29/03/2026
There is nothing more powerful than a rider who simply refuses to stop improving.
Iām lucky enough to regularly coach at my local adult riding club, and honestly, the riders there inspire me no end.
These are people riding purely for the love of the sport. No big agendas. No pressure. Just a genuine desire to get better and a willingness to be taught. That combination is pretty special.
The club has created something that really works. One group lesson every week, plus another weekend session every fortnight. Nothing fancy, just consistent, structured coaching.
And the results speak for themselves.
When these riders head out to winter showjumping days, show hunter rings, or even dressage competitions, they stand out. Not because Iāve suddenly become some sort of miracle worker, if only š
, but because of the power of consistency and those small, incremental improvements that add up over time.
Most of these riders are 50 plus, with a few younger ones keeping them honest, and the resilience and quiet bravery they show is something pretty special. They put themselves out there, they try, they wobble, they succeed, and sometimes they run out of bravery.
And thatās okay.
Because what they do so well is recognise when to take a step back, reset, and then keep moving forward again.
Thatās where the real progress happens.
If Iām honest, coaching riders like this feeds back into me just as much as it does them. They remind me to keep showing up, to keep trying, and to keep going when things feel hard, especially when itās easy to fall into the trap of comparison or frustration.
They bring me back to why we do this in the first place.
For the love of the horse.
For the love of the sport.
For the simple satisfaction of getting a little bit better.
Long live the amateur rider.
