Val Stanton

Valerie "Val" Stanton is the widowed mother of Ashley and Jesse. Val is the proud owner of Briar Ridge Stables and uses more traditional methods compared to Heartland. She serves as the show's main rival. Val puts too much pressure on Ashley to win horse shows, but loves and spoils her daughter.

Season 1
We first see Val attending Marion's funeral. Jack visits Briar Ridge and offloads about becoming a parent again and the issues with the re-payments. (Coming Home)  Val is surprised when Mrs. Roach brings Swallow back to board at Briar Ridge, she starts to doubt Amy's ability of fixing horses especially when he spooks at a car and Ashley falls off. After the incident with Swallow, Val is starting to spread the news that she believes Heartland's days are numbered without Marion and that Amy can't continue to run the business. Jack pays Val a visit and warns her off of her gossip about Heartland. (After the Storm) Val lends Jack a large tent for the open house. When he comes to Briar Ridge to collect it she moans about her new $100,000 jumper that refuses to jump. At the open house Val suggests that Amy is drugging the horse to prove she can "fix them". She proposes she work with her new horse in front of the crowd to prove she can fix it. When she reluctantly agrees and fixes her horse Val is put out that she succeeded. (Breaking Free)  Val has made a commercial for Briar Ridge which is seen by many people at Maggie's. She's doing an interview with Laura McBradden from Cantor and Gallop magazine when Jack shows up to give her Ty's sponsorship papers. She is furious and immediately fires him for being a criminal and insists someone check his bags before leaving. (The Best Laid Plans) Val runs into Lisa at Maggie's and Lisa tells her that she's not too happy about Ben training with Ashley. Maggie tells Lisa she's happy it went well with Jack. Val is shocked at what she hears. She goes to pay a visit at Heartland telling jack that she's surprised he didn't tell her since they've been friends for a long time. (Thicker Than Water) Val goes over to Heartland to announce to Jack her plans to expand. She offers Jack the first offer to buy some of his land and leaves him to think about it. After the fire she's in Maggie's and overhears the problem with the insurance. She slyly goes straight to Heartland to inform Jack of the issue. She assures him that the offer is still available for her to buy some of his land. She helps other friends and neighbours re-build the barn and Jack tells her that he declines her offer as he can't sell any part of Heartland. (Rising from Ashes)  Val watches Ashley competing at the Hudson Show. When she knocks a rail, she berates her and tells her that if she doesn't improve she'll sell Apollo and stop paying for her coaches. She see's Amy helping Ashley and gets her to go round again, she knocks rails after a previously flawless run. Amy deduces that Val is the problem because she's making Ashley more tense, she suggests that if she wants Ashley to win she shouldn't watch her at shows. As Ashley gets ready for her turn in the jump-off at the Fall Finale, Val goes to leave but couldn't help herself and turns back to watch. Ashley see's her and walks off the course, disqualifying herself. She sees Mr. Mallen with Amy and learns quickly that Val called him so that Ashley would win and she's disgusted at her. (Coming Together)

