Alan was born in Sussex, New Brunswick, where he started riding at age 4 and competed in his first recognized show at age ten. As Alan was a brave, natural rider he won many hunter and equitation championships as well as competed in open jumper classes by the early age of fourteen!

Shortly thereafter, with a fair amount of competition success and ‘B’ level pony club, Alan met Austrian coach Hans Wuhrmann who helped Alan to become a more sensitive rider with more refined aids.

Following high school, Alan enrolled in the Humber College Equine program where he was fortunate to work with Canadian team member Liz Ashton and Olympic competitor Elizabeth McMullen. During this time, Alan competed on the International Intercollegiate team, showing in many different places, including Kentucky, New Jersey, Austria and Germany, where he won “best male rider” along with many championships in dressage and show jumping.

Following college, Alan returned to the Maritimes where he worked at Burnham Stables for 5 years teaching 200 lessons a week and riding 10 horses a day. He then moved to Quebec to work at The French Connection, an import stable owned by Jaques Ferland, where he trained with people like Jonathon Asselin.

In 1986 Alan moved to Calgary and began working on a large Arabian Breeding farm owned by Dr.Wilke whom Alan credits as being able to really read horses and inspired him to become a better horseman. 

Alan is a CEF level II coach and a certified CSHA mare inspector.