Informed rider coaching, Nantwich (2026)

Katie is a BHSAI UKCC2 coach trained at the Talland School of Equitation with an MSc in Equine Science & 20yrs industry experience

02/10/2026

I’ve been quiet on here. My team of clients clearly didn’t get the memo!

They’ve been busy getting out there and smashing it — and these messages of success deserve some airtime.

Phoebe jumping clear and going clear team chasing…. again! Emma’s dressage results and remembering she CAN ride and rediscovering her love for competing. Cerys completing and being rightly proud of her horse and herself for doing the hard scary things. Rebecca feeling that brilliant canter and reaping the rewards of months of hard work! And a breakthrough with Jo in understanding Brontë a new partnership and member of the Informed Equestrians team.

Different riders. Different horses. Different versions of success.

That’s one of my favourite parts of coaching. Seeing something that once felt out of reach become achievable, or watching a rider finally understand what their horse needs and which path to follow.

Behind these messages are the practice, the questions, the adjustments and the work my clients put in themselves alongside the coaching sessions.

And in our virtual yard, there’s always a team ready to celebrate with them.

To all my team of clients: you’ve earned these moments. I’m very proud to be in your corner! I’d best get back to it so I can keep up with you all!

If you want a clearer plan and support to work towards your own riding wins, message me ENGAGE to find out about how you can become part of the Informed Equestrians team.

Katie

15/08/2026

Want to know what rider progress REALLY looks like?

It’s not the 67.95%.
It’s not the win.
It’s not the championship placing.

It’s “things went wrong… and I knew how to deal with it.”

And that is exactly what I’m seeing from my clients at the minute.
Yes, there are rosettes. Wins. Placings. Clear rounds. BD scores. Championships.

And I am ridiculously proud of every single one of them!

But the bit that really gets me in the coaching feels? The messages afterwards.

“Warm up was a nightmare… but we pulled it back together.”

“He was a bit spicy, but I didn’t feel stupidly nervous.”

“I was going to do it for the experience, nothing more.”

“Lots to take away and work on… but a huge amount of difference.”

That’s the stuff.

Because a rosette tells you what happened on one day. Those messages tell me what has changed underneath it.
They tell me these riders can feel things starting to unravel without deciding the whole day is ruined. That they can deal with the unexpected.
Make decisions. Regroup. Work out what happened and what to do next. Without me there!

More importantly, they’re actually getting out there and doing the things they wanted to do with their horses.

This is EXACTLY why I created Informed Equestrians.

I never wanted to create riders who became more dependent on me. Quite the opposite.

I want riders who can think. Who understand their horse and themselves. Who have enough knowledge and practical tools in their back pocket that when the plan inevitably goes slightly t**s up, they don’t fall apart with it.

Because riding isn’t performed in a laboratory.
Warm-ups will be chaos sometimes.
Your horse might suddenly decide moving cars are terrifying.

There will be flapping paper, busy arenas, nerves, excitement and approximately 400 things you hadn’t planned for.

You can’t control all of that.

But you can become much better equipped to deal with it.

Thats the informed equestrians mantra: Engage. Empower. Enable.

Engage with what is actually happening rather than blindly following instructions.

Empower yourself with the knowledge, skills and support to make better decisions.

Enable yourself to go out and actually use it.

And right now, I’m watching that happen everywhere within the team.

Riders competing again after long breaks.
Riders dealing with spicy horses without their own nerves taking over.
Riders heading to championships with zero expectations and coming home with placings and brilliant memories.
Riders having imperfect tests and still coming away buzzing because they know how far they’ve come.

That’s success.

Not because I made it happen.

Because they did.

That is the rider I want to help you become too.
Not somebody who never has problems. Somebody who knows what to do when they happen.

So if you’re looking through these screenshots thinking…

God, I’d love to feel like that with my horse.

Come and join us.

Message me ENGAGE and I’ll show you how Informed Equestrians can help change the way you think, feel and ride — so you can become the rider who knows what to do when it matters.

Katie

14/08/2026

There’s one question I find myself asking clients more and more these days….

