TEAM
Inspired by the great Portuguese Master Nuno Oliveira, our philosophy evolved at the sides of internationally renowned equestrian Benjamin Aillaud. Our training and our lessons are based and built around a more profound understanding between man and animal.
Hélène Arianoff follows our horses’ and riders’ training, forever refining and searching for a deeper understanding of classical dressage.
In April 2018, Sarah and Dorian opened their doors to the public. According to them, “the rider should obsess over of a close and healthy partnership through the knowledge and deeper understanding of the horse’s biomechanics, in all disciplines.”
Dorian Escalon
Equestrian trainer, teacher, competitive rider, a specialist in young horses, importer, buying/selling consultant, barn manager, and site owner.
Dorian started riding lessons at the age of 3 and participated in his first competition at the age of 6 with Spanish cross-country rider Carmen Casan. He bought his first horse at the age of 12 and competed throughout his youth in show jumping (Spanish Championship) trained by Ismael Garcia Roque. His training with Benjamin Aillaud continued during the near ten years of working with him. Dorian has accumulated nearly 3,800 hours of training through sport-studies where he went to the stables of the Elfes Blancs, a breeding farm in France with more than 300 Lippizans. There, he participated in the horses’ starting, development, and education in several disciplines (Dressage, Jumping, Vaulting, and Driving).
Dorian was then sent to England to become a professional stuntman participating in several films and commercials with Gerard Naprous (Troy, War Horse, and British series).
Selected for the creation of Cavalia Odysseo, Dorian moved to Quebec in 2011. He has traveled the world developing his knowledge of all artistic equestrian disciplines, particularly trick riding and Liberty through the Haute école.
At 21, Dorian became the equestrian director, responsible for approximately 20 riders and more than 70 horses for the Cavalia Odysseo show, the world’s biggest equestrian show. He has more than 1000 performances to his credit.
In 2015, Dorian created the Cavalia Sutton QC training center. He recruited and trained young horses in parallel with his continued trips to Europe to buy nearly 100 horses for shows and private clients.
Dorian’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for competition pushed him to rent the equestrian facilities at Domaine Avalon in 2016, so he could have a place for training to call his own and help him get back to Showjumping. He created this equestrian endeavor with his partner Sarah Gibault and, in 2020, became joint owners of Domaine Avalon.
Sarah Gibault
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, Dorian, Cavalia places her as the creator and manager of Cavalia’s training center in Sutton. She assisted Dorian 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 their own, Dorian and Sarah decided to found their 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. Their 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.
Rachelle Dostie
Professional groom, equestrian artist and rider, trainer, backstage manager, and teacher.
From an early age, Rachel has been involved in horseback riding. A lover of horses and nature, she first began regular riding lessons at 11 years old in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.
At the age of 18, Rachel joined Cavalia as a groom for almost four years of worldwide touring. She began dressage lessons while on tour, under the supervision of Benjamin Aillaud and then Ramon Molina. She subsequently became a backup rider for the show until 2015.
To expand her knowledge, Rachel decides to travel to France to work on an Arabian horse farm near Avignon. Here she learns more about breeding and the handling of young horses.
Deciding to return to the Cavalia family, she joined the Odysseo show in California as a trainer of horses awaiting export. For nine years, Rachel was also backstage manager, taking care of the behind-the-scenes activities during the performances. She continued her training as a rider with Dorian Escalon, who was the equestrian director at the time. In August 2019, Rachel joined the Domaine Avalon team as a teacher and rider. She develops and rides young horses, assists in breeding and sales, and helps develop and train Avalon-owned horses.
Rachel enjoys teaching her students to understand the horse. “Balance is the foundation for the rider and the horse.” Although her priority is dressage, she is equally passionate about trail riding as well as Roman Riding.
On June 14, 2017, Rachel adopted her favorite horse from her time touring with Cavalia, Élenco, whom she brought to Quebec to board at Avalon Stables.
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