Penny Cruttwell Equestrian Coaching

September is focused around supporting young equestrian coaches.
We are pleased to announce that the free regional training day now gives Pony Club and BHS CPD for coaches.
Our event has been kindly sponsored by Goodbye Flys to support young coaches with free training.
We are delighted to welcome young coaches thinking about a coaching career, newly qualified or already with experience and qualifications. Spaces are limited so please enter via the link.
Follow us for a month of support from our team and other coaches and riders. We are committed to working with and supporting UK and international coaching pathways through governing bodies.
Please reach out to any of our team for more information or support 😊

https://www.coachesforthefuture.com/future-coaching-regional

An interesting Bank Holiday Monday coffee break read ☕️ 😊

We often tend to focus purely on winning and losing, instead of the process, enjoying sport, individual needs and achieving PB’s. After all a new world record is simply a new PB for that performer. This ‘winning is everything’ attitude discourages and restricts both participation and high-level success. It is also a welfare problem, as a blinkered emphasis on winning will mean that horses are more likely to be overstretched.

THE SPACE BETWEEN

Our performance taskmasters
sell triumph or disaster.

No retreat, no surrender,
Not a sport but a war.
But where is the space
for competitive rapport?

Do or die,
death or glory.
But where is the space
for a more nuanced story?

Fortune or failure,
go big or go home.
But where is the space
for the less monochrome?

Pass or fail,
win or bust.
But where is the space
for a little less ‘must’?

Glory or oblivion,
sink or swim.
But where is the space
for something less grim?

Champions or chumps,
rise or fall.
But where is the space
for a less divisive call?

Make or break,
conquer or perish,
But where is the space
for mistakes to be cherished?

First or forgotten,
triumph or fail.
But where is the space
for a sliding scale?

Put up or shut up,
win at all costs.
But where is the space
for learning from loss.

All or nothing,
now or never.
But where is the space
for glorious endeavour?

Winner takes it all,
zero sum game.
But where is the space
for joint acclaim.

Fame or shame,
grace or disgrace.
But where is the space
for joy’s embrace?

Our coaching taskmasters
sell triumph or disaster,
but let’s reject
this sad binary choice,
where difference has no voice.
Instead let’s seek the space between,
where all performers can thrive and dream.

Not a war but a sport.
With space for all,
seen or unseen, fat or lean….
the wrinkled and the wacky!
Happily achieving,
not achieving in order to be happy.

Let’s have a more personal race,
personal action and personal best,
with space for
acceptance and a little less stress …
less cardiac arrest!

The space between means everything,
The space between is pure dopamine.
When we find that space
We win our race.

William Micklem FBHS

I would encourage anyone looking to do their BHS Silver Challenge Awards in Jersey to do this course with Laura Speller at Haie Fleurie. For anyone looking to use this as direct entry into the BHS pathway, Laura Speller and myself can support you with training and skills records and give support and mentorship. I am happy to support coaches throughout further exams and help with skills records up to Stage 4. Please contact Laura for more information on the course at Haie Fleurie and I am always happy to offer advise on training and career pathways 😊

🍂 Looking for a new challenge this autumn? 🐴

⭐ Thinking about an equestrian career? ⭐️

Perhaps you’re thinking about owning or leasing a horse or pony for the first time, you’d like to feel more confident supporting your child with their riding and horse care, or you simply want to develop your knowledge so you can give your own horse or pony the very best care.

The Silver Challenge Award provides a great stepping stone & direct entry to the BHS Stage 2 on the professional career pathway.

Our BHS Silver Challenge Award – Stable Management Course is designed to build your confidence, knowledge and practical skills in a friendly and supportive environment.

Over 10 weeks, we’ll combine interactive theory with hands-on practical sessions, covering:
🐴 Feeding
🐴 Horse health & basic welfare
🐴 Horse psychology
🐴 Grassland management
🐴 Grooming
🐴 Saddlery & rugs

The course will be delivered by a BHS Stage 4 Senior Yard Manager and Accredited Professional Coach, giving you the opportunity to learn practical, real-world skills from an experienced equestrian professional.

📅 9 September – 18 November 2026
🕡 Wednesdays, 6.30–8pm
📍 Haie Fleurie Equestrian

Whether horses are completely new to you or you’d simply like to strengthen the knowledge you already have, come and join us for a fun, practical and informative autumn course.

📩 For more information or to register your interest:
[email protected]

Spaces are limited, so please get in touch if you’d like to join us. 🐴💚

We’re delighted to announce that the Regional Training Day is now fully focused on supporting young coaches and thanks to our event sponsor, it’s completely free to attend. This day is designed to help you grow your coaching skills, build confidence, and connect with a community that’s shaping the future of equestrian coaching.

https://www.coachesforthefuture.com/future-coaching-regional

Reading this blog, I realise what a big year it’s been so far. Launching Coaches for The Future and studying for my British Equestrian Level 4 and MSc in Sport Performance Coaching has been quite a mission. My main focus has been on my daily coaching and I have some exciting plans to support my Jersey riders further going forward 😊

The Journey So Far Coaches for the Future empowers young equestrian coaches worldwide with education, wellbeing‑focused training and a supportive, inclusive coaching community.

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