Marta Kotonska

Founder of grooming brand, Eqclusive, Marta is no stranger to keeping horses healthy and beautiful! A former groom herself, Marta knows exactly what it takes to build a business centred on horse wellbeing and trust. Her trademark products include the Eqclusive HAAS brush packs and a range with fellow speaker and supergroom, Alan Davies.

Alan Davies

Recently retired, Alan is ex-groom to Britain’s most incredible Dressage duo, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin. Having worked for Carl for over a decade, he’s been to more competitions than many of us can count(!) and taken charge of some of the sport’s most famous faces – including Valegro, Uthopia, Nip Tuck, Mount St John Freestyle, En Vogue, Gio and many more. A founding member of the International Grooms Association and ambassador for the British Grooms Association, there’s not much that Alan doesn’t know about the industry!

Georgie Atkinson

Georgie Atkinson (née Jackson) is a dressage rider and farrier – as well as being wife to stunt rider, Ben Atkinson. Georgie, like her husband Ben, has horses in the blood – being from a family of farriers, herself! It’s been rumored that Georgie prefers to keep out of the performing spotlight(!), but is a key part of the Atkinson Action Horses business – helping to bring on many of the horses there and keep things running behind the scenes.

Ben Atkinson

Ben is a professional stunt rider and horse trainer from the heart of Yorkshire. The family business, Atkinson Action Horses, was founded by his father Mark over 25 years ago – and is one of the most respected equestrian services companies to the film and television industries, supplying highly trained horses, riders and trainers for a variety of disciplines and stunts. Ben’s displays include the beautiful art of Liberty, Classical Dressage, Airs above the Ground & Cossack Trick Riding.

Alex Bragg

Alex is an International Event Rider based in Somerset as well as a qualified farrier who still shoes his own horses!

With several top 5 5-star placings and podium finishes at 4-star, Alex is of the most competitive riders on the circuit.

Natalie McGoldrick

Voted Horse & Hound Vet of the Year in 2017, Natalie is an Equine Vet based in Hampshire, who runs her own practice, South Coast Equine Vets, alongside training and competing her own four horses.

She established her veterinary practice in 2011 but has continued to compete up to Advanced/4* level Eventing, 1.20m show jumping, and Advanced Medium Dressage. Natalie has had several top placings including winning at National Level Dressage and was part of the CIC2* Eventing European Championship team that won gold for Great Britain.

Heliya Mohebi Rad

Heliya is a BERF member, currently studying for her A levels and hoping to pursue a Veterinary career.

Hema Patel

Hema has been an equestrian for over 20 years.

Hema currently works in technology and EDI and chairing a local Race Equality staff network. Recently, Hema became a BHS EDI Advisory Group Member. The BHS ED&I AG has been created to champion diversity and inclusion in the equine world.

Prunella Khalawan

Prunella joined BERF almost 18 months ago and supports the committee in raising awareness in the Equestrian world, and is actively highlighting the inequalities that BAME young people experience within the STEM industry.

Dr Noori Husain

Noori is BERF’s newest committee member, joining just a few weeks ago. She is the new Social Media Officer who is keen to connect with likeminded individuals and groups online who have shared aims and visions. She is looking forward to creating and sharing some great content about the work BERF are doing now and in the future.

Nicola Comley

Sue Gibbons

Sue has been a committee member since the group was founded in 2019. She is the mother of two adult BAME equestrians who experienced racism within the equine world. She decided to join the BERF committee when she witnessed first hand the online abuse directed at the BERF chair person and wanted to support the changing narrative.

Linda Greening

Linda is the BERF Education Liaison Officer and has been a committee member for 3yrs, she developed the BLOC project which involves collaborative outreach activity and a partnership between BERF and LANDEX . The main objectives of the project are to consult widely to understand the needs of ethnically diverse communities relative to accessing land-based and allied educational pathways.

Sandra Murphy

Sandra is a passionate horsewoman with 50 years’ Equine experience, Sandra rode for the Royal Air Force and has competed Affiliated Eventing, Dressage, Showjumping and Endurance GB in her Equine Career. She also trained the youngest BAME British Eventer in the UK age 12 competing against adults in 2008.

Sandra is a qualified Equine Nutritional Hydrotherapist who also created EquidGel, the world’s 1^st Liquid Feed for horses which provides optimal 100% natural, hydration and has the only ‘Black’, all female led Equine Nutrition company in the UK.

She is also the founder and chairperson of the British Ethnic Riders Forum (BERF) with over 350 members from ethnically diverse communities throughout the UK and Internationally. BERF provides a platform for members to access advise, information, training, sponsorship and media opportunities and the committee work tirelessly behind the scenes to create change and increase participation within the Equine Industry.

Sandra was recently nominated for the ‘Changemaker Award’ at the Sunday Times Sports Women of the Year 2022 for her effort to create change within the Equine Industry.

