OUR COACHES

DEBBIE BENTZEN

Debbie was the founder of the club in 1999 and has a background in dressage, hunter/jumpers, and natural horsemanship. She is a Level 2-certified counsellor with over 17 years of working with children through coaching and childcare. Debbie has coached vaulters in settings ranging from therapeutic to recreational and even those who are internationally competitive. She believes in the benefits of the sport beyond just the physical benefits to the vaulter and is certified with both Horse Council BC (HCBC) and the Equestrian Vaulting Association of BC (EVABC).

JESSICA BENTZEN

Jessica has been vaulting since 1999 and in that time has competed provincially, nationally and internationally with success. She has trained with some of the top coaches from Alberta, California, Colorado, Texas, and most recently across Germany and France. She has a strong background in show jumping to the grand prix level, and cross trains all the vaulting horses as well as being a main lunger for the club. She has a background in natural horsemanship, having worked extensively with Jonathan Field. She  is certified with both  HCBC and EVABC. She is a Certified Equine Sport Therapist, and competed at WEG in 2018 in individuals
and squad.

Gabe Aniello

Gabe is originally from Oregon, and has been vaulting since 2003. He has competed internationally in the team, individual, and pas de deux divisions, most recently representing the US as an individual at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, and winning the Sr. Men's 3-star division at CVI Chilliwack 2015. Additionally, he has trained with some of the most prestigious coaches and clubs across North America, as well as training and competing in Germany and France.

Top rankings include: 10th at worlds in Le Mans 2012, 6th at CVI Aachen in 2012, 12th at world Equestrian Games, Normandy France in 2014, 1st at Chilliwack 2015.

He is currently working towards his degree in Kinesiology at VIU and brings his unique approach to fitness and cross training as well as a strong background in gymnastics to West Coast Vaulters.