Coach of the Month - May 2025

Our Coach of the Month for May 2025 is South Australian Megan Jones, a well known figure in Australian Eventing, known for her Olympic success, her vibrant personality, and her lifelong commitment to the sport. But what many may not know is that coaching has been in her blood from a very young age.

“I think I was about 13,” Megan recalls, “and a work colleague of my dad had a wife who wanted to learn to ride, so I gave her some lessons. Looking back on old videos, I can see I was always explaining things, even when I was younger with my sister. Not in a bossy way, but just wanting to help.”

That natural desire to help others understand and feel their way through riding has been a hallmark of Megan’s coaching ever since. And perhaps surprisingly, it has also played an important role in helping her manage her own speech.

“I’ve had a stutter since I was young,” she explains, “but when I was coaching, I didn’t stutter. It flowed easily. I could talk about what I saw and what I felt. It just made sense to me.”

Over the years, Megan’s approach to coaching has grown deeper and more refined, but its core has remained the same.

“I’ve always tried to explain what things feel like, not just ‘do this’ or ‘try that,’ but breaking it down so riders understand why we do something, how we’re going to do it, and what it could feel like when it’s right.”

That empathy, born from being told she was a “natural rider” but feeling she had to work hard to learn, has shaped the way she connects with riders.

“I get it,” she says. “I know what it’s like not to get something straight away. So I try to help riders see that it will come, that the feeling they’re chasing is achievable.”

Megan is also known for the calm and confidence she brings to riders struggling with nerves or self-doubt.

“A lot of nerves come from lack of balance. So I work hard on a rider’s true centre of balance. But it’s not just about riding, there’s so much pressure now from what people see online. Kids especially feel like they’re not measuring up. But what they see isn’t the full story.”

Her advice is to bring the focus back to the rider's own journey.

“You don’t have to compare yourself to anyone else. This is your thing. Stay in your lane.”

When it comes to exercises, Megan is passionate about developing a strong, independent seat early on.

“In our riding school, we teach kids to stand in their stirrups before they learn to rise trot. It teaches them balance, forward hands, good elbows, it all connects. My favourite jumping exercise is getting riders to walk, trot or canter while standing up straight in their stirrups. If they pull back, they’ll fall back. So it teaches them to ride with feel, not force.”

For anyone considering becoming a coach, Megan’s message is clear.

“You have to actually enjoy it. Don’t do it because you think it’s a job. You’ve got to put your heart and soul into it.”

She also stresses the importance of knowing your limits.

“Only coach what you know. As you learn more, you can teach more, but don’t try to do too much too soon. Experience and patience are key.”

And her final reminder?

“You don’t have to be an amazing rider to be a good coach. Some of the best riders can’t explain what they’re doing. Coaching is a whole different skill.”

And finally… tea or coffee?

Megan smiles. “Coffee before the first lesson. And then I’m a black tea girl.”

Whether in the competition arena or the coaching arena, Megan Jones brings insight, empathy and a deep understanding of what it means to truly support others. And that’s exactly what makes her our Coach of the Month.