Colin McIntosh

Colin McIntosh is a lifelong equestrian, who began his show career with success at the age of nine with many show and one day event wins to his credit, including his first major showjumping win at the age of 16. As an adult rider, Colin represented New Zealand in international three-day eventing in Australia. After focusing exclusively on showjumping, Colin continued his success in the show ring both nationally and internationally. He represented New Zealand on several teams in international competition, including the Seoul 1988 Olympics. In addition, Colin has won all of the prestigious showjumping titles in New Zealand; including, Horse of the Year, Grand Prix Rider of the Year (2 times) and New Zealand High Jump Title (4 times).

Colin has successfully trained/produced ten grand prix winners and numerous successful showjumpers and eventers. Colin is also known for his passion in developing coaching standards to improve the quality of coaching for horses and riders. Colin co-wrote the New Zealand coaching program, which is recognized by the International Group for Qualification and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. This program is currently used in the curriculum at equestrian colleges throughout New Zealand. He served as a coaching assessor until moving to the United States in 2004. He is recognized as an International Expert (Level 4) Showjumping Coach. Most recently, Colin has been involved with the Positive Coaching Alliance and he has earned his Double-Goal Coaching certification.

Colin and his wife Toni were the co-directors of New Zealand’s richest showjumping event. They also co-directed the Derby Championships, which were held at their stables.

Coaching Hi-Lights

• Level 4 international showjumping coach (only holder of the coaching passport at this level in New Zealand).
• New Zealand’s first Jumper Riders Representative to both the New Zealand Showjumping Committee and Executive Committee.
• Trainer/producer 10 grand prix winners and numerous other successful showjumpers and eventers.
• Trained NZ event team to Gawler.
• Trained NZ young rider showjumping teams.
• Trained North Island young rider teams.
• Trained many of New Zealand’s top eventing and showjumping riders.

Equestrian Hi-Lights

• Represented Northland province eight times at the New Zealand Pony Club Eventing championships.
• Represented New Zealand three-day eventing in Australia (1971-72).
• Competed in Dressage in Australia (1971-72).
• Represented New Zealand World Cup Qualifier in Australia (1982).
• Member New Zealand Showjumping Team against Australia (1987-88).
• Winner New Zealand Horse of the Year Title (1987).
• Winner North Island Grand Prix (1988).
• Member New Zealand Olympic Team, Showjumping in Seoul (1988).
• Member New Zealand Team Samsung FEI Competition (1993).
• Bay of Plenty AAA Award for Contribution to Sport (1998).
• Winner seven World Cup qualifier events.
• New Zealand Grand Prix Rider of the Year (twice).
• Winner New Zealand High Jump Title (four times).
• Competed/Trained Japan, Australia, USA, Korea, England, New Caledonia.
• Member New Zealand Showjumping Committee and Executive Committee.
• Member of team selector committee for New Zealand.
• New Zealand showjumping riders representative (6 years).

Toni McIntosh

Toni began her equestrian career at an early age riding showjumpers and eventers with great success. She won her first horse grand prix at the age of 14 (which is the same year she began competing in the adult divisions). Regarded as a very stylish and accomplished competitor, Toni spent time training in the United States with leading hunter/jumper trainers. Toni has produced and sold young Grand Prix horses that have been exported around the world, including to the United States, Japan, and Holland. While actively competing, Toni was sponsored by Hilton Herbs and several New Zealand companies. Toni jumped on the New Zealand Grand Prix and World Cup circuit with a team of very competitive horses until moving to the USA in 2004 and is now enjoying competing successfully in Grand Prix’s here in the USA.

Not one to only focus on riding and training, Toni was a TV commentator, providing expert commentary for three day eventing and showjumping. Toni was also a radio commentator for showjumping and wrote articles on showjumping for all three major equestrian magazines in New Zealand. In addition, she was a photographer for several equestrian magazines.

Toni is also an equestrian fashion designer and is the creator of “ORIGINALS BY TONI”, the latest in sport/equestrian clothing, (www.originals-by-toni.com).
Toni and her husband Colin were the co-directors of New Zealand’s richest showjumping event. They also co-directed the Derby Championships, which were held at their stables.

Equestrian Hi-Lights

• Winner of 12 pony jumper Grand Prix.
• New Zealand Pony Club Eventing Championships (1984-88).
• Province Dressage Championship (1985-88).
• Grand Prix Te Puke Winner (1985).
• Telebra Stakes Winner (1987; most prestigious young horse class in New Zealand).
• Working Student of the year (1987).
• C-Grade North Island Championship (1987).
• New Zealand Pony Club Showjumping Individual Champion and team silver (1988).
• North Island Winning Event Team (1988).
• AAA sports award winner (1988).
• New Zealand Showjumping Equitation Championship, 2nd (1991).
• Tauranga Showjumping Championships speed champion (1993).
• Lakeland Classic Taupo 2nd Place (1996).
• Hawera Grand Prix Winner (1999).
• Olympic Qualifier, 6th Place (2000).
• Horse of the Year National Championship Grand Prix, 4th (2000).
• Lady Rider of the Year, 5th (2000).
• Horse of the Year National Championship Grand Prix, 5th (2001).
• Gisborne World Cup Qualifier, 4th (2001).
• Auckland World Cup Final, 6th (2001).
• New Zealand 7-year-old Championship, 2nd (2002).
• Numerous other Grand Prix placing’s and wins.

