The equestrian industry faces the challenge of continually producing top-tier athletes while ensuring the foundation of high-quality coaching is consistently maintained at every level, from grassroots to high performance. Without a solid system, the development of both horse and rider talent risks becoming inconsistent and insufficient to meet industry demand.

This episode dives into how the Horse Sport Ireland coaching pathways provide a long-lasting legacy of high-quality training. It explores the current structure, the shift from pure instruction to athlete-centred coaching, the crucial importance of a supportive peer network, and the essential role of coaching in rider safety and motivation. Listeners will gain insight into the vision for maintaining and improving coaching standards for the future of Irish equestrianism.

Joining host Melanie Young are John Bagnall, the Education, Coaching and Training Manager at Horse Sport Ireland, and Joanne Jarden, an HSI Level Three Eventing Coach and tutor with extensive involvement across all coaching levels.

Listen to the full episode on Horse Sport Ireland Podcast – search “Horse Sport Ireland” on your podcast app

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

HSI coaching pathway vision and structure
Moving from instruction to athlete-centred coaching
Value of peer networks for coach development
Importance of safety in a high-risk sport
Future plans for CPD and Level 3 courses

GUESTS DETAILS

John Bagnall is the Education, Coaching and Training Manager at Horse Sport Ireland. He is responsible for getting the HSI coaching pathway system operational and maintaining its high standard. 
Joanne Jarden is an HSI Level Three Eventing Coach and tutor, and a former Irish International Event Rider who competed to 5-Star level. She has also progressed through the Dressage Judges Exams up to List 1 Grand Prix Judging and coaches across all disciplines, helping to progress new coaches through the HSI Coaching Program.

Connect with John & Joanne:

John Bagnall Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/john-bagnall-47433922/
Joanne Jarden Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-jarden-a11a4b33/

MORE INFORMATION

Horse Sport Ireland is the national governing body for equestrian sport and the sport horse industry in Ireland, overseeing disciplines and high-performance teams, regulating athletes and horses, issuing equine passports and maintaining studbooks, and supporting breeders through national breeding services and coaching programmes.

https://www.horsesportireland.ie/ 

This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

QUOTES

We produce top quality athletes through focus on supporting coaches and to meet the demand of the industry. –  John Bagnall
You are the important foundation. If the foundation isn’t right, the whole building falls down – Joanne Jarden
We’re moving from away from that instruction process to understand and getting the athletes to understand the movements, understand the feel the influence that has on the horse and the relationship with the horse. –  John Bagnall
I say that rider is out on that course, on their own. You are not standing by the fence… They have to be involved. They have to be involved in their own learning and their own instruction to the horse.  – Joanne Jarden

KEYWORDS: #EquestrianCoaching #HSICoachingPathway #HorseSportIreland #GrassrootsDevelopment #RiderSafety