriefs with performance advisor Ruth Allum and equestrian experts Ian Millar and Christilot Boylen. These reflective sessions offer an open space to ask questions, share insights, and receive feedback. Rooted in a growth mindset, the discussions aim to support continuous improvement and deepen everyone's understanding of how to best support the athlete’s development.
DRESSAGE & Jumping
This session will continue with Christilot Boylen guiding athletes through applications of dressage fundamentals. With a focus on maintaining correct position and deepening the connection with the horse, riders will further develop the consistency needed to keep the horse on the bit while refining balance, suppleness, and responsiveness. As the session transitions to jumping with Ian Millar, athletes will apply this enhanced flatwork foundation to more complex grid work exercises aimed at improving rhythm, straightness, and adjustability before and after fences.
Mental Performance
This session will dive into what it really means to have a growth mindset—and how you can help your athlete build one. You’ll leave with simple, practical tools to support your rider’s confidence, motivation, and resilience so they can keep showing up, learning, and loving the sport through every high and low.
Lunch
Join us for a delicious and nutritious lunch provided by Healthy Now, served in the GRIT event tent. This catered meal is designed to fuel your body with wholesome, energizing ingredients to keep you feeling your best throughout the day.
DRESSAGE & Jumping
This session will continue with Christilot Boylen guiding athletes through applications of dressage fundamentals. With a focus on maintaining correct position and deepening the connection with the horse, riders will further develop the consistency needed to keep the horse on the bit while refining balance, suppleness, and responsiveness. As the session transitions to jumping with Ian Millar, athletes will apply this enhanced flatwork foundation to more complex grid work exercises aimed at improving rhythm, straightness, and adjustability before and after fences.
Guided Debrief
Following the second jumping session, athletes, auditors, coaches, and parents will join a guided debrief with performance advisor Ruth Allum, alongside Ian Millar and Christilot Boylen. This reflective session will focus on key takeaways from both jumping groups, offering a chance to ask questions, explore challenges, and receive feedback on technique and performance. Rooted in a growth mindset, the discussion will help athletes reflect on their progress and set goals
DRESSAGE & Jumping
This session will continue with Christilot Boylen guiding athletes through applications of dressage fundamentals. With a focus on maintaining correct position and deepening the connection with the horse, riders will further develop the consistency needed to keep the horse on the bit while refining balance, suppleness, and responsiveness. As the session transitions to jumping with Ian Millar, athletes will apply this enhanced flatwork foundation to more complex grid work exercises aimed at improving rhythm, straightness, and adjustability before and after fences.
Closing
Wrap up & go home!

