Coaching

Here is the link to book for lessons. If you prefer the phone or WhatsApp that’s fine, my number is 07887 931484.

EQ Bands Lessons can be online or in person. If you would like me to come to you that’s fine.

Access to consistent, quality training is essential for building confidence and achieving consistency in competition. I understand how challenging it can be to find a coach who not only has the time, but the energy and commitment to truly engage with your ambitions and help you reach your goals—often going far beyond what you first imagined.

I have been incredibly fortunate throughout my career to train with exceptional coaches who have supported me, built my confidence, and helped me achieve more than I thought possible. That experience shapes the way I now approach my own coaching.

Having competed up to CSI2* level in show jumping and CCI3* level in eventing, I offer training across both disciplines. This includes flatwork, show jumping, and cross-country, tailored to suit each combination and their individual goals.

I am an EQ Bands Accredited Coach and a UKCC Level 2 qualified Show Jumping Coach. I am happy to teach riders of all levels, either at home (where we have good, basic facilities), by travelling to you, or by arranging sessions at some of the excellent local training venues. I am also part of the coaching team at Breen Equestrian at Hickstead.

Coaching is available on a one-to-one basis or in small groups (maximum of four riders), ensuring each rider receives focused, constructive input. While I am competing less myself now, I am very happy to support clients at competitions, and I am always available to review videos and provide feedback.

I genuinely enjoy working with new riders, helping them to achieve their goals, expand their horizons, and grow in confidence. Supporting the partnership between horse and rider is at the heart of what I do, creating stronger, more effective combinations and ultimately leading to greater success—whatever the level or discipline.

I continue to prioritise my own development, currently training with Gemma Stevens and working under the mentorship of John Ledingham. Ongoing education is essential to ensure I am always learning and able to pass on the most up-to-date and effective methods.

Over the past two years, I have also been working with the Dynamic Performance Hub, an approach that brings together horse and rider biomechanics, strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports psychology, and soft tissue therapy. This integrated system aligns equestrian sport with other professional disciplines, supporting both horse and rider as athletes. It has been a fascinating and inspiring journey, and I am very pleased that I am now an accredited EQ Bands Coach.

EQ Bands training is highly effective for both amateur and professional riders, helping to develop strength, improve straightness, and refine rider position, while enhancing overall performance and harmony.

I am fully insured, DBS checked, and up to date with Safeguarding and Equestrian-specific First Aid.

EQ Bands

I’ve recently returned from four fascinating days at The Performance Hub, where I qualified as an EQ Bands Accredited Coach. It was a truly valuable course, covering a wide range of topics including coaching, strength and conditioning, psychology, marketing, business, saddle fitting for both horse and rider, and lameness.

The experience was made even more special by the group I trained alongside—an inspiring collection of equestrian coaches, each bringing a depth of knowledge and expertise from their own field. It was not only a fantastic learning opportunity, but also a chance to connect with a genuinely supportive and like-minded group of professionals.

I’m now very much looking forward to putting this knowledge into practice. The EQ Bands training system is designed specifically for the rider, using elastic resistance bands to help develop strength, stability, and body awareness in the saddle.

The bands are worn by the rider in a carefully fitted way, gentle resistance and proprioceptive feedback as you ride. This helps to highlight any asymmetries, improve posture, and encourage a more balanced and effective position. It allows you to develop strength and control in a way that feels natural and sustainable.

As the rider becomes more stable and aligned, the horse is able to move more freely and correctly underneath. This often leads to improvements in straightness, connection, and overall harmony, simply through the rider being more consistent and balanced.

The EQ Bands training system is complementary to other discipline-specific training, and can be easily incorporated alongside flatwork, show jumping, or cross-country sessions to enhance overall performance.

The bands can also be used off the horse as part of a strength and conditioning programme, and for cardio work, making them a really versatile tool for improving overall rider fitness.

EQ Bands are suitable for riders of all levels, whether you are looking to improve your position, build strength, or refine your performance. They are particularly helpful for developing core stability, coordination, and a more independent seat.

Used as part of a structured training programme, EQ Bands are a very effective and sympathetic way to improve rider performance, ultimately supporting a stronger partnership and better results for both horse and rider.

An online booking system will be available soon. In the meantime, please feel free to get in touch directly for further information or to discuss how this training could benefit you and your horse.

How an EQ Bands Session Works

An EQ Bands session starts with me introducing myself, asking about you and your horse, what level you are working or competing at, and about any previous injuries to you or the horse. I will then watch your normal warm-up, using some straight and diagonal lines and simple transitions to identify any areas where I think that there is a lack of straightness or stiffness. If you were happy for me to use the bands I will then put them on as appropriate. I will then watch you in walk, trot and canter and ask you for feedback on how you feel in the bands, and whether you feel you are working harder on one side or the other. If I feel the bands need altering I will do this quite quickly, and after a maximum of about 10 minutes I will take the bands off, and we’ll start to work the horse again, with me asking for quite a lot of feedback about what you are feeling. The latter part of the session is more like a normal flat-work or pole-work session, but including feedback on how your body and the horse feel to you. If you are happy to be videoed I will film you before, during and after using the bands so that you are able to watch your own progress. We will discuss my findings and your feedback, and work out the best way forward. This may also include suggestions for exercises that might be helpful off the horse. The EQ Bands training is predominantly about biomechanics and therefore is completely complementary to your established training with your normal trainer. I am very happy to discuss my findings with your trainer with your permission.

