Coach of the Month – March 2026

For Queensland’s Gemma Creighton, coaching developed naturally rather than being something she consciously set out to pursue. Growing up in an environment where her father was regularly teaching meant she was constantly exposed to lessons, riders and the process of helping people improve. “Dad’s always coached a lot,” she says. “We always had so many people here getting lessons, I just had a lot to do with the coaching part of it and the education side of it from the start.” As her own riding career progressed, stepping into coaching felt like a natural extension of what she was already doing.

It started in a practical way, helping people in warm-up arenas or when they asked for guidance, while she was also competing and building her own results. Over time, she realised how much she enjoyed working with riders and being part of their progress. “I was having quite a lot of fun and success riding, and I was just helping people along. I quite enjoyed that, working with people to achieve their goals, as big or small as they may be.” What began as something informal gradually became a consistent part of her week alongside her riding.

That focus on helping riders improve remains central to how she coaches. It is not tied to level or results, but more to attitude and willingness to learn. “What I enjoy most is just working with people and achieving their goals,” she says. “It doesn’t really worry me what level they are, whether they’re jumping cross rails or the big stuff, as long as they’re enjoying it and giving it a go.” 

While Jumping is her main discipline, her coaching reflects how technical the sport has become. Flatwork is a key part of what she teaches, not as a separate focus but as something that directly supports performance in the ring. “Our courses now are so technical and the horses have to be so educated that you really can’t avoid the flatwork side of things,” she says. “It all comes together to make the horse more rideable and easier to navigate a course.” It is a practical view that aligns with what riders are experiencing at competitions.

Gemma is also clear that her approach continues to change over time. Experience, both riding and coaching, continues to shape how she works. “I don’t think you ever stop learning with horses,” she says. “The more I learn, the more I’m able to help others.” That willingness to keep learning carries through into how she supports her riders and the way she adapts her coaching.

Coaching has also influenced her own riding. Explaining concepts to others requires her to break things down clearly, and working with a wide range of horses and riders provides constant exposure to different ways of doing things. “You have to break things down to explain them to someone else,” she says. “And even just watching people, seeing what works for different horses, you pick up something all the time.” It is a two-way process, where both coaching and riding continue to inform each other.

One of the most rewarding parts of coaching for Gemma is now seeing the longer-term results of her work. Riders she has started from the early stages are now progressing through the levels and becoming competitive in their own right. “I’ve started a lot of kids from the beginning in their jumping career, and now I’m seeing them as up and going riders,” she says. “To see them go the whole way through and know you’ve been part of that journey is very exciting.” Some of those riders are now travelling and competing interstate, something she has been able to support along the way.

A key part of her coaching philosophy is being adaptable. She does not take a fixed approach, recognising that each horse and rider combination requires something slightly different. “You’ve got to be a little versatile,” she explains. “It’s not my way or the highway. Every rider is different, every horse is different, and their path to their goals can be different too.” That flexibility allows her to work with a wide range of riders and situations.

Patience is another important part of how she approaches coaching. Progress does not always happen as quickly as expected, and part of the role is managing that process. “Sometimes you can see the vision and how to get there, but you can’t rush the process,” she says. “You just have to be patient with the people and the horses you’re working with.” Whether the challenge sits with the horse, the rider, or both, she focuses on working through it in a way that suits that combination.

At its core, Gemma’s coaching is built around working with people. When asked what she would have done for a career if not with horses, teaching is where her interest lies. “I think I’d still enjoy teaching in some way,” she says. “I enjoy working with people.” It is a simple approach, but an effective one. By focusing on the individual, staying adaptable and continuing to learn, Gemma Creighton is helping riders develop in a way that is both practical and sustainable within the sport.

We thank Gemma for her contributions to the sport and congatulate her on being our Coach of the Month!