Aaron Vale
Show Jumper

“I never thought about doing anything else,” says Aaron Vale of his decision to become a professional equestrian athlete. Showing since he was 8, Vale rode in his first grand prix at the tender age of 14. Although he grew up riding, Vale was not one of the privileged few who were showered with expensive ponies and horses to show. Instead he was a frequent catch rider, earning his rides by his show-ring success and his can-do attitude. On borrowed horses, Vale was reserve champion at all three prestigious equitation finals – the AHSA Medal, the Rolex Maclay and the USET Talent Search.

From those beginnings, this South Carolina and Ocala, Fla.-based rider has gone on to win dozens of grand prix and often has several horses in the top ribbons in a single class. In 1997, Vale made history as he swept the top five places in the $50,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke. A member of two Developing Riders Tours in Europe, Vale was on the winning Samsung Nation’s Cup team at the CSIO in Drammen, Norway in 2001. In 2005, he rode his way to the top for most prize money earned, winning over $500,000 in Jumper prize money. He jumped his way from 68th in the standings during the American Grand Prix Association 1999/2000 tour to 13th place in 2006, with AGA earnings that year at $36,750. Vale has been a member of the USET since 1996.

Vale has also built a successful business, not only with hunters and jumpers, but also prepares potential racehorses for sale. Vale even made a foray into the breakneck sport of steeplechasing. He explains, “I like going fast. I always thought if I never made it as a grand prix rider, I might have been a full-time steeplechaser. Fortunately I have great owners who have rescued me.”

Known for his ability to salvage difficult horses, Vale successfully partnered with two former “stoppers” – My Diamond and Mafito. With Vale’s retraining, both horses went on to become grand prix victors. “I just try to get inside the horse’s head and understand what he is thinking,” Vale says.

Career highlights

• Winner $100,000 Deluca-Toyota Grand Prix / Blue Danube
• Winner $25,000 Fox Lea Farm Grand prix / Sinatra
• Winner $20,000 USHJA Hunter Derby Lexington KY / Second City
• Won Louise Salter Memorial Grand Prix in Asheville, N.C., the EMO Grand Prix in Atlanta and the Jacksonville (Fla.) Winter Finale Grand Prix in 2006
• Placed 1st in earnings with $500,000 in Jumper prize money in 2005
• Won the $100,000 HITS Grand Prix of Ocala, the $25,000 Equipet Grand Prix, the $25,000 Carolina Real Estate Company Grand Prix and the $30,000 Charlotte Welcome Stake in 2005
• Won the $100,000 Presidents Cup at the Washington International Horse Show, the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix, the $150,000 Budweiser Upperville Grand Prix and the $100,000 American Jumper Classic in 2003
• USA Equestrian Reserve National Champion Open Jumper in 2002
• Member of the winning Nation’s Cup Team at CSIO Drammen, Norway in 2001
• Won the $100,000 President’s Cup, Washington International Horse Show and the $50,000 Bayer/USET Wellington Cup in 2001
• Made history when he swept the top five places in the $50,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke, Virginia in 1997
• Two-time winner of the Cosequin Puissance at the Washington International Horse Show
• Member of USET since 1996 and named to two USET European Tours