Season 2
Val is at the horse show and see's Tim, she compliment him on Storm but reminds him that Ashley will still beat Amy, Ashley wins. At the next show Apollo has trouble at the gate and Ashley tries to calm him, Val is furious and tells her to show him who's boss and forces them out to the course. Ash Ashley starts knocking rails she grows increasingly angry with her. (Gift Horse) Val is horrified to see Ashley barrel racing and is adamant she doesn't need Apollo to barrel race so takes him away. (Corporate Cowgirls) Val is furious when she learns Ashley is running for rodeo queen, Ashley continues to wind her up and Val is disgusted telling her that she's an embarrassment. At the polo, Val overhears Ashley telling everyone about her move to barrel racing. Val pulls her to one side and berates her for her behaviour demanding she stop, Ashley tells her that she'll stop if she can keep Apollo. (Holding Fast) Val is still annoyed at Ashley's determination on barrel racing. She later sees Ashley return from shopping and makes an effort to talk to her. She's happy that she's enjoying riding again and tries to get her back into jumping. She arrives at the rodeo and surprisingly cheers Ashley on. When she comes 2nd she tries to congratulate her but Ashley doesn't want to listen. Val tells her that she needs to talk to her about jumping and tells her that she's sold Apollo. The next morning she goes to Heartland to find Ashley, when she didn't come home after the crash, and takes her home. (Sweetheart of the Rodeo) Val exchanges Ashley's car and gets her an economy car. Ashley's furious and heads off to play golf and drink margaritas, Val announces she wants her back to see the investors. Ashley arrives back at Briar Ridge and smashes up Val's car in response to Val selling her car and selling Apollo. Ashley demands that Val buy back Apollo, she refuses so Ashley insists she's moving out. Claiming everyone else has left her; Jesse and her dad would have if he hadn't died. Val responds by slapping her and tells Ashley she'll cut her off if she leaves. Ashley drives out of Briar Ridge. Val runs into Lou at Maggie's, she tries to talk to her about Ashley. She laughs off her working at the Dude Ranch telling Lou that she'll be back and she won't let her be dragged down. Ashley is at the Dude Ranch saddling up Apollo when Val arrives, she tries to apologise and tells her she can have whatever she wants if she comes home. Ashley sees through it and tells her she's just bargaining to get her to go home but she's determined to stay. Val is in despair and admits she doesn't know what else to do. Ashley confesses that she'd always wanted a mum like the others, one that cares, but now she just wants Val to leave her alone. (Showdown!) Caleb and Ashley run into each other in town, Val see's them and ushers Ashley away. Ashley tells her that they were just talking and Val continues to put him down saying he's only after one thing. Ashley stands up for him and storms off. Val sees Lou handing out flyers in Maggie's and laughs at her for trying to fight a major Oil company with flyers. (Seismic Shifts) Val goes to Caleb's Trailer to see Ashley and deliver some pumpkin loaf. Ashley doesn't believe that she only came to give her a loaf, Val asks her to attend an appointment but when she's curt Val tells her not to worry and leaves. Val meets Jack in Maggie's and asks him to drive her to a doctors appointment on Monday as she has no one else to ask and doesn't want to worry Ashley. Jack drives Val and pulls over at Ashley's car, she tells Val that jack called her and wants to take her for her appointment. Jack apologises, knowing he was out of line but Val is grateful. (Do or Die)  Val goes by Caleb's Trailer looking for Ashley but takes to opportunity to talk to Caleb, he tells her that when he wins a few more rodeos he'll have his pro-rodeo card then will look for a sponsor to get him to compete through the winter. As she's leaving, he tells her that he'll look after Ashley but it doesn't seem to bring her any comfort. When Caleb returns from the rodeo he meets up with Val on her demand, he tells her that he won 2nd in broncs and 1st in tie down roping. Val offers to be his sponsor and hands him a cheque in order to get rid of him and get Ashley back. (Dark Horse) Val goes to Caleb's Trailer and sees Ashley, she tells her that Caleb has left for the rodeo and Val comforts her. (The Ties That Bind) Tim meets with Val and offers to sell her some land, to help his cash flow issue. She tells him she'd be interested in some acres next to Heartland, he thinks about it. Val goes to Caleb's Trailer to see Ashley, she's shocked at how cold it is. She delivers the news that she received her tests results back and they're all positive. They go out to lunch to celebrate. As Val drops Ashley off at the trailer, she admits that she's lonely with Caleb there and he hasn't even called. Val's unsympathetic and asks her to move back home, she even suggests putting a few rooms together like an apartment so it'll be like she's living alone, she tells her she'll think about it. Jack runs into Val in Maggie's and asks for an update, she tells him about potentially buying some of Tim's land, making Jack angry. Val goes back to the trailer telling Ashley that she needs to know the truth, she's been making bad decisions and that she doesn't know Caleb as well as she thinks she does. Ashley starts to blame Val for thinking everyone is after money. She finally tells her that he accepted her sponsorship money. Ashley's angry that Val bought him off to get rid of him, she tells him that he was easily bought, Ashley kicks her out. Val's in her car when she receives a phone call from her doctor, she's surprised to learn she needs more tests, she starts to look concerned. (Step By Step)

Season 3
When Tim tells Jack, in Maggie's that he should have sold to Val to see him have to deal with her, he is unaware that she's standing right behind him. Tim later goes to see Val, he apologises and offers her some of his land again so she can develop. She tells him she'll think about it. Val goes to Maggie's and tries to talk to Ashley but she walks away. Val tells Amy that Caesar has a lot of potential and should come and see her after she's finished working with him. Jack goes to visit Val and apologises for getting her involved in family drama. He asks about her health and she tells him that the doctors say she's in remission, she thanks him for going with her to appointments. (Miracle) Val runs into Jack at Maggie's, he tries to make amends and assures her that he'd be happy to have her as a neighbour on both sides. She confesses that she isn't buying Tim's land due to the current bad economy and no one else will. (Little Secrets)  Caleb meets val and gives her the rest of the money she gave him. He announces he's switching to bulldogging in the hope Ashley will see him as more responsible and she starts to see that he really cares for her. She tries to give him his money back as trailer rent but he's determined to make it right and taking money got him in trouble the first time so doesn't accept it this time. Val meets Ashley in Maggie's, she tells Ashley that she was wrong about Caleb and shouldn't blame him for taking the money it was her fault for offering it and getting him to leave town. She apologises to Ashley and tells her that he paid back all the money. She admits it's not right her living in the trailer and not paying rent and asks if she'd give her a second chance and move back home. Val helps Ashley move out of the trailer and goes back to Briar Ridge. (Glory Days) Val is with Ashley at Maggie's, she tells her their plans to get a manicure and gives her some lunch before leaving. The next day, Ashley, Soraya and Val are in Maggie's and Val tells Ashley of her next plans to have Mac and cheese for dinner followed by chocolate fondue. Ashley tries to tell her that she's happy to be back but needs some space as she has her own life too, Val agrees to back off. (Growing Pains) Jack arranges with Val to bring a horse by for Amy to work with to help distract her from Ty leaving. Val arrives at Heartland with Apollo, and tells Amy that Ashely has said he's not jumping like he used to. Amy jumps with him and is doing fine until Val start shouting out advice from the sidelines about her jumping technique. Amy receives a phone call from Ty telling her he's going to be gone for longer, Val tells her that by Thanksgiving she'll just be the old girlfriend. Amy races to see Ty to ensure that doesn't happen leaving a shocked Val with her horse. She complains to Jack about Amy's behaviour and he tries to defend her as she's not dealing with Ty leaving, he convinces her to give her another chance. Later, Val goes to Maggie's to see Ashley and gives her a gift for Ty, an iPod, asking Ashley to deliver it for her not wanting to see Amy again. Val bumps into Lou in town and starts complaining about her lack of people skills. Lou, who's trying to discretely pick up a pregnancy test from the store tells her she's busy and rushes in a different direction, leaves Val concerned for both sister's lack of people skills. After Amy and Ashley talk, Val arrives at Heartland and Amy tries to apologise for being unprofessional. Val sees Ashley jumping Apollo beautifully so Ashley admits that she doesn't want it to ruin their relationship again so she blamed Apollo. Later, Val watches Amy rushing off and sits with Jack filling him in on what she talked about with Ashley. She asks where Amy's rushing off to and he guesses it's to do with Ty. She manages to coax out of him that he's going to miss Ty too. (Broken Arrow) Val rushes over to Heartland to tell Jack that she's been given the all clear by her doctor. She also tells him of her new idea to embrace life by what she calls her "happy list" doing things that make her happy rather than letting life get in the way. Her first - to show jump again. She goes to Amy to get her to be her coach, not wanting to embarrass herself in front of Briar Ridge staff, she reluctantly agrees. Amy starts coaching Val, as she tries to get her to relax Val doesn't listen to any of Amy's ideas or suggestions. Jack arrives to see how it's going and Val tries to jump but ends up being thrown from her horse. Amy coaches Val again and this time she accepts her ideas and tries her suggestions, with results. She is able to make the jumps as Jack arrives to watch again. She tells Jack that he's on her happy list, making him and Amy uncomfortable. At Heartland, Val tells Amy she was scared but she's realised you can't let it hold you back from life. A she's about to leave Ashley arrives complaining about Caleb upset that he didn't ask her to go with him to his rodeo. Val tells her to go anyway if that's what she wants to do. Val joins the others to watch Caleb at the rodeo, on tv, and watches in horror as he's slammed into the railings and collapses to the ground unconscious. (The Happy List)

Season 7
In Season 7, it’s revealed that since the end of season 4, Val has moved away and has been living in Florida, but her house and business remain in Hudson, explaining her long absence for several seasons.

Season 11
Val owns a horse called Flame who is a show jumping horse. Flame had a problem with show jumping after a car accident. Amy does her magic and helps Flame. Georgie assists Amy whilst helping Flame. Val sees a connection between Flame and Georgie and wants Georgie to ride Flame. Val has plans for Flame. But later on in the season Val isnt happy with Georgie's performance with Flame.

Family
Ashley Stanton

Val talks with Jack about raising children, and suggests he buy them something and points out the $100,000 jumping horse she just bought for Ashley, suggesting she's not very maternal and buys her children's affection. They continue to have a strained relationship, however after Val is diagnosed with an illness Ashley starts to see a new side to her. Ashley moves back in from the trailer and the pair start to develop a good relationship. After moving back home, Ashley is happy with how their relationship is going, however after Val insists on her competing again she quickly blames her horse aware that this will but their relationship in jeopardy again. Amy helps them out and Ashley is able to be honest with her Mum and they decide to do other activities together instead.

Romantic
Jack Bartlett

Val and Jack have been good friends for years, she is often seen trying to flirt with him but is all one sided. When she tells him about her "happy list", things she wants to do that make her happy, she tells him that he's on it.

Career
Owns and runs Briar Ridge Stables.