Geneviève Benoit has been in your shoes as a learner but has also gained an in-depth understanding of horses and natural horsemanship through intensive study, extensive direct contact with some of the best mentors in the industry, and years of experience in the field. She is a coach with vast experience in handling and riding horses who knows how to help you accelerate your learning on the ground and in the saddle.
Geneviève’s Biography
Geneviève Benoit has been an active horsewoman for over 50 years, as a rider, groom, competitor, breeder, instructor, and coach. She officially worked at the 1976 Summer Olympics, supporting the Pentathlon equestrian teams. Certified as a Coach (hunter/jumper) by Equine Canada since 1996, she began studying natural horsemanship in 1999. In 2003, she was the first Quebec rider to achieve Parelli Level 3 (now considered Level 4), and became in 2005 the first Licensed Parelli Instructor in Quebec. She has now resigned from Parelli but continues to share the principles of relationship-based horsemanship with her students.
During her stays, she had the privilege of auditing clinics by Craig Johnson (Reining World Champion), Luis Lucio (Olympic medalist in dressage), and Walter Zettl (dressage master). Over the years, she has studied with Linda Parelli, Kalley Krickeberg, Colleen Kelly (Rider Biomechanics), Walter Zettl, Jack Brainard, Karen Rohlf (Dressage Naturally) and Lauren Barwick (Silver and Gold Medallist in Beijing 2008, Paralympics Games).
Geneviève continues to advance her horsemanship education with carefully selected mentors who are in line with the principles of good horsemanship and putting the horse first.
In June 2014, she passed the exams and became an Official Coach with the International Society of Rider Biomechanics. In 2026, she became a Licensed Equine First Aid Instructor with Equi-Health Canada.
My story…
I have been passionate about horses since I was a child. Growing up in the city and in a family that had absolutely no horse interest, I had to wait until I could earn a bit of money before I could start to learn to ride at the age of 12. Before that, I seized every possible opportunity to be near a horse and to learn about them. In 1976, I had the opportunity to work with horses at the Montreal Olympic Games, and my trainer Michel Vaillancourt won a Silver medal in show jumping. Show jumping and some dressage is what I did for close to 30 years, as a rider, competitor, groom, breeder, trainer, and certified Canadian coach. During most of that time, in order to earn a living, I pursued a successful career in business and technology, which lasted 20 years.
I got introduced to natural horsemanship in 1999 because I was looking for a way to ‘fix’ a trailer-loading problem with my show horse. It was the beginning of a life-changing journey. In 2003, I had my first opportunity to study directly with Pat Parelli and he awarded me my green string. I became the first Level 4 graduate from the province, and in 2005, the first Licensed Parelli Instructor in Quebec.
I have taught clinics and workshops all over Canada. Along with instructing, I have pursued specializations in the pre-saddle training of foals and young horses, dressage, jumping, rider biomechanics and natural horse management.
How good do you want to be with horses? Contact me and get started on your journey. I look forward to getting to know you and your horse!