Alison Craig

About me

I have over 40 years experience coaching freelance, as well as having a management consulting business career.  My background in the equine industry started with riding competitively in Pony Club and Riding Club in Scotland, including placings at the PC and RC National Eventing Championships, and I developed my interest in dressage thereafter, training my own two very different horses to PSG.  I also enjoyed University riding, competing for Edinburgh, Scotland and GB, including captaining the British Universities team on the international circuit. I passed my AI and II (now Stage 3 and Stage 4) whilst at university, and my full BHSI (Stage 5) in the mid-nineties - all first time passes. 

Currently I am Equestrian Director at St Teresa’s School, Effingham, Surrey, as well as coaching freelance.  I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to both our staff and the school pupils in their equestrian careers, and I particularly enjoy helping keep our older equines schooled and in great fettle. My coaching generally consists of private lessons, and clinics in pairs or small groups. I focus on rider skills, and creating confident happy partnerships.  To this end, I focus on rider position, balance and suppleness so that we can allow our horses to move freely and with suppleness and enjoyment.  I often use the principles of Alexander Technique and The Ready List to help the rider develop poise and feel. I am also happy to sit on most horses I teach, especially if that helps both myself and the rider understand what is happening, and I am able to provide support between sessions, including reviewing videos of schooling, dressage tests, in-hand work, or jumping performances.

I am also Hon Secretary of the BHS Fellows and Instructors (F&I) Association - a fun way to combine my business experience and BHSI and contribute to the future of the coaching industry at a senior level.