Simone Williams

Inducted in 2025

Nominated by: Jane Hunt

Simone Willaims

Simone Williams is an accomplished Canadian dressage rider, coach, and international clinician who has proudly represented Canada on the world stage since her youth. She began her equestrian career in the hunter, jumper, and eventing disciplines before transitioning to dressage, where she has earned numerous accolades—most notably a fourth‑place individual finish at the Pan American Games.

Simone went on to coach the University of Ottawa Hunter Equitation Team for five years, guiding her students to success at the national level. She completed her Equestrian Canada Level 2 coaching certification in Eventing and has since expanded her expertise to dressage, training horses and riders up to the International Grand Prix level. A sought-after clinician, Simone has taught throughout Canada, the United States, Barbados, and Poland. She is also a multiple-time provincial and national champion, both as a competitor and a coach.

Her dedication to excellence earned her the prestigious 3M Coaching Excellence Award. As a certified High Performance Dressage Coach, she also serves as an examiner for the Equine Canada Rider Level program. In 2012 and 2013, Simone coached Ontario’s Canadian Interprovincial Dressage Team to gold-medal finishes, and she previously served as assistant coach for Canada’s Paralympic Dressage Team. Her leadership in the sport includes serving as the professional rider representative on the Dressage Canada Officials Committee and as a member of the Dressage & Para-Dressage Rules Committee.

Beyond the competition ring, Simone is a passionate volunteer and community leader. She has chaired the Ottawa Area Dressage Group and helped adapt Sport Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development framework into the equine-specific Long Term Equestrian Development Program. Committed to giving back, Simone has organized fundraisers for organizations such as the Humane Society, Bytown Animal Rescue, the Wild Bird Sanctuary, the Ottawa Mission, women’s shelters, and Habitat for Humanity. She also donates her time and resources to provide riding opportunities for children under the care of the Children’s Aid Society.

Simone continues to compete at all levels with Queenswood’s young prospects, sales horses, and clients’ mounts. Her top dressage partners this season include Herdeiro Santana, a Lusitano gelding preparing for his CDI Grand Prix debut, and London Fog, an Oldenburg gelding entering Small Tour competition.

When not in the barn, Simone enjoys running, camping, paddle boarding, biking, and spending time with her family, friends, furry companions—and her mini horse, Peekaboo.