Professional equestrian riding artist, teacher, trainer, clinician, barn manager, and site owner.
Surrounded by horses since her childhood, Sarah Gibault experienced her first ride at the age of two on the back of her mother’s Arabian mare. By the age of 10, she had saved up enough money to buy her very first horse.
Impassioned by the equestrian world, Sarah discovers liberty work, reeducation, horses’ stories, and different training methods. Sarah’s desire to learn more about other techniques and philosophies not easily found in Quebec was fueled by Magalie and Frédéric Pignon, Jean-François Pignon, Lorenzo, Hemplfing, Nuno Oliveira, Andy Booth, Pat Parelli, John Lyons, Monty Roberts, the school of Versailles, Vienna fueled.
At the age of 19, Sarah was fortunate enough to meet Benjamin Aillaud, vice-world champion in 4 horse driving from France. His methods and vision of the horse excited her imagination as she had never witnessed such a connection or close relationship between man and animal. Sarah hopped on a plane with a one-way-ticket to become a student at Benjamin Aillaud’s International Horse Academy in the south-west of France, at the Hara National in Tarbes.
Sarah continued her studies for more than a year to perfect her skills to become a professional rider in Dressage, Showjumping, Roman Riding, Cossack/Vaulting/Trick riding, and most importantly, in Liberty, her true passion discovered with the help of Magalie Aillaud. Sarah’s introduction to the stage finally took place in Dubai in the highly anticipated show, Cavalia, in Abu Dhabi (for the official start to Arabian desert horse racing). Sarah honed her stage presence by participating in the exhibition “Mercredi des haras” in Tarbes, finally achieving her dream to work alongside horses every day.
A few months later, Cavalia offered her the opportunity to become an equestrian artist. She worked there for several years specializing in Cossack riding and Liberty. Alongside her partner, Cavalia places her as the creator and manager of Cavalia’s training center in Sutton. She assisted with the purchase of new horses and the breaking-in and training of the young recruits. Here she realizes that training these horses is as rewarding and as exciting as being on the stage. Promoted to Supervisor of Equestrian Operations at the Cavalia Farm in Sutton, Sarah managed the care of the 65 horses in training or retirement. During this time, she was tasked with creating a Liberty team with six young Arabian horses.
Wanting to build a center of her own, Sarah decided to found her dream by renting the stables located at Domaine Avalon. To create a place where people want to take their horses, share their knowledge, and promote the horse’s well-being. Her goal is to allow others to learn from their European influence and experience from hundreds of horses.
Since 2018, Sarah has traveled across America to give Liberty clinics. In 2020 she became joint owner of Domaine Avalon and started a new breeding program of talented sports horses.