Coach of the Month - February 2025

Equestrian Australia is delighted to acknowledge the achievements and contribution to equestrian sport by Queensland coach Brett Cantle. Brett has been nominated by his peers for the EA Coach of the Month for February 2025. His story mirrors the journey and dedication of the many EA coaches who have gained their qualifications and gone on to be part of the equestrian coaching fraternity.

Equestrian Australia touched base with Brett, firstly, to offer congratulations and secondly, to ask that he share his story with members and riders looking to carve out their own career as an equestrian coach.

Brett thanked Equestrian Australia along with his friends and associates at Equestrian Queensland and said, “I am a Level 2 Eventing Specialist, Coach Educator (CE) and Skills Specific Trainer and Assessor (SSTA). While I teach all three disciplines at home, at clinics it is my cross-country expertise that club officials and students are looking for. I bring to my coaching the wealth of professional knowledge that has been accrued during my years as a teacher, employed by Education Queensland since1996. Teaching has helped me as a coach … and working with horses has made me a better teacher … the roles are symbiotic in the most positive sense.”

“I grew up on 2000 acres in Bundaberg Queensland, we always had dozens of horses and my three older sister rode. Cricket was my main interest but the limited season left me with two choices outside the summer months, to sit and watch or ride, so I rode. In my teen years I developed a love of cross country. My Dad had access to bobcats, backhoes and all the machinery required to build a XC track and it wasn’t too long before we had fences of every height and dimension on a 100-acre paddock at home. I spent many hours honing my skills, partnering with a multitude of horses.”

“There were two special horses that had a massive impact on my life. The first was Alchemy, a 17hh station bred thoroughbred. He presented me with a few challenges, but once we formed a partnership, he was outstanding in all 3 phases. Then came Premonition, a warmblood stallion. From him I learnt that you couldn’t rush the training, it is quite ironic that he reached 3 star (now 4 star) in three seasons, but he was ready for each upgrade. Unfortunately, just as Premonition reached the top level, he sustained an injury that finished his career.”

“Training and competing great horses is the thing that cemented my love of eventing, but it has been the attention to detail and systematic, progressive training that developed my interest in coaching.  As per the lessons learnt from Premonition, I know that there are no shortcuts and correct training is the only way to achieve success as a rider and as a coach.”

“In my late teens I moved to Brisbane to attend University and concurrently took a working pupil position at Benalbyn Lodge with Jim and Naomi O’Farrell. Edgar Lichtwark conducted regular clinics at Benalbyn and I watched the lessons given by Jim and Edgar for hundreds of hours. The benefit of observing experts at work is immeasurable, there was so much to learn and the lessons were impossible to take in straight away. This time pre-dated the internet and there were no phones, so between lessons I watched and listened as they talked all things horses and training.”

“With many hours of learning and hands on riding experience behind me I was encouraged to give a few basic lessons and this showed me that good coaching and collaborating with experts is what makes the equestrian community so special.  Jocelyn Park was very supportive and helped me get my Level 1 General in 2000. Niki Rose (nee Chapman) and I spent one afternoon every week for about 6 months working our way through the entire EA syllabus. This was a great learning experience and while it seemed quite arduous at the time, the progressive nature of the coach training syllabus ensured a sound understanding of all the basic concepts and gave me the tools I would need to be successful.”

“I regularly teach throughout Queensland and all venues have their own unique characteristics in both course design and the standard of riders. Queensland has a wealth of talent and success comes down to a desire to work hard and rise to the top. Collaboration with David Finch (SJ), Sally Collins (Dressage) and myself (XC) has allowed us to provide clinics so riders can choose the disciplines that they need help with.  We work along similar principles and have seen dramatic improvement in these riders.”

“I try to give back to the sport that has been so good and generous to me. Having said that, there can be challenges for riders, coaches, officials and significant others and if you are not resilient you won’t last very long! If I had to address one ongoing challenge it would be how much to ask the horse and rider to achieve in one lesson?  You don’t want to push them beyond their ability to cope physically and mentally, but there must be a balance if progress is to be made.”

“I advise students of the sport who look to becoming an equestrian coach to consider their career choice like a trade.  Tradies have to do their apprenticeship, then work experience, and the professional development is ongoing and never ends. The best advice I can give is to surround yourself with experienced coaches who will engage in collegial talks and share their knowledge. For quite a while I have worked with Emma Flavelle and David Finch, I am in awe of the way they can improve a horse and rider in their lessons and I value their help and insights.”

“I conclude by reminding members that we are all Equestrian Australia and we all determine the direction of our sport and drive the culture.  As coaches we need to be mindful that our role is important and will influence the ethos and conduct of others.  For riders, the same commitment to good practice applies. The equestrian community is wonderfully supportive, generous, hard-working and accepting. I believe that compared to most sports, we lead the way with our commitment to excellence.”

“I would like to thank Equestrian Australia, Equestrian Queensland and those who nominated me for this recognition, it has been a career highlight and much appreciated.”

Above: Brett with Finch Farm Memphis (by Massimo Quality out of a Family Ties/Brilliant Invader mare). Photo credit is Belle Cantle Photography.