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 across Canada, the USA, South Africa, Botswana, the 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 Erin
Working towards attaining
Licensed Equestrian Canada coach status
Hunter/Jumper and Equation Specialist
Erin’s passion for horses began at age 8 when she started taking lessons and attending horse shows. She competed in 'C' circuits until her early teens, where she trained young ponies to become safe, competitive hunter mounts. Transitioning to the Trillium circuit, she competed in large ponies, 3’ children’s hunters, Jumpers and various equitation and medal classes, developing a love for equitation. Erin has also trained mounts for the "A circuit" and has worked and coached at various barns.
In 2021, Erin moved to Ottawa to study Joint Honours in Public Administration and Political Science at the University of Ottawa and joined the U-Ottawa Equestrian Team. She held leadership positions and competed in OCEA (Ontario Collegiate Equestrian Association) and IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) events, including the IHSA Zone 2 Finals in Long Island, NY.
Her experiences in OCEA and IHSA allowed her to ride various horses, fostering her adaptability as a rider, coach and trainer. Erin emphasizes the importance of observing others to enhance riding skills and encourages using online resources like live-streamed classes, educational social media, and classes.
In her final year of university, Erin served on the OCEA Board of Directors, collaborating with universities to manage collegiate competitions. This role deepened her understanding of the equestrian industry and helped her develop knowledgeable and competitive riders.
As an OCEA representative at collegiate competitions, Erin had the opportunity to sit in the judge's booth and listen to the different Judges' processes and how they approach judging, what they look for in a Hunter and Equtation round, etc.
Erin prides herself on coaching riders to be technical and purposeful while maintaining a fun and safe environment. Drawing from her diverse training experiences, she aims to share the best techniques and methods to help her riders and their mounts excel in and out of the saddle.
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.
Rachel
Full-Time
Stable Groom
I have spent much of my life around horses at my family's stables, where my passion for animals began. I started riding at the age of 11 and instantly fell in love with every aspect of equestrian life.
Over the next five years, I worked alongside my sister and cousin, helping to run camps, assisting and grooming at shows and clinics, and doing chores in addition to barn work. I spent nearly every weekend learning and soaking up everything I could at the barn, which became like a second home to me.
When the pandemic hit, it significantly paused my equestrian journey, and I shifted to landscaping for a few years. I enjoyed the physical labour and being outdoors, but I always knew I would find my way back to horses. I missed being around the animals!
Joining Valiant Equestrian reignited that passion. I am committed to the care of the horses and the facility. Caring for animals has always come naturally to me. It’s not just work; it’s something I genuinely love.
Emily, the owner and founder of Valiant Equestrian, possesses an impressive wealth of expertise in addition to being a licensed Equestrian Canada Coach. 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 a valuable member of both 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.
Coach Sandy
Level Three Licenced Equestrian Canada Coach
CHA certified Instructor
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.
At 14 years old, 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.
Ariela
Part-Time
Stable Groom and Camp Coach
Ever since childhood, I have deeply loved and appreciated animals, particularly horses. When I turned 8, my parents enrolled me in lessons at various barns.
I began volunteering at a horseback riding camp for two summers and assisted with pony rides and horseback riding lessons. I have also taken care of groom tasks at Anglestone and Meadowlarke.
In 2022, I started being coached by Valiant, and I noticed significant progress as I continued working with the Valiant Team. Over time, I had the chance to compete at Meadowlarke North in the Hunters and Jumpers. The next show season, I showed at the Angelstone Silver Series with Valiant Desperaux. Desi taught me a lot and encouraged me to pursue my passion for riding. We had several top placings in 2023.
Now, in 2025, I've progressed in my riding more than I ever imagined. I'm excited to have the opportunity to show at Angelstone for the third year, but this time with a new partner. I've been given the chance to lease Paisley, a large pony POA/Thoroughbred mare, and I'm eager to see what the future holds for us!
I look forward to learning and expanding my knowledge and sharing my current expertise with others!
Coach Hillary
Full-Time
In the process of becoming a registered coach
I have loved horses since I was young and started riding at the age of seven. I began my career at Irish Creek Stables over nine years ago. During that time, I regularly volunteered on weekends and at summer camps. After years of shadowing and gaining valuable experience, I became a camp counsellor and horseback riding coach until the facility closed its riding school program.
I currently live on a small hobby farm where I have two dogs, chickens, and two horses. My schoolmaster, Skeeter, is my first horse, and he has only made me want to have 100 more! I also have a miniature pony with a cheeky personality.
When teaching lessons, I prioritize safety and reference the rider levels set out by Equestrian Canada for both riders and horses. I strive to create an inclusive environment that emphasizes sportsmanship and horsemanship qualities.
I am taking a gap year with the intention of attending the Equine Management program at the University of Guelph to deepen my knowledge and become a registered Equine Canada Coach. I also take three riding lessons weekly to continue my education as a rider and a coach.
I am proud to be a part of the Valiant Equestrian Team and to contribute to the exceptional community they have built. I am very grateful that I get to spend every day doing what I love, and I am thrilled to be part of the Team.
Coach Ashley
Full-Time
Stable Groom Manager and Beginner Coach
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 and keep our horses at the Saddle Wood Stables barn, located right next to the school with 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.
Ishaan
Full Time
Stable Groom, Show Groom and Trail Maintainer
My passion for horses ignited at an early age, and I began training at 12. I immersed myself in horse shows in India, competing throughout my school years and gaining invaluable experience in equestrian sports. These competitions instilled discipline, precision, and the significance of a strong bond between horse and rider for me.
Since joining as a part-time stable hand in February 2024,
I since have grown into a full-time position. I've worked closely with farriers and head coaches, further deepening my horse care, grooming, and stable management knowledge. I take pride in ensuring the horses are well cared for, and the stables are meticulously maintained.
The skills I developed through competitive sports, combined with my hands-on experience in stable management, enable me to contribute effectively to the smooth operation of the facility. I am committed to continuing my growth in this role, ensuring the horses I care for receive the best possible attention.
Brielle
Part-Time
Stable Groom
Coming soon
