Coaching Update - October 2025

October has been a busy period within the coaching space, with coach renewals continuing to flow in, Level 3 Final Assessments organised and continued work on the Coach Review have been the focus.  We have also been working with the Australian Sports Commission Sporting Schools Programme to develop new resources for our school’s programme for 2026, alongside working with PC and RDA on a qualification mapping exercise. 

We must also congratulate the following Members who have achieved the following qualifications in October. 

Introductory Horse Management and Introductory Riding Modules. 
Merren Bracey -NSW
Tash Miers – SA
Nadia Soleymanjo Golestani – NSW
John Mark Payne – QLD
Maria Carlisle – NSW
Charlie Caamillen

Introductory Horse Management
Trinity Drysdale – QLD
Jemima Southwood - QLD
Eliza Rowan – QLD
Scarlett O’Hanlon-Warner – NSW
Natasha Stephenson – QLD
Lisa Marland – QLD
Isabel Thorn – QLD
Summer Broadbent – QLD
Molly Gregory – NSW
Jodi Reese Henderson – QLD
Joselyn Humphries – NSW
Grace Lavington – WA

Level 2 Horse Management & Level 2 Riding
Craig Lucas - NSW
New Introductory Coach
Jodie Salmond – QLD
New Level 1
Hayley Fletcher – QLD
New Level 2 Eventing 
Danae O’Keeffe - QLD

Celebrating Success for Level 3 Candidates. 

In a significant milestone for the EA coaching community, several of the Level 3 candidates have successfully completed and passed their Level 3 Final Assessment. This achievement marks not only the culmination of months of hard work and learning but also the beginning of a new chapter in their coaching journeys. 

The candidates have completed a University of Queensland Graduate Certificate in Sports Coaching alongside completing Equestrian specific tasks. Throughout the program, they have demonstrated remarkable commitment, perseverance, and passion for personal and professional growth. Their active engagement and willingness to learn from each other has created a sense of collaboration and shared success within the group. Nicole Tough commented that “Equestrian Australia is unique in its professionalisation of coaching and knows how important it is to have a Nationally and Internationally recognised coaching system. The journey to Level 3 High Performance accreditation was as challenging as it should be, and just as I learnt much along my Level 1 General and Level 2 Dressage Specialist accreditation journeys, so I did on this pathway too. The best part of the process was connecting with equestrian colleagues, sharing and discussing the challenges and joys connected with our sport. Thank you to EA for the opportunity for continual coaching development”.

The following coaches have successfully completed their EA Level 3 Coaching Certificate. 

Newly qualified Level 3 Coaches are:

QLD - Gary Lung and Nicole Tough in Dressage
NSW – Rachael Downs in Dressage 
NSW – Prue Barrett – Eventing
NSW – Andrew Barnett – Eventing
NSW – Jess Somerfield – General 

It must be noted that alongside this cohort of coaches there remains a final group of coaches who will come forward for their final assessment in the beginning of 2026.

These coaches are role models who inspire others to strive for excellence and EA National congratulates the candidates for their enthusiasm and dedication to the course and their achievement will help to contribute towards shaping the future of coaching.