Maddi Burchell Dressage - Equestrian Performance Coaching

Maddi Burchell Dressage - Equestrian Performance Coaching Maddi Burchell Dressage is the official page of Dressage Trainer and Coach, Maddi Burchell

What could we discover about your riding i, we took the horse out of the equation?That’s why I love about coaching on a ...
07/09/2026

What could we discover about your riding i, we took the horse out of the equation?

That’s why I love about coaching on a mechanical horse.

On a real horse there is so much happening at once. We're thinking about rhythm, contact, way of going, reactions, exercises…

On a simulator, we can make the session entirely about you.

We can slow things down, repeat movements and really explore the little things that can make a big difference:

Your balance and symmetry.
Your posture and alignment.
Core control and stability.
Leg position.
Coordination.
Strengths and weaknesses.
Those little habits you didn't even realise you'd developed!

And, importantly, we have time to experiment.

What happens if we change this?
Can you feel the difference?
Can we find a more effective way for your body to move?

As a British Dressage Coach, BHS APC, qualified Rider Biomechanics Coach and Franklin Method Coach, I can bring those different areas of expertise together rather than simply looking at whether you're sitting straight.

My Master's in Sport Performance Coaching is taking this another step further. I've been using mechanical horse technology as part of performance analysis, exploring how we can use objective information alongside coaching observation and rider feel to better understand performance.

But simulator coaching isn't just for elite competitors.

It's for the novice rider developing their position.
The experienced rider looking for marginal gains.
The rider returning after time away.
The rider wanting to improve confidence or body awareness.
The competitive rider trying to unlock better performance.
And Para riders, where we can find and experiment with movement solutions.

Whatever your level, discipline, goals or physical capabilities, there's something incredibly useful about having a session where the rider gets to be the entire focus.

Then we take what we've discovered back to the real horse.

Because sometimes improving the partnership starts by understanding one half of it a little better.

So why not come and see, my next Mechanical Horse Clinic is on the 20th October near Gatwick. Click here to book :
https://shop.thedressagecoach.com/collections/events

A memory came up on my Facebook from 10 years ago today and it was of me coaching alongside my long standing trainer fro...
06/09/2026

A memory came up on my Facebook from 10 years ago today and it was of me coaching alongside my long standing trainer from Spain, Joaquin, while he was running clinics here in the UK.

It made me reflect about how a chance meeting turned out to be something that heavily shaped my career with horses having been enlightened to Classical training from the age of 13 by him.

He taught me not only to ride to GP level, but how to ensure that the horse could see training as a game and that there was no such thing as a quick fix and that true, training required time and patience. I shall be forever grateful for everything he has taught me and the opportunities he has given me. Simply, without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

The weekend is here!For me it’s a full weekend of coaching. What are you guys up to?Purdey & Russ clear have plans to ma...
05/09/2026

The weekend is here!

For me it’s a full weekend of coaching. What are you guys up to?

Purdey & Russ clear have plans to make mischief 🫣🤦‍♀️😂

I often get asked what riders I enjoy coaching. Well that’s simple……I love coaching riders who want to get better.Not ne...
03/09/2026

I often get asked what riders I enjoy coaching. Well that’s simple……

I love coaching riders who want to get better.

Not necessarily riders chasing the biggest competitions or the highest levels. Just people who are curious about their riding and want to see what they're capable of.

You might want better scores next season.

You might be working towards moving up a level.

You might want to feel more confident, understand your horse better, improve your position or finally get to the bottom of something that just isn't quite working.

Or perhaps you don't compete at all — you simply want to become a better rider.

That's the bit I enjoy.

My coaching has developed over many years, through experience, qualifications, continued professional development and now my Master's in Sport Performance Coaching.

And increasingly, I find the most interesting question isn't simply “What can we improve in your riding?”

It's “What can we change to help you perform at your best?”

Sometimes the answer is in the saddle.

Sometimes it's rider strength and fitness.

It might be confidence, preparation, goal setting, understanding why something keeps happening or simply looking at a familiar problem from a completely different direction.

That's why I enjoy working with the whole rider, both on and off the horse.

Winter gives us a brilliant opportunity to do that. Less pressure, time to experiment, build stronger foundations and work on the little things that can make a surprisingly big difference.

So if you've got something you'd love to change about your riding — I'd love to help you work it out.

Let's see what we can achieve before spring.

5 signs you've found the right coach…Finding the right coach isn't just about finding someone who can improve your ridin...
02/09/2026

5 signs you've found the right coach…
Finding the right coach isn't just about finding someone who can improve your riding.
The best coaching relationships are built on trust, curiosity, honesty and a genuine desire to help you become the best version of yourself.
So, what should that feel like?
1. They care about the person, not just the rider.
Your goals should matter because they're your goals — not because they're the goals your coach thinks you should have. A great coach wants to see you improve in the saddle, but they also care about your confidence, your enjoyment and your growth as a person along the way.
2. You're happy to get it wrong in front of them.
This one is huge. Learning involves mistakes. Trying something new involves getting things wrong . You should never be riding trying not to make a mistake because you're worried about your coach's reaction. Great coaching creates a safe environment to experiment, be curious, make mistakes, learn from them and try again.
3. You can ask “why?”
You should always feel comfortable asking your coach why you're doing something.
And they should be happy to explain. Coaching shouldn't simply create riders who can follow instructions. It should develop riders who can think, feel, question and eventually make great decisions for themselves.
4. They've got your back — especially when it hasn't gone to plan.
Anyone can celebrate with you when you've just ridden a PB.
The coaching relationship really matters on the days when you've had a bad test, lost your confidence, taken a step backwards or things simply haven't worked.
No judgement. No blame.
5. They're happy to be part of your team. No coach knows everything. Vets, farriers, physios, saddlers, specialist coaches and other experts can all bring something valuable to the performance and wellbeing of horse and rider. The goal shouldn't be to prove who knows best. The goal is to bring the right people together to get the best possible outcome.
The right coach isn't the person who makes you feel like you couldn't possibly manage without them. They're the person who gives you the knowledge, confidence and support to increasingly believe that you can. ❤️

01/09/2026

🔴 JOIN US LIVE — 8PM, 1ST SEPTEMBER!

