Emily is a highly experienced and accomplished equestrian professional with over 20 years of experience. She has trained with numerous esteemed professionals, including Anne Zander, Peter Grey, Kate Farrell, Leslie Saila, Sarah Irving, Michelle Cruikshanks, Jim Dunn, Ian Roberts, and Sylvia Decorah. Her diverse skill set has enabled her to excel in various aspects of the equestrian world, including teaching, showing, training, facilitating equine sales and leases, and conducting clinics.
Emily is a proven coach with an impressive record of producing remarkable results. Her students consistently achieve top placings in various disciplines, including OEA (Eventing), Dressage, show jumping, and Jumpers/Hunters, both at the gold and silver levels. Emily has also imparted her knowledge to riders and horses internationally in countries such as the USA, UK, and Qatar.
Emily firmly believes that a strong foundation is crucial and adheres to the fundamental principles of rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection to ensure the success of her students and their mounts. Furthermore, Emily fosters a sense of camaraderie among all riders. She places great importance on cultivating positive character traits and instilling responsibility, respect, leadership, confidence, sportsmanship, and horsemanship in her students and team members.
Valiant Equestrian is a reliable support system, always ready to lend a helping hand and deliver a formidable presence in the show ring. Emily envisions a more substantial, kinder, and supportive equestrian community, leading to enhanced competition and increased opportunities for all involved.
Emily prioritizes safety and always ensures the well-being of the horse is paramount. She makes it a top priority to prioritize the horse's needs above all else. Emily is also highly skilled in equine sales, creating professional ads, videos, and photographs that showcase the true essence of each equine, whether it's a pleasure horse or a show-worthy champion.
As a dedicated coach, Emily values her personal growth. She continues to enhance her skills under the mentorship of Mr. Ian Roberts, an Olympian and Level 3 Coach who owns the renowned DREAMCREAST FARM. Despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding COVID-19, Emily remains steadfast in her commitment to excellence, and she looks forward to continuing to produce remarkable results and lead her students to success.
About Us
Coach Emma
Equestrian Canada Registered Coach
Beginner and Novice Specialist
I started riding as a young adult as a weekly hobby; however, my passion for horses quickly grew, and I soon found myself at the barn multiple times a week.
After many years of growth and learning, the opportunity presented itself, and I bought my first horse, Di Vinci. He taught me so much and shaped me into the equestrian I am today.
My goal for all my riders is to facilitate meaningful interactions between students and horses in a supportive, educational environment emphasizing equations. I love seeing riders mould into well-rounded equestrians!
Coach Katie Equestrian Canada Registered Coach
Hunter/Jumper and Equation Specialist
Katie started riding at the age of 4. Her love for the sport grew when she began riding competitively and got her first horse at 11. She has competed successfully in the hunters and equitation on the trillium circuit since 2008.
Katie found her love of coaching at age 17 and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with children and adults alike. Over the years, she has coached many riders to success in schooling and rated shows in the hunters and equitation disciplines in which she specializes. Katie has also coached several jumpers over the years.
Aside from coaching, Katie has worked and managed some extensive facilities, including several “A” circuit barns. She also had the opportunity to run and manage her barn at age 16 and began a small but thriving business, starting and restarting horses and emphasizing off-the-track thoroughbreds.
Katie has been entrusted with the critical role of guiding and training the Valiant Equestrian Show Team riders at shows as the central off-property coach. These shows encompass renowned events such as the Anglestone Series, Meadowlarke Series, Dressage Series, and numerous other fiercely competitive competitions.
Katie coaches her students at our central location and during shows and arranges for them to visit the school at various venues to enrich their skills and cultivate a stronger bond with their horses. Through off-site training, she guarantees that her students and their mounts can advance even more by acquiring the ability to navigate and perform in diverse environments and over various fences.
Katie’s goal is to shape and push equestrians of all ages to the best of their ability and means with an emphasis on equitation and a safe environment within the sport with a focus on equine welfare.
Our Esteemed Coaches
Our admirable Stable Grooms
Stable Grooms manage, maintain, and care for the horses and the facility. Their responsibilities include but are not limited to handling, feeding, basic first aid, mucking, grooming, light exercise, assisting the veterinarian and farrier, and overseeing all aspects of the horses and facility.
Ashley
Stable Groom and Coach - Full-Time
At six years old, I started riding lessons and attended a summer camp from age 10-17. In grade nine, I participated at The Bethany Hills School for Girls during my high school years, centred around riding and horses. Our gym class was riding lessons three times a week. We were also allowed to bring our horses and keep them at the Saddle Wood Stables barn, located right next to the school with the paddocks surrounding it. We also had free rides on the weekend. I attended the equestrian theory classes at school to learn more in-depth techniques about the horse and rider.
