About the horse trainer

About the owner/trainer

Val grew up in Maine, where she began riding at age 3. Her first introduction to showing horses was at age 6 winning a lead line class. After that Val spent the next 12 years riding and showing western pleasure, hunter under saddle, pole bending and barrel racing. Val attended the University of Findlay, in Ohio where she graduated with a degree in Equine Science and a Western Riding Emphasis. While at UF, Val rode on the IHSA Equestrian Team. In 2007, she placed 2nd at the IHSA National Championship Show in Intermediate Horsemanship. 

After graduation, Val moved to Montana to work for reining trainer Jay Dee Anderson for a year before becoming employed by Brackett Creek Quarter Horses in Wilsall, MT. In the 4 years employed by BCQH Val successfully trained and showed reining horses with many accomplishments including: 2008 Hungary Horse Reining Show Rookie Pro Champion, 2008 MRHA Rookie Pro Affiliate Champion, 2009 YRHA Rookie Pro Year-end Champion, 2010 YRHA Limited Open Reserve Champion Year-end, 2010 NRHA Mountain Region Affiliate Finals Limited Open Champion,  2011 Big Sky Classic Stallion Stakes Futurity Champion, 2011 High Roller Reining Classic L1 Futurity Champion, 2011 High Roller Reining Classic L2 Futurity Champion, 2011 Big Sky Classic Reserve Champion L2 Derby.  Then Val, with support of BCQH began her own business, VS Performance Horses. 

Since beginning her own business Val has continued to win titles including most recently and notably, 2023 NRHA Intermediate Open World Champion, 2023 NRHA Open Derby L1 Champion Low Roller Reining Classic, 2023 NRHA Open derby L1 Champion WCRHA Year End Show, 2025 $15,000 added NRHA Intermediate Open Champion TKO Show, among many other Champion and Reserve Champion titles from various classes and shows.  

Val doesn't only focus on showing her open horses, she also makes it a priority to assist her clients, not only to learn and improve reining skills and maneuvers, but she also helps them prepare for showing by giving one on one or group lessons.  Val encourages and coaches her clients at each show, not only coaching them when they are inside the show pen, she helps them to get prepared to feel confident before their class begins.  

Val's horse care philosophy also includes making sure the horse enjoys their reining "job", and part of horse care means also rewarding horses in different ways such as getting out of the arena and going for a short trail ride.  "Rewarding your horse is important when they've been working hard, especially preparing for an upcoming show, sometimes that means getting them out of the arena for a change of pace and scenery to help keep them fresh."