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Lisa Ashton

Lisa Ashton (MBA, PGCE, DipEqSci) is an Equitation Science consultant, educator, and author whose work sits at the intersection of welfare science, education, and cultural transformation. As the current Education Officer for the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES, 2025–2029) and Project Lead for the ABRS+ Equi-Centric Futures initiative (funded by Sport England and British Equestrian Federation) Lisa applies frameworks such as the ISES First Principles of Horse Training (2018) and the Five Domains Model (Mellor, 2020) through a realist-informed, evidence-based lens to embed welfare thinking and practice across equestrian systems.

 

Her positionality as a pracademic—bridging practitioner insight and academic rigour—anchors her commitment to Equicentric education, cultivating ethical literacy, curiosity, and reflexive praxis within equestrian learning communities. At Hartpury University, where she leads Level 7 modules on Applied Equine Cognition and Learning, her coaching integrates learning theory and the neuroscience of adaptation to examine how human minds evolve from “this is how we’ve always done it toward a deeper, science-informed curiosity for positive horse welfare.

 

A lifelong advocate of the Leave Horses Better ethos, Lisa’s scholarship unites welfare science, education, and cultural renewal. Her forthcoming book, Welfare Horse Sports: A Blueprint for Positive Change(Taylor & Francis, 2025), offers a roadmap for future-proofing equestrianism through ethical, sustainable, and welfare-driven transformation.

Qualifications

  • BHS Stage 4 Senior Eventing Coach
Qualifications Explained

Get in touch

Location details

Stone ST15 8FW, UK

About me

I am the UK authority in the application of Equitation Science.  I have two decades experience training & coaching organisations. I am the behaviour consultant at Mount St John International Stud (2015-present) as well as training Greater Manchester Mounted Police, Blue Cross, Redwings, Bransby, and The Horse Trust staff in Equitation Science.

I have trained staff & students at Colleges and Universities; Hartpury University, Warwickshire College, Cornwall College (Duchy), Myerscough College, Sparsholt College and Cambria Colleg. If your equine organisation is seeking to update and apply evidence based knowledge, Equitation Science, I work with your culture and teams to create the most optimal and effective communication for uptake of Equitation Science, future proofing your organisation and horse sports. 

My online coaching community; Espresso with Equicoach provides equestrians with a psychologically safe space to practice my belief's; we are here to get it right for horses, not to be right and everyone is doing the best they can for horses, with the 'tools' they have at this time. 

I am the Author of the ‘Behaviour & Handling of the Horse’ chapter in Aspinall’s Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing, former International Society for Equitation Science Education Officer, Expert Witness, HE External Examiner, Senior Lecturer on the MSc Equitation Science at Hartpury University.  In 2020 I wrote the ebook; Horse Welfare From Inside Out. 21st Century Roadmap For Equestrian Coaches. A vital resource explaining and exploring social licence to operate for all everyone,  and the importance and impact of sustainable equitation.