Horses were always going to play a central role in my life. Both of my parents rode when they were younger—my father won numerous cutting horse titles with American Quarter Horses, and my mother competed in show jumping. Following in her footsteps, I’ve been a competitive show jumper since the age of 10.

The sport has taken me around the world. I’ve had the privilege of competing at Thunderbird Show Park (Langley, BC), Jumping Lummen (Belgium), Cavan (Ireland), the Winter Equestrian Festival (Palm Beach, Florida), Desert International Horse Park (Indio, California), and the world-renowned CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament in Calgary, Alberta. While my current competitions keep me closer to home as I focus on my legal career, I remain deeply grateful for the opportunities the sport has given me to grow, travel, and connect with people around the globe.

In 2012, a career-ending injury to my beloved horse Bayba Ter Vinke marked a turning point. My mother and I decided to begin breeding Dutch Warmblood sport horses under our banner, Valhalla Equestrian. Known as KWPN (Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland), this breed stood out for its rigorous standards in both conformation and performance. Our goal is to produce horses with not only exceptional athleticism but also excellent temperaments for the top levels of sport. Today, our program is showing promising results, with several of our horses catching the attention of KWPN inspectors from the Netherlands.

I currently train under international Dutch team rider Wim Janssen, and I’ve had the pleasure of learning from top professionals including Laura Tidball-Balisky (CAN), Yannick Patron (FRA), and Greg Broderick (IRE). As I focus on rebuilding my team, here are the horses that make up my current string:

• IRON SKY VA - aka Batty

  • One of the first horses bred by Valhalla, Batty was born prematurely and too weak to nurse—so I bottle-fed him every few hours for the first five days of his life. He was also the first young horse I trained from the ground up, and I’ll always be grateful for the lessons he taught me. In 2024, he suffered a serious eye injury. While a comeback is still possible, I've chosen to retire him from competition for now. With his big personality and endless antics, he remains a beloved barn favourite and stays in light work at home.

• ESPRIT RV Z - aka Poppy

  • Poppy is a 2018 Zangersheide mare from the Netherlands, sired by Elvis ter Putte. I acquired her in December 2024 from Irish rider Paul McDermott. Intelligent, athletic, and eager to please, she has all the makings of a future star.

• PORTIA VA

  • Bred by Valhalla, Portia is the daughter of my former 1.40m High Amateur-Owner mount, Goldy Hof Ter Zeedycke. She’s bold, composed, and unshaken by new environments—exactly the qualities you want in a top-level jumper. Though only born in 2020, she has the work ethic and presence of a much older horse.

• ROSÉ ALLDAY VA - aka Rosé

  • Another Valhalla-bred mare, Rosé is by Grand Slam VDL and received top marks—85 across the board—in her KWPN free jumping evaluation. She's intelligent, quick to learn, and remarkably composed under pressure. Although she’s only four years old and just beginning her under-saddle training, she’s already showing all the qualities of a serious future competitor. The future looks very bright for this talented young mare.

• UTRECHT VA - aka Heath Ledger

  • Named after the Dutch city I once called home, Heath is the first foal out of my former top mare, Coletta 31. By Harley VDL, this colt still has plenty of growing up to do—but even in his first year, he’s shown himself to be kind, clever, and cooperative. I can’t wait to see how he develops.

Valhalla Equestrian in King City, ON

Rosé on her way to an 85 jump score

IRON SKY VA aka Batty

UTRECHT VA - aka Heath Ledger post KWPN Inspection

Competing at the CSIO ‘Masters’ Tournament