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.
2026 line up
Brett Parbery
AUS
Dressage
Born into a devoted horse family in Dorrigo, NSW, Brett Parbery grew up training cattle horses with his father. He spent weekends competing in campdrafting, polocrosse, and showing. Captivated by night-time agricultural shows, he pursued a career as a saddle bronc rider, ranking among Australia's top 20 bronc riders from 1989 to 2000.
Driven by a deep love for horse training, Brett transitioned to dressage in 1998. Seeking to learn from the best, he moved to Europe in 2000, working with top trainers for three years before returning to Australia to establish his own stable. He continued regular training stints in Europe until 2016 to bring his Grand Prix horses to the world stage.
Brett’s competitive pinnacle came in 2010 riding Victory Salute, placing 10th in the World Cup Final and 8th at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. A 4x Australian Grand Prix Champion with over 30 national titles, Brett represented Australia at the 2010 and 2018 World Games. He narrowly missed Olympic selection in 2008 and 2016 due to misfortune, but served as the Dressage Coach for the Australian Eventing Team at the 2012 London Olympics. Using knowledge from masters like Edward Gal, Brett co-founded "Performance Riders" with Natalie Foxon, an online education and mentorship program teaching his curated training system.
Key learnings from Brett's clinics:
More info coming soon.
Maddy Whitford
AUS
Horsemanship
Maddy is an Australian-based horse trainer specialising in behaviour-focused horsemanship and purposeful groundwork that seamlessly transfers into ridden work. A significant portion of her practice centres on "end of the line horses"—animals that have often been labelled as difficult, dangerous, shut down, or otherwise beyond help. Rather than utilising fear, dominance, or rigid control, Maddy’s approach reframes a horse's challenging behaviour as a form of communication. Through her digital platform, educational content, and in-person training, Maddy empowers horse owners to accurately read their horses.
Her methods help both horses and humans rebuild clarity, confidence, and genuine connection by prioritising feel, precise timing, and emotional regulation. By bridging the gap between behavioural psychology and practical handling, she guides owners to create training environments that foster calmer, safer, and inherently more willing partnerships.Maddy loves teaching people how to help their horses and, with her experience, has developed methods to bring out the best in the horses she trains and let them shine.
Key learnings from Maddy's clinics:
Reading the Horse in Front of You
Every horse tells a story before we ever pick up a lead rope. Learn how to assess posture, behaviour
Ben Longwell
USA
Horsemanship
Ben grew up in Colorado, working on ranches and as an assistant trainer at a Quarter Horse breeding/training facility, before he and his wife, Natalie, moved to a 300,000-acre ranch in northern Wyoming, where he not only worked with horses, but also began teaching people.
Ben and Natalie moved to her native country of New Zealand for 11 years and began their full-time horse training and clinic business there. While there, Ben worked with thousands of horses and taught a wide range of well-received clinics. He presented multiple times at Equifest and began to write articles for a variety of publications internationally.
In 2022, they relocated to Oregon and continue to work to achieve their mission: to advance and develop practical skills and communication for the dedicated student of horsemanship.
Ben has taught at some of the largest Equine Expos in the US, along with his practical clinics, where participants love his knowledgeable and encouraging approach to teaching them. Resources for students around the world now comprise their free True West App, which includes select free videos, the podcast Life In The Saddle, an extensive video library and The Remuda, a private online community by subscription.
Key learnings from Ben's clinics:
Fit, history and function of this unique tool of the Vaquero from the ground to the saddle.
Learning the principles of stockmanship to refine communication and share purpose in a fun setting.
Addressing natural herd behavior causing common issues while trekking in groups
Developing advanced maneuvers using the practical setting and purpose of low-stress cattlework.
Lara Beth
AUS
Training & Horsemanship
Passionate about making horse training simple, practical, and achievable, Lara shares easy-to-follow principles that help create happy, responsive, and safe horses. Her sessions combine real-world advice, relatable humour, and proven training methods that riders can put into practice immediately.
Across her three-part How to Train Your Unicorn series, Lara takes riders through the foundations of building confidence, communication, and connection with any horse. Starting with an unknown horse, she demonstrates her fear-free approach using three core principles: moving the feet to establish leadership, building a clear language of cues through pressure and release, and replacing punishment with understanding.
As the series progresses, Lara explores close-contact groundwork, creating a foundation that translates directly to ridden work, before advancing into refined in-hand bridle work that supports laterals, balance, and lightness.
Whether your horse is a competitive athlete, a trusted trail partner, or a unicorn in disguise, Lara’s practical approach will leave you inspired and equipped with tools to strengthen your partnership.
Key learnings from Lara's clinics:
How to train your UNICORN 101 - Where to start!
Building the Language - close contact groundwork
Advancing our UNICORN - Two rein, in hand work
Dan Steers
AUS
Horsemanship & Liberty
Introduced to horses in his early teens in South West Western Australia, Dan began refining his horsemanship and farrier skills at age 15 under master farrier Pete Webber. By 17, he was starting and training young horses for cutting trainer Corry Holden in Victoria, where he quickly found success winning junior and senior cutting events. In 2002, Dan returned to Western Australia to work at Taunton Vale, a prominent Thoroughbred and Australian Stock Horse stud, gaining extensive experience in breeding, training, showing, and yearling preparation.
