She has loved horses since she was a child, but didn't become a horse trainer until she was an adult.

With 20 years of experience now behind her, Anne Gage is the first trainer to be recognized as a Gold Level coach and trainer in the Chris Irwin Train the Trainer program.

"No one has ever achieved that level before," she says. "So it was pretty exciting and surprising."

For the last six years she has been studying Mr. Irwin's horse training method. She says she was hooked on the program after participating for two days in a horsemanship clinic.

Some would describe Mr. Irwin as a horse whisperer as he understands the horse psychology and body language she says.

He translates that into how other trainers can work with horse owners using his techniques to better understand the horse and how the horse works when you're riding it. Trainers earn certificates for each level of training they receive.

Ms. Gage was previously recognized with the Silver Level. She continued attending the clinics and eventually became Mr. Irwin's assistant coach.

Earlier this year he asked her to be the Ontario Region Co-ordinator for his Horsepower Productions team.

"It has been a very exciting year," says Ms. Gage. "I closed another business so that I would have the time to focus on training horses and riders full time. It has been very rewarding."

However, Ms. Gage still owns her training and coaching business, High Point Farms. This is run on her farm in Mono where she teaches adults to work with their horses.

A lot of the time it is women who are either new to their horse or who have had a bad experience and need to rebuild their confidence.

"I teach them to understand what is going through the horses mind and how to be safe," she says. She teaches these riders to read their horse better.

She also holds four local horse shows during the summer months. Riders from the area, as well as Collingwood, Owen Sound and other towns participate in the competition.

Being a horse trainer is something she hopes to do for the rest of her life.

"It gets in your blood," says Ms. Gage.

For more information on her training program call 519-941-2774 or visit her website at www.highpointfarm. homestead.com