Val has been training, coaching riders and judging for the past 40 years. Val started with a career in Western and Hunt Seat riding, but for the past 20 years she has been working on her Dressage skills. In 2002, Val received her USDF riders silver medal at the USDF Convention in Portland, Oregon.

Val has been coaching riders in many disciplines of riding. Dressage is used as a basis for all. Students have gone on to win state wide and national titles in hunt seat, saddle seat, western, carriage driving, and dressage. As an open show judge, Val has a twenty-five year history judging horses from minis to draft horses and barrel racers to driving horses. 

Coaching judging teams has been a learning opportunity for all students, as well as coach. Val has coached teams at the Arabian Nationals, winning a grand champion and reserve grand champion individual title and reserve champion team title and numerous other placings at the Morgan Grand Nationals, the solid gold futurity, and the Quarter Horse Congress with placings in the top eight several times.  

In 2009 Val graduated from the USDF Dressage "L" program with distinction.  Val is now available to judge Dressage schooling shows.