Sunday September 24, 2023
For National Pony Club updates and information please go to pcuk.org
Our Coaches

We are delighted to have such great coaches, from a mixture of backgrounds. Many of you will know our coaches and their experience, for those who are not familiar, here is some more information on our main coaches. You will also find that we invite guest coaches to our rallies and camps all experienced pony club coaches.


Laura Hill, UKCC Level 2Laura

Laura Hill

Laura joined the coaching team in 2017, and became Lead Coach in 2021. Living locally in Billesdon, Laura has her UKCC level 2, has evented to 4* level.

She now competes in British Dressage to Advanced Medium and has been to National Pony Club championships 5 times as member of the Belvoir branch including winning the Open Horse Trials at Champs !

She is slowing converting us all to dressage taking us from 2 to 20+ attending our dressage rallies !


 

Kate Wallett, BHSII (Stage 4 senior coach)

Kate is our previous ADC and coaches for us on a voluntary basis. Many years ago, Kate trained with Olympians Christopher Bartle and Jane Bartle-Wilson, at Yorkshire Riding Centre. She gained her BHSAI, then BHSII at 20yrs old. Returning to YRC, Kate coached the BHS students towards their exams alongside teaching outside clients. She also evented to BE Intermediate and Medium dressage.

After a break from riding, Kate got involved in the Fernie when her daughter joined, she is now an accredited PC coach having successfully coached our members up to B test level. She is now having great fun having her own horse again, still training with Jane !


Eliza Stoddart, UKCC Level 2

Eliza is an ex member of the Fernie Hunt PC, and represented the Fernie at the PC Championships. Eliza, is currently competing Internationally up to 5* level.

Building on some decent form in 2019 with her First Event Riders Masters debut at Chatsworth and team bronze at the Nations Cup at Houghton Hall. Eliza is the first to rider to win back to back five year old National Eventing titles at the Young Horse Championships.

She has built on her early success and has spent time learning her trade from Tim and Antonia Brown, and Pippa Funnell. Former Pony European silver medal winner, U18 National Eventing champion, and Young Rider squad member. 

She has her UKCC L2 and her coach approach encourages all levels and ages to develop their technical ability and confidence.


 

 


 

Keeley Martin, UKCC Level 2

980664_10151629103770831_1017598976_oKeeley is one of our stalwart coaches, having coached members for more years than she likes to admit ! Her strength lies in building confidence through fun and her enthusiasm with our younger members and can always be heard singing ‘The Fernie song’ with any group.

Keeley has many years experience of event grooming at international level and has extensive experience working with hunters, young stock, mares and foals and is most recently teaching within a riding school.

 

 


 

Alex Tordoff, UKCC Level 2

Alex is based just outside Tilton having been in the Cottesmore PC. He now has a string of event horses eventing unto 4* level and has trained with top riders including World Champion, Rosalind Canter and J-P. Sheffield .

In 2015, he was the top British rider at the European Junior Eventing Championships in Poland, finishing fifth overall.

Alex holds his UKCC level 2 and has become a firm favourite for his confidence building and enthusiastic jump coaching !


 

Graham Savoury, BHSI SM

Graham Savory is a BHS intermediate instructor & BHS stable manager. He’s also a BS course designer.

So if you haven‘t been taught by him at some point, you will probably have jumped one of his show jumping courses. The combination of Grahams skill set, which also includes in the past, amongst other attributes, lecturing at colleges in equine studies.

This gives him a depth of knowledge and a unique insight & ability to teach the requirements needed in various equestrian disciplines.

 

 


 

Rosie Boulton, UKCC Level 2

Rosie has been a member of the Pony since she was five years old with our neighbouring branch, Pytchley Hunt.
 
She has represented the pony club at the national championships 7 years running from Novice to Open level.
 
Her main focus is dressage, having represented the British Dressage Youth teams at the inter-regionals and home international and has now become a BD youth Ambassador. She competing at Medium level and holds my UKCC Level 2.
 
Rosie is a firm favourite with everyone she coaches and loves encouraging all levels and watching everyone progress.
 

Bec Hewitt, UKCC Level 2

Bec has been coaching for the branch since 2016. She is a popular coach, is endlessly enthusiastic and has a great knack of installing confidence and building skills. She enjoys working closely with members helping them achieve their goals.

Outside of her coaching, Bec has evented up to 2* level, show jumped to 1.20, but is particularly interested and experienced in starting and bringing on young horses.

 


Julie Tilley, Accredited PC Coach

Julie has been coaching with the Pony Club for 22 years, and gained her Cuthbert award for her commitment in 2019. She has been involved in mounted games teams for over 15 years, travelling throughout UK and Europe supporting her daughter and their team.

She believes that building a solid foundation is key, doing the little things right makes the big things right – with a commitment to life long learning. Her passion for coaching ranges from younger members, though to members taking their efficiency tests, teams taking part in the horse and pony care and quiz’s. As well as coaching, she is a keen volunteer for the Pony Club and supports the national organisation every year at the Championships. 

 

Amy McLauchan, Accredited PC Coach

Amy has a broad range of experience having worked with dressage and event horses, and a large professional livery yard. For fun, she has Team Chased to Intermediate, hunted extensively and can often be seen escorting children on the hunt field !

Amy is working towards her UKCC Level 2 coaching certificate. She is a confident and empathetic coach, instilling confidence and belief – she is already finding a draw to coaching our minis and juniors.

 

 

Becky Smith, Accredited PC Coach

Being one of our former members, Becky has a great insight into the workings of Pony Club. She holds her BHS Stage 3 in Riding and Care, is working towards her Coaching Certificate. Her strength in coaching style is her ability to build confidence through technical analysis and development, particularly jump training.

She is a seasoned hunt rider, producing horses for hunting and has previously field mastered. Becky has successfully competed in hunt races and in 2021 won the Silver Spur !