Sonya Alexis Van Veen Passes

Trot Insider has learned that Ontario Standardbred racing participant Sonya Van Veen has passed away at the age of 33.

Sonya is the beloved spouse of trainer Vernon Cochrane and the daughter of owner Leonard Van Veen. Sonya passed on Saturday, May 7 surrounded by family and friends, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.

Sonya centered her life around her love of horses. She was an accomplished dressage rider and made her career as an equine massage therapist by focusing her talents on the rehabilitation of equine athletes in the Standardbred racing industry as well as in the worlds of dressage and hunter/jumper competition. Sonya was a proud advocate of Standardbred racing as a work performed by people who love and respect their equine partners. She saw her success as an equine massage therapist focused on the well-being and welfare of these equine athletes as proof of this.

Sonya attended University of Toronto Schools (Toronto), the University of Guelph (Guelph) and D’Arcy Lane Institute of Equine Massage Therapy (London) as a student, and later joined the faculty at D’AL where she became a respected and beloved teacher

Sonya’s family will receive friends at the Gilbert Macintyre and Son funeral home at 1099 Gordon Street, Guelph. Details regarding arrangements are available at gilbertmacintyreandson.com. A celebration of Sonya’s life will be held later in the summer.

As an expression of sympathy, donations to the Hospice Wellington or the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society would be appreciated by her family. Donations may be made through the Gilbert Macintyre Funeral home. Sonya’s family appreciates any donations made.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Sonya Van Veen.