Testimonials

A few kind testimonials below:

LIANE MARCH

I have been teaching Liane on a regular basis for just over a year, she is a naturally talented and hard working rider, with a lovely feel for her horses. I’m quite overwhelmed by her kind words:

‘Over the last two years I have taken several horses that I ride to have training with Sarah. The main reason I keep coming back is that Sarah is a brilliant horse woman, she very quickly 'gets' a horse and then is able to draw upon her vast knowledge and experience to help get the most out of them.

I wish I had time to go and have more sessions with Sarah, but I know that even if I can't go every week, her clear and concise input stays in my mind until the next time I see her. For me this is one thing that I look for in a coach, I have previously had training from others which really helps for the hour that I'm in their lesson but afterwards I can't remember all of the information well enough to put it into practice. However with Sarah I can understand exactly what and why she is telling me to do things and this clarity then allows me to carry on improving myself and the horses at home.

Not only is Sarah a great help during coaching sessions but she always gives helpful advice as to what exercises to do at home too. Further to this she is also a great mentor to me, always happy to help guide me as to what classes and shows to aim for when I'm unsure, suggestions for changes in tack, as well as whens best to give the horses a holiday or break from jumping. This shows that she really cares and has the horses wellbeing at the forefront of her mind and wants to see both horse and rider perform at their best.´

KAYLEIGH GRANT

I started teaching Kayleigh in April 2019. She has a produced her own lovely horse from a three year old and works really, really hard to realise her goals and to get the most out of the combined talents of herself and Lulu.

“I had my first lesson with Sarah Lewis in April 2019. 

Sarah is a fantastic communicator and is able to spot your issues before you have even begun. Sarah has a wealth of knowledge and experience and I have grown in confidence since having our lessons, she has made me believe in my riding ability and what we are capable of.

We went  on to win our first ever Discovery in the May of 2019, followed by a fantastic show season with lots of double clears and rosettes, to finally stepping up to jumping our first Newcomers at The AEJC Hickstead, this was the goal we had set and with Sarah’s guidance & encouragement, we managed to achieve it. She is passionate and believes in all of her students; you have her full support every step of the way in your riding journey.

Thank you Sarah! “

MARINE DELANOE

We occasionally have space for someone to train with us at home: Marine joined us for seven months in 2018 with her lovely horse Emie. Marine worked really hard to improve her riding, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their competitive success during the time they were here.

“Sarah Lewis helped me to improve my riding and offered me the opportunity to travel to different show jumping competitions and get more experience with my horse. I truly feel that she has improved my riding and I would sincerely recommend her to anyone willing to work hard toward their goals.”

KAREN IBBERSON

I helped Karen and her lovely Vinnie for about eighteen months . 2018 was their first season of competing at BE90 and they were never out of the top 15 - in fact only out of the money twice! A kind testimonial from Karen below. Unfortunately the lovely Vinnie succumbed to colic early this year and I am now helping Karen with her new horse, the very glamorous Comet.

“I came under Sarah’s wing just as I had started my 1st ever season British Eventing (BE90). Sarah found just the right flat work bit for my horse that gave me so much more confidence to really work with Vinnie, rather than spend most of the time struggling to get him into a consistent outline. I used to want to just get the dressage test over & done with as quickly as possible but now I really ride to try to achieve the best score we can. Something I never thought I’d say as I’m not normally an overly competitive person! With Sarah’s expert guidance our SJ has come on too, I am much more confident at seeing strides & coping when I can’t! I just love Sarah’s direct & forthright way of instructing, she is so encouraging & supportive and instills in you a real desire to want to put in the work to improve & succeed,  not only for yourself but for her. “

Kind testimonials below from Geraldine Fisher who I helped with her lovely ex-race horse who is now team chasing and dragging, and Louise Lewis who I helped prepare for the Badminton Grass Roots Championships where she finished 15th and won the trophy for the best rider over 40.

GERALDINE FISHER

“Sarah has great ability in quickly pinpointing specific areas on which to focus to help create the fundamental groundwork to improve in any discipline, and does so in an extremely comprehensible manner.”Geraldine Fisher

LOUISE LEWIS

'Having not competed for 33 years although I had ridden reasonably regularly with my children, Sarah worked with me on bringing my riding into the 21st century with particular focus on my jumping in order to qualify for Badminton Grassroots which I did and at the championships we did a lovely clear in the sj and the xc was great too apart from a misunderstanding between horse and rider on the xc. The confidence Sarah has given an aged rider is tremendous.  We're aiming to qualify again for next year's championships.' Louise Lewis

Louise not only qualified for Badminton the following year, but also won the trophy for the best rider over 40.