I started riding at 11, when I got lessons as a Christmas present. I was gutted when my first two lessons were cancelled, I couldn't wait to get started! I began at Pringle Arabians on Salt Spring Island, BC, and before long I was leasing a sensitive, talented horse named Kassera. I spent hours at the barn, preferring the company of horses to a chaotic home. I was a quiet, sensitive kid, the perfect combination for working with horses.

After my first show at a local fair, I was soon travelling to bigger shows on Vancouver Island and in Cloverdale, BC. I loved the Arabian shows, but I kept being drawn to the dressage classes. Then a friend of my mother's showed me a video of Grand Prix freestyle routines, and I was hooked.

When I moved to Vancouver Island in 2000, I found Beowulf Farm which was reachable by city bus. Short on cash but high on time, I worked at the barn to pay for my lease and rode every horse I could. I jumped at every chance to ride anything that neighed.

After my first dressage show, I realized it was a lot harder than it looked. That summer I became a working student at Queenswood Stables in Ontario, where the mentorship showed me just how much time, effort, and knowledge it takes to become a Grand Prix rider and coach.

I came home determined, took on three jobs, and convinced my father to buy a young horse. We found Hunter (Feinaly) who was the perfect mix of safe and sass. I learned the biomechanics of bringing up a sound, athletic horse. Tragically, Hunter passed away in a freak trailer accident the day after her fifth birthday. I wasn't sure I could recover, but my horse community lifted me up, and Lisette kept pushing me forward. Without them, my heart might have stayed broken forever.

After a couple of project horses, I found Murphy, a talented four-year-old. Then my family and I travelled to Holland and came home with Superman (Rockefeller) who was a quirky horse with movement to spare. He was quite the handful, but with help from Lisette, William Clinging, and Shelley Lawder, we learned to stay out of each other's way and work together.

I showed Superman at 3rd and 4th level, then decided to train with Hilda Gurney. She broke my riding down and built it back up ten times better, my seat, my correctness, my feel. She let me start her young horses and ride her upper level horses. That year was life changing. Hilda helped me compete up to Intermediare 1 and taught me how amazing my horse truly was. Superman and I eventually made it all the way to Grand Prix and achieved my USDF Gold Medal.

Next came an offer I couldn't pass up—riding upper level sale horses for Dutch Dreamhorses in Aromas, California. I built my name in Gilroy and started Vefele's Equine Partnerships. The most rewarding part of training is guiding people to breakthroughs that deepen their horse-rider partnership.

My recent horse Gatsby was quirky and sensitive, and after trying many coaches I found Jessica Jo Tate. We were so aligned that I took a job as her assistant for her winter season in Wellington, FL where I watched Olympic trainers daily and taking daily lessons from JJ, who deepened my understanding of how horses progress.

In 2023 I returned to Vancouver Island to be closer to family, and with my mother's help I bought Equestris Equestrian. I was driven to bring my US and European experience to the island—from boarding to training and lessons, my knowledge and connections have helped me build the dream barn.