A unique, personalised approach to the training, development and coaching of specifically grass roots riders has established Julie as one of the most effective flatwork trainers/coaches for aspiring walk/trot/prelim to affiliated medium level riders & trainers.  Having now trained more than 250 riders, the successes are endless but, importantly, what counts is that individuals' ambitions are always our priority.

By combining an exceptionally strong professional background in HR, strategic business management, leadership and training with a genuine love for developing horses and riders you really do get the best of both worlds - a real people person and a people person who can help you help your horse!

By working with us, we guarantee you will smile and enjoy your dressage/pleasure riding coaching session. Could you imagine 'doing dressage', enjoying it and wanting to get out there and school? We can help you achieve that .......

Julie Frizzell FInstLM

Founder of Dressage Coaching UK

Leadership and Management Consultant 

Retired in 2007 at 38 after 21 years of fun in the Royal Air Force, retiring as a Wing Commander

Julie trains regularly with highly respected BD trainers and judges and has worked up to PSG/Inter1 level at home and competed and produced horses from novice to advanced.  Her achievements include Premier League Medium (Restricted) champion 2007, Medium Restricted runner-up (2006), British Riding Club Area 16 Medium champion, British Riding Clubs National Championships Medium Finalist (12th out of 35), British Dressage Novice Regional Championships, competing at Hickstead CDIO (med and adv med) and - just as important to her - has been getting her rescue horse to be a happy hacker!  In recent years, she's concentrated on specialising in grass roots riders, with clients successes being more important to her than her own; she still rides for fun and personal (riding) development.

Julie concentrates on training both herself (in coaching techniques and styles) and supporting dressage in other ways, such as with British Dressage, supporting Northern and Eastern region BD, and local grass roots riders.

Julie is the Participation Advisor to the British Dressage, supporting the Chief Executive, advising on participation, communications and volunteer issues and sits on the Marketing Committee in an honorary positiion as a consultant advisor.  She is also a member of the British Dressage Trainers Database and recently was identified as a pyramid trainer (now the Regional Trainers Club). 

We are very proud that Julie was the first Coaching Representative for BD Eastern Region, responsible for provision of training for all Easter Region British Dressage trainers to aid both their professional and personal development.  Julie has now passed on the role due to DCUK expanding and covering more of the UK.

She works continually on personal development (both riding and coaching) to expand both her knowledge and the ability to help others.  She enjoys working with both rider and horse and, having been through confidence crisis herself, knows the challenges some of us face sometimes to even just get on a horse.

Having had a variety of horses, of all ages, abilities and needs, Julie can help you achieve your ambitions, whether it's affiliated dressage or confidently hacking happily.  Pictured above is Joe who Julie has taken from Prelim to Advanced and his stable companion is Morgan (below), a rescue horse, who cost 'meat money', couldn't be near a human for weeks when he arrived and took 18 months to be confident under saddle.  A happy hacker, he now 'plays' at flatwork (when the sun is shining, there's no wind, rabbits or squirrels with machine guns - oh and you don't ask for canter right!) with some very modified exercises due to injuries from his previous life; he is finally enjoying hacking on his own and with Joe and his successes are just as important to Julie as Joe's are.

 Morgan is still nervous under saddle but such a lovely character - he's only ridden very occasionally now but he is a very sweet chap who knows it too!

Professional credentials and backing

Julie Frizzell FInstLM is fully committed to delivering first class coaching with the following being key points to demonstrate this:

Is a British Dressage nationally accredited trainer, appearing in the BD Trainers Register

Julie's focus is on constructive coaching (not instruction)

"A good coach doesn't tell you what to do, but helps you think, feel, develop ..... and then know what to do"

Is a member of the British Dressage Regional Trainers Club (a BD pyramid trainer)

Is a listed Para-equestrian trainer

Is a registered Pony Club accredited instructor, currently training several Pony Club members and is a regular trainer for the Burghley Pony Club

Is dressage trainer for a national military team

Is a trained 'trainer' and facilitator outside the equestrian world, having taught/coached communciations, leadership, management, team building, personal development and many other 'soft' skills. Indeed, Julie has been awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Leadership and Management (FInstLM) a prestigious honour that only 5% of the ILM membership holds.

Has trained clients who have excelled at British Dressage regional championships, Area festivals, British Riding Club Area and National championships, Trailblazers National Championships, BD Combined Training, Sheepgate Tack and Togs Champs - plus many more unaffiliated championships and challenge trophies as well as showing riders who want finesse on their personal show.  With the help of Julie's coaching, several clients have recently increased their rider group to Group 5 (British Dressage/medium level) and gained points at higher levels than they believed they ever would. 

Has worked with Sports Psychologists to optimise rider performance, whether training or competition.

Recognises the importance of client confidentiality in all aspects

Is committed to a programme for professional development (including extensive involvment in British Dressage facilitated training at local and national level)  'Training for trainers' with national and internationally respected coaches (including David Hunt and Jill Day).  These sessions are a mix of ridden sessions, watching others being coached, training alongside BD Trainers, theory, and core rules and regs sessions.

Can offer guidance on recommended methods to optimise physical and mental preparation for all aspects of dressage, but can also refer to BASES accredited specialists for specific needs.

Is among the first group of BD trainers to embark on the UK Coaching Certificate, indeed, she is now responsible for coordinating the training programme for all BD  Eastern Region trainers

Fully backed by the KBIS professional trainer insurance

A qualified first aider, having completed the Equine Specific First Aid Course (for humans not horses)

Julie enjoys working with both adults and children (able bodied and physically or mentally disabled) but asks that a parent/guardian is present throughout children's coaching sessions.

We work to the guidelines of British Dressage's coaches code of conduct, drawn up in consultation with the British Equestrian Federation.   Guidelines are:

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR BRITISH DRESSAGE TRAINERS

Sports coaching helps the development of individuals through improving the performance of both themselves and their horses.  This is achieved by:

v     Identifying and meeting the needs of individuals

v     Improving performance through a progressive programme of safe guided practice, measured performance and/or competition

v     Creating an environment in which individuals are motivated to maintain participation and improve performance

Trainers should comply with the following principles of good ethical practice:

1.      Trainers must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every rider.

2.      Trainers must place the well being and safety of both horse and rider above the development of performance. They should follow all guidelines laid down by British Dressage and hold appropriate insurance cover.

3.      Trainers must develop an appropriate working relationship with riders (especially children) based on mutual trust and respect.

4.      Trainers must ensure that the activities they direct or advocate are appropriate for the age, maturity experience and ability of both horse and rider.

5.      Trainers should at the outset, clarify with riders (and where appropriate with their parents) exactly what is expected of them and what riders are entitled to expect from their trainers.  A contract may sometimes be appropriate.

6.      Trainers should always promote the positive aspects of our sport (e.g. fairplay) and never condone rule violations or the use of prohibited substances.

7.      Trainers must always have the welfare of the horse as a priority.

8.      Trainers must consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.

9.      Any failure on the part of a registered trainer to comply with the provision of this code will render the registered trainer liable to disciplinary proceedings by British Dressage.

10.Trainers should not behave in any way that may bring British Dressage into disrepute.

11.Trainers must uphold the aims and objectives of British Dressage at all times.

12.The Trainer must be a current paid up member of British Dressage.

13.The Trainer must be registered on the British Dressage Trainers Database.