Coach of the Month - January 2024

Leanne Williams is a Level 3 Dressage Specialist and EA Coach Educator, who lives in the beautiful hills of Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges in the town of Maccelsfield.  She was nominated and proudly accepted EA’s Coach of the Month for January 2024 and told us that the recognition has got her new year off to a great start.

EA caught up with Leanne to ask about her life with horses and horse people and how she manages her professional involvement and coaching philosophies with her personal passion, and asked if we could share this information with all Members and friends of equestrian sport.

Leanne explained that she grew up in a horseless family, so is not too sure where her early passion came from. When she around 9 years old, her lucky day came when her neighbour got a horse and was prepared to indulge a horse mad kid by dinking her around the streets of Boronia and Kilsyth, she added, “I even made indentations with my fingers in in the saddle panels where I had gripped on to the saddle, imagine doing that now?  We are so much more aware of safety issues and of course the dangers of riding on the side of the roads. Those were the days, we left in the morning and returned in the afternoon, all with no helmets on.”

EA asked Leanne if she had any formal training as a child and she explained. “Between the ages of 9-12 I went to a riding school, I am not sure that you could call the lessons formal, but I did learn about the care of horses, their individual characters, to see if they were OK to ride and of course a lot of feeding and picking up poo.

“When I went to high school, I made friends with a girl who had horses and I spent  as much time as I possibly could at her house and the family let me use a horse that I could almost treat as my own. We used to go on trail rides with a group of families in the Yarra Valley and left Dixons Creek on Boxing Day, arriving in Buxton or Molesworth depending on the plans for that year’s ride. The camping was almost as much fun as the riding, we stayed for two nights then rode back to Dixons Creek and arrived home around the 4^th January. These were the most amazing times a teenager could have with a horse and horsey friends. I learned a lot through those years and was motivated by the love of horses and sharing experiences with people like me.

“Growing up, I read everything about horses and their care that I could get my hands on, and practised these theories as much as I could.

“There were no formal riding lessons for me until I was 19 and could afford to purchase my own horse, car and float. I am very proud to reflect that I had my first riding lesson at age 19 and my first Grand Prix start when I was 29.”

EA asked Leanne if there had been a special horse or horses in her life and to tell us how this has fitted into her life as a coach.

She said, “I have had many, many special horses but the one that enabled me to grow as an owner/trainer and enjoy competition success right through the grades of dressage, up to Grand Prix, this very special friend was named Avoca Black Saint or Ziggy to his many friends.

“Zig was a Clydesdale/Thoroughbred cross, a striking individual, black with four white socks and a star, he turned heads and gathered a fan base wherever we went. When I purchased him, I had no money and took a $1800 cash advance on my credit card. I was 22 and he was 5, in my eyes he was perfect!!

“Looking back. I concede that I was completely over mounted and Ziggy had a few black marks against him for issues in his early equestrian career.  He failed to impress as an EA Showjumper because he was so spooky, a trait that is not uncommon in young Clydesdales and while most outgrow the spookiness, this stayed with Zig for life. I persevered with my showjumping lessons but Ziggy’s spook took him out of the game most of the time.   In those days we were competing at C & D grade (90cm -1.20m), but I had to face reality and accept that my boy was never going to make a top ranking jumper.

“We moved on to eventing and enjoyed a reasonable amount of success through the pre novice competitions that we entered, but the spookiness always got us on the cross-country course. Our last event was at the final Wandin 2DE, Zig had a runout on the steeple chase, he was the only horse of the 120 entries to do so, and I knew that was it!  I’ve always had a saying, ‘if the feeling of euphoria at the end does not override the hideous feeling of nerves at the starting box, it’s time to finish.’ That was the last time I jumped Avoca Black Saint, I knew we were done with the obstacles.

“Ziggy had always shown a flair for the flat work we did in our daily training, but at the time, his talent for dressage was over shadowed by the difficulties we were having with cross country and jumping.  Having taken a step back, I realised that the aptitude for dressage indicated Zig’s true vocation. I embraced this idea and the rest is history, we committed to a Dressage career and had some great times on the journey to Grand Prix.

“In 2000, I was chosen to be part of the Australian Team to take part in the World Dressage Challenge, an international competition run at Prix St George level. The same 5 top FEI Judges travel to different countries, judging in the same conditions, then give feedback to 12 selected riders who are at the beginning of a FEI career with their horse.  This was a fantastic learning opportunity and the idea of analysing the horse’s strengths, weaknesses and areas that the rider can improve, is a concept that has helped me in my own riding and has flowed on to the way I approach competition riding with my students.

“In the late nineties I found myself in demand as a riding instructor/coach specialising  in supporting students one-on-one, so the decision was made to build an indoor arena to ensure that I could maintain a consistent training program with my own  horses and offer first class facilities and continuity to my students, no matter what the weather conditions. 

“Zig and I had some wonderful times together and we were also lucky enough to represent Victoria in many State and National competitions throughout the years. It was a journey I will never forget and will always be grateful to have had.

“Black Saint died in 2020 at 35 years of age.  I owned and loved him for more than 30 years and he has left big shoes to fill.  He was a one-in-a-million equine partner.”

EA asked Leanne what inspired her to become a coach and she said, “Ziggy was my main teacher and looking at just how much he taught me over the years made me realise that I could help others like the ‘young me’ and coaching seemed to be my ‘happy place’.   At the start, coaches did not have access to the same level of support as there is now and learning had to be self-driven. I am motivated to learn and strive to be the best that I can be and have applied myself to becoming the best teacher I could be.  Self-improvement was paramount in my mind and working through the syllabus to achieve all 3 Levels to qualify as an EA coach is something I am very proud of and I would not have been able to do it without Black Saint!

We asked Leanne how she works as a coach and she said, “I teach mainly from home now, however, pre pandemic I travelled a fair bit to my students and to conduct clinics both in Victoria and interstate.  Unfortunately, in 2022 I got quite sick and I had to adjust my lifestyle and manage commitments to fit in with my recovery. I am pleased to say that I am nearly on the other side of the illness now and would love to go back to giving clinics.”

When asked to identify the important qualities for a coach or rider, Leanne was very quick to say thatthe most important thing is to always be patient. She added, “Nothing can be achieved unless the rider loves their horse, unconditionally, even if things are not going to plan.  Horses owe us nothing and are doing their best to understand and respond to the messages we are giving them.  This is the rider’s leisure activity not the horses.”  I just love watching the riders face when they feel something new, you can almost stop teaching as they get drawn into the connection with the horse. I just love that!!!”

Leanne identified her coaching philosophy and said, “Hmmm… I think keeping it really simple with as much clarity as possible for both the horse and the rider is the key to success. I go back to the principles of progressive training and work through the lessons, guarding against the temptation to jump ahead and risk both horse and rider becoming confused. Always stay curious.”

We asked Leanne if she had faced any unique challenges as a coach and she answered, “I do keep in mind that as a riding coach I am dealing with two living creatures and not all combinations fit into the ideals set down by the sport.  My thirst for knowledge saw me searching for ideas and I discovered the French School, Philippe Karl’s School of Lightness (Légèreté).  I started studying under Philippe and his Master teachers in 2009 and have continued to learn more about his training philosophy.

“In 2015 I became the first Licensed teacher of the “French School” in Australia. Some of the philosophies and principles are different, but I truly believe that an effective coach needs to ‘think outside the square’ and this system of training opens doors for riders and their horses, helping combinations to achieve a more harmonious and happy relationship.

“As an EA Coach Educator I am often asked to advise students wishing to pursue a career as a coach/instructor and I say first and foremost. Get ready to work hard, be confronted, be overwhelmed, stay humble and keep yourself safe at all times.  Respect the horse and ENJOY the JOURNEY. 
“Oh yes, I also tell my career minded students that those working with horses will always be tired, there are not enough hours in the day to do everything. Follow your heart, being a coach is a wonderful career.

Leanne closed saying. “I would like to thank Equestrian Australia for the interest in my life with horses. So many of a coach’s achievements fly under the radar and it is only a strong sense of right and the support of the EA Coaching fraternity that provides a sense of satisfaction and personal pride.”