After riding for pleasure as a child, Nicole Shinton returned to the sport as an adult and quickly found her hobby turning into a competitive career. At eight years of age, she had participated in the Canadian Pony Club with her first horse, eventually competing in low-level hunters and jumpers, but her interest in horses faded in her teenage years while her love of acting and the theatre became more pronounced. Despite a strong interest in play writing, and even seeing one of her scripts turned into a Toronto stage production, Nicole decided to make a safer career choice by earning her degree from York University and becoming a Private Investigator.
She met her future husband, Alan Shinton, on the job and, while the couple took up golf in their spare time, Nicole found herself dreaming of once again owning a horse. Alan encouraged her to begin taking lessons and, one week later, Nicole was the proud owner of a lovely mare. In five short years, Nicole went from being introduced to the sport of eventing to being the highest placed Canadian competitor at the prestigious 2004 CCI** Radnor Hunt International Three Day Event in Pennsylvania.
The year 2004 also saw Nicole being named the Adult Amateur Intermediate Rider of the Year by the United States Eventing Association, a remarkable feat for a Canadian rider in such a highly competitive division, and accomplishing her goal of competing at the advanced level. Based on her success, Nicole was named to the 2005 Canadian Eventing Team Long List.
Her current string of horses include The Grey Pony, a horse who was saved from slaughter for $300 in New Zealand before enjoying a successful eventing career, and King Billy, also a New Zealand import. In addition, Nicole recently purchased Internet, a New Zealand-bred stallion that placed seventh in at the CCI**** Burghley Three Day Event in 2004 with Kiwi rider, Kate Hewlett. And, with O-Topia, Nicole claimed victory in the preliminary division of 2005 Erie Horse Trials in Pennsylvania.
Married for six years, Nicole and Alan own Greenbrier Farms, a 160 acre eventing facility in Uxbridge, ON, that includes 23 stalls, an 80 x 200 indoor arena, and a newly-constructed cross country course complete with two water complexes. Nicole also shares a family connection to the Canadian Equestrian Team - her cousin, Melissa Brown, competed in Show Jumping at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain.
The Grey Pony 1991 grey New Zealand thoroughbred gelding, 16h
Owner: Nicole Shinton
Agnes Gray 1993 grey Irish Sport Horse mare, 16.2h
Owner: Nicole Shinton
Pamela 1993 bay English thoroughbred mare, 16.3h
Owner: Nicole Shinton
Another Garrison
1994 bay English thoroughbred gelding, 16.1hh by Mandalus
Owner: Nicole Shinton
Internet 1995 liver chestnut New Zealand stallion, 16.2h
Owner: Nicole Shinton
King Billy 1995 bay New Zealand thoroughbred gelding, 16h
Owner: Nicole Shinton
Rose Tremiere 1995 liver chestnut Anglo-Arab mare, 16.1h
Owner: Nicole Shinton
O-Topia 1996 bay English thoroughbred gelding, 16.3h
Owner: Nicole Shinton
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