I am a NCCP High Performance Coach for Equestrian Olympic Disciplines (dressage, jumper and eventing). A former Technical Delegate for Eventing, and a Judge for both jumper and dressage, serving as a judge in Bermuda and Ireland as well as nationally.
For five years the Senior Coach of the Paralympic Dressage Team, taking teams to National Championships, the Atlanta Olympics, the European Championships in Portugal, and the World Equestrian Games in Denmark.
I have coached three riders to medals at the North American Young Riders Eventing Championships (under 21), and many more to Provincials.
In my own riding career, I achieved numerous high placings at Nationals in both eventing and dressage, and was short listed for the Pan Am Games, but forced to withdraw from selection when my horse went lame (and I ran out of $$ LOL)
I now coach a limited number of horses/riders at my base at Bondi Village Resort, concentrating on lower level competition and pure fun. The more a rider knows, the safer the experience. In evening, we gallop 1000 pounds of muscle and brain over solid obstacles involving water, drops, ditches, etc. and the basics are the most important thing to keep both horse and rider confident and safe. Dressage is highly technical, akin to figure skating, and it is our responsibility to ensure horses are correctly produced and ridden so they too enjoy the experience. Riding is a very demanding sport at the higher levels, riders are athletes. Horses are athletes also. It is an absolute privilege to ride them.
And to bring together two hearts, two minds into one.