Heather Jones Dressage

Heather Jones Dressage Heather Jones British Dressage UKCC3 Accredited Coach
BD Youth Coach & Test Ride Assessor. Caring & personalised coaching with a keen eye on the ground.

I cater to all ages and abilities. Expert support with confidence issues.

📍Ashford

05/10/2026

✈️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 WORK TRIP AWAY: INSIDE SCOTLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✈️

Early last week, Alex Hudson and I flew into Edinburgh for an intensive two-day trip, linking up with horsescotland for their incredible Equine Coaches Masterclass and learning from the absolute best within our industry!

I captured plenty of footage and I am editing it now in readiness for our upcoming YouTube channel. On the channel, Alex and I will be travelling so you don’t have to—bringing the very best insights directly to your screen.

Why do we do this?

As coaches, staying at the forefront of our field of expertise is vital. Trips like this keep us completely up to date with industry standard protocols and elite training methods, all of which we can’t wait to bring back to our clients.

We also got the incredible opportunity to directly link in with the industry leaders who are driving and enabling our young, up-and-coming athletes—including top sports psychologists and performance experts.


Where to next? 👇

We aren't stopping here! 👀 Our next up-and-coming trip away is locked in for this November, when Alex and I will be heading up together to the BHS Coaches Convention at Wellington Riding!

There is much more to come on this, so watch this space!

What do you want to see? 👇

We want to bring you along for the ride. What topics, training tips, or behind-the-scenes insights are you most excited to see on our channel? Drop a comment below and let us know!

Heather Jones Dressage Goodnestone Equi Training Alex Hudson

A horse can be obedient and still not be with you.That’s the difference I look for in training. Obedience can happen on ...
05/10/2026

A horse can be obedient and still not be with you.

That’s the difference I look for in training. Obedience can happen on the outside. Mental presence shows up in the pause, the attention, the feel of the horse actually listening.

When that’s there, the work gets clearer. The partnership does too.

What do you notice first in your horse, obedience or true presence?

learn more about my services https://.jones-dressage.co.uk Life

Three score-sheet red flags riders miss until the marks are already gone.The annoying part? They often feel fine in the ...
05/10/2026

Three score-sheet red flags riders miss until the marks are already gone.

The annoying part? They often feel fine in the saddle. The judge sees something different, and the marks disappear fast.

The big ones I keep seeing are a drifting centre line, a halt that isn’t truly immobile, and a transition that loses its crispness right when it matters most.

Fix those, and you give the judge a lot more to reward.

Which one trips you up most?

learn more about my services https://.jones-dressage.co.uk Life

05/10/2026

Finding Harmony over Perfection ✨

Reflecting back on today’s schooling session with the beautiful Grand Prix horse, Archie. I am still pinching myself that I have been given the ride on him, and it is all thanks to the incredible Nicola Jane Bell.

Today wasn't just a workout for Archie; it was a massive workout for my own mindset.

If I’m being completely honest, I have a stubborn tendency to aim for absolute perfection in my head. Whether it's my daily work or everything relating to horses, my brain defaults to chasing that flawless picture. But today, the goal was entirely different. The aim was to breathe, let go of the anxiety when things didn't feel exactly right, and stop trying to encapsulate every single element needed for a perfect 10 dressage movement in that exact second.

Yes, we absolutely could have been a bit more actively forward at times. Yes, my seat could have been a little more secure in certain moments. But when I stripped away the pressure of needing that elusive 10, look at what we actually achieved. We found a solid 6.5 or 7 movement, wrapped in a beautiful sense of harmony between horse and rider. And for me, that was exactly the breakthrough I needed today.

Mentorship matters so deeply.

Thank you, Nicola Jane Bell, for trusting me with your wonderful boy and helping me grow as a rider, both physically and mentally.

📹 Video is a snippet of our canter work today!

Tell me, what mindset do you hold when you go into your training sessions? Do you struggle with the perfectionism trap too? 👇💬

Sparrow Oast Heather Jones Dressage

What judges are really rewarding halfway through your test is usually much simpler than riders think.They’re watching fo...
04/10/2026

What judges are really rewarding halfway through your test is usually much simpler than riders think.

They’re watching for clarity. A clean transition, a straight line, a balanced halt, and a horse that stays with you through the movement.

That middle part of the test is where the picture either gets tidy or starts to wobble. And yes, crooked centre lines are noticed very quickly.

What movement do you think gives riders the best chance to show the judge real quality?

https://www.jones-dressage.co.uk Life

Collection should start before the tension does.If you wait until the horse feels tight, you’re already asking from the ...
04/10/2026

Collection should start before the tension does.