We did horse shows, jumper, dressage, and mounted games, which were friendly competitions between other schools. I was also involved with many great opportunities. For example, we would attend the Royal Winter Fair every year and attend The Kentucky Rolex three-day event, where we judged the cross-country phase.
I took several years away from the equestrian world and had three beautiful daughters who, I am happy to say, love riding and horses as much as I do. When I could sign them up for their first riding lessons, I found it hard to sit and watch, so I started riding lessons again! Now, my daughters and I are at the barn almost every day.
I was fortunate to join the Valiant team and spend time with all the horses and the beautiful staff. I have always been in love with horses and learning more about the daily aspects of horses and their care.
Emily and Dr. Sala Rabba, the owners and founders of Valiant Equestrian, possess an impressive wealth of expertise. Drawing upon her remarkable 20 years of experience, Emily has established herself as a highly accomplished rider at the Provincial, National, and International levels. Her talent has led her to represent Canada and the U.S.A. as valuable members of their respective teams. With utmost professionalism, Emily brings her extensive knowledge in various equestrian disciplines such as Showjumping, Jumpers, Hunters, Dressage, Pony Club, Mounted Games, and Eventing.
It is worth noting that our staff members' exceptional skills, knowledge and capabilities further strengthen the Valiant Equestrian Team.
For further information on our esteemed team members, kindly continue scrolling downwards.
Lily
Stable Groom and Assistant Coach - Full-Time
I started riding when I was just 11 years old. It all began at Firefly Stables, where I prepared for a family trail ride in Alberta. At first, I would ride every other season, but I couldn't get enough time with horses whenever I visited my family. I would beg my parents to let me go on trail rides so that I could be around these magnificent creatures.
Then, in 2017, I made the move to JL Equestrian Centre. That's where everything changed for me. I started taking regular lessons and offered to help around the barn, wanting to soak up as much horse time as possible. Soon enough, I started working as a stable hand on weekends, deepening my understanding of horses. Additionally, I had the chance to participate in local schooling shows and lend a hand with grooming at horse shows for my friends.
In June of 2023, something unique happened. Valiant, a remarkable Equestrian team, came to the facility where I worked and took over the property now known as Valiant Equestrian. It was a dream come true! I could continue working as a stable hand and learn directly from Valiant's head coaches and other training with their farrier and vet team.
Since then, I've been expanding my knowledge about equine care daily. I've also been given an incredible chance to advance my riding career, both in and out of the saddle, and I plan to show in the Anglestone series.
Coach Sandy
Level Three Licenced Coach
CHA certified Instructor
Equestrian Canada Registered Coach
Hunter/Jumper and Dressage Specialist
Sandy started riding at 8 or 9 years old, riding both English and Western. For as long as she can remember, horses have been a significant part of her life. Through her teens, she competed in schooling show circuits in the hunter, jumper, and dressage rings and participated in pony club for numerous years.
14 Sandy began working at a summer camp, instructing children's horseback riding lessons and leading trail rides. Here, she developed a love for coaching. At 18, Sandy became a certified instructor (English and Western disciplines emphasizing jumping through CHA) and continues to hold this certification through continued teaching and professional development.
Managing several horsemanship programs for over 20 years, including children and youth camps, where Sandy managed riding programs, trained horses and mentored staff in becoming instructors, and oversaw riding school facilities. Sandy also worked for a professional dressage rider for several years as a stable groom and rider before having three children. She has coached at this facility, under its former ownership of JL Equestrian Center, since 2006. As well as coaching lessons at JL, she ran riding camp programs, schooled and trained horses, helped host the annual schooling show series, and developed young/new coaches.
Sandy has a degree in animal biology, which she passionately shares as she teaches equestrians how to better themselves through knowledge of their horse and horsemanship from the ground up. Sandy thoroughly enjoyed showing, but she has more passion for coaching others in their equestrian journey, whether as a rider/student or fellow coach.
Sandy believes that knowing the "why" behind a horse or rider's actions and responses creates a greater connection and an opportunity for growth from a solid foundation. Sandy's goal in coaching is for her riders to learn to ride the horse they are on each ride and become in tune with the subtle changes of their horse each time they interact. She believes strongly in success through the relationship between horse and rider and enjoys facilitating the creation of such through her role as a coach.
