Hello and welcome. I'm Ellen, a BD (British Dressage) and BHS (British Horse Society-International Level 2) coach, fully insured with first aid and child protection certificate. A few years ago I did my UKCC Level 3 Exam, which was hard work, but very much worth it. It gave me more coaching tools and confirmed my teaching philosophy. In 2022 I also became a Centre10 Coach for applied psychology which allows me to help my clients with their confidence, competition nerves and overall strategies for training.

Recently I was chosen as one of the coaches on the much coveted NDPCE program for coaching excellence which runs over 2 years and is an exciting exchange with other top coaches from all disciplines of riding as well as learning more coaching tools.

Teaching is my passion and I've been doing it for more than 30 years now with continuous professional development.

After my training in Germany I worked with Grete Ricketts in the UK (importing young horses from Denmark), then moved to Australia to work with the wonderful Christine Doan (Olympic dressage rider). There I learned a lot about the importance of the seat and biomechanics (we had to go on the lunge every day) and how to improve it. 

Back in Germany I worked as a rider for Karola Wächter which meant anything from backing 3 year olds to show jumping, riding GP dressage horses and lots of competing. We regularly took the dressage horses to Sigi Stemman (international GP rider and Rehbein pupil) for further training.

Then I met my husband at a wedding which eventually lead to me moving to the UK, leaving all the lovely horses, pupils and friends behind.

When I came over to the UK I worked for the Eilberg family and really enjoyed my time there. Their style of training very much resonated with me. After about a year there my husband got offered a new job in Bristol so it was good bye Birmingham.

I based myself at Billow Farm near Berkeley where Adam Kemp and Matt Frost were based at the time and I trained regularly with Adam. I often use Billow Farm for teaching, which has great facilities, an indoor school with mirrors as well as 2 outdoor arenas. 

I'm also the dressage coach at Fairlight stud, overseeing the work with the young horses.

Since coming to Bristol I've had 2 daughters who are now teenagers and my husband has passed away. After his death I've buried myself into work for distraction. I've learned even more about biomechanics and psychology which was a bit of self therapy... In that time I had a minor fall off a showjumper and completely lost my confidence. Now I know it was because my 'stress-bucket' was full to the brim. I knew I had to regain it somehow in order to be successful at my job and am so happy to say that I'm back to normal if not stronger than before. My Centre 10 community of coaches was a huge help. If you struggle with confidence, please contact me. I,ve been there and can help!

I chose the democratic, student centred approach to teaching and firmly believe that learning can only happen in a positive atmosphere. Which doesn't mean that there won't be phases of stronger guidance. As it is the nature of our sport a quick, loud 'get on with it' sometimes works miracles...