Katherine Walter

About Me

After more than 50 years in the saddle, I am still learning – and that lifelong curiosity is at the heart of my coaching, helping riders understand how their body, mind and movement can transform their partnership with their horse.

I have been riding since I was six years old and have never stopped. My coaching is based on many years of training, teaching and working within the British Horse Society, British Dressage and British Eventing, combined with a lifelong passion for understanding how horses and riders work together.

I hold the BHS Stage 3 Complete Horsemanship Certificate, BHS Intermediate Teach EQL Level 5 and UKCC Level 2. I am currently on the British Dressage List 4 Judges List and am training towards my List 3 upgrade. I am also training as a Working Equitation judge with Sue Barber and Holly Barber, GB team member, at the Pine Lodge School of Classical Equitation, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

I believe that a good coach should also remain a student. There is always more to learn about horses, riders, training and communication, and I actively seek opportunities to develop my knowledge and skills.

My experience
Over the years I have been fortunate to train with many excellent coaches, including Rossie Theobald BHSI and the highly respected classical dressage trainer John Lassiter.
One of the greatest influences on my coaching has been my study of rider biomechanics. I spent more than 20 years studying with world-renowned biomechanics expert and author Mary Wanless through Ride With Your Mind. This has had a profound influence on the way I teach and has given me a particular interest in understanding how the rider's balance, symmetry, movement and body awareness affect the horse.
I have also studied Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and sports psychology, which I find particularly valuable when helping riders who lack confidence, have nerves or have lost confidence following a setback.
I also have a BA (Hons) degree in Performance Arts, which has complemented my interest in movement, body awareness, coordination and performance.

My coaching
I teach riders across the whole spectrum, from complete beginners to affiliated competition riders.
For a beginner, that may mean learning to walk, trot and canter, developing a secure position and gaining the confidence to communicate effectively with their horse. For more experienced riders, it may involve improving flatwork, jumping, preparing for a dressage test or competition, or solving a particular problem in their riding.
I believe every rider and horse is different, so I tailor my coaching to the individual rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
I particularly enjoy solving riding problems. Sometimes the solution is not something the horse needs to learn, but something the rider needs to change. A relatively small adjustment to the rider's balance, symmetry, position or movement can sometimes make a significant difference to the horse.

My particular areas of interest are rider symmetry, balance, core strength, body awareness and biomechanics. I help riders understand how their own body influences the horse and how they can use that knowledge to become more effective.

Developing the rider's toolkit
My aim as a coach is to give riders a toolkit of skills that they can continue to use for themselves.
I don't want riders simply to rely on being told what to do. I want them to understand what is happening, why it is happening and what they can do to influence the outcome.
For me, good riding is about developing greater awareness and control of your own body so that you can communicate more effectively with your horse.
A centred, balanced rider with good awareness of their own body and that of the horse can help the horse find greater balance, freedom and confidence.
I want riders to feel that they are genuinely influencing and partnering their horse rather than simply being a passenger.

Confidence and psychology
Confidence is an important part of my coaching.
I particularly enjoy working with riders who feel nervous, have lost confidence or feel that they have become stuck in their riding. My study of NLP and sports psychology has given me additional tools to help riders develop self-belief and set realistic goals.
I believe confidence is built through understanding, achievable goals and positive experiences. Rather than simply telling a rider to 'be more confident', I aim to give them practical strategies and physical tools that help them understand what they can control.
It is incredibly rewarding to see a rider regain confidence and achieve something they previously thought they could not do.

Racewood simulator training
I also offer training using a Racewood equestrian simulator, which is an excellent tool for working on balance, symmetry, position, coordination, body awareness and confidence.
The simulator provides a controlled environment where the rider can concentrate on their own movement without the horse having to compensate for changes in the rider's balance or position.
It is particularly useful for riders wanting to work on specific aspects of their riding and is popular with Pony Club and Riding Club members, as well as individual riders. Simulator training can complement ridden lessons and is especially useful when a rider needs to concentrate on their own position and body awareness.

Who I enjoy teaching
I genuinely enjoy working with riders at every level.
Whether you are learning to ride, returning to riding after a break, wanting to improve your general riding, working towards a particular dressage test, preparing for competition, jumping or competing at affiliated level, I will tailor the lesson to your needs.
I am particularly interested in helping riders understand why something is happening rather than simply correcting the problem for them.
Every rider learns differently, and I try to find the explanation, exercise or approach that makes sense to the individual.

Continuing to learn
I consider myself a perpetual student. There is always more to learn about horses, riders and training.
My current Working Equitation judge training with Sue and Holly Barber is another opportunity to broaden my knowledge, and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
I believe continuing my own education makes me a better coach. It keeps me curious, open-minded and willing to look at problems from different perspectives.

My aim as a coach
Ultimately, my aim is to help riders become more balanced, aware, confident and effective, while developing a better understanding and partnership with their horse.
I want riders to leave a lesson with something useful they can take away and practise for themselves – whether that is a new physical feeling, a better understanding of their horse, a practical exercise, greater confidence or a solution to a particular problem.
I want to help riders feel more connected to themselves and, through that awareness, more connected to their horse. When horse and rider understand each other better, the result can be greater balance, freedom, confidence and enjoyment for both.

Lessons are approximately 50 minutes and are tailored to the individual. I am happy to travel for individual lessons and clinics, including further afield, with the price dependent on distance travelled.

Whether your goal is simply to become a more balanced and confident rider or to compete successfully at your chosen level, I would love to help you develop the skills, understanding and confidence to enjoy your horse to the fullest.