Meet our Coaches
Cheralyne Gibson
Cheralyne Gibson has 20+ years of riding and training experience. Cheralyne brings a standard of professionalism and excellence with her long list of accomplishments. Namely, she is a certified Equestrian Canada (EC) Western Instructor, EC English Rider Level 8 with Jump Component, and EC Rookie Rider Coach. Cheralyne is also a Trail Riding Instructor and Evaluator through Ontario Equestrian Federation. Her certificates include: Advanced Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator, a practitioner of the Wilson-Meagher SportsMassage Technique (for horses), Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Emergency First Aid, Management of the Equine Environment, Horse Behaviour and Safety, and Equine Biosecurity. Cheralyne is an active member of the local equestrian community and each year continues to add to her equestrian resume. She is a forward-thinking coach, bringing an innovative, energetic, and effective coaching style to her students. As a coach, Cheralyne encourages the rider and the horse to improve as one, teaching the rider to not only ride well, but to train well, and while doing so, teach the horse to be better and move better in every lesson.
Not only has Cheralyne filled her resume with equestrian certificates but she has also earned her diploma in Therapeutic Recreation, which has further assisted her interpersonal skills in being able to relate and counsel people across all walks of life. Cheralyne continues to take short courses to advance her knowledge in helping her students through the challenges they may face. She has taken several courses on managing and understanding anxiety, basic mental skills, therapeutic crisis intervention, and more.
Cheralyne currently competes in Hunter/Jumpers, Eventing, and Dressage. In her early years Cheralyne began her career as a Western rider. She held various jobs including guiding trail rides in the backcountry mountains near Banff and in B.C. Her cattle working experience includes growing up on a cattle farm, and then moving to work as a pen rider in a feedlot in Alberta. Her joy of working with cattle even took her to Australia where she worked on several massive cattle stations using horses to muster and process large herds of cattle across the australian outback. Chrealyne has also trained with Western Pleasure, Reining, and Working Cow Horse trainers. She has a wealth of knowledge across the disciplines that she loves to share!
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Kathleen Braun
Coach Kathleen has been training and riding for over 25 years. She started training horses to ride and drive when she was a teenager. As an adult Kathleen took lessons under Nicole Gauthier focusing on Western Pleasure. She loves learning and has tried many western disciplines such as goat tying, barrel racing, pole bending, cattle cutting and working. She’s also done many long distance rides including a 14 hour ride in 2011. Kathleen also loves sharing her horses with the public by participating in many parades a year and taking her horse to group homes and senior residences. Kathleen is currently working with a young filly to be her next riding partner.
Kathleen became a veterinary technologist in 2008. Her veterinary knowledge is an asset to the large horse program here at the Valley Equestrian Centre.
Kathleen has been learning more about English disciplines from Coach Cheralyne Gibson. She has had her first taste of jumping and is hooked. She has also discovered a love of dressage and competed in Western Style Dressage.
Kathleen has a varied background with many skills. She has a background supporting people who experience disabilities. She has experienced health issues herself and those experiences have enhanced her understanding of others experiencing disabilities or health challenges. She’s a great advocate for all students and encourages a holistic approach to working with horses.
Kathleen believes in our Mission to share Jesus with people and provide a place to serve. Kathleen invests in our youth and encourages students to take an active role in the care of the horses and operations of the program. She embraces sacrificing of own self to live for Christ, sharing the Gospel in words and actions, seeking to know God better, and growing in relationships with people.
