SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Sienna Hart is unique because she is a homegrown horse riding coach in a region that is not traditionally horse country.

Hart began riding horses at North Country Stables on Highway 3 when she was seven years old. Now, 13 years later, she is working there a certified coach and horse trainer.

"I did the horsemanship program, so I'm a certified horse trainer," said Hart, who graduated with a 3.5 GPA from Olds College in Olds, Alta.

It was a very competitive school. She was picked in the top 10 English riders out of 170 who tried out for the program.

"Then I did an extra thing that was run through the Alberta Equestrian Federation which is a coaching program to teach students how to ride, and I've done all my rider levels so the next thing to do was my coaching levels."

Hart is a Level-1 coach and interested in gaining more levels, but said there are only three or four Level-3 coaches in all of Canada - so she has a lot of work ahead of her.

Hart's course load at the school was intense. Some days, she started at five in the morning.

"Chores in the morning, mucking the stalls and taking care of the horses, ride for two hours, learning theory like how to feed a horse and the anatomy of the horse, safety for horses, how to build a barn, pasture management," said Hart, listing some of the aspects of the program.

Hart said she didn't mind all the hard work - it's what she's always loved to do.

Dr. Tom Pisz, veterinarian and owner of the stables, taught Hart her riding when she was young.

"We go through lots of kids," said Pisz. "When they're six or seven years old and start riding, they ride for a couple of years and quit. (Hart) was one who stuck with it and she always had the skill for horses and love for horses."

She even managed to ride a horse many other riders couldn't manage - Snapper, one of the first horses the stables had.

Pisz gave her the horse as a high school graduation gift.

"Not too many people could ride him and she always liked him," said Pisz. "She was the one who could manage him and ride him, and kind of get a connection. So I gave it to her as a graduation present and she took it with her to college."

Now that Hart is back, Pisz said she is an asset to the stables.

"I've been coaching here since April - training horses in the morning and coaching riders in the evening," said Hart.

Hart said she plans to stay in the North, coaching and training the horses and riders who come through the stables.