As a qualified EA Coach, confidence coach, and horse trainer, Christine’s speciality is taking a holistic approach to rider mindset, and to understanding how horses communicate.
I specialise in building confidence in women returning to riding and young riders getting started on their first horse – and to do this I come to you to teach you on your own horse. I also run regular clinics in NSW and NZ, and on a personal level I’m a keen eventer and show jumper. Friendly and welcoming, I enjoy answering your questions and helping you to develop not just your riding but your horsemanship too.
I run very popular Intro Jumping clinics, and recently started running Intro Cross Country clinics that are proving equally popular. I find many riders attending my clinics haven’t been out for a while and want to build confidence. I cater for riders and horses who may be coming out for the very first time, to those looking to level up and improve their current skill set. Classes start from working over poles on the ground, going up to about 1m, and all the heights in between. Every horse and rider combination is unique, but the common focus is improving the flatwork between fences to improve the jumping itself.
Riders, many of them women, who have taken time away to focus on children and family or to study, often come back to the sport they loved only to find they now have fears that never previously bothered them. As a confidence coach, I spend time delving into their mindset to help them shift into a positive mental space where they can enjoy what they’re doing and love their riding again.
My coaching style is holistic in approach – it’s not just all about the riding. We also cover how to read and best communicate with a horse and understand its body language, their nutritional needs, and ensuring the tack they’re being ridden in is appropriate for them to perform at their best.
Q: What was your dream or what were your goals when you first set your sights on the equestrian industry?
I was a horse-mad girl and really just wanted a horse of my own. When I finally did, to start with, I was just interested in how best to work with horses in a way that we could best each understand each other – I spent years starting (breaking in) horses before becoming particularly competitive. But I did start dabbling in eventing and jumping and loved it, so the goals became deciding what my horses were best suited to, then seeing how far up the ranks we could go together.
Q: We believe in the great value of mentors, did you or do you have a mentor that has made a significant impact in your life or career?
Some of my extended family were very horsey, they got me into horses and I looked up to them. Being from NZ, I also loved watching the Kiwi greats and still look back fondly on a clinic I did with Mark Todd. It was amazing to rub shoulders with him, he’s a lovely, quiet-spoken and down to earth Kiwi guy. I even made sure I got a photo with him!
Q: What is the best advice you were ever given?
That it’s not the person with the most talent that is most likely to succeed, but rather the person who keeps showing up and putting in the effort.
Q: What roadblock or roadblocks have you overcome to be where you are today professionally?
I sold up everything and moved countries! Armed only with what we could fit into nine suitacases, my whole family up and moved from NZ to Australia, so I could expand on my equestrian dreams. Being a part of something bigger than where I came from was scary, but so worth it in order to facilitate growth, both as a rider and a coach. Best decision I ever made.
Follow Christine
