Julia Gor

Owner and Founder of Equipages

Julia is a Registered Nurse by profession, with a passion for horses, digital art, and web design. Julia has previously developed and managed websites for other Equine businesses. As founder of EquiPages, Julia has been involved in every aspect of this project – As an equestrian, she has trained in a variety of disciplines including Reining, Gaming, Classical Dressage, Eventing and Hunter/Jumper.

How Equipages Started

The project originally began as a spreadsheet, but as the list grew – it became apparent that a new and user-friendly system needed to be developed in order for viewers to benefit from the directory. With the help of Julia’s contributors, Equipages was born, designed and trademarked in March 2019.

PHIL VINET

Co-Founder & Data Manager

Phil Vinet was born and raised on a family farm just outside of London Ontario, and was has been fortunate enough to remain on that same family farm with is lovely wife Diane, raising their two sons Alex and Rob, as well as continuing to manage a successful horse boarding facility to this day. His introduction to horses was by the late Ed Cornish and his family who were deeply involved in showing and breeding Quarter hoses. Phil quickly became enthralled in the working and showing in Western Performance events throughout Southern Ontario, and was a founding director for the Mid-Western Horseman’s Association. His attention then also included English horses, riding briefly in the London Hunt, and supporting his wife Diane in showing Jumping and Dressage horses for many years. Phil’s demonstrated his hard work ethic in both his professional work life as an Industrial Engineer, bringing many ground breaking processes to industry and has taken that expertise in developing and improving business practices to the equine world. Today Phil is retired from the corporate world and continues to show in working cattle classes such as Team Penning and Team Sorting, setting records and enjoying the thrill of “chasing cows for time and glory”, consistently placing in the 5 in provincial sorting. As well he coaches riders and their horses in a perhaps unique style in which communication with the horse and rider, in which improvement is not only guaranteed but achieved, not with emotion but, with passion and knowledge. Resulting in increasing demand for his special training and coaching skills to riders of all levels and disciplines. For the past 3 years, Phil has been the consulting coach/trainer at Con Brio Farms. A world class facility, with internationally accomplished horses and riders.

CHELSEA SMITH

Web Designer & Client Services Manager

Chelsea is a graphic designer and front-end developer, with extensive WordPress expertise, a passion for SEO. She has enthusiastically and skillfully volunteered her time and expertise to this project. You may contact her at her own business Creativelyours.ca to help your equine business grow. She also shares a passion for horses, working with equestrian and agricultural clients as well as competing in reining and other western events with her quarter horse: Chase.

MATTHEW JOHNSTON

Software Program Specialist

Matthew Johnston is a physics major and computer science minor at the University of Toronto at Scarborough Campus. He has been riding regularly since 2012 and has a passion for horses. He has also been programming and working with computers and electronics since his high school years. Matthew has experience building, fixing, and maintaining custom websites, as a teaching assistant at the University of Toronto, as well as having had professional internships working in functional app development and electronics design.