About Horses of the Sun
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Horses of the Sun is an equestrian facility located approximately 25 min. south- east of Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. We are a riding school, a Voltige training center, an archery center (traditional foot archery and mounted archery), a nature education facility, but first and foremost, we are purveyors and educators of life skills.
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Horses of the Sun opened its doors in Vars (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) in September of 1997. We offer weekly classes and summer horse adventures for children (7 years of age and older), teenagers, and adults who are interested in learning riding, the sport of Voltige, traditional archery, mounted archery, about nature, and life skills.

Sonja Koch and Uwe Schneider are the Owners and Operators of Horses of the Sun. Sonja is the principal instructor and brings more than 40 yrs of riding, voltige, energy work, and teaching experience.

Both Sonja and Uwe have a Police Screening for the Vulnerable Sector.

Sonja Koch

Owner and Operator
Sonja Koch is the owner, operator, and principal instructor at Horses of the Sun, where she is committed to creating a safe, welcoming environment for both horses and riders. Her calm and supportive teaching style helps students feel comfortable and at home from the moment they arrive.
A certified riding instructor with both the German FN and the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association, Sonja brings an impressive depth of knowledge and experience to her work.
Professional Achievements
  • Board Member of the Canadian Federation of Mounted Archery (CFMA)
  • Chair of the CFMA Committee on Training, Education, Certification, and Safety
  • German Riding Award – Silver
  • International competition experience in dressage, jumping, vaulting, elite gymnastics, and ballroom dance
  • Ballroom & Latin dance teacher and choreographer
  • Trained in circus arts with Cirque du Soleil
  • International rider, horse trainer, and clinician
  • Recipient of the 2005 Dr. Dan Offord Award of Excellence
  • Reiki Grand Master and Certified Herbalist
With over 40 years of experience in equestrian instruction—including being Canada’s first voltige instructor—Sonja is dedicated to building a strong, trusting connection between horses and riders. Her unique teaching approach encourages students to learn at their own pace, gain confidence, and develop their skills naturally. Known for her patience and ability to simplify complex concepts, she empowers riders to deepen their understanding of horsemanship in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Uwe Schneider

Owner and Operator

Uwe Schneider is a German-Canadian equestrian and archery enthusiast, as well as the owner and operator of Horses of the Sun. With unwavering dedication, he has created a welcoming and safe environment where both children and adults can explore horseback riding, voltige, archery, and the beauty of nature.
Uwe brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his work. He holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology and spent 20 years at Environment Canada as a course conductor and water quality educator. When not on horseback or at the archery range, he can often be found clearing trails in the forest or crafting innovative new projects in his workshop.
Professional Achievements
  • Member on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Federation of Mounted Archery
  • CFMA Member Association Representative to the IHAA
  • Member of the Board of Directors of the International Horse Archery Alliance (IHAA)
  • German Voltige Award - Silver
  • International Competitive Vaulting (3 individual years)
  • Vaulting Champion of South Germany
As the primary archery instructor at Horses of the Sun, Uwe shares his passion and extensive knowledge with students of all levels. With over 35 years of experience training horses for voltige and coaching riders, he works alongside Sonja to help young equestrians build confidence and develop the skills they need to begin their journey.