If you wait until the horse feels tight, you’re already asking from the wrong place. Set the rhythm first. Keep your body soft, your seat quiet, and let the preparation happen before the upward moment.

That’s where the real conversation begins. A horse can’t step into collection with ease if the rider is already bracing for it.

What do you do first to keep the ride soft before collection?

https://www.jones-dressage.co.uk Life

Is your position lifting the test?A small shift in where you sit can change the whole picture. Often, the horse doesn’t ...
03/10/2026

Is your position lifting the test?

A small shift in where you sit can change the whole picture. Often, the horse doesn’t need to work harder. The rider just needs to carry themselves a little differently.

That’s where the real progress lives, in the details that help the work feel lighter and more connected.

Save this

https://www.jones-dressage.co.uk Life

03/10/2026

When your horse loses rhythm as you ask for more accuracy, the issue is often in the preparation, not the movement itself.

If the aid comes before the balance is there, the horse has to hurry to keep up. That’s when the rhythm starts to wobble.

Try this: give the horse one quiet moment to organise before you ask for the more exact line or shape. It often makes the response feel cleaner straight away.

Have you noticed this in your own riding?

learn more about my services https://.jones-dressage.co.uk Life

02/10/2026

✨ BIG THINGS HAPPENING! ✨

I’ve just spent an incredible two days at the Horse Scotland Equine Coaching Masterclass in Edinburgh, and wow... what an experience! 🐴💡 The theme was all about how we learn, connect, and elevate as coaches, and it absolutely delivered.

If you've seen the footage I just added to my page, you’re seeing the start of something very exciting. Alex Hudson and I are officially collaborating and partnering up as travel buddies within the equestrian world! ✈️

Why does this partnership work so perfectly?

Simple—Alex is a fantastic showjumping coach, and I am a dedicated flatwork coach. By blending our two worlds, we can bring you well-rounded, top-tier training insights. Our goal is to stay at the very forefront of the industry, collaborating and interacting with leading professionals to bring the best knowledge straight to you.

🎓 Expert Topics Covered
Over the two intensive days, we dove deep into a holistic approach to training, covering essential areas like:

* Technical Coaching: Elite training methods for both flatwork and jumping.

* Sports Psychology: Building mindset, focus, and confidence for competitive riders.

* Rider Fitness & Conditioning: Strengthening the rider's body to improve balance and stability.

* Integrated Performance Strategies: Combining coaching, fitness, and psychology for peak results.

* Athlete Development Pathway in Practice: Clear, structured progression from grassroots to the top tier.

🌟 The Masterclass Presenters
We were incredibly lucky to learn from an elite lineup of leading industry professionals who brought these topics to life:

* Harry Payne: A UKCC Level 4 coach and List 1 Dressage Judge who brought masterclass insights into technical flatwork.

* John Ledingham: Level 3 horse sport island coach who has trained riders all the way to Olympic level showjumping, serving as the official coach for the British Showjumping World Class Pathway Training.

* Stephanie Jones: A brilliant clinical sports psychologist focusing heavily on rider mindset and performance psychology.

* Robyn Dunn: A specialized rider physiotherapist who broke down biomechanics and injury prevention.
* Lauren Semple: A fantastic fitness coach specializing in rider conditioning and physical fitness.

* Sam York: An FBHS and UKCC Level 4 coach delivering top-tier integrated performance strategies and practical athlete development pathways.

But the journey didn't stop in Edinburgh! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 After two intensive days taking our education to the next level, we hopped on a flight for a three-night trip out to Alex’s base in Portugal! 🇵🇹☀️

While we are here, we’ll be aligning up our diaries with even more incredible people in the horse world, soaking up the culture, and hopefully bringing plenty of smiles to your faces along the way. 😄

WATCH THIS SPACE! 👀

We have so many more collaborations planned. We’ll be bringing edited training footage directly to your socials, covering everything from grassroots all the way up to the higher levels and so much more, all in a dedicated you tube channel yet to come, but keep up to date here by liking / following my page.

Thank you all for following along on this journey! 👇 Check out the footage below and let us know what you think!

Heather Jones Dressage
www.jones-dressage.co.uk
horsescotland
Leanne Heslop

02/10/2026

Why does a horse feel sharper after a good effort?

Sometimes the ride that looks productive on paper leaves the horse feeling a bit more on the front foot. That usually means they’ve given you a lot, and now they need help to settle, rebalance, and understand what comes next.

The finish matters just as much as the work. A calm, clear end to the session helps the horse leave the arena feeling organised, not overfaced.

If you want, I can help you finish your rides better.

learn more about my services https://.jones-dressage.co.uk Life

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136 The Street
Ashford
TN240NB

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
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Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
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