Bobbie and Gord Cardwell met and married in 2003 and opened KREC in May 2005.

Bobbie’s parents were farmers in Cache Bay, near Sturgeon Falls; her father, Lucien Cazabon, was one of the first members of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board. Bobbie started riding in 2003 and soon after bought her lovely quarter horse Burgundy Velvet Lady better known as Pony Pony Macaroni. Bobbie has over 25 years of teaching experience in the Ontario School System and applies it on a regular basis for Pony Club, year round camps, seminars and clinics. Her daily words of wisdom can always be heard throughout the barn – “put a smile on your face and a warm thought in your heart”. She is the face and heart of Knowlton Ridge and attempts every day to make the barn a professional, positive and happy place for staff, clients, horses and volunteers.

 Gord’s parents were also farmers from Westwood near Peterborough, but his father died at a young age. Gord worked on the farm through his teens and started riding in University in the late 1960’s under Colonel McKibbon in Kingston. He subsequently rode and trained with masters like Captain de Demeter, Colonel Graff and Ed Rothkrantz. Gord developed a Grade 13 approved Equine Studies Program at Rosseau Lake College in 1972, coordinated an equine based adventure program for delinquint youth at project D.A.R.E. using retired RCMP horses in 1974 and built the Parry Sound Equestrian Centre in 1975.  Gord was not involved in riding for over 25 years operating a number of successful real estate investment companies in Canada and the U.S.A., but he is now back to stay in the equestrian world.

Video interview with KREC owners Gord & Bobbie Cardwell