Coaching Hi-Lights

• Trained several successful pony club teams.
• Trained young rider showjumping champion.
• Trained High Jump Winner, 2 times.
• Trained NZPC Eventing Championships silver medalist.
• Trained Kawerua Pony Grand Prix winner.
• Trained top rider to major Grand Prix wins, including World Cup Qualifiers and Samsung Grand Prixs both horse and rider.

Samantha McIntosh

Samantha (Sam) McIntosh is the daughter of Colin McIntosh and Penny Stevenson. Sam is regarded as one of the most stylish and effective female showjumping riders on the world stage, and is the most successful international showjumping rider to come out of New Zealand . In the last few years she has consistently ranked in the top 50 on the FEI World Ranking list.

Before moving to Europe to compete, Sam lived at and competed from her base in New Zealand . She was a regular member of the New Zealand Young Rider team.

Sam's major successes have been with Royal Discovery at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where she produced a clear and 4 fault Nations Cup result (Bulgarian team). With the same horse, she finished 13 th in the World Cup Final in Las Vegas that same year. In addition, she won first place at the prestigious Grand Prix of Maastricht.

Sam's next big star was the French-bred mare Hildon Fleche Rouge, who she rode into 11 th place at the World Championships in Jerez, Spain in 2002 (she was the second highest placed female rider). She then finished 13 th at the European Championships at Donaueschingen , Germany in 2003. Just prior to the Athens Olympics, Fleche Rouge was sold to Dutch interests.

Sam is a consistent winner on the European circuit, competing at the world's leading jumper shows. Sam's current top horse is Loxley, who she has carefully produced over the last three years. She was delighted with his 17 th place finish at the World Championships in Aachen in 2006 and her 2 nd place in the $150,000 CN Worldwide Florida Open Grand Prix at Wellington, Florida.

Sam had added the New Zealand-owned French-bred stallion Lindberg Des Hayettes, previously ridden by Eric Lamaze for the owners Steve and Monica Cowen. This is a very exciting addition to Sam's team and we look forward to seeing them in the winner's circle.

Sam is the European contact for McIntosh Stables. For more information, please contact us at our e-mail address.

Sam now runs her own business from the Hirtenhof stable of Patricia Luthi and Gunther Orshel in Aach, southern Germany. Sam has a group of very committed and dedicated new owners and some super talented youngsters and she continues to excel on the European circuit with her team.

Sam is the European contact for McIntosh Stables. For more information, please contact us at our e-mail address.

Assistant Trainers

Dezraye Choi

Dezraye Choi comes to us from the East Bay, where she grew up riding in the Oakland hills. Dez has competed in the hunters, jumpers and equitation throughout California, worked as an equine vet tech, and she's also a talented graphic designer! She's already proven herself to be a popular coach, and her riding skills are a valuable asset to the team.

Charlotte King

Charlotte King-Kauffeld was raised in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her early influences were Sharon Blake and Bob McDonald. Charlotte qualified for the Junior Internationals in Calgary at the age of 15 and went on to continue her riding in Del Mar while attending San Diego State University.  After college she took an opportunity to train and work for Hugh "Bert" Mutch on the East Coast Circuit and spent time training and showing with him. Most recently Charlotte was assistant trainer to Mattias Ekeroth at Alder Lane Farm in the heart of wine country. 

Erin Gilmore

Erin Gilmore has been a part of the McIntosh team since November of 2008. She rode hunter/jumpers as a junior and played and coached collegiate level polo during her college years in San Diego. She's since ridden and trained with jumper trainers around the world, most notably working for Peter Wylde at his home base in Germany, and in Wellington, Florida during the 2008 Olympic Trials. Erin is also an equestrian journalist and freelance writer! She is the contributing editor of Sidelines Magazine and a columnist for ShowBiz Magazine.

Nicole DiCorti

Nicole DiCorti  has been riding since the age of ten.  Through her junior career she rode with Dick Widger in Carmel, CA primarily in the jumpers.  Nicole graduated Lake Erie College (Painesville, OH) in 2010 where she received a degree in Equine Entrepreneurship.  While attending Lake Erie, she was given the opportunity to com pete in the hunters and equitation  division as  an active member of Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA .)  Nicole qualified for both Regional Finals and Zones Finals all four years.  Her senior year, she was nominated co-captain for the team and also qualified to represent her region as the Cachionne Cup rider at Nationals held in Lexington, KY.  While home on summer breaks, Nicole rode as a working student for Denize Borges at Crystal Image Farms, learning extensively about sales, teaching, and showing.  Before she began working with the team at McIntosh she spen t time in Germany, working and riding at a barn outside of Hamburg.