Alex Demelo

Barn Manager, Head Coach

My name is Alex DeMelo, and my family owns Cabra Park Stables. My role at Cabra Park Stables is Barn Manager and Head Coach. I first sat on a horse at age 2 at the Royal Winter fair, and have been hooked ever since! I started taking riding lessons at age 4, and started my career as an Eventer at 12 years old. So far, I have competed up to the Preliminary level. Along the way, I have produced many of my own horses, specializing in the production of OTTB’s (Off the Track Thoroughbreds). Some horses I have produced include: 

  • Bay B True (OTTB Mare) 

  • Roll The Bones (Irish Sport Horse Gelding) 

  • Guts and Glory (OTTB Gelding) 

  • Something 'Bout a Girl (OTTB Mare)

  • Beam Me Up Scotty (Appendix Gelding) 

  • Tall Tail (OTTB Mare) 

  • Skip A  Beat (OTTB Mare) 

Some coaches that I have worked with and continue to take lessons from are Dana Balfour, Garry Roque (Former Olympic Eventer), and John MacPherson. I have also participated in clinics with Jessica Phoenix, Hyde Moffatt, Peter Gisborn, and more. 

This year, I was honoured to be nominated and received Coach of the Year award at the Hamilton Hunt Club Year End Banquet. It was a fantastic way to end an incredible season with some talented students. 

Cabra Park Stables has been a dream come true for my family and I. I have coached a wide variety of students from beginners who have never rode before, to those who are competing at local horse shows. We at Cabra Park Stables are committed to the success of our students and their experience at our facility.

Julia Gower 

Coach, Supervisor

My name is Julia Gower. My role at Cabra Park Stables is Assistant Coach and Weekend Supervisor.

I have been riding horses since age of 5, and my love for riding only grew stronger from there. After years of recreational riding and learning the ropes of the horse world, I began competing in local horse shows and in the SOCTA series.  

From a young age, I knew I wanted to share my passion for horses with others by teaching riding lessons. I have been coaching beginner and intermediate lessons at Cabra Park Stables for two years now. Teaching riding lessons has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me. It's always fulfilling to see students progress and grow their skills with each lesson.

As for my own riding, I have been training consistently for the past two years with my part-board horse in preparation for competing in an event this season.  I am excited for what the future holds, and can't wait to introduce more students to the wonderful world of horses.

Lauren Walli 

Coach 

My name is Lauren Walli. I began riding at 6 years old, quickly developing a passion for horses. Though I started off in the hunter/jumper world, eventing quickly caught my eye. 

Training under a local event coach, I gained experience riding school masters who taught me the ropes before moving onto green/young horses that I could help produce up the levels. 
I have competed up to the pre-training (EV 90) level, while schooling training (EV 100) and prelim questions (EV 110). 

Horses are an ever growing passion, and in the more recent years, mine has developed into teaching/coaching people who care for the horses and sport as much as I do. 
I love starting riders of all ages in beginner lessons, while finding what teaching techniques help you to understand how to better communicate with the horse. 
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