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Meet the Team
Sophie Dyball
Scoring and Administration
Sophie's passion for horses started when she was living in Australia. At the age of 6, she took weekly lessons; however, she didn’t fully pursue riding until her twenties, when working as a PA for an equine company. Gradually, she became more involved with the "horse world" and was often found, back of the house, making costumes for the horses at equestrian displays.
Sophie’s career with horses started in 2005, where she specialised in the management and development of riding establishments. She also started to perform in shows and competed in dressage, the same year, with Andalusians and an Irish Cob.
A diverse horsewoman, Sophie has many strings to her bow. These range from teaching riding and stable management to adults and children, co-managing the design and implementation of Horsemanship Camps, to even training miniatures to pull carts for events!! Sophie is also a keen charity worker, having assisted LAR Founder Debbie Armaly, for 4 years with the administration of the Pink Caravan Ride.
Sophie has also been selected to perform in many equine entertainment shows, within the UAE, for private events and public performances. These include high profile events, such as Dubai World Cup Desert Party, VIP Meydan World Cup Party, 3rd Parachuting SkyDive Dubai Championships Opening Ceremony and displays for members of the ruling family and dignitaries.
Her passion for off the track horses started when she worked with them at the riding school, where she taught lessons on them and took care of livery OTTB’s.
Debbie Armaly
Founder
Debbie owned her first OTTB at the age of 16, competing successfully in show jumping and cross country, in the UK. She then went on to own many other horses, competing in Affiliated show jumping to Grade B level. She moved to the UAE in 1993, where her riding took a more leisurely turn!
Over the years, Debbie has been involved in many areas of the equestrian industry, here in Dubai; including stable management training, jump-judging and official timekeeping. She has also held the role of Equine Manager for Pink Caravan for 5 years, where she created awareness of breast cancer amongst the UAE community.
Debbie owned her first racehorse in 2008, and with a passion for the horses’ 'post-racing career' welfare, she started to rehome them in 2010; the first of which being Sandcat who is still alive and well, enjoying retirement in Germany. She is a well-respected face within the community, with a vast array of reputable contacts, and a strong history of successful rehoming partnerships, over the past decade.
When she is not at the racetrack following the careers of her own racehorses, she can be found at one of many equine facilities; teaching, judging or supporting organisations and individuals, that reach out.
Debbie is the visionary behind Life After Racing UAE.