Our Competitive Philosophy
Ribbons and prizes are nice, but “winning” shouldn’t be the goal of the day. When you really look at how the day will work, there will only be one red ribbon for each class. And there can be quite a few people in each class! So, how can we define success differently for the competition day so that we can ALL be successful, even if only one person gets a red ribbon? Success can be:
Let’s celebrate all the hard work, preparations, and successes - regardless of the colour or number of ribbons received. You are ALL champions to Maplewood!
Win & Wine!
The Win & Wine Competitions are for adults only! Enjoy an evening of fun competition by tailoring each class to your own level! For example, you pick your own dressage test, select whether you want w/t or w/t/c for a group equitation class, and select the height that you wish to jump (or not at all!). And then there is a surprise fun class to test your ability to complete a task such as a trot pole poker run, or following the judge's instructions without dropping the fake money tucked under your elbows and thighs, etc.! And, of course, make sure to have a designated driver in order to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the night! The winner of the show walks away with a bottle of wine while all who place go home with the fanciest ribbons in the Ottawa area!
Challenge Show Series
We are happy to offer the Challenge Series again this year! Two shows are hosted at Maplewood, three shows are hosted at Riverview and this year we are happy to welcome Rustic Rose as a host for one show as well! Classes are held in both dressage and hunter and provide opportunities for newcomers through to advanced riders to participate and receive feedback from the judges. Points accumulate over the series for year-end awards at the last show.
Dates for 2026:
Requirements for Maplewood students to compete in the Challenge Series:
OVPSC/Trillium Shows
Bronze level competitions are sanctioned schooling level competitions at the regional level that allow competitors to begin to specialize within a discipline while still keeping the main focus on education and learning with results as a secondary focus. Bronze level competition series offered to our show team are OVPSC hunter shows. In bronze competitions, year end results will be based off of results from all of Ottawa.
Silver level competitions are sanctioned competitions at the provincial level that allow competitors to further their specialization within a discipline. Silver level competition series offered to our show team are THJA hunter shows. In silver competitions year end results will be based off of results from all of Ottawa and all of Ontario, there is also a potential to qualify for the championship competition which is typically based in Toronto. Maplewood school horses will compete at the Bronze hunter shows, but to compete at the Silver hunter shows, competitors will need to own their own horse or have a full lease.
Requirements for Maplewood students to compete in the Bronze hunter shows:
Silver/Gold Dressage
Silver level competitions are sanctioned competitions at the provincial level that allow competitors to further their specialization within a discipline. Silver level competition series offered to our show team Silver Dressage, organized through OADG. In silver competitions year end results will be based off of results from all of Ottawa and all of Ontario. There is also a potential to qualify for the championship competition at the end of the season.
Gold level competitions are sanctioned competitions at the national level. In Gold competitions year end results will be based off of results from all of Ottawa, Ontario and Canada. Gold level competition series offered to our show team are Gold Level Dressage. There is a potential to qualify for the championship competition which is typically based in Toronto. Maplewood school horses will compete at the Silver dressage shows, but to compete at the Gold dressage shows, competitors will need to own their own horse or have a full lease.
Requirements for Maplewood students to compete in the Silver dressage shows:
If you're a Maplewood student or boarder and want to travel off-property to do some schooling, the link to book this is:
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Prize Sponsor
We are proud to have our dressage competitors as members of the OADG for the Challenge Series in order to accumulate points towards the year-end awards for the Schooling Show awards with OADG. OADG has also generously sponsored prizes for the Challenge Series!
Prize Sponsor
We are grateful for the prizes sponsored by Greenhawk Equestrian Sport for both the Challenge Series and the In-house Show Series. Our Champion and Reserve Champions from each of these shows are grateful for the prizes received! It's definitely worth the drive to Kanata to shop there!
Prize Sponsor
We are lucky to have such a great equestrian store in the east end of Ottawa who provides support for our competitors in the Challenge Series and the In-house Show Series by supplying wonderful prizes for our Champions and Reserve Champions!
Prize Sponsor
Mama Maplewood is a creator of custom equestrian products and happily donates her time and energy to creating custom embroidered products and other items for the Champions and Reserve Champions of the Challenge Series and In-House Show Series!
Trophy, Prize, and Jump Sponsor
Russell Equine is our "house vet" and they take care of all of the Maplewood school horses, which is why these amazing horses are able to do all that they do! Russell Equine is also a generous supporter of our In-House Show Series by sponsoring one of the year-end trophies! Russell Equine has also sponsored a jump in 2023, which you should see built and in the grass ring as soon as we can complete it!
Canadian Tire - Rockland
Trophy Sponsor
Shop in-store or online for pickup! With everything you need for getting set up for a horse show: portable tents, coolers, wagons for carrying all the tack and equipment, comfortable outdoor chairs, and, of course, the big rolling tool chest that we all use for a tack trunk! A big thank you to the Canadian Tire in Rockland for sponsoring one of the year-end trophies!
Trophy Sponsor
Fireplaces, kitchen design and install, and BBQs are their specialties, and they are a great local company! We are also very grateful to have Romantic Fireplaces sponsoring one of the year-end trophies for our In-house Show Series!
Trophy Sponsor
One lucky year-end award winner is able to have their name added to one of the trophies for the In-house Show Series which is sponsored by Power Law. It is wonderful to have another local company supporting the activities of equestrian athletes at Maplewood!
Jump Sponsor
Plantagenet Physio and Cumberland Physio have sponsored a jump for 2023. Keep watch for the new jump to be built and set up in the grass ring! And for those equestrians who may need to get a little physio, feel free to check out the services in either location!
Click Here!