* Confidence building
* Jumping for all levels and abilities
* Grid work and gymnastics
* Pole and flat work
* Problem solving
* Young horses
* Technical and advanced training
* Always a relaxed atmosphere
* Special needs most welcome
* All ages welcome
I am now studying the Centre 10 course for Applied Psychology for Equestrian Coaches (APEC)
I hope to bring lots of new hints, tips and experience to my clients to boost your mindset and focus on and off of the horse
I can help with Flat work, poles and jumping.
From simple pole exercises and fences to the more technical side of course jumping and pole work.
Working with you and your horse to gain the best out of each session you have.
I work with those who are nervous, lacking in confidence, disability's, young and old.
I also work with those more advanced looking to improve on mindset and focus in and out of the ring and tackling any issues the horse or rider may have.
I’ve been riding for over 35 years; you could say I was born in the saddle. I started show jumping as a junior in 1995, when I was 16, I got approached by the British junior team manager to see if I would be interested in joining the GB youth team. Unfortunately, I was very saddened to turn the most amazing offer down as I was turning 17 and going into seniors.
Over the 25 years of competing at BS I have competed at local and National level and have successfully produced many young or problem horses to 1.25m open level, also having many wins and placings in big national classes. I have trained with some of the country’s top riders and advanced trainers along the way, I am a personal friend of Geoff Billington and have had the pleasure of training with Guy Williams, Stephen Hadley, Ian Stark and Joe Whittaker.
I coach many nervous novices to advanced level and have helped the more advanced riders develop further in show jumping. I was a team coach for the London Youth Olympics back in 2000 training a very novice team of 4 riders who had never competed before to Bronze position out of 35 other teams over up-to-height BS tracks.
I now compete my main home-produced mare at Foxhunter and 1.25m level. I was placed 4th at the Royal International out of 160 riders in the Newcomers and was also placed in the top 16 in several other 1.10m classes at the Hickstead Derby Meeting and Royal International with over 150 entrants in most classes. This included having a super double clear and fast time in the jump-off section at the Hickstead Championships in the 1.20m open classic coming 8th, this was one of my goals for 2018.
My most pleasing achievement was qualifying for the International arena at Hickstead in 2019, we sadly had a pole down but I aim to qualify again and hopefully leave the jumps up! I hope to be back at Hickstead in 2023 with Franc.
I have had a good season of 2022 wining many classes and lots of high placings and double clears with both of my mares, I also took Gold Championship position in the over 35s open at The Championships of Grate Brittan in Wales.
Over the winter months I will be producing my 4yo slowly ready to compete in the 2023, my main mare Lexie is in foal so we should have little clip clops end of April and Saffy my 23yo mare is enjoying a winter holiday and she will be back doing fun jumping and some cross country in the spring all being well.
Little quotes
I started lessons with Kathy several years back and the thing that stood out most was how it never felt like a lesson. After my first session I remember thinking it was more like having a friend in the arena with you than an instructor. I learnt more in that lesson than I had in most formal lessons though. This is an amazing skill Kathy has, she teaches you without you realising you're being taught. She took me from sloppy 60cm rounds to 1m in lessons (there's a story there) and 90cm at competitions. Clear! Just a word of warning...I booked lessons with Kathy to prepare for a 90cm class, I got a double clear so obviously her teaching was spot on! However When I asked Kathy if that jump in the lesson was really 90cm she nodded...well that was the day I discovered I could jump 1m :-) :-) Of course that was my nerves over 90cm GONE because I had just jumped a course of 1m. I took great pleasure in watching her repeat this with my eldest son as he rode away from a growing jump! When my eldest son started having lessons with Kathy the positive energies were over flowing and every lesson we could see great progress with him and his highly difficult pony. When my youngest son came to want lessons his big brother said to him "ask mum for Kathy, she's the best and you just play". Hearing that reminded me of my lessons years before and yet again between the first and second lesson with Kathy, my youngest has blossomed, his confidence rocketed and his riding is looking so much prouder and polished already. It's amazing the difference she can make in such a short space of time. It really is a talent to create so much progress in a student while making it look and feel effortless.
Kathy has taken my son in two years from a wobbly unsure little boy that lacked confidence to an accomplished little rider that has just started his BS Junior journey. She has taken so much time to help and support him and has given him the confidence to shine. This is evident in so many more ways than just his riding. I am eternity grateful for all that she has done for us and I look forward to continuing to watch her help William progress up the levels.
“ Kathy has an amazing, positive and upbeat teaching style. Giving you confidence and great advice from her own knowledge and experience. Kathy teaches in a relaxed, encouraging and non-pressurised way. I would highly recommend her.”
I am now studying the Centre 10 course for Applied Psychology for Equestrian Coaches (APEC)
I hope to bring lots of new hints, tips and experience to my clients to boost your mindset and focus, this is not just for equestrians but all sports fields and life skills