A prominent equestrian trainer from Mont-Saint-Hilaire on Montreal’s South Shore has denied allegations of sexually assaulting six women and teenage athletes during a court hearing on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Francis Berger, 57, a well-known figure in North American equestrian circles, rejected the accusations in bloc, repeatedly stating, “It never happened.” The case, which has been underway for two weeks at the Saint-Hyacinthe courthouse, involves allegations spanning from 1993 to 2022.
Five of the six complainants were former students trained by Berger at South Shore Farm, an equestrian center in Mont-Saint-Hilaire. A seventh alleged victim did not testify, leading the judge to acquit Berger on that specific count.
Before the defense began, Judge Ann-Mary Beauchemin ruled in favor of the prosecution, allowing the introduction of similar fact evidence to demonstrate patterns across the testimonies. The judge cited multiple supporting elements, including the victims’ age and vulnerability, their dedication to horseback riding, Berger’s positional authority, alleged psychological manipulation, repeated nature of the alleged acts, and signs of grooming behavior.
During the trial, several complainants described Berger as a demanding and strict instructor. Berger himself testified that he often recalls horses more clearly than people, saying, “I remember the horses more often than the people. It’s my passion. I’ve had many horses in my life. Each horse has emotions. I have more relationships with horses than with the world.”
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