Nick Lawson

“Confidence is controllable” At whatever level you are currently riding, confidence can be an issue for both horse and rider. Nick’s ability to empathise with both horse and rider is what makes him unique in his field. His ability to relate to all riders and all horses means he can create a sympathetic environment in which one can develop one’s skill set and confidence. His sense of humour also helps!

Sarah Smith.

I grew up in Accrington, Lancashire, and began riding at the age of 10. My parents were not at all horsey and probably thought I’d grow out of it! Ohh how wrong they were.

My real enthusiasm started whilst helping at a local yard now called Accrington Riding Centre, a small family run yard by Denise Holding and Barry Maloney. This was to be a home from home for the next few years. “I rarely left the place, DnB provided food for us kids who helped out and regularly tested us on our equestrian knowledge.” It was here that I decided I wanted to pursue a career within the industry.

My first horse was a thoroughbred bought for me by my dad, straight off the track. It nearly killed me a few times, but that didn’t seem to put me off only encourage me even more.at 16 I made my way to Hartpury College to pursue a National Diploma in Horse Management.

It was at Hartpury I really started my love of dressage. I used to regularly skip lessons to go and watch Carl Hester teach at the college where he regularly coached. I went on to compete one of the Hartpury College horses and have a couple of lessons with Carl, which is where I had his first real taste for the sport. Whilst at Hartpury, I had a part time job working with a successful show pony producer, where I really developed my groundwork skills and how to turn out horses for top class competition.

On leaving College, I was offered a full time position at Abbey Dressage under the tutelage of Glenys Hemming. Here I furthered my knowledge having training again with Carl, Charlotte Dujardin, Spencer Wilton David Trott and was given the opportunity to eventually compete up to Prix St George level, winning both Regional and National titles including:

  • 2006 Novice Restricted Regional Champion aboard Abbey Tiron
  • 2006 Novice Restricted National Champion aboard Abbey Tiron
  • 2009 Elementary Restricted Regional Champion aboard Abbey Tiron
  • 2009 Elementary Restricted National Champion aboard Abbey Tiron
  • 2010 Advanced Medium Restricted National Champion twice aboard Abbey Tiron
  • 2010 Reserve Advanced Medium National Champion twice and aboard Abbey Tiron
  • 2015 Shearwater 4-year-old champion aboard Gladstone.
  • 2019 Medium Freestyle Gold Regional Champion aboard Fandango V
  • 2020 Medium Freestyle Gold Regional Champion aboard Fandango V
  • 2021 Medium Freestyle Gold Regional Champion aboard Woodlander District Attorney
  • 2021 Intermediare 1 Silver National champion aboard IceBlue Valentino

Nick is a British Dressage Accredited Coach after completing his UKCC Level 3 Coaching Certificate. He has also completed his Youth Assessors training and is a British Dressage Youth Coach. Nick was selected to be involved in this years National Development Program for Coaching Excellence. In 2019 Nick Completed the APEC (Advanced Psychology for Equestrian Coaches) Advanced program becoming a Centre10 Advanced Coach.

In March 2020 Nick attended ‘The Coaches Role; creating rider symmetry to improve performance. A course created by the renowned Physio Andy Thomas who provides a unique insight in to the management of the human equestrian athlete by using his own TESTT system for assessing imbalances and weaknesses in equestrian riders.