Coach of the Month - March 2025

Time flies and we are now quarter the way through year 2025. Equestrian Australia is proud to acknowledge the achievements and contributions of all affiliated coaches and in March 2025 we salute NSW coach Sharmayne Spencer, who has been nominated by her peers and associates to receive this award.

Equestrian sport relies on the expertise and dedication of all qualified Coaches who guide riders and enthusiasts as they navigate their way from grass roots participation  through to higher level competition, with some students going on to represent Australia on the international circuit.

Sharmayne generously agreed to tell EA members her story and began as follows. “For 23 years, I have been an EA Level 2 Eventing Specialist and Coach Educator and while Eventing is my main discipline, I enjoy coaching riders in all three phases and teach beginners all the way through to FEI level.”

“My family was involved in racing and both of my Grand fathers were jockeys, one steeplechased and the other rode on the flat. The family spent much time at Randwick Racecourse, Centennial Park and Eastern Suburbs PC.  Mum also rode trackwork and competed at the Sydney Royal in show classes.”

“Becoming an equestrian was not so much a choice, it was just part of a lifestyle. I was riding before I could walk and show riding took me to Royal Shows and I was very proud to win Champion Girl Rider at many Agricultural shows plus the Sydney and Canberra Royals.”

“The family moved when I was a teenager and I expanded my equestrian interests to jumping and eventing, mostly due to the encouragement of my new club, Rossmore Pony Club.  I also began riding ponies for Mrs Bud Hyem (the owner of Kibah Tic Toc, Matthew Ryan’s gold medal Olympic horse), and this started a love for eventing. My first ODE was at “Kibah” in Gunnedah NSW. I rode through the junior ranks and took part in many eventing competitions, equitation and jumping at local shows and Sydney Royals.”

“I have partnered some very special horses and ponies, in fact, there have been too many to name here. However, the ones that I remember best were Kibah Puff ( Mrs Hyem’s pony) for our happy days in the show ring. Then my junior eventer, Kara Kar Ben (owned by Bill Yardy of Kara Kar floats), we had our ups and downs and it was lucky that he was good at dressage and cross country as he loved knocking down the show jumps, however, his legacy taught me much about determination and resilience. Star Portrait (owned by Max and Cheryl Crockett) was my first Advanced Eventer, he came to me as a show horse and I started his eventing career. I have started and made several FEI eventers in my riding career, horses such as Star Phantom (sold to America), Mega Star who I partnered to win Sydney CCI 3* now 4* in 2006 and he also placed 7th at the Adelaide 3DE, he was later sold to the UK. Jaybee Star Celebrity went to 4* and was sold to UK, then I trained and competed Aurelia de Gwaihir to 4*.”

“Having mentioned the special horses in my life, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the special people who have coached and mentored me through the various stages of my career.  Mum was the best mentor in all my show riding days, then I started with Steve Gladstone when I was 10.  As part of being on the NSWIS for many years, I had valuable input from the coaches who were involved in this development program.  I have had lessons with Wayne Roycroft, Vicki Roycroft, Heath Ryan and Sam Lyle and have taken away positives from each and every lesson.”

“Becoming an equestrian coach was not an early ambition but more of a natural progression starting from the times I watched my mum giving lessons at our property. I planned a career with animals and became a vet nurse. Through my lifetime of experience riding, competing and producing horses, I found myself in demand and getting great satisfaction from helping others. This led to me becoming an accredited EA coach and … the rest is history.  My coach educators were Judy Fasher, Megan Joerg, Fiona Hughes, and I had many lessons with Roger Fitzhardinge, George Sanna, Craig and Prue Barrett and squad coaches.  Having lived and breathed the process, the EA coaching scheme has provided a sound system around which students of equestrian can progress and improve.” 

“I am a founding member and current President and of Tamworth International Eventing and regularly coach at AELEC in Tamworth. I have been on the ENSW Coaching Committee for the past 3 years and served as President of Eventing NSW between 2006 and 2009. I am a current committee member as a rep for TIE and have served on the National Eventing Committee (now EAEC) and been the NSW representative on two separate occasions.”

EA asked Sharmayne to share any special moment that have influenced her career and she responded with the following story. “In 2007 prior to EI (Equine Influenza) outbreak, I was coaching the Malaysian Eventing Team, they were based in Australia and we were in the process of buying horses for the South East Asian Games. EI saw Australia go into lock down and the team moved to NZ to continue their journey to the SEA Games. As a result of the team moving from Australia, I was given the opportunity to travel to Thailand and take up a post training the Thai team.  This came about because Heath Ryan was unable to leave his property during the EI outbreak. The experience of teaching all disciplines in Pattaya for several weeks was a fantastic learning curve that has helped me to hone my coaching skills.” 

EA asked Sharmayne to advise riders who are considering a career in coaching and she said, “It is the most rewarding feeling to produce riders from grass roots through to the highest level and being part of a collaborative that shares knowledge and experiences with riders is an honour. Becoming a coach improves your personal riding skills, as the more you teach and communicate what the rider should be doing, the better you will understand the why, when, and how, that is behind what you are trying to achieve.”

“The best coaching outcomes are facilitated when riders read and understand the rules and become interested in all aspects of their chosen sport.  This knowledge helps competitors and officials to be on the same page and I believe that all coaches should take the time to learn about the roles of officials and running events to better prepare their students for a positive competition experience.”

“With many years in the sport, I am now a Level 2 Cross Country Course Designer, which gives me a sound understanding of the placement of fences and how they ride from a technical viewpoint. I help my students to identify the reasoning behind the challenges set by course designers and how horses might perceive what they are being asked to jump. There is nothing like considering the technical side of each track to give the most beneficial lessons, success comes with thorough preparation.”

“I encourage all keen equestrians to follow a pathway that opens doors to becoming a coach, it is a wonderful job that gives a great sense of purpose, camaraderie and satisfaction.  I would like to thank Equestrian Australia for this award and the confidence shown by my friends and peers.  I wish all members happy, safe and successful riding and look forward to talking horses should we have a chance to do so.”