What's it like learning from the top-ranked female rider in the world?
Langley's Tiffany Foster was described as a "tough, but supportive" mentor by Milner's Stephanie Valdes, who became the first student at Foster's Little Creek Equestrian in 2017.
"She's very committed to getting you to where you want to go," Valdes told the Langley Advance Times.
"She's generous with the information in terms of what she's sharing, what she knows. She wants you to learn all the ins and outs of what you need to do."
Valdes became Foster's first student after they met in Spain. It was at the suggestion of Brent Balisky and Laura Tidball-Balisky, who had been training Valdes at Thunderbird Show Park (tbird) and knew she wanted to move up to international competition.
“I think I'd met her [Foster] casually in the past, maybe once or twice," Valdes recalled.
"But I met her for real the first time, and went to watch her compete at the Nations Cup finals in Barcelona, which was like nothing I'd ever seen before."
As it turned out, they had a lot in common, "coming from a very weirdly similar background of being from Vancouver and riding in Langley and Thunderbird and all that stuff.”
Valdes acquired three horses, recommended by Foster, and began training for the 2018 season, when her efforts were interrupted by what she described as a "little hiccup," beginning with a fall that broke her ankle, which was being held together with a plate and pins from a previous injury.
Then six weeks later, just as she was about to resume riding, Valdes had another fall that injured her neck and kept her out of the saddle for another three months.
"That half of the year was more watching," Valdes recalled.
Now an international 2* level show jumper, Valdes will be riding at tbird this month and also plans to compete at Spruce Meadows this year.
Valdes is still riding Cyber Lady Z, who was eight going on nine when they met through Foster, and is now 15.
"She's amazing," Valdes said of the chestnut mare. "She's so strong. She's so brave. She'll try her hardest if I'm asking her to do something, which is what makes her so special."
Valdes and her mom, Wendy Valdes, are in the process of building a barn and summer riding facility in Langley's Milner area.
"We've been able to be there last year and this year and the horses like it," she noted.
She remains a student, and supporter, of Foster.
"She dedicates like a lot of time, a lot of her energy to her students even with everything that she has going on. I'm really always grateful for her help."
Foster had this to say about Valdes:
"Steph is a wonderful person and a great student. She is extremely resilient and determined. She made incredible advances in her riding and is now a very consistent and competent rider. I am very proud of her!"
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