Our Team

Jackie Rusaw

Jackie is a lifelong rider, coach and dedicated athlete and she oversees the development of all horses and riders at Coveside. She was raised by the Avon Pony Club. Well, not really, but she grew up with the Club, one of the oldest Canadian Pony Clubs in the country. With her teammates, Jackie represented Canada in the International Prince Philip Games, and won against Great Britain, the USA, and Australia. Throughout her junior years, Jackie was coached by Level IV Coach Jen Hamilton and rode in the hunter and equitation rings.

As a young adult, Jackie rode and worked with Marni Von Schalburg for four years and competed on the Ontario, Quebec and Florida hunter and jumper circuits. She and husband Brad Rusaw returned to Nova Scotia in the late ’90’s to establish Coveside Stables and raise their family, and now have three children, Quynn, Jakob, and Rhyan.

She has competed successfully with her jumpers, Rum Runner and then Tango in many maritime Grand Prix Classes and travels to show throughout Vermont and Quebec. As the horses retire from one job, she is constantly creating the best situation for the horses and their next phase of life. She is currently developing young horses and riders for the hunter and jumper ring.

Being Chair of the Nova Scotia Hunter Association also keeps Jackie involved in the development of the sport in the Maritimes and continuing the progress that is happening with Maritime horses and riders.

Jackie’s passion for family and business, along with all their pets, friends and relationships, create an amazing environment here at Coveside that is like no other.

Brad Rusaw

Brad owns Chester Chiropractic and is also a highly-regarded equine chiropractor. He attends to the horses at Coveside, but also travels throughout Nova Scotia to treat horses.

Jaime Harper

Jaime Harper has dedicated her life to horse management. Jaime’s dad was a racing trainer, and she literally grew up in a barn. She knows how to care for horses, particularly horses in active competition. Before joining Coveside, she looked after mounts for Beth Underhill, a member of the Canadian Equestrian Team. Now, she tends to all aspects of horse and stable management at Coveside and has been part of our team for six years.