About

CO-FOUNDER & COACH

Karen Lisk is co-founder of KC Dressage Academy. She is a (BHS II SM) and BHS Level 3 Coach, training at Huntley School of Equitation in Gloucestershire. She holds her Pony Club A Test. Karen spent ten years in New Zealand, where she trained and competed her own horses to intermediate eventing level. She returned to the UK in 1998, along with her New Zealand thoroughbred.

Since then, Karen has focused on dressage, training and competing up to advanced level. She served as British Dressage County Coordinator for Devon for over 10 years and continues to support British Dressage Youth Riders. She is an approved Pony Club instructor teaches at local clubs, and coaches at Erme Valley Riding for the Disabled in Ugborough, Devon.

She loves coaching riders of all ages and abilities, helping each partnership build confidence, improve performance, and achieve their individual goals in a positive environment.

CO-FOUNDER & COACH

Clare Deithrick is co-founder of KC Dressage Academy. She's a UKCC Level 3 dressage specific coach, British Dressage List 1 and para judge, BD Youth coach and assessor, and Sport England Level 3 tutor and assessor. Clare trains her own horses from novice to Int II.

Clare is currently starting her FEI judging journey completing her International Young Horse exam in Poland last year. Travelling to may wonderful shows in Europe, to sit in and shadow to gain experience has been invaluable. Clare regularly judges at our Winter and National Championships.

Alongside her judging, she coaches riders of all levels from grassroots through to Grand Prix, and regularly hosts clinics and test riding days throughout the region. She is the British Dressage Cornwall Senior and Youth Representative and has a particular passion for dressage to music.

Clare has a real gift for rallying people together, creating a great sense of team spirit and support, making every event special.

COACH

Nicky has worked in education and lecturing for 30 years. She has spent many years training and developing her coaching skills. A UKCC Level 3 Dressage Specific coach, a British Dressage List 2 Judge, and holds an MSc in Sports Coaching.

COACH

Jo is a UKCC Level 3 Dressage Specific Coach, a Senior Pony Club Coach, Youth Coach and Assesor. Jo is from the Cotswolds, where she lives with her 18 year old son, and miniature Jack Russell Otis. Her days are spent coaching and gardening. She admits she is much better at the coaching side!

Having been SW Youth Rep for eight years, Jo now coaches Area 9 Pony Club dressage, and has clients from grass roots to advanced medium.

COACH

Helen is a Pony Club / Youth Coach and is hugely experienced with over 49 years in the industry. Helen still enjoys the involvement of working with the combination of horse and rider to help achieve goals and most importantly that all combinations are happy with the process of improving.

As a competitor herself, she understands the pressure that can bring. Her main aim in training is to help all combinations understand the training, develop skills and have fun.

COACH

Sophie is a BHS Senior Coach, BD List 1 Judge, and BD Para Judge. Sophie has a lifelong love of horses. She trained for many years with Carl Hester, and Conrad Schumacher and enjoys sharing a wealth of knowledge and experience with other riders.

She has pupils from grassroots, to FEI alongside training her own horses from babies to Grand Prix. Sophie can give a sound insight in all aspects and totally understands the daily balancing act and challenges that we all face in our dressage journeys.

COACH & NLP PRACTITIONER

Debbie James is a UKCC Level 3 coach, a BHS Senior Coach, and a Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner. Her background includes British Dressage Youth Coaching, rider skills assessment, and preparing candidates for BHS examinations. Debbie has coached nations, and international ranked modern Pentathletes.

CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST & ADVANCED ORTHOPAEDIC PRACTITIONER

Penny qualified from St Thomas Hospital London in 1987 as a Chartered Physiotherapist. She worked in Musculoskeletal medicine for over thirty years, and worked a s a Clinical Specialist inPlymouth working alongside Orthopaedic Consultants in shoulders, knees, hips and the spinal team. Penny has worked in the A&E, setting up new pathways in these specialities. Penny trained in injection therapy in 2002, and then wrote and taught a nationally accredited course in injection therapy. She know runs complicated and complex patient clinic in GP surgeries, as well as running a private practice from her home in Modbury.

She also has a small farm, and a holiday business, so two days are never the same.

CATERING

If an army marches on its stomach, then the KC army is in very good hands. With delicious homemade savoury and sweet treats, Liz caters wonderfully for the meals, snacks at drinks at our camps.

PHOTOGRAPHER

With over ten years experience working as second camera for Kevin Sparrow, working for British Dressage at Premier Leagues, Nationals, and Olympia, Tanja originates for Germany, where she worked as a stud groom, doing her Masters in Stud management. Tanja is the official photographer for British Breeding, travelling the country covering all their futurity dates.

As much as Tanja enjoys hitting the right moment when horses move, managing to capture the tender moment between horse and rider is what she loves.

PILATES

Harry is Founder of Pilates with Harry, and she is passionate about helping people build strength, improve movement, and develop a deeper understanding of their bodies through Pilates.
Her approach is centred around controlled movement, breath work, posture, mobility and building the strength needed to move well, whether that is in every day life, sport or performance.

Harry is excited to share how pilates can support riders by improving awareness, stability and physical connection with their horse.