GWR Equestrian Coaching

🌟 The countdown is on – Area Festival 2026 is almost here! 🌟

The excitement is building, and we can't wait to see everyone come together for what promises to be a fantastic festival.

Just a friendly reminder that entries close this Friday at midnight, so if you've been meaning to enter, now's the time! Don't leave it until the last minute—get your entries in and join us for what is sure to be a wonderful celebration of Horses, riders and our amazing community.🐴🥂

🌟 Senior & Youth Boot Camp – Places Available! 🌟

Looking to sharpen your skills ahead of your next competition? Join us at Spurstow Hall on 17 June for our Senior & Youth Boot Camp, including Squad Assessments.

Open to riders of all levels, this is the perfect opportunity to:
🐴 Fine-tune your training
📈 Gain valuable feedback from experienced coaches
🤝 Train with friends or meet like-minded dressage riders
🎯 Prepare for the season ahead

Your session includes:
✅ 30-minute training session with Charlotte Thomas (BDCC Level 3 Coach & Youth Assessor)
✅ 30-minute training session with Guy Reynolds (BDCC Level 2 Coach, Youth Assessor & List 3 Judge)

Whether you're aiming for squad selection, preparing for upcoming competitions, or simply looking to improve your partnership with your horse, this is a fantastic training opportunity not to be missed.

📍 Spurstow Hall
📅 17 June

🔗 Book your place now on Horse Monkey

Charlotte and I are together once again at the beautiful Spurstow Hall. We’re able to carry out BD Youth Squadding, BD Youth Rider Skills Tests, test riding, rider symmetry using the EQ Bands, basically we can help in most ways that riders want it. Get booked in as places filled up quickly last time ☺️

Equestrian event 4633 - BD NW Senior & Youth Boot Camp (including Squad Assessments) with Charlotte Thomas and Guy Reynolds, Spurstow Hall A perfect way to brush up your skills for your upcoming competitions. Aimed at all riders! A great opportunity to train with your friends or come on your own and meet like-minded competitors. Includes a 30 minute session with Charlotte Thomas BDCC L3 and Youth Assessor and a 30 minute session with....

And this is why I have ocd about this!!

I have today received my official British Dressage coach’s logo - this is more than just a logo! This ensures not only do I have the recognised coaching qualifications, but that I’m also first aid qualified, that I’m clear on the DBS check, that I’m ’Safeguarding’ qualified and that my continual professional development is also up to date. It also confirms that I’m fully insured. I have a great deal of job satisfaction due to the fact I’m up to date in all areas, ensuring I can give the best service to my clients and their horses 🐴🤩

I just saw this in an American dressage magazine and thought I’d share it ☺️

Here are some tips that can help you build a healthy, lasting relationship with the professional dressage trainer in your life:

1. Pay your trainer fairly for their time, pay on time, and avoid complaining about it. Nobody gets into training horses to become wealthy, so while training may seem like a luxury to you, it’s how your trainer puts food on the table.

2. Be punctual. Your trainer’s time is valuable, and other clients probably ride after you. If you make them late, their other students may have to wait, and this inconveniences everyone.

3. Keep your appointments. If you can’t make your training session, give plenty of notice. Obviously, emergencies happen, so if you can’t give 24 hours’ notice, pay for the lesson. Most other professionals have a fee they charge for last-minute cancellations, and your trainer is a professional like everyone else.

4. Respect your trainer’s time. If your lesson is 45 minutes, when your allotted time is up, thank your trainer for their time and let them go about their day. If the two of you are working on a tricky issue and it needs a few more minutes, be grateful for the extra help, and don’t be resentful if your next lesson is a few minutes shorter.

5. Do your best to follow the trainer’s instructions. If they tell you your left leg has slipped forward, don’t tell them it hasn’t! They can see what’s going on with your body much more clearly than you can feel it. Similarly, if your trainer tells you to do something (like lean your torso back), don’t tell them you can’t. Give it an honest try. If there’s a medical issue hindering your performance, this is a legitimate issue, but, ideally, you would have disclosed this at the beginning of your working relationship.

6. Do not expect your trainer to be a psychic or a therapist. If you didn’t disclose your medical challenges upfront, it’s not your trainer’s fault for not addressing your issues. Similarly, if you have riding-related anxiety or phobias, disclose them, but don’t expect professional mental health services from your trainer. It’s not what they are licensed to do, and it’s an unreasonable expectation. If you need something from your trainer that you aren’t receiving (such as equal attention in a shared lesson with another rider or more clear instructions), then be sure to communicate.

7. Have realistic expectations for yourself. Your trainer may be brilliant, but trainers are mortals, not miracle workers. No trainer can take you to the Olympics after 30 days of training. You can’t get full-time results with part-time effort. If you can only ride two days per week, be realistic about what this means for your progress as a rider.

8. Have realistic expectations for your horse. Your horse can’t go from Preliminary Level to Medium Level in a summer. Also be realistic about his conformation and talent, and don’t push him past what he’s physically capable of. It’s unfair to expect your trainer to teach your horse to do something he can’t achieve.

9. If you borrow anything from your trainer, clean it after use, and return it promptly to its appropriate place. In most circumstances, trying things for a short time is fine, but if it becomes clear your horse needs the gear, purchase it yourself so you don’t become an imposition.

10. Listen to your trainer’s advice on additional care. If they give you suggestions about other areas of your horse’s care (veterinary, farrier, etc.) odds are good that they have your horse’s best interest at heart and are trying to make your experience together a positive one. These positive things often cost money, and you should be prepared to spend it, within reason. They have years of experience and have probably seen very similar situations before, so trust their best judgment for you and your horse.

Following these tips can help promote a trainer-client relationship built on mutual trust, respect and positive communication. As in any relationship, being proactive about your needs goes a long way toward reducing frustration and improving satisfaction for everyone involved.

There are a few places left if anyone fancies joining Charlotte and myself at the beautiful Spurstow Hall 🐴

Equestrian event 4633 - BD NW Senior & Youth Boot Camp (including Squad Assessments) with Charlotte Thomas and Guy Reynolds, Spurstow Hall A perfect way to brush up your skills for your upcoming competitions. Aimed at all riders! A great opportunity to train with your friends or come on your own and meet like-minded competitors. Includes a 30 minute session with Charlotte Thomas BDCC L3 and Youth Assessor and a 30 minute session with....

Have had a lovely morning judging the dressage for British Eventing at Moreton Morrell College 🐴☀️

Had a lovely morning judging for British Dressage at Newbold Verdon Equestrian Centre.

This is a good read 😉

Can Wiggling My Fingers Help Get My Dressage Horse on the Bit? USDF gold medalist John Zopatti offers an honest opinion on wiggly fingers and explains the correct way to establish contact.