Lydia Bray-Smith Coaching

A good end to the Feb half term, finally seeing some of the yellow thing in the sky!

Back to the "home town" for some teaching and then home in time to enjoy a stroll with Copper and friends 🥰

As well as coming back to the Bideford area to teach existing clients I can now offer coaching and other services near to where I am now based.

Now covering:
📍 Launceston
📍 Camelford
📍 Bude
And surrounding areas!

Happy to travel further afield, just get in touch!

Instructor of the Year – in association with Equinnect

Great instructors are often the reason people stay riding or build a bond with their horse. They build confidence, put safety and horse welfare first, and support riders through every stage, from nervous first lessons to long-term goals, be it in or out the saddle.

This award is about recognising those instructors who make a real difference. The freelance coaches, the riding school instructors, the quiet one-person operations, and the people who show up week after week with patience, knowledge, and genuine care.

If you know an instructor who goes the extra mile, someone who explains, encourages, challenges, and truly supports you, we’d love to hear about them.

Nominations are now open for Instructor of the Year, in association with Equinnect.

Whether they teach full-time, part-time, or independently, this is your chance to recognise their impact.

👉 Please share this post, tag your instructor in the comments and nominate someone who deserves recognition via our website

A super insightful evening at The Grange last night watching a range of horses working through Novice and Elementary movements and tests. Delivered by the fantastic Clare D 🤩

I will have availability to teach in the Bideford area on Sunday the 25th of January in the afternoon - get in touch if you'd like a slot 😊

2026 - The Year of the Horse 👀🤩

According to the Lunar zodiac, 2026 is set to be the year of the horse which can be described as a time to step forward and embrace the new chapter that's beginning. So it felt only fitting to post my well wishes for the new year to you all with the news that I am doing so from a new location!

I am now based a bit further down in to Cornwall but will still be popping up to teach in Devon on a regular basis. I'm super excited for what's to come at our new location, hopefully lots of new opportunities on the horizon that I can't wait to share with you all!

With a chaotic couple of weeks looming, this morning was my last bit of freelance teaching for the year and what a great sign off to 2025 it was!Fun, games, tinsel and Christmas tunes 🎄

Thank you to everyone who's made this year so memorable - so many amazing milestones and achievements made by all of you!

Wow what a day!! A great time at the BHS Coach Convention 2025 listening to incredible speakers and watching a range of great sessions - so much to take away!

Was so great to get Ruth Baxter - Equestrian Coach help on a bit of everything whilst she was down in Cornwall! Flatwork training to develop my seat and skills at assessing the horse I'm riding that day, practical care to tie in with what we are doing online and even a jump session to finally get around to jumping a horse other than my own (something I have neglected for perhaps too long!)
As always a massive thank you to the lovely horses at Lakefield who make it all possible 🤩

A lesson up for grabs!

Lakefield's Pony Club Fundraising Auction Welcome to the Lakefield Pony Club Fundraising Auction! Browse our amazing selection of items - from a range of experiences and goods to equestrian gear and more. Your bids and donations help support us to run our activities, gain resources and provide more opportunities for our young ride...

A super informative and enjoyable day venturing off to somewhere new!

Diolch mawr to Cardiff Riding School Cardiff Council & their wonderful horses for hosting our BHS Stage 4/5 Care training day with Fellow of the BHS Sarah Spencer-Williams today! Well done to all attendees - fantastic engagement 👏👏 & pob lwc with your future BHS assessments! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🐴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

A lovely two days!

A little snippet of Summer Camp at Coxleigh 🐴🤩 Day Camp October 27th Easter 2 Day Camp 6th &7th April