Dan’s competitive career accelerated in 2007 when he captured the ACA Western Australian Reserve Champion Open Campdraft rider title, alongside multiple campdraft and stock horse futurity wins. In 2008, Dan partnered with Dan James, officially founding "Double Dan Horsemanship." 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
Caleb Degen
AUS
Liberty
Currently, Caleb serves as the Equine Coordinator at Australian Outback Spectacular. He has been with the show for nearly 10 years, assisting in the management and training of the horses for this acclaimed live show. His role involves overseeing their care, training, and performing alongside his equine counterparts as well as ensuring they are well-prepared for their captivating performances. He has been lucky enough to be trained and assisted in both trick riding and liberty work by one of the country's greatest Horsewomen, Zelie Bullen. Recently travelling to Africa to assist with the training of young horses and exposing them to game and wildlife within reserves in Botswana and Kenya has allowed him to bring new insight and perspective to the training and mindset of horses back in Australia.
Caleb has expanded his horizons by teaching liberty and groundwork through clinics and lessons around Southeast Queensland. His innovative approach to equine training and commitment to animal welfare reflect his deep dedication to the equestrian world. Caleb's journey showcases his genuine love for horses and his desire to share his knowledge with others.
Key learnings from Caleb's clinics:
Starting a horse at liberty
Liberty - LET THEM LEAVE!
Joe Gardiner
AUS
Trick Riding
Joe Gardiner's career with horses is anything but ordinary. From the glittering lights of the Australian Outback Spectacular on the Gold Coast to the awe-inspiring global stage of Cavalia, Joe has spent years performing in world-class equine productions across China, America, and Europe.
Now based on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, Joe balances life between his professional horse training business and his passion for entertainment through Laughing Stock Productions. With a flair for the dramatic and a deep connection with horses, Joe brings education and fun together in a way that's unforgettable.
Key learnings from Joe's clinics:
Come and watch as he uncovers the basics of trick riding for both horse and rider
Daniel Dauphin
USA
Horsemanship
Daniel has trained horses for three decades. In his words "he’s given blood, sweat and tears, and that was just last Tuesday". Daniel has started racehorses, eventers, trail companions and cutting futurity prospects. After losing a bet, he has been working as a clinician since 2012. Best known for his biting video, clinics, online course, and presentations, he’s also written many articles for a variety of magazines and has a podcast, “Adult Onset Horsemanship”, where he and guests work up wet saddle pads on the issues of the day.
Daniel’s presentation style is informal and friendly. He often uses humour, logic, and strong visuals to make his points and simplify the complex. He has worked with numerous breeds and disciplines and is a generalist, focusing on the core principles of horsemanship that all disciplines should share. People have left his clinics, noticing that they get better fuel mileage, avocados stay ripe longer, and a few have even reported kind words from their mother-in-law.
Key learnings from Daniel's clinics:
Relevant Anatomy the Horse Wants You to Understand
Comfortably Setting Up Bits and Bridles from the Horse's Perspective
The Physics of Bits and What They Do and Do Not Do aka The Death of Dogma
Most of the World's "Bit Problems" are actually on Your End of the Reins. Let's talk about hands.
Ally Caldarola
CAN
Horsemanship
Ally is an ethical horsemanship trainer who is passionate about helping horse people build stronger, more thoughtful partnerships with their horses. With more than 15 years of experience, Ally has travelled throughout North America and internationally, learning from a diverse range of respected trainers across classical dressage, vaquero, ranch, working equitation, hunter/jumper and natural horsemanship. Her approach blends the strengths of these disciplines into a practical, progressive training philosophy that focuses on achieving more with less. By prioritising both the horse's physical and emotional wellbeing, Ally helps riders overcome behavioural challenges, develop solid foundations, and create lasting results without compromising the horse.
A strong advocate for ethical horsemanship and cooperative care, Ally is committed to improving the experience of horses and the people who work with them. Through her engaging and inclusive teaching style, she encourages riders of all levels to raise their standards, challenge traditional thinking, and develop confident, sustainable partnerships built on trust, understanding, and respect.
Key learnings from Ally's sessions:
A positive reinforcement approach for creating a safer and more manageable horse to medicate.
Balancing active and passive leadership to help a horse come back down and build resilience.
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?
Jody Hartstone
Equitation Science & Dressage
Jody equestrian journey began in Pony Club, where she says the determination often outweighed natural talent. That grit carried her all the way to international Grand Prix dressage, earning numerous national titles and international derby wins along the way. Today, Jody is recognised as one of the world’s leading practitioners of Equitation Science, specialising in applying learning theory to enhance training and solve behavioural challenges. Her work blends sport, science, and ethics, ensuring horses are not only successful in performance but also understood, respected, and willing partners.
Through her business, The Equine Catalyst, Jody offers a wide range of education opportunities. These include online courses, virtual lessons via Zoom, and clinics delivered both across New Zealand and internationally. Passionate about empowering riders with knowledge, Jody’s teaching combines her extensive dressage experience with her scientific expertise, making her clinics both practical and transformative.
Key learnings to take away from Jody's sessions:
Why the future of equestrian sport depends on more than skill in the saddle
Its true purpose, biomechanics, and how it can transform your horse’s way of going
What it is, how it works, and how to teach it—improving balance, communication, and performance
MORE EXCITING EDUCATORS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!
Dates & Location
16 - 18 October 2026
Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton