When you think of U.S. grand prix show jumper Aaron Vale, you think hunt coat, not jockey’s silks.

But for a brief time in the ‘90s, Vale played both parts—a successful full-time show trainer who, in his spare time, galloped Thoroughbreds and competed in steeplechases and point-to-point races.

“I’ve liked racing always, but I was too big to be a real jockey,” Vale said. “I ended up in Camden, South Carolina with the show horses and tried to do a little bit of racing on the side.”

Vale, now based out of Williston, Fla., with his Thinkslikeahorse Stables, estimates he ended up riding in about 10 races, and he won two. One was a point-to-point race, and one the $5,000 Belk/Ralph Lauren Cup at the National Steeplechase Association-sanctioned Stoneybrook Steeplechase (N.C.) on April 11, 1993.

That win—aboard a catch ride named Sport‘An Game—was captured in this photograph Vale shared on his Thinkslikeahorse Facebook page.

Aaron Vale on Sport’An Game (right) took the lead in the $5,000 Belk/Ralph Lauren Cup at the 1993 Stoneybrook Steeplechase, winning over Craig Thornton on Round Hill Cove (left).

“I had a horse or two of my own that I rode a few races on, and then actually someone that we used to school with all the time, that was their horse that I’m riding in the picture,” Vale explained.

Vale remembers there being eight to 10 horses in the field that day, and the rider he’s pictured jumping beside is Craig Thornton, who was second on Round Hill Cove.

“I think he was the leading rider of the year for the steeplechase association,” Vale said. “I think that was the last jump, where I just gotten into the lead to win the race. I remember Craig was in the lead the whole way, and I just kind of sat right behind him the whole way and jumped the last jump and I just went faster from there to the wire.”

Vale also recalls some shenanigans on the Sport’An Game’s part prior to the race—the horse gave him a mark to remember his first official win by.

“He was a little tough getting to the start. I know he kind of was a little ornery, and gave me a black eye trying to get him lined up for the start that day,” Vale said. “He kind of reared up and popped me pretty good there starting out.”

Alls well that ends well, and Vale was able to end his jockey career free of serious injury when he turned all of his energy toward honing his show jumping career. 

“I didn’t ride a bunch of races but it was something I enjoyed doing, and I learned a lot from it,” Vale said. “I think it helps me in jumps-offs and galloping at jumps. Not everyone out in the grand prix got to do that, so maybe I learned a little something about speed there that helps me now.”   

Aaron Vale sticks to show jumping now, putting his need for speed to good use in the grand prix ring. Here he’s riding to second place in the $216,000 Upperville Jumper Classic aboard Finou 4. Photo by Laura Lemon