Does it actually bring you joy?

If it does… brilliant.

Go all in.

If it doesn’t…

Why are you doing it?

I have this conversation surprisingly often.
A rider will tell me they want to start competing.

“Great,” I’ll say. “Why?”

And sometimes the answer is exactly what you’d hope.

“Because I’ve always wanted to.”

“I love the buzz.”

“I’d love to see what we’re capable of.”

Perfect. Let’s make it happen.

But every now and then, the answer is a little different.

“I feel like I should.”
“Everyone else at the yard competes.”
“I thought that’s what you’d expect me to do.”

That always makes me stop.
Because I genuinely couldn’t care less whether you compete.

If that’s your goal, I’ll help you get there.

If your dream is to hack around the countryside with a happy horse, I’ll help you do that too.

If all you want is to ride without feeling anxious every time you put your foot in the stirrup…

That’s just as worthwhile.

The point is that it has to be your goal.

Not mine.
Not social media’s.
Not the rider on the next yard’s.

Yours.

It reminds me of something outside the horse world. Most of you know I’m slightly addicted to horsepower… both the four-legged and four-wheeled variety.

My partner is every bit as much of a petrolhead as I am a horse nerd. The funny thing is that people often look at our cars and assume they’re about status. That we’re trying to impress people. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

We bought the cars we wanted because they make us smile. I deliberately bought the thirsty petrol V6 instead of the sensible diesel.

Financially? Probably not the cleverest decision.
But, every single time I press that start button and hear that engine growl into life, I grin. That little smile is worth something to me.

If that doesn’t make sense to you, that’s absolutely fine. You’d probably choose the economical diesel. And you’d be right.

For you.

It’s exactly the same in the horse world.

Want the expensive boots?

Buy them.

Train with the big-name coach?

Go for it.

Compete every weekend?

Crack on.

But only if those things genuinely bring you joy.

Not because someone else told you that’s what you should do.

There’s far too much peacocking in the horse world. Too much comparison. Too much chasing what everyone else is doing.

Life becomes a whole lot simpler when you stop asking,

“What should I be doing?”

…and start asking,

“What would actually make me excited to tack up today?”

That’s one of the biggest reasons I created Informed Equestrians.

It isn’t a place where everyone is expected to chase the same goals.

It’s a community of riders who support each other in finding their own path.

Some members are chasing personal bests.

Some are rebuilding confidence.

Some are aiming for championships.

Some just want happier hacks and a better relationship with their horse.

Every single one of those goals is equally valid.

Because success isn’t defined by a rosette.

It’s defined by whether your horse is adding to your life rather than becoming another source of pressure.

So here’s my challenge for you this week.

Before you book that competition…

Buy that gadget…

Compare yourself to the latest social media post…

Just ask yourself one question.

Does it actually bring me joy?

If the answer is yes…

Go and enjoy every second of it.

If the answer is no…

Maybe it’s time to stop chasing somebody else’s version of success and start building your own.

That’s exactly what we do inside Informed Equestrians.

Not by telling you what your goals should be.

But by giving you the knowledge, confidence and support to pursue the goals that genuinely matter to you.

Whether that’s your first dressage test…

Jumping bigger tracks…

Building your confidence…

Understanding your horse better…

Or simply enjoying every ride a little more.

If you’re looking for a community that values progress over pressure, knowledge over noise, and joy over expectation, I think you’ll fit right in.

I’d love to welcome you inside. Drop the word ENGAGE below.

Katie

14/08/2026

Sometimes the more “correct” your position becomes, the less useful it is to the horse underneath you….

That’s exactly what was happening with one of my clients recently.

We were working on her position and the contact when she asked:

“Where should I actually have my hands?”

My answer?

“Wherever your horse needs them.”

Which, admittedly, sounds like one of those spectacularly unhelpful coach answers.

So I explained.

She’d previously been told to carry her hands higher and closer together, which, classically speaking, wasn’t wrong. Ultimately, I do want her hands carried as a balanced pair in a relatively neutral position.

That’s the goal.

