Becky Staden
Becky Staden is an exciting professional in the equestrian industry, specializing in three day eventing. She is the owner and operator of Staden Equestrian. Primarily servicing the west side of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the Bow Valley, she is based out of Vantage Point Equestrian, and Alborak Stables Inc.
Becky actively pursues the upper levels of eventing, spending her winters in Ocala, Florida, where she attends the Canadian Team Sessions in the hopes of representing her country one day. On top of her competitive aspirations, she has also developed a deep and affinity for the development of young horses. Whether its their first rides, first competitions, or first international debut, she has successfully brought up many young prospects through the levels.
Becky has been riding her whole life, beginning at her uncle’s farm and progressing from recreational riding to competitive eventing which she has been involved in for the last 20 years. At just sixteen, she worked for Canadian advanced rider Rebecca Lee, before moving to Virginia, USA, where she was a working student for Rolex Kentucky and Burghley winner, Stephen S Bradley in 2013. After Virginia, Becky returned to Alberta and trained with Canadian Olympian Sandra Donnelly. She has worked closely with Donnelly since 2014, where she learned her skills of producing young horses from first rides to international competitors. Donnelly also was instrumental in encouraging Becky’s coaching career and her pursuit of Equestrian Canada Licensed status. Donnelly is noted as a pivotal mentor and coach in Becky’s career. Becky still works closely with Donnelly, and maintains clients at her facility, Alborak Stables. As well as working out of Alborak Stables, Becky basis her day-to-day operations out of Vantage Point Equestrian, just west of Calgary.
During the winter months, Becky trains with Jennifer and Jonathan Holling, in Ocala Florida. Jennifer is an Advanced rider, a Canadian team member, a Canadian team selector, and runs Holling Eventing; a successful training and sales program with over 30 horses at one time. Jonathan is a successful CCI***** rider, CCI**** winner and United States Nation Cup Team member. He has run the Kentucky Three Day 5* over six times. Both Jennifer and Jonathan have produced numerous riders to the 5* level in eventing, as well run successfully in every aspect in equestrian business, and serve as mentors and coaches to Becky. Since joining the Hollings in Ocala, Becky has been invited to the Canadian Team Training sessions every year since 2022.
Other coaches Becky had the privilege to her development are Sarah Simpson, Kirsty Panneton, Pia Fortmuller, Peter Gray, Jose Alejos, and Peter Campbell.
Becky is a National Coaching Certification Program coach, and a Licensed Equine Canada coach. She is has a certificate in Trauma Informed Equestrian Coaching. Pursuing education, especially in mental health, fear, and trauma in the coaching sphere, Becky focuses on creating safe and positive spaces for her students. She loves coaching and passing her knowledge onto the next generation of equestrians, on and off the horse. From the ‘up downs’ to the determined competitor, she wants to ensure that each of her students leave the ring feeling like they are taking a positive lesson away with them. She feels strongly that the education she receives in Florida is a gift she gets to share with her students and riders in the community.
She has been a member of Pony Club, the Alberta High Performance Team, and currently is an FEI Athlete with the Canadian Eventing Development Foundation.
Becky holds a Bachelor of Arts specializing in Sociology from the University of Calgary, and plans to pursue a Masters of Psychology in Counselling at a later date.
Becky is very proud to be a Crisis Responder with Kids Help Phone, where she helps vulnerable sectors in times of crisis. She also has volunteered on the board for Cochrane Horse Trials and Alberta Horse Trials.
When Becky is not spending her time with horses, you can find her in the mountains either big mountain skiing or rock climbing, or spending time with her family.
While no stranger to the FEI levels, In 2019, Becky brought up her mare ‘Cora’ from a four year old to the preliminary and CCI** level. They finished 18th out of 45 in their first CCIL in Ocala, Florida. She then brought up her and Sandra Donnelly’s ‘Imastar.’ Becky had Star since 30 days under saddle, and in 2023, completed three FEIs at the two star level, notably finishing 7th at Aspen Horse Trials in the CCI**S. She now campaigns her own Bearcat, who stepped into the FEI ring this spring and scored a 24.8 in his first CCI1. The pair finished the weekend 12th place, and have been highlighted as an exciting match for the future. Becky also campaigns her own SF Meet Virignia, an Holsteiner mare who is slated as an upper level prospect and is ready to make her Training level/EV100 debut this 2026 summer.
