Training

Accessing consistent training is a challenge for all riders. We all need help from someone we respect, who has the time and energy to get engaged with our ambitions, who can help us to become the best we can be and maybe even better. I have been so lucky to have training from Delia Cunningham as a junior, and then Jo Marsh-Smith while I was eventing. My biggest successes in show jumping are largely due to Shane Breen who cajoled and supported me to dig deeper and achieve more than I could ever have imagined. I am currently training with Alex Hempleman, who is a very patient and knowledgeable trainer, and having had help from Gemma Stevens at the Sunshine Tour, she is going to continue helping me with my flatwork and some gridwork.

I really enjoy meeting new pupils and helping them achieve their goals, challenging their horizons and supporting them to become even better than they thought they could be. It is very rewarding to make a difference, and to build confidence and strengthen the partnership between horse and rider, resulting in increased success at whatever level and whatever discipline they choose.

I am happy to teach any level rider, either here where we have good basic facilities, or to hire some of the excellent facilities locally. I am happy to teach on a one-to-one basis, or in groups of a maximum of four riders. I can offer some residential training now that I have less horses of my own to ride. I am very happy to help at shows, both when I am competing and when I’m not.

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.