But every time she tried to put them there right now, the rest of her position started to unravel.

Her upper body became more rigid.

Her arms became less able to follow.

And most importantly, the horse wasn’t going any better for it.

So what exactly were we achieving?

A more textbook-looking pair of hands at the expense of everything else?

No thanks.

I likened it to a downhill skier. A skier wants to be in their tuck. It’s efficient, aerodynamic and balanced.

But watch them actually ski….They move.

An arm comes out. Their body shifts. They make adjustments to deal with a turn, a bump or a change in balance.

They don’t stubbornly stay in perfect tuck while disappearing sideways into a snowdrift because that’s where their arms are supposed to be.

They adjust. Then they come back towards neutral.

Riding is the same.

There’s a difference between an end goal and an absolute rule. Correct is the destination. It isn’t always where you start.

And this is why I think you have to know the rules to break the rules.

When we first learn to ride, we’re given rules:

Heels down.
Hands still.
Sit up.
Kick means go, pull means stop
Don’t pull on the inside rein too much

Useful? Absolutely.

They give us a framework for something incredibly complicated, eventually though, simply knowing the rule isn’t enough.

You need to understand the principle behind it.

Knowing the rule tells me where I ultimately want this rider’s hands.

Understanding the principle tells me why.

Experience tells me when forcing them there today is actually taking us further away from the goal. Because you can’t intelligently break a rule you don’t understand.

You’re just winging it - which isn’t a strategy.

It’s also why I’m wary of absolutes in riding.

“Never do this.”
“Always do that.”
“Your hands must be here.”

Real horses don’t read textbooks.

Different bodies. Different training histories. Different strengths and weaknesses. Add a different rider and the whole equation changes again.

Good training has principles.

Applying them requires judgement.

I don’t want riders collecting 437 rules and panicking when the horse doesn’t follow the instruction manual.

I want you thinking:

What am I trying to achieve?

What is happening underneath me?

Is what I’m doing helping?

If not, what can I change?

Sometimes you need to come out of the tuck to stay on your skis.

That’s exactly the kind of thinking we develop inside Informed Equestrians.

Each week we unpack the why behind the riding in our live masterclasses, with practical ride plans and coaching frameworks you can actually take into the arena.

You’ve also got the coaching library to dip into when you’re stuck and the team chat for those inevitable:

“Right… what the hell do I do with this then? moments.

It’s your virtual yard in your pocket — proper coaching, evidence-based discussion and riders who want to understand what they’re doing, not just collect more instructions.

If that sounds like the rider you want to become, comment ENGAGE and I’ll send you the membership details.

Katie

10/08/2026

Escaped horses. A loose stallion. A banging judges' box = Perfect training conditions.

Last night I went to school Abbie after the competition had finished at my yard. The dust had barely settled and I headed into the jump arena to school. I do this often. I find it helps keep things interesting.

Right beside the jump arena are the turnout fields, where horses were being actively turned out. Along the bottom fence, two 4-year-olds had escaped their field and were merrily grazing on the hedges and shrubs in the forbidden zone. Along the left side, more turnout paddocks. The judges' box was being tidied up, banging away. And in the arena next door, the stallion was being loose schooled and having the time of his life.

For most people, all of this would be a big no-no for getting on and schooling your horse. For me, it was a challenge accepted moment.

Because I know I need to train in busy environments. My horse needs to get used to non-anaemic surroundings. If I want to go competing, head to championships, or just be out and about, my horse needs to get used to those busy environments. They need to become part of the norm. I need to know how to ride her when she gets tense, worried, or overstimulated, so I know how to bring her back if she's triggered.

Now, I'm not saying go out and purposely scare or overstimulate your horse. Far from it. My point is that you need to train appropriately. Do your homework at home, so all of this becomes part of the vocabulary.

You can't take your horse away from home and expect them to behave in an environment they haven't been prepared for.

If you're competing on grass, make sure you've ridden in a grass field or arena before. If you're competing indoors, make sure you've done some indoor training. If you're heading to a busy venue, get your horse used to spectators moving, walking, and making noise.

Get used to riding your horse when they're unsure, so you learn how to bring them back and partner them effectively.

We have a system for this inside informed equestrians called: Person, Task, Environment.

If you want to know more and help build a training plan that gets your horse ready for busy, real-world environments, drop the word ENGAGE below and I'll show you how.

Katie

ENGAGE-EMPOWER-ENABLE

08/08/2026

My saddle fitter pointed something out about my horse the other week that I’d never really noticed.

I’d popped the saddle on Abbie, realised I’d grabbed the wrong girth and legged it back to the tack room.

The saddle fitter held her while I disappeared.
When I came back, she was laughing.

“She’s like a puppy. She watches your every move.”

Apparently, the entire time I’d been gone, Abbie had been watching exactly where I went and waiting for me to come back.

“Oh really?” I laughed. Bless her. That’s quite cute.

But I’ve thought about that little interaction quite a lot since.

Because we all want our horses to like us, don’t we?

We might dress it up as wanting a “partnership” or a “connection”, but ultimately I think most of us would be slightly devastated to discover our horse thought we were a bit of a dick.

And Abbie is NOT an overly affectionate horse.
She’s an independent lady.
The running joke is that she’s basically me in horse form.
Small circle. Keeps herself to herself. Very definite opinions.

If she likes you, brilliant.

If she doesn’t, she’s never nasty. You’ll simply receive the equine equivalent of a polite but incredibly frosty email.

There are no hours of cuddles.
She doesn’t need to be attached to me at the hip.
But there is this quiet understanding between us.

I’ve always called her my warhorse.

Because genuinely, I think if I pointed her towards battle and said, “Come on then Abs,” she’d probably sigh at my latest terrible idea and gallop in anyway.

I felt that in her the first time I sat on her ten years ago.
It’s why I brought her home.

And over those ten years we’ve built something.

Not through making her “love” me.

Not through treats.

Not through endlessly trying to make every interaction positive.

Through thousands and thousands of small interactions.

Being consistent.

Being fair.

Listening when she tells me something.

Sometimes saying, “I hear you, but we still need to do this.”

Learning what she needs from me.

And giving her the opportunity to learn what I mean when I ask something of her.

That’s partnership.

And actually, when I think about it, I’ve done this with horses throughout my life.

My previous mare, Star, came from my coach.

One day my coach hopped on her during a lesson.

And almost immediately Star went tense.

The best way I can describe her entire demeanour was:

“YOU’RE NOT MY MUM.”

She knew this person.
This person had ridden her before.
But apparently Star had decided that particular employment contract had been terminated.

I got back on.

She relaxed.

And we carried on.

It’s funny looking back at those stories, because they explain quite a lot about the way I coach now.

I don’t coach a horse. And I don’t coach a rider in isolation.

I coach the partnership between them.

That’s why I’m not interested in making you dependent on me.

And it’s why I don’t want to become the person who has to get on your horse every time something goes wrong.

I want YOU to become better at understanding them.

I want YOU to learn how to communicate more clearly.

I want YOU to become the person your horse can rely on.

A client said to me recently that her horse feels more relaxed and happier now — and that she feels far more capable riding him herself.

One of the biggest changes?

She’s riding him more consistently rather than handing him over to someone else whenever things become difficult.

And I said:

“Yeah. Because you’re building a relationship.”

That takes time.

Consistency.

Patience.

A fair few mistakes. And thousands of completely unremarkable Tuesday evenings at the yard when nobody is watching.

But eventually those interactions add up.

And one day your saddle fitter holds your horse while you disappear to grab a girth…

…and points out that your fiercely independent little mare hasn’t taken her eyes off you since you left.

That, for me, is worth far more than having a horse who simply does as they’re told.

If you want to learn how to build that kind of partnership with your own horse — where you understand each other better and you become the person they can rely on — that’s exactly what we work on inside Informed Equestrians.

Drop ENGAGE below and I’ll tell you more.

Katie

Address

Nantwich

Website

http://www.informedridercoaching.co.uk/, https://linktr.ee/Katie.hancox_irc

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