The new Dressage Coach app launches on 1st September — and that evening, we’re taking you inside it.

Join us LIVE at 8pm as we show you around the brand-new app, demonstrate some of our favourite features and answer your questions about everything from training and ride tracking to horse management, competitions and coaching.

🎁 And there are prizes!

Join us live for your chance to win a Dressage Coach membership plus other TDC goodies.

📅 Tuesday 1st September
⏰ 8PM
📺 YouTube + our social channels
📱 App tour
💬 Live Q&A
🎁 Giveaways

From 1st September, you’ll also be able to download the new app and start for FREE.

We’ve been working towards this launch for a very long time, and we’d love you to be part of it.

See you at 8pm on 1st September!

We spend an awful lot of time thinking about our horses' fitness… but what about ours?We want our horses fit enough for ...
01/09/2026

We spend an awful lot of time thinking about our horses' fitness… but what about ours?

We want our horses fit enough for the job we're asking them to do.

We develop their strength. Their core. Their suppleness. Their stamina.

But how many of us expect our horses to be considerably fitter and stronger than the person sitting on their back? 😬

Riders are athletes too.

And rider fitness isn't just about improving performance — it's part of doing our bit for the welfare of the horse underneath us.

A stronger, more controlled core can help us stay balanced and use our aids more subtly.

Strong glutes and legs can help us maintain a more stable, effective position without gripping or constantly interfering.

Better cardiovascular fitness means we're less likely to become tired and lose the quality of our riding as a session goes on.

And being strong and physically capable matters away from the saddle too — particularly as we get older, and especially for women's long-term health.

Yes, mucking out counts. So does poo picking, carrying water, grooming, sweeping and everything else that mysteriously makes owning horses feel like a gym membership you can't cancel. 😂

But yard work isn't necessarily balanced fitness. In fact, doing the same physical jobs every day can reinforce some of the imbalances we already have.

And while Pilates can be a fantastic part of the picture, rider fitness needs more than one type of exercise.

Strength. Cardiovascular fitness. Mobility. Stability. Coordination.

We ask all of these things from our horses.

Perhaps we should expect a little more of ourselves too.

Not because every rider needs to look like an elite athlete.

Not because you need to spend six days a week in the gym.

This is about what your body can do.

Whatever your discipline and whatever your level, being fitter and stronger can help us ride more effectively, reduce our own risk of injury, recover better when injuries happen and be a more balanced, capable partner for our horses.

We work hard to make our horses fit for the job.

Maybe we should ask ourselves occasionally…

Are we fit for the job too?

It’s Bank Holiday Monday!An extra day off! What are you doing with yours??
31/08/2026

It’s Bank Holiday Monday!

An extra day off! What are you doing with yours??

What do you think success in the saddle actually look like?A red rosette? 🥇A personal best?Moving up a level?Finally get...
30/08/2026

What do you think success in the saddle actually look like?

A red rosette? 🥇
A personal best?
Moving up a level?
Finally getting that score you've been chasing?

Absolutely. Winning feels great. Better scores feel great. Seeing all the hard work pay off feels really great.

But success in the saddle is so much more than the result at the end of the day.

It's the thing that finally clicked after weeks of trying.

It's riding through the thing that would once have knocked your confidence.

It's understanding your horse a little better than you did yesterday.

It's learning to solve problems, make decisions and trust what you're feeling.

Sometimes it's having the confidence to push yourself.

Sometimes it's having the confidence not to.

And somewhere amongst all those lessons, we don't just become better riders. We grow as people too.

More resilient. More patient. More reflective. More confident in our own decisions.

As a coach, of course I want to help riders improve their performance. I want the better scores, the breakthroughs and the celebrations too!

But I also want to help develop confident, thoughtful riders who enjoy the journey, understand their horses and recognise just how much progress they're making — even when there isn't a rosette attached to it.

Because success isn't just about how far up the levels you climb.

Sometimes it's looking back and realising just how far you've come. ❤️

Really looking forward to two days of coaching at The Dressage Coach Camp!I’ll be coaching at the Unicorn Trust on 26th ...
29/08/2026

Really looking forward to two days of coaching at The Dressage Coach Camp!

I’ll be coaching at the Unicorn Trust on 26th & 27th September, and I’m genuinely excited for this one.

Two days at a fantastic venue, with lots of opportunities for learning both on and off the horse, and the chance to work with riders from different disciplines, backgrounds and levels.

That variety is one of the things I love most about coaching — every horse and rider combination brings something different, and there’s always plenty for us all to learn.

There are still spaces available if you’d like to join us for what should be a brilliant couple of days.

Come along, bring your horse and be part of it!

Click the link below for more details and to book:

https://shop.thedressagecoach.com/collections/events

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