BERF Projects to Date

BERF Equine and Rural Activities Centre of Excellence (BERACE) This will be the first of its kind, a centre dedicated to providing to progression pathway for young ethnic minority people from the inner cities and under privileged communities.

Pony Club Media Campaign – 15 BERF members from diverse communities across the UK got together at PC HQ to take part in a photoshoot to provide PC with diverse imagery for their social media, website and campaigns.

Pony Club Hijabs – A joint project with BERF and PC to introduce new branded Hijabs for Muslim Equestrians.

Ben Tuckey

Ben Tuckey is the founder of Equine BIO Genie, which is respected as the leading Equine Biosecurity and Environmental Health specialists in the UK.

As a former jockey himself, Ben has combined his passion and understanding of the Equine world with his knowledge of biocidal technology developed from the healthcare sector. Ben has some very high profile clients across many Equine disciplines that benefit from the services and products Equine Bio Genie offer to keep the horses environment healthy.

Amanda Watson

Managing Director, Watsons Directories Ltd (publish The Equestrian Index, The Yard Supplement and equestrianproperty4sale.com)

Amanda is passionate about and has been actively involved in the equestrian sector on both a personal and professional level for well over thirty years. Amanda holds a BSc(Hons) Equine Science, is a qualified coach, has managed equestrian facilities in the UK and overseas, lectured to degree level in equestrian subjects and worked in sector development. Amanda now oversees the day to day running of search engine The Equestrian Index, The Yard Supplement magazine, the search engine equestrianproperty4sale.com and hosts and produces the monthly podcast ‘This Business of Horses’.

Amanda is never happier than when she is able to offer a genuine solution or new perspective on a business problem and believes that listening, flexibility and a willingness to try something out of the ordinary are key to the strength and longevity of the relationships Watsons Directories forges with its clients across its platforms. When she is not wearing her WDL hat/s, she can be found brushing mud off her 33 year old gelding William, walking the ‘obedient’ Finn, being deafened by live music and generally appreciating the finer things in life – perhaps not to be expanded upon here!

Harrison Ashton

Harrison Ashton is a dressage rider and producer of young horses. He is also a well known content creator and owns Kirkland Dressage.

He has experience of the showing ring, having had countless wins to his name over his career, but he transitioned to dressage in his teenage years and has remained committed to training in the sport since.

He frequently travels to shows and events both in the UK, Europe and internationally, growing his network, creating content and expanding his knowledge of the sport.

He has hosted several TV shows as well as the ‘Evening With’ tour with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin in 2021 and is the new face of Tommy Hilfiger Equestrian

In October 2022, he was a demo rider for Carl Hester in his masterclass in Scotland. He will begin training with Carl in 2023.

Dr Claire Stratford

Dr Claire Stratford is a veterinary surgeon with experience in first opinion and referral equine practice, equine research, and authorisation of veterinary medicines.  She has conducted research into anthelmintic use and effectiveness in horses in the UK and is particularly interested in promoting anthelmintic stewardship. She is currently the Principal Veterinary Advisor at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and leads the VMD’s anthelmintic resistance activities.  Claire has been integral in driving forward the formation of CANTER and currently chairs the Core Steering Group.

Claire Shand

Claire Shand is an experienced Equine SQP/RAMA and Marketing Director in her family’s business, Westgate Labs, an award-winning veterinary laboratory specialising in parasite control for horses. The company has led the way in providing and promoting targeted parasite control measures for horses in the UK since 1999. A horse owner herself Claire understands the practical considerations of implementing test-based programmes and is passionate about driving behaviour change to make a lasting difference to horse health. She is regularly published in magazines and asked to present on the subject. Claire jointly heads the Communications Subgroup for CANTER.

Katie Clarke

Following a long career in the lighting industry working in the commercial and industrial sectors, Katie decided to pair her love of horses with her lighting expertise. Lite My Ride was born in September 2020 and is a specialist equestrian lighting consultancy.

Katie has an in depth understanding of how equestrian properties are used and is a time served lighting professional. With her knowledge, she offers lighting advice for a wide range of facilities across the equestrian industry. She works with centres and yard owners to improve their lighting which enhances the overall environment, user experience and reduces energy bills.

Dr David Marlin

Dr David Marlin is one of the equine world’s leading scientists, he has worked at the forefront of equine research for over 30 years, David is the President of the UK National Equine Welfare Council and is the President of the Internationally established Sport Horse Welfare Foundation. In David’s illustrious career, he has:

• Worked for over 25 years on equine thermoregulation.
• Has had 20+ equine scientific papers published.
• Worked with endurance horses in the Gulf.
• Advised the racing industry on the prevention of injury and better management protocols.
• Worked with the UK Government on legislation.
• Worked with numerous charities on thermal stress.
• Worked at the 1996 Atlanta, 2004 Athens, 2008 Bejing, 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games.
• Authored the FEI Guidelines for the National Federations on the management of horses in thermally challenging conditions.
• And for 15 years, David held the position of Senior Scientist and Head of Physiology at the Animal Health Trust.

Dr David Marlin founded the website DrDavidMarlin.com to create a safe, reliable and science lead hub of information for all equine professionals and horse riders. The website offers a tremendous library of articles, webinars, videos, podcasts, product testing and research into the world of horses. Don’t let your horse suffer from old-wives tales, myths or marketing rubbish look to science for the answers and make sure your horse is safe and cared for by science’s latest research and findings.

Sam Gerrard-May

Sam is an equestrian commentator who has commentated at numerous events around the world including the Longines Global Champions Tour, Horse of the Year Show and Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Spain. He also ran the popular Full Course Showjumping Podcast through lockdown and now hosts the Equestrian sports UAE podcast.

Georgia Kavulok

Georgia is an Equestrian Influencer with 7 horses, you can follow her on Instagram here and view her YouTube channel here. She’s also on TikTok and Facebook

Jenni Winter Leach

International Equestrian Mindset Expert & Best Selling Author

As an international master mindset and performance psychology coach and trainer, award-winning professional speaker and international bestselling author, Jenni Winter-Leach trains riders at all levels of equestrian sport to develop their mental strength and create real and lasting impacts on their enjoyment and results. Through her company, Flying Changes Mindset, Jenni also coaches and supports instructors and trainers to continue delivering her methods after she has left. Her book “Dream it. Do it. Love it.” is out now. 

Nurturing individuals and their talent have always been at the heart of Jenni’s professional life. After enjoying a successful corporate career as a global consultant in talent management, Jenni felt the need to combine her love for the equestrian world and her ability as a performance coach. This led her to develop Flying Changes Mindset, a market-leading business in the equestrian sphere and one of the UK’s largest equestrian mindset training and coaching companies. Over the years she has helped thousands of riders to overcome fear, performance anxiety and overwhelm and instead fall back in love with riding and get results.

Claire Williams

Executive Director of BETA

Claire is the Executive Director and Secretary of BETA. She looks after the day to day management of the Association and its commercial arm Equestrian Management Consultants Ltd. As well as attending all the Council and Committee meetings, she spends much time liaising with other organisations and members and leads the international export missions to trade fairs overseas.

Claire rides as often as work allows, which isn’t often enough for her liking. She owns a 10 year old Lusitano mare and a Percheron cross mare called Lola.

When not riding she enjoys baking goodies for the office and making preserves as well as walking and gardening.

Ashleigh Wicheard

Ashleigh is committed to working towards Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within Equestrianism and to positively changing the narrative. Watch her interview here where she discusses her route into horse racing and what the sport can do to better promote itself to people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Rosie Tapner

TV Presenter and Model

After gracing the front cover of Vogue at the age of 16, Rosie worked as a top model for 10 years before turning her attentions to TV presenting in the equestrian sphere, where her real passion lies. Recently she has presented in the UK for some of the biggest names including Sky Sports Racing, Ascot, Goodwood, Cheltenham and Aintree, as well as abroad in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. She will also be presenting the main stage at this year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Epsom Racecourse attended by HM The Queen, and later in the year, the Breeders Cup in Kentucky.

Laura Szuca

UK Sales Director for Equilibrium Products

Laura Szuca is the UK Sales Director for Equilibrium Products. A horse lover and owner of Irish Sports horse Mikey. Laura is passionate about helping to educate horse owners across the UK and a firm believer that the products Equilbrium creates really do make a difference to horses lives.

Verity Smith

Blind International Dressage Rider

Verity is a blind International dressage rider, singer, songwriter and author. She believes in advocating the ability in disability and relishes the challenge of defying convention and breaking down boundaries. She has represented Great Britain as part of para team GB and is currently competing at Prix St George and Inter 1 dressage levels, and winning. Her dream is to one day be on the Able Bodied Olympic team.

James Rayner

Equine Curriculum Manager for Reaseheath College

James is Equine Curriculum Manager for Reaseheath College, one of the UK’s leading land-based colleges based in Cheshire. Responsible for the strategic development and delivery of innovative curriculum models for equine education. He has established and driven a successful link between industry and academia through the development of Industry Mentor Programmes, to enhance not only the learner journey, but providing opportunities and engagement embedded within the curriculum to develop student’s employability skills.

Prior to Reaseheath, James was Yard Manager and Research Assistant for an International Sport Horse Facility and Research Centre in the United States and won the prestigious British Equestrian Federation MAREC Internship in 2012. While at the MAREC James undertook research in several areas of research, primarily: Equine Nutrition, Pasture Management and Reproduction and Foaling. In addition, he has undertaken research at a number of institutions including the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth and during his Masters Programme at The University of Edinburgh. James has worked on several large-scale Competition yards and Studs in both the UK and Europe including study at The Brandenburg State Stud at Neustadt (Dosse), Germany. He has previous experience training and competing in Eventing and Advanced Level Dressage in addition to handling and competing foals and youngstock in National Futurity Sport Horse Events and Breed Registries. In his spare time, he continues training students for competition success and is a part of the organisational committee for the North West Regional Dressage Championships. 

Since returning to the UK, James has maintained a key interest in the education and development of the UK equine industry, through involvement as an assistant at the National Equine Forum, sitting on several equine and educational advisory committees including the British Horse Society and serving as a Trustee of the University of Lincoln Students Union. Passionate about engagement with research led initiatives, James is keen to connect equine land managers and horse owners with the latest science-based information promoting equine and environmental wellbeing. He has a keen interest in the development of integral industry relevant employability skills in young people and providing opportunity to develop industry engagement, which in turn further benefits the equine population. He is an External Examiner and Moderator for several Equine Awarding bodies and is involved in the development of the vocational Government T-Level land based qualifications and is looking forward to discussing industry focussed career readiness!

Sir Lee Pearson CBE

11 x Paralympic Gold Medallist & 14 x Paralympic Medallist

After discovering para dressage while watching the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics on TV, Lee started riding and has gone on to win team gold at every Paralympic Games he has competed at. He took the triple title (team, individual and freestyle) at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, 2004 Athens Paralympics and 2008 Beijing Paralympics, setting an equestrian world record by being unbeaten at three consecutive Paralympic Games.

In 2003, he became the first disabled person to have won a title at the British Dressage National Championships while competing against non-disabled riders when he took the 2003 elementary restricted title.

Competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Lee came away with three medals, Team gold, Individual silver and bronze in the Grade Ib competition; 2015 saw him secure Team gold and two Individual silvers at the European Championships out in Deauville.

At Rio 2016, Lee’s career achievements were recognised when he was chosen to be the ParalympicsGB flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony, leading the team into the Maracana at his fifth Games.

Once competition got under way, Lee swiftly claimed the 13th Paralympic dressage medal of his career with a silver in the individual competition, scoring an impressive 74.103 on horse Zion as Austria’s Pepo Puch took gold to upgrade his bronze from London 2012.

Lee’s fortunes changes in the individual freestyle test (Ib) where he went on to secure his eleventh Paralympic gold medal – his 14th of any colour. Riding Zion, Lee won with a total of 77.400% ahead of Pepo Puch of Austria in silver and Denmark’s Stinna Kaastrup, who took bronze.

He received a CBE in 2009 and then in 2016, he was made a Sir, receiving a knighthood in the New Year Honours List for services to equestrianism and disability sport.

Major ResultsTokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

• Individual Freestyle Test – Grade II: Gold
• Individual Test – Grade II: Gold
• Team Test to Music: Gold

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

• Individual (Ib): Silver
• Freestyle (Ib): Gold

London 2012 Paralympic Games

• Team: Gold
• Individual (Ib): Silver
• Freestyle (Ib): Bronze

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

• Team: Gold
• Individual (Ib): Gold
• Freestyle (Ib): Gold

Athens 2004 Paralympic Games

• Team: Gold
• Individual (I): Gold
• Freestyle (I): Gold

Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games

• Team: Gold
• Individual (I): Gold
• Freestyle: Gold

2018 World Equestrian Games,Tryon, USA

• Team: Silver

2015 Senior European Championships, Deauville, France

• Team: Gold
• Individual (Ib): Silver
• Freestyle (Ib): Silver

2014 World Equestrian Games, Normandy, France

• Team: Gold
• Individual (Ib): Gold
• Freestyle (lb): Gold

Piggy March

International Event Rider
I am an international event rider based in Maidwell, Northamptonshire, in the UK. I have represented Team GB at multiple World and European Championships as well as winning the most prestigious event in our sport, Badminton Horse Trials, with Vanir Kamira in 2019.

Lotti Hutchinson

Graduate Sports Therapist and Neurocentric movement correction therapist.

Lotti is a Graduate Sports Therapist and Neurocentric movement correction therapist. She has ridden horses since she could walk and always has had horses in her life.

In her youth, Lotti rode western and competed at National level winning a number of titles in horsemanship, trail and showmanship. At university Lotti took a break from competing to concentrate on her studies, She completed her degree in 2009 and since then horses are her escape.

After completing lots of courses over lock down and challenging her knowledge, Lotti found the Neurocentric way. And it had ALL the answers for the stuff she had once struggled to understand. In 2022 Lotti launched the rider element of her business, The Neurocentric Rider, allowing her to combine her passion of riding and working with horses by helping the rider be the best rider they can. In her dream job Lotti sees magic unfold in front of her eