A combination of seminars, clinics and demonstrations will feature as part of Equifest’s educational lineup.
Our experts will cover a wide range of topics and disciplines relating to horse care and riding. While opening doors to new disciplines in a fun and interactive way, regardless of discipline or ability. Check out our educator list below. We will be adding new people all the time.
2024 line-up.
2025 line-up coming soon.
Andrew Hoy
UK / AUS
Eventing
With an impressive tally of 6 Olympic Medals, including 3 Gold, Andrew stands as one of Australia’s most decorated athletes, leaving an indelible mark across 8 Olympic Games.
The foundation of Andrew’s success lies in his meticulous attention to detail, an unyielding will to learn, and a commitment to constant improvement. Andrew has a 40-year-plus international career and is still competing a team of horses at a professional level today, along with running Somerby Stables farm with his wife and two children.
Masterclass with Andrew Hoy, Sunday 20 October:
This is a rare and exclusive chance to learn from the best at a Masterclass with Andrew Hoy. Andrew is a formidable competitor in international eventing and has made significant contributions to equestrianism, earning him a prominent place in eventing circles worldwide. *This is a seperately ticketed masterclass.
Craig Johnson
USA
Reining and Ranch Riding
Considered a true master, Craig has earned his place among the elite as a NRHA Million Dollar Rider. His unparalleled expertise spans Reining, Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, Versatility Ranch Horse, Cowboy Dressage, and All-Around Horsemanship.
Craig teaches riders of all disciplines, and his passion lies in teaching people how to bring out the best in their own horses. Craig’s tried and proven system, based on the discipline required and concepts of reining and ranch riding, will bring out the very best in a horse and rider. Craig's remarkable career is a testament to his dedication and skill.
Key learnings from Craig's clinics:
Willingly Guided - this clinic is beneficial for riders of any discipline, who wish to improve basic body control, focus, find mental neutral, and develop a deeper level of refinement.
Let's Get Ranchy - in this clinic, you will learn about body control, effective steering, stopping, and speed control, how to get great transitions and departures, and so much more! Prerequisite: Walk, trot, lope, don't fall off.
Let It Rein: When foundation meets circles, stops, and spins. In this clinic you will learn how to clean up your 0.
Dan Steers
AUS
Horsemanship & Liberty
Dan is an accomplished horseman who makes up one-half of Double Dan's horsemanship. As a highly skilled horseman, Dan is sought after for his ability to entertain and thrill audiences of horsey and non-horsey people alike.
Dan's inspiring philosophy is to create well-rounded horses that can excel in any discipline or job, and to foster the perfect equine relationship. By sharing the principles of horsemanship, Dan aims to empower his audience to communicate better with their horses, understand their reactions, and master new manoeuvres.
Key learnings from Dan's clinics:
Problem-Solving
Horsemanship
Hannah Catalino
USA
Liberty & Wild Horse Tamer
Based in the USA, Hannah Catalino has travelled the world teaching liberty and horsemanship techniques. Her work focuses on fostering a deep, trust-based relationship between horses and their handlers. In liberty , the emphasis is on communication and connection rather than control. Hannah's approach often integrates principles of natural horsemanship with an emphasis on respect and understanding.
Key learnings from Hannah's clinics:
Advanced liberty trick training with Hannah Catalino and Kelly Wilson
Starting a horse at liberty, progressing over three days.
Tyson Miller
Horsemanship & Liberty
After attending several Buck Brannaman clinics, Tyson discovered a passion for horsemanship and soon found himself apprenticing under Ben Longwell of True West Horsemanship. Here, he spent 3.5 years under Bens's mentorship and gained lots of experience in colt starting, problem-solving, horsemanship and the Vaquero Bridlehorse tradition. This eclectic mix has given Tyson a well-rounded experience and has grown his passion for sharing knowledge and teaching clinics and lessons nationwide.
During Equifest, his Horsemanship for Green Horses & Colt Starting sessions will cover the tools and techniques required to build a strong foundation with young or green horses. His focus will be reading and understanding horses' behaviour whilst showing how to communicate effectively and safely.
Key learnings from Tyon's clinics:
Over the three days, Tyson aims to explain and showcase the importance of our groundwork with young or green horses in their early education stages and how this trust translates under saddle.
Kelly Wilson
Horsemanship & Author
Number One Bestselling author, award-winning photographer, reality television star, wild horse tamer, motivational speaker, equestrian, and adventurer – Kelly Wilson is a woman whose passion permeates into everything she does. Back in 2012, when her journey with the Kaimanawas began, Kelly had no idea where her affinity for wild horses would take her. Now, alongside a list of bestselling books and award-winning photographs of wild horses, Kelly is the only trainer in the world to have achieved top six finishes in the Extreme Mustang Makeover, Australian Brumby Challenge and Kaimanawa Stallion Challenges.
In recent years, she has continued to advocate for wild horses on a global scale, taming almost 100 wild horses, and from 2018 to 2020 she spent several months living out with wild horses in Canada, America, Australia, Portugal and New Zealand to observe herd behaviour for her bestselling book Wild Horses of the World.
Kelly will join Hannah Catalino (USA) and together they will showcase the liberty horsemanship methods they use when training wild Kaimanawa and Mustang horses. This two-day clinic will feature two Kaimanawa horses, as Kelly and Hannah train them around a challenging obstacle course at liberty.
Key learnings from Kelly's clinics:
Advanced liberty trick training with Kelly Wilson and Hannah Catalino
Vicki Wilson
Rehabilitation, Jumping & Horsemanship
In Vicki's world, there is no such thing as a problem or naughty horse, Just a horse that has a problem- painful symptoms that are the hidden cause of that unwanted behaviour.
Every horse needs to be treated like an athlete, both physically and mentally. We need to give them the tools for them to succeed in life. In these clinics, we will look at a couple of problems and sore horses and walk through issues in their body and how we would go about helping the horse going forward.
Key learnings to take away from Vicki's Clinics:
How to identify I have a sore horse and the road to recovery
Riding with feel & lightness
Amanda Wilson
Showjumping & Mindset
Amanda is one of New Zealand’s leading coaches and showjumpers, having competed to World Cup level. She has a passion for starting and producing young horses up the levels and has earned a reputation for her keen eye for a good horse and her gentle yet effective approach to developing horses for top-level competition.
Sharing her in-depth knowledge on the mechanisms of rider position, finding the correct balance in the horse, how to produce happy and sound horses, Amanda will help with rider confidence and more. For the last five years, Amanda has been studying human trauma, which she has tied strongly to her work with horses and largely influences how she trains today.
Key learnings to take away from Amanda's Clinics:
- Human trauma - steps to understand yourself a little better and how to understand how your horses can make all the difference to reaching success
- The ability to read the horse's body language and gauge how they are feeling and what they need
Lisa Earley
Western and Horsemanship
Lisa Earley's knowledge of Western saddlery and Horsemanship gives her a unique edge in helping humans and their horses. Her journey has led her to ride with international clinicians and spend time in the USA. Here, she studied Rawhide braiding, Leatherwork, and the California bridlehorse tradition while based at Martin Blacks Ranch.
She also spent four summers apprenticing under Russell Higgins, where she practised the finer points of Colt Starting and Horsemanship. Over the years, Lisa has competed in the Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge, Equifest Future Stars, Rodeo, Ranch Riding and Reining.
Throughout her journey, Lisa recognised a need for quality Western saddles, Hackamores (Bosals), and correct information on their fit, function, and use. Her experience in many Western disciplines has given her the ability to not only create great gear but also teach people how it should fit and be used, all while creating a willing, confident horse.
Key learnings from Lisa's clinics:
Lisa is excited to help people better understand the Hacakmore/Bosal and to shed some light on the fundamentals of Western Saddle Fit.
Linda Brown
Dressage & Rider Biomechanics
Linda is an accredited Ride with Your Mind (RWYM) and ESNZ Performance Coach. She has attended numerous Andrew and Manuela McLean clinics and strongly follows their methodology. Linda was a List 2 Dressage Judge and the Area Delegate to Dressage NZ for the Bay of Plenty area for 20 years. She has a sound understanding of dressage from the perspective of a rider, trainer, judge, and delegate.
Linda has an adult teaching diploma, a biomechanics coach accreditation from Mary Wanless UK, a certificate in e-learning design and facilitation with the Open Polytechnic, and a diploma in journalism. Linda's coaching is both ethical and compassionate. She teaches riders to adopt positions that enable their horses to move freely rather than restricting their movement. As a result, most riders see their horses becoming happier and experience an increase in movement by 10% to 15%.
Key learnings to take away from Linda's sessions:
How your position affects everything
Effectively riding the three paces and transitions
Remove your body’s handbrake on your horse
Ellie Harrison
Horsemanship & Liberty
Ellie grew up in the UK with a love of horses inherited from her family and spent many many hours in the saddle. It was a move to New Zealand 17 years ago that began her horsemanship journey when she adopted a then fire-breathing red-headed Anglo-Arab and began to earn her trust and partnership. Today, Ellie has developed her own unique horsemanship style, combining many different approaches she has learnt from various instructors worldwide, with Liberty being her main passion.
Key learnings from Ellie's clinics:
Ellie will share her gentle approach to horsemanship with clinics focusing on Float Loading, Calming the Anxious Horse, and Liberty Outside of the Round Pen.
She will also showcase her Liberty skills in Saturday’s Festival of Fun Presented by NSC The English Saddle Company.
Russell Higgins
Horsemanship & Liberty
Russell and his partner Ruth own and run Brumby Farm Horsemanship Centre in Te Awamutu and offer online education to students worldwide. The connection Russell gains with his horses at Liberty is a by-product of his Foundation programme. Russell has been teaching horsemanship clinics and starting young horses professionally since 1999. To date, he has taught in 18 different countries and started young horses on four continents.
Key learnings from Russell's clinics:
Helping an anxious young horse: Russell is bringing his 3-year-old Lusitano, Riley, to Equifest for his first outing. He will share his preparations and perspective and how to help Riley cope.
Increasing your horse's safety rating: Russell will share with you things you can do to make him safer to handle on the ground and ride.
Foundation before Specialisation: What is Foundation, why is it important, and how does it help prepare you and your horse for specialisation?
Kirstin Kelly
Equestrian mindset coach for Dressage, Show-jumping and Eventing
After working through the pony club system, competing at champs and progressing to horse trials, Kirsten studied in the UK achieving her British Horse Society Intermediate Instructors certificate which enabled her to coach riders to fund her own three-day eventing dreams and lead to her having a long, successful career representing NewZealand and producing a string of fantastic advanced horses. Recently Kirstin has developed her coaching platform helping mentor riders from around the world. Kirstin’s workshops help riders find-tune the competition mind to be focused, confident, resilient and optimistic.
Key learnings from Kirstin’s clinics:
- The correct, balanced, and secure position ensuring you safety, effectiveness and fabulous looks
- Building a positive mindset to have faith in yourself
- How to structure schooling sessions that build your horses skills, athleticism and desire to give you 100%
Chloe Phillips - Harris
Eventing, Horsemanship & Equine Health/ Minature horses
Chloe Phillips-Harris has had the horse bug for as long as she can remember. These days, her career is long and diverse. She's competed at 4* eventing and produced horses to high levels in showjumping and dressage. Her understanding of horse behaviour and training has allowed her to train hundreds of wild horses, consistently get the best out of performance horses, and train some record-breaking minis.
She's also competed in the world's toughest horse race, led some of the most extreme expeditions on earth and completed 9000km in the saddle riding horses, yaks, camels and reindeer in Mongolia. Her training methods focus deeply on understanding horse behaviour and building foundations and partnerships to take you from base level to elite level riding and competing. She is all about creating happy horses and confident riders.
Key learnings to take away from Chloe’s clinics:
Learn skills to help you have fun, and create a fearless cross country partnership with your horse.
Want to understand horses better but not sure how it relates to sport come learn both.
They may be small but they are mighty! Come see just what these magical minis can do.
Glenn Campin
Barral Racing
Glenn has professionally trained horses and riders in New Zealand and the USA to National and World Championships for many years. His extensive background across all disciplines, e.g., show jumping, cross country, racing, cutting, reined cow horse, reining, and rodeo events, has built his unique system for barrel racing. The thrill of developing champion combinations in the excitement of barrel racing has evolved into his love of the sport.
Key learnings to take away from Glenn's sessions:
Come and see an exciting, fun equine activity. Demonstrating barrel racing techniques that produces champions.
Anna Drabble
Equine Health & Hoof Care
Anna started trimming her own horses as a teenager and found a whole world of horse care beyond what was traditionally taught. Many years later, she is now a qualified Equine Podiatrist and Bodyworker and has a passion for ongoing education and skill development.
For Anna, holistic care is a fundamental principle that guides her practice. She believes in looking at the bigger picture and understanding how the hooves influence the body and vice versa. But she doesn't stop there. She also considers the horse's training, diet, and management, recognizing that these factors all contribute to the horse's overall well-being.
Key learnings to take away from Anna's sessions:
Recognising some common hoof issues, and what owners can do to help their horses hooves.
An introduction to the world of glue on shoes, Anna will be answering many of the common questions.
Rabecca McKenzie
Equine Health
Rabecca has been involved with horses since a very early age, starting from pony riding, showjumping, showhunter, hunting, a dabble in rodeo and eventing. As a kid, she lived on a stud farm where her parents had three stallions, so breeding, rearing and breaking in young horses was our day-to-day. This background led to sitting her British Horse Society Instructor cert while travelling in the UK, teaching in the USA and attaining a scholarship to Marcus Oldham College in Australia for a Diploma in Horse Business Management before attending Massey University for double degrees in both Veterinary Science and Applied Science 16 years ago. Upon graduation, she interned and became an associate at Matamata Vet Services - Equine for nine years.
She holds a postgraduate degree in Equine Medicine from the Australian College of Science. She has published three scientific articles in the NZ Veterinary Journal and is currently the NZ Equine Practitioner Journal convenor. Taranaki Equine Vet Services was established two years ago, focusing solely on Poor Performance and Lameness in horses.
Key learnings to take away from Rabecca's sessions:
Is your horse Naughty or Sore?
As riders we often don't pick up on the subtle clues or signs that our horse is trying to tell us.
Jody Hartstone
Dressage
Jody has long been known as an NZ representative Grand Prix Dressage rider and "problem solver" for all manner of issues with horses. Over the past two years, she has delved deeper into polyvagal theory, trauma, attachment, and nervous system regulation of horses and humans. These themes blend beautifully into her science-based approach to horse training, giving her a unique skill set.
She is also about to launch her new business, the Equine Catalyst, which aims to empower horse riders and trainers with the knowledge and skills to create a brighter future for horses. It is where sport, ethics, and science converge.
Key learnings to take away from Jody's sessions:
During her 'Dressage as a Somatic Experience' session at Equifest, Jody will introduce the concepts of Poly Vagal Theory and its connections to the Nervous System regulation of both horse and rider.
She will also demonstrate 'Good Old Fashioned Groundwork' session and how returning to a somewhat old-fashioned way of handling and lunging a horse can lead to better welfare outcomes for the horse.
Kelly Keenan
Reining
Growing up on a ranch in Central California, Kelly got her start riding jumpers before switching to reining, where she soon fell in love with the athletic yet technical nature of showing reining horses. A background of learning gentle and empathetic methods with childhood mentor Kim Yancey laid a perfect foundation for her to later strive for excellence within the physical and mental bounds of the horse.
Having worked successfully for large training barns in the USA including NRHA Million Dollar Rider Jordan Larson, while she was employed mainly for coaching and guiding Non Professional riders, she accrued several regional Derby and Futurity Championships with limited opportunities to show.
Since she immigrated to New Zealand, Kelly has enjoyed forming relationships with horses and riders nationwide, helping them to reach higher levels of understanding and quality of maneuvers with their horses.
Key learnings to take away from Kelly's sessions:
Producing performance horses with traditional principles and modern horsemanship methods
Michelle Logan
Equine Veterinarian
Michelle grew up in a non-horsey family in England and Wales but always loved horses. She worked in mixed practice in Wales before moving to NZ in 2003 and worked as a vet in Gisborne and the East Coast. "I even bought my first horse from an East Coast auction," says Michelle. Following several opportunities to advance as an equine veterinarian, the result was further qualifications in equine surgery and medicine and finishing with becoming a Registered Specialist in Equine Medicine.
Michelle works remotely for the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) and runs Logan Equine Horse First Aid Courses. Her course aims to give some confidence and knowledge to reduce panic in stressful situations to help provide the best outcome for the horse.
Key learnings to take away from Michelle's sessions:
Equine First Aid Essentials-what you need to know! An interactive overview of useful horse first aid.
Preparing for travel & keep your horse healthy on the road covers preparing horse & tips for travel.
Colic- What is it? How will I know if my horse has colic? What causes it? Can I prevent it?
Bex Tasker
Clicker Training
Bex is a teacher of positive horsemanship, dedicated to enhancing compassion, clear communication and cooperation within horse-human partnerships. Bex has loved horses all her life, with pony club and show jumping filling her childhood and teen years.
In her early twenties, however, her world pivoted when an encounter with a positive reinforcement dog trainer ignited a spark. Intrigued by the concept of clicker training and impressed by the incredible results she was seeing, Bex became obsessed with learning everything she could.
Bex has helped countless horse owners improve relationships, solve problems and enhance performance by incorporating positive reinforcement into their horsemanship. There are also enormous benefits for the human end of the lead-rope. Those who are anxious or distracted learn to be calm and present in the moment, focusing on what is going well, rather than on their own fears or worries.
Key learnings to take away from Bex's Clinics
How and why to use food rewards correctly - as a tool for behaviour change (not a bribe)
Understand WHY your horse does that, and how to fix it. No force, fear or coercion required
GroundPLAY (not groundwork): reward-based methods for confident, motivated, connected horses
Lynley Bolt
Artistic Horsemanship
For Lynley, the journey into Artistic Horsemanship began over two decades ago, driven by a deep, abiding love for horses and a fascination with the unspoken language that binds horse and rider. From a young age, the subtle, almost mystical communication between horse and human sparked a lifelong quest to nurture and understand this profound connection.
The emphasis is on creating a soulful connection that transcends mere technique. True horsemanship extends beyond physical cues, delving into an intimate bond that resonates on emotional, spiritual, and energetic levels. This connection unlocks the transformative potential within every rider and horse, revealing the beauty that emerges when they move as one.
Whether seeking to refine skills or forge a new path with a beloved horse, this approach invites stepping into a space where horsemanship becomes a spiritual practice, and every interaction with the horse is a step toward creating something truly beautiful.
Key learnings to take away from Lynley's sessions:
Bridge the gap between Groundwork and Work In-Hand, and elevate your communication.
Create a masterpiece together through In-Hand work, refining athleticism, connection, and unity.
Where every movement becomes a brushstroke in the masterpiece of your shared journey.
Julie Malcolm
Rider Biomechanics & Dressage
Julie of Ridewell Trainwell is a dressage coach and judge passionate about working with riders to help them overcome imbalances, fear, asymmetry, and the effects of injury or disability and be a better load for the horse to carry. Julie's interest in dressage was ignited by watching Reiner Klimke and Ahlerich at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Still, she didn't get involved in the sport until 1993, when she broke her pelvis and back in a riding accident.
Her training philosophy has been influenced by Equitation science and learning theory for horses and riders, as well as classical dressage and biomechanics. Her teaching style was influenced by Mary Wanless's book Ride with Your Mind Essentials when she found a lot of what Mary was saying resonated with her. After training with Mary in the UK, Julie has been a regular visitor to ride and train at Valencia Classical Dressage Training Academy in Portugal. She is also trained in and has used the Franklin Balls and Franklin Method techniques since 2016 and is now a certified Franklin Method/Train Your Seat coach.
Key learnings to take away from Julie's sessions:
Julie enjoys helping riders become more aware, secure, balanced, and in sync with their horses while advocating for the horse.
Improve your ride and be a better load for your horse - using on and off-horse techniques to help all riders.
Ellen Bennett
Horsemanship
Ellen had a unique childhood, travelling and living with her parents throughout Scotland, North America, and Europe. She spent most of her days at local stables in each place they lived and visited. Riding, working, teaching, and learning different ways that horses are handled in different parts of the world and by different trainers and schools. In her early twenties, she moved to New Zealand, and her work evolved into owning riding schools, trekking operations, running clinics, and buying, selling, and breeding horses. During that time, her journey with natural horsemanship began.
Ellen's signature Freework style developed during a clinic she ran more than 15 years ago remains the basis of her work with horses today. Striving to help individuals and their horses maintain happier, healthier relationships, always emphasising that emotional connection is far more important than technique.
Key learnings to take away from Ellen's sessions:
Building ethical solid foundations for beginners and beyond
Nikita Stowers
Equine Nutrition
An independent nutrition consultant. Nikita loves being able to help horse owners with their horse’s diets and provide advice backed up by science, knowledge and experience. With a wealth of feeds and supplements on the market, Nikita will take the guesswork out of looking after your horse. Nikita's research interests include growing and breeding horses, gastrointestinal health, mineral nutrition and performance horse nutrition.
Key learnings to take away from Nikita's sessions:
Healthy gut, happy horse and smart feeding: nutrition, requirements & workload
Lynley Schollum
Plaiting, Clipping & Turn Out
With 30 years of experience clipping and turning out horses to a high standard, the Clip Clop Shoppe's Lynley is passionate about making your horse or pony show-ready in all disciplines. Based in Hamilton, Lynley does mane and tail tidying and dying, plaiting - sewn or banded, sharks’ teeth and a range of quarter marks and show day makeup, along with the start of the season and end of winter makeovers. Lynley will share different plaiting techniques, turnout tips and advice for preparing a show-ready horse.
Key learnings to take away from Lynley's seminars:
Plaiting and turnout tips
Gavin Welsh
Farrier
A former dutyman in the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Gavin studied the trade of farriery at the Army School of Farriery, part of the UK Defence Animal Centre, United Kingdom. Gavin’s sessions will take an in-depth look at some aspects of farriery and hoof management that should prove interesting, useful, and entertaining. Gavin will cover subjects such as shoeing for performance, laminitis, traditional and modern materials, the topical and nutritional building blocks of great feet etc.
Key learnings to take away from Gavin's seminars:
Protecting the welfare of your horse & farrier and the pros & cons of modern farriery techniques
Charlotte Berridge
Saddlery
After graduating from the Royal Agricultural University in 2009 (BSc Hons International Equine & Agricultural Business Management), Charlotte joined SMART Saddles Ltd in 2010 and became MD in 2020. Charlotte has worked alongside Dr Anne Bondi throughout the design and development of the SMART Saddle Range, including pressure mapping and biomechanical analysis, learning first-hand from one of the world's leading experts in horse, saddle and rider interaction. Charlotte is also on the Executive Committee of the Saddle Research Trust and has assisted with several SRT study days and the organisation of each of the Saddle Research Trust International Conferences and Researchers' Workshops.
Key learnings to take away from Charlotte's seminars:
Flexible saddle fitting
Dates & Location
17 - 19 October 2025
Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, Taupō