Lorie Duff is an Internationally renowned Canadian Equestrian Trainer & Clinician. A Provincial Equine Judge, Equine Business Consultant & Motivational Speaker. Lorie was born and raised on a scenic dairy farm overlooking the ocean in Topsail, Newfoundland. Lorie credits her parents and “the simple farm life” to how she developed her Philosophy of Horsemanship.
Lorie’s philosophy of communication, trust & respect helps establish a safe and solid inter-disciplinary platform. The philosophy supports and enhances the continued mutual learning of humans and horses that work together. These successes from teaching her program, have taken her throughout North America, Europe & Asia. One of Lorie’s greatest achievements was to be the “First Ever Western Performer” invited to the RCMP Sunset Ceremonies for 2 consecutive years (2016 and 2017) to showcase the western discipline and to demonstrate her horsemanship Philosophies.
In November of 2014, Lorie woke up with partial paralysis on the right side of her body, 3 discs in her neck were all blown. (NOT a Horse accident). Then she was scheduled for an emergency disc fusion operation. In recovery Lorie was in a neck brace to stablize her head and neck for nearly two years, with many setbacks and struggles along the road to recovery. Completely demobilized for several months, looking out the window wondering if she would ever ride again.
“During my horsemanship clinics I now say “never look back, we can’t change the past. We can’t change the horses past, but we can change their future. So think about their future, and think positive. Today I am so grateful for my family, my friends, my horses and my love and what tomorrow will bring.”
Lorie is currently focusing on expanding how she reaches her clientele. She is in the process of writing a few books, one is an autobiography, “How I Got There, the Journey of a Horsewoman”. This started her love and passion to become a freelance journalist and opening her up to creating the “Cowgirl Channel of Canada, The Way of the Canadian Cowgirl”. A show featuring cowgirls from all across Canada, from women in the farm and ranching industry to arts and entertainment.
“I am always searching for an understanding, always trying to find a “better way”. The training I have obtained over the years helped me develop and create my own philosophy for how I want to work with horses. Communication, trust and respect are key for success. The countless hours I’ve spent improving my horsemanship, combined with having an open minded approach to training and teaching, has given me an insight into how horses think, and how the human learns.”
In 2007, Lorie re-located to Ontario with her two children, where she started Liberty Lane Farm (located just outside Ottawa area) and continues on her path of refining her training methods. Lorie takes pleasure in the success of others and considers success in helping others her only true gauge of her own success. She has become a mobile unit; traveling to her students and clinics so she is able to help as many people as she can.
Lorie travels across Canada, USA and into Europe and continues to consistency learn from the greatest teacher she has always had, THE HORSE.
Some highlights of Lorie’s Achievements, Awards and Certificates;
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2004 – Equine Sportsmanship Award 2004.
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2005 – Achieving Year End Champion in; Senior Western Equitation, Command and Trail, Reining, Freestyle Reining.
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2006 – Volunteer of the Year.
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2010 – Equestrian Canada Western Rider Level Program completed.
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2016 – Equestrian Canada, Western Intermediate Rider-Basic Training Certificate.
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2016- Equi-Health Canada Certificate of Completion, Basic Equine Health and Emergency First Aid.
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2016 – RCMP Sunset Ceremonies Award for Liberty Horsemanship Performances.
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2017 – Calgary Stampede Liberty Performer
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2018 – Sportsmanship Award, Endurance Race, Mongolia.
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2018 – Represented Canada as a endurance competitor in Mongolia, for the Gobi Desert Cup.
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2019 – Western Horse Association of Ontario – Junior Provincial Equine Judge.
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Equestrian Canada Certificate of Achievements; July 2021 – Concussion Awareness. – Certificate of Achievement Equestrian Canada, Fostering Healthy Equestrian Environments.
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2022 First Canadian Female Judge, for the “Trainers Challenge” Horse Expo Canada.
