Cody Sabila,
The central figure of “Cowboy Evolution,” embarked on a unique educational journey that required a radical departure from the traditional school system. Recognizing Cody’s natural talent with horses, a plan was devised to transform his passion into an alternative learning journey.
Instead of attending high school, Cody began a hands-on apprenticeship with seasoned horse trainer Chet Martin, focusing on developing his skills and passion for training horses. This shift moved his focus from the classroom to the ranch.
Cody’s family legacy, which stretches back six generations to his Scottish ancestors, includes some of Canada’s top Quarter Horse racers. However, Cody’s true passion has always been hands-on training.
Fitting Cody into the traditional school system was like forcing a round peg into a square hole. Despite his natural intelligence and creativity, he faced persistent challenges that made the classroom an exhausting and frustrating environment. Outside of school, however, Cody thrived. While his peers focused on textbooks, Cody mastered the craft of shoeing and trimming horses, apprenticing under his uncle, a successful farrier. By the age of 10, he was already honing valuable skills that would later shape his career.
This early foundation in horses led Cody to excel under Chet Martin’s mentorship. He developed a philosophy centred on trust and patience, focusing on creating calm, confident horses by building a strong foundation from the ground up. Cody’s first horse, “Still in the Starlight,” exemplifies his growing success. He started and showed his mare in NRCHA events, earning wins in L1 Futurity, Derby, and Hackamore classes. His determination also led him to compete at the NRCHA Youth World’s Greatest, where he made it into the top 20.
Cody is dedicated to forging a successful career in the Cow Horse world. As he continues his journey, he is strategically building his show billet, participating in Cow Horse, Cutting, and Reining events. He is committed to continuous learning and growth, actively seeking opportunities to observe and learn from other talented trainers and professionals in the Cow Horse industry.
Raised by a single mom alongside two sisters, Cody’s resilience and independence were shaped by early challenges, but his connection with horses helped him thrive. He loved showing in Western events at local fairs and club shows and even tried English jumping and dressage at pony club. An adventurer at heart, Cody spent time in competitive boxing, rock climbing, downhill skiing, and kayaking. He loves the outdoors and is known as an old soul in a young guy’s body, one of the boys! Cody also volunteered at the fair, showing cattle, sheep, and his own poultry, maintaining a strong link to agriculture.
Today, Cody shares his knowledge through colt starting, training, showing, clinics, and guiding others to discover the best in their horses and themselves. His journey from a struggling student to a great horseman is a testament to his resilience and dedication.
TESTIMONIALS
“Cody has been a huge help with our racehorses, especially in starting the babies. His calm and natural way with the horses is outstanding. Cody effortlessly connects with them, making the process look easy.
One remarkable thing about Cody is how he handles challenges. If a horse gets upset or something goes wrong, Cody stays cool, focuses on guiding the horse through it, and moves forward without making a big deal out of it.
The horses he works with are calm and seem to understand what he wants. It’s a smooth and natural process to watch. I used to handle this part myself, but seeing Cody in action has shown me how easy and effective he makes it look. Even my dad, who’s seen many young horses started, is always impressed by Cody’s skill with them. Simply put, Cody is excellent at what he does, and he’s had a very positive impact on our young horses.”
Mike Robertson, Farrier and Assistant Trainer at Hillerin Farm, Hillsburgh, Ontario
