Trainer In The Spotlight
Glen Stibbard
My name is Glen Stibbard and this is my story of how I got into the horse world. It all started when I was a little boy, only 8 years old. I was living in suburbia Sans Souci by the beach when I first came into contact with horses. I was in primary school when I took an interest in horses, and only around 8 years old. I was actually fascinated by their height, speed and power. At first I was scared of them, but I was determined to overcome my fear and that is what really pushed me to get on a horse. I started off by just feeding them grass and carrots, walking to and from school. I made friends with a great trainer there named Robin Yates, a fitness freak and a great world champion saddle bronc rider and a saddle maker. I was at his shop everyday bugging him about horses etc.
My dad was a business owner therefore had lots of contacts. He had a client that gave me my first thoroughbred horse for free. I was so hooked on horse riding, I went away to camps every holidays and surrounded myself around as many horses and horse people as i could. My dad soon followed my passion and bought horses with me. We rode together everywhere and then joined trail riding clubs. Soon after I started breaking in, training and showing western horses.
From an early age of 11 I was heavily into buying horses and training them to get them going nicely to sell. My dad was always supportive of my early skill to train an average bred horse. I really enjoyed the challenge and the thrill of making a less than ordinary horse extraordinary and nice to ride. My passion and dream was always to be like my mentor Robin Yates, so I'd say i was imprinted with horses early on. I hung out with lots of good knowledgeable western trainers, such as Greg Gilpin. He was the best in that era, I spent lots of time with him.
35 Love Thy Horse Magazine