Julie Walker was born in the UK where she first “fell in love” with horses at a very young age. She became a groom at Ham Polo Stables in Richmond, Surrey. After meeting and marrying Stew she moved to Canada. Julie worked at the University of Saskatchewan in the Microbiology department while completed his degree in Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation they moved to PEI where their two daughters, Sky and Xanthe were born. After moving back to sunny Saskatchewan, Julie founded the Blue Forest Pony Club, a chapter of the Canadian Pony Club. Julie coached and organized the club for 12 years. Julie also found time to show Dressage. Julie has attended many clinics and workshops in all horse disciplines to further educate herself and to be successful with showing, riding, and teaching. Julie is a C.A.F. certified level 1 coach and a B.H.S. assistant teaching coach and a certified level 1 E.A.L. facilitator. Julie’s many positions within the Canadian Pony Club include Rally Chair, Testing Chair, Visiting District Commissioner and National Director.
Stew Walker was born in Souris, Manitoba, a small farming community. After completing high school, Stew worked and traveled throughout Europe and the Far East for 8 years. Stew met Julie in the UK. They eventually married and came back to Canada. Stew studied veterinary medicine in Saskatoon for the next six years. Upon graduation, Julie and Stew moved to P.E.I. for five years and two children later, the love of the beautiful lakes and forests brought them back to Saskatchewan. Stew purchased Shellbrook Veterinary Clinic and has been running the mixed animal practice for 21 years. At present, with Julie, Stew is establishing a Dutch Warmblood breeding program. Stew has had great success in A.I. with frozen and cooled semen. Their imported Dutch mare has produced two lovely foals so far.
1981 DVM, Western College of Veterinary Medicine
2007 Canadian Veterinary Reserve
Member: American Association of Equine Practitioners, Western Canadian Association of Equine Practitioners, Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association, Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association.
Xanthe Walker was born in Prince Edward Island and came to Saskatchewan when she was a year and a half. She grew up helping her dad at the veterinary clinic and her mother with the Blue Forest Pony Club. The pony club played a large part in Xanthe’s development. Xanthe was a very technical rider and want right up to “B” level. She helped teach the lower levels and assisted with the exam marking. Xanthe went on to become an excellent rider showing extensively in Hunter classes. Xanthe danced her way through high school then attended the University of Alberta for one year. She then “took off” for Europe and worked as a groom for Abdel Said at Stal Hendrix in Holland. She traveled extensively before returning to Canada. At present, Xanthe is completing her fourth year of honors Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. Xanthe continues to “dance” her way through life and is a constant support to her parents by lending her logical advice and computer expertise to the Blue Forest Stables.
BSc (honors) University of Saskatchewan 2008
B Canadian Pony Club 2000
Fluent in English and French
Sky Walker was born in Prince Edward Island and came to Saskatchewan when she was three and a half. Sky grew up helping her dad at the veterinary clinic and her mom with the Blue Forest Pony Club. She went through the French immersion program at Shellbrook schools. Sky became heavily involved with the Canadian Pony Club from a young age and is one of the few members in Canada to achieve her “A” level. Sky has been very successful showing horses in all disciplines - dressage, hunter, 3-day eventing and show jumping (the later two being her forte). Sky coached at Blue Forest for seven years helping the younger members to pass their tests. In 2001, Sky went to Europe to groom for Brendon Keon and later as a rider at Stal Hendrix in Holland. Sky returned to Canada to earn a diploma in Small Business and Entrepreneurship then went back to Holland. At present, she is training young horses to sell for Blue Forest and helping with the breeding program at Blue Forest.
NCCP Level 1 coach 2001
A Canadian Pony Club 2000
Fluent in English, French and Dutch
Jennifer Keyowski was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan to James and Rose Grypiuk. They moved to a farm outside of Shellbrook, Saskatchewan in 1987 where Jen quickly fell in love with horses. While attending school in Shellbrook Jen began raising and training horses with her dad. She joined the Blue Forest Pony Club and reached her C2 level. Jen was also a member of the Canwood Light Horse Club for 12 years where she held many positions at a local, regional, and provincial level. Jen is still with the 4-H club going into her fifth year as a leader. Jen had the opportunity to go and help a trainer in Iowa for a summer when she was 16 years old. They raised and trained saddlebreds and driving horses. After Jen graduated from high school in 1999 she began training horses for a living. Jen went to California in 2001 and 2002 for two six month periods training horses. She rode mainly English and did a lot of Foxhunting. Jennifer married Travis Keyowski in 2002. Travis is a plumber and a farrier. They have one lovely daughter. Peyton was born Feb. 1, 2006 and the second child is on the way. Jen is currently working at Shellbrook Veterinary Clinic and lives on a farm outside of Shellbrook raising, training, and showing horses both western and English disciplines with her husband and father.
