Background

Gavin is a uniquely well-rounded horseman.

Originally from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, Gavin started riding horses at the age of 8 and managing a boarding business at age 12. At 18 years he made riding his career, eagerly taking on a variety of jobs within the horse industry to reach his goal of being a professional jumper rider.

Soon after graduating from high school, Gavin launched into horses full-time with a two-year job as a working student for a Canadian show jumping team member in Vancouver. For several years after, he exercised racehorses, started thoroughbreds, and taught riding lessons. In addition, while Gavin was in Canada, he developed his own style of working with young horses using the round pen and traditional round pen philosophy and techniques.

After moving to Virginia in 1995, Gavin rode for a number of sales and training stables. In one of these positions he worked for and trained with an International-caliber dressage trainer and rider for a year. Additionally, throughout his career, Gavin has worked with renowned International level show jumping professionals to perfect his passion for riding at the Grand Prix level.

Gavin started his own business in 1998. He began working primarily with young hunters and jumpers, earning a reputation for starting youngsters and fixing difficult horses. Beginning at local hunter and jumper shows, news of Gavin’s talent for training horses spread. He moved up the show ranks as horses, green and made alike, were sent his way to train and ride. He continues to show horses successfully on the “AA” circuit in classes ranging from Baby Green Hunters to Grand Prix Jumpers. He rides at the FEI level for Canada and hopes to someday fulfill his childhood dream of being on the Team.

It has become well-known in the hunter/jumper world that Gavin has a gifted eye for a horse. He makes several trips a year to Europe to import elite Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation horses for the American market. His being an excellent judge of horseflesh also transfers well to the judge’s booth at horse shows, as he has his “R” Judging Licenses for Hunter and Hunter Jumping Seat Equitation.

While he wears many hats in his life and business, including his familiar cowboy hat, he most values his roles as a family man and as a man of Faith.

TRAINING AND COACHING

Gavin has a clear-cut philosophy for training horses, and he understands and values how they think. Each horse is an individual and is trained according to its particular needs, strengths, and weaknesses; repetition and consistency are very important in any program. He strongly believes that his horses should feel like heroes when they’ve done the right thing. A partnership is paramount, and Gavin maintains that bond from the stable to the ring.

Gavin’s hard work with many professionals, and, more importantly, many horses has paid dividends in developing his system of training. Horses in his program are allowed to develop to their full potential, and, time and time again, find their niche. Whether it be starting a “green broke” import over cross rails and cultivating a top Hunter, bringing along a young Jumper from the schooling heights through to the FEI levels, or just giving a made horse some confident training rides, Gavin has the patience, work ethic, strength and know-how to effectively train a horse.

In training, Gavin and his students start from a base of good flat work and employ dressage basics pertaining to the horse's strength, straightness, ability to come “through” its body, and lightness—dressage solely for the purposes of jumping, if you will, rather than a dressage test. Achieving self-carriage is important, and GMS students are encouraged to convey their flat work into their work over fences.

Gavin has taken students to new heights in their riding abilities, instilling confidence and clarity along with technique. With a coach who sincerely cares about his students’ improvement and achievements, Gavin’s students are consistently successful with wins and championships at top "AA" rated horse shows including WEF, Washington, Harrisburg, Devon and Upperville. The Gavin Moylan Stables team works hard at home and has fun at the shows!

Alden is a Virginia Horse Country native from a long line of horsewomen in her family. Her childhood days in the saddle were spent with the Middleburg Hunt, with whom she has her colors— read more about Alden’s Foxhunting roots.

She began competing regularly at shows in the Hunters and Jumpers as a teenager after she got the “bug” on the riding team at Foxcroft School. Alden has competed up to the Grand Prix level in show jumping and currently enjoys competing in the Amateur Owner Jumpers and Hunters.

Alden and Gavin own many sale and competition horses together, and Alden often travels on the GMS buying trips to Europe, providing valuable perspective on the requirements and tastes of the American Amateur market. She is Gavin’s main groundperson and also contributes to the GMS operation through marketing and bookkeeping.

Photography by Ringside Media, Andrew Rybeck & Callie Broaddus