10/22/2025
This past weekend Jade took Home the coach of the year award and the nomination written by one of our clients was just too good not to share….
“We all know how tough a true horse girl is—but Coach Jade Allan has shown a strength and dedication that go far beyond the barn. This past April, Jade’s world was turned upside down when she received a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis. At just 28 years old, with a lively four-year-old daughter and a family depending on her, the news was devastating.
Yet, even in the face of this life-altering challenge, Jade continued to think about her students. In a heartfelt message to her riding families, she shared her diagnosis. In that message, she not only delivered the difficult news but also laid out a plan to ensure that her students' riding journeys would continue uninterrupted. She wrote: “I will always put your kids and their riding first. It’s just who I am.” These weren’t just words—they were a promise she lived by, even on her hardest days.
We all know how much work goes into a show season, but for Jade, it became a testament to her resilience. It was chemo on Friday, show prep on Saturday, and ringside coaching on Sunday. She didn’t miss a single show. Through exhaustion, pain, and uncertainty, she showed up—smiling, encouraging and full of steadfast support for her riders.
Jade embodies everything we admire in a coach: strength, dedication, and an unshakeable love for her students and the sport. But what her riders witnessed this past year went beyond riding lessons—they saw what it truly means to persevere. They learned not just how to sit tall in the saddle, but how to stand tall in life.
The unspoken lessons Jade’s students have absorbed through her example will stay with them forever. Her impact goes far beyond ribbons and placements—she has shaped lives.
For her incredible heart, her unshakable dedication, and the lasting impact she’s made on her students and the sport, there is no one more deserving of the 2025 VL Equine Optimal Performance Coach of the Year Award.
Thank you, Jade, for everything you've given to your students, your team, and the sport. You are truly one of a kind.”