Our Team
Whitney Walsh, Co-Owner
Equestrian Wellness Coach
Whitney is a lifelong equestrian and holds a diploma in Equine Business. She began riding at the age of 9, wasting no time in working at the barn in exchange for lessons and extra time with horses. Rather than focusing on showing, Whitney found her passion in the operational aspects of running equestrian facilities. This led her to taking the Equine Business program at Olds College in Alberta where she also joined the Agricultural Advocates, a collegiate group that provides applicable leadership training to become effective decision makers in agriculture.
Whitney brings extensive hands-on experience managing both small and large-scale equestrian operations, including a premium 40+ horse boarding facility where she excelled in staff leadership, client satisfaction, and efficient management.
A serial entrepreneur, in 2016, she recognized a need for local premium horse shipping services, and founded The Horse Concierge, offering a high-standard, personalised experience for horse transport. In 2020 Whitney noticed that equestrians and those in the industry were falling short in prioritising their health and wellness alongside their equine partners. From there, Wellness with Whit was born. A coaching service and brand that supports those in the horse and agricultural industry to take care of themselves as well as they do their animals and farms.
Today, Whitney focuses on creating “strong, well-fed equestrians,” especially for everyday riders. Her unique coaching philosophy centres on creating baseline habits, consistency and sustainable progress, encouraging clients to achieve their wellness goals through simple, achievable habits without the pressure of an all-or-nothing approach while navigating the demands of their job and lifestyle.
Genevieve Routhier, Co-Owner
Horse Trainer/Professional
Genevieve Routhier was born and raised in Sault Ste Marie, a small Northern Ontario city. From the moment she set eyes on horses, she has been captivated and passionate of them, the equestrian industry, and particularly in the art of riding. As a young child, she began riding and caring for horses at every opportunity available. By the early age of 15 she had saved enough money to buy her first horse. Since then she has taken on opportunities working in barns across Ontario as a show groom, working student, rider/trainer and coach. She is experienced with the retraining of OTTB’s for Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing, as well as bringing along green/unbroke horses.
She has had the pleasure of training with upper level coaches and clinicians, opening doors to compete both in Ontario and Florida in the demanding sport of Eventing.
Her true passion and focus lies in the training, retraining, and rehab work with horses, carefully conditioning and preparing them for the athletic demand of their specific sport. As she works closely with Jean Luc Cornille from SOM, she has been committed to continually refine her riding skills using the Biotensegrity approach. This includes a deeper understanding of the equine biomechanics and anatomy while also applying a positive psychological approach to training, advocating for the overall well being and soundness of the horse.
Having over 15 years of being heavily actively involved in the equine industry, she truly understands the struggles associated with finding reliable labourers.
Although she does have an Advanced College Diploma in Medical Radiation Technology, she decided to follow her true passion with horses while remaining in the Service Industry for the time being. This has equipped her with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to problem solve and ensure customer satisfaction and overall positive experience. She has a thorough understanding of providing excellent, genuine, caring service to the people she comes in contact with.
In pursuit of opportunities to further her equine career goals, she now resides in Hamilton Ontario.
Tariq Elnaga,
Founder & Owner
Tariq came into the Western way of life out of passion rather than being born into it.
He took in his first rodeo at the Calgary Stampede in 2012 and has since fallen in love with the ranching and rodeo world. Determined to be on the other side of the fence, in those years since, he’s learned how to drive a tractor, combine, ride horses and rope. Since then, he now has his own cattle brand, a herd of horses and team ropes in the professional circuit.
On the corporate side of things, Tariq has an MBA and a Bachelor’s of Engineering, and comes with a over 15 years of experience in Oil & Gas.
Perennially being the “bottom hand” on the ranch, Tariq loves taking his horses to brandings and round ups – and that’s when the idea of Bottom Hand Ranch Services struck him literally in the branding pen – ranching operations need qualified help and he’s here to help do his part in continuing Western heritage and the way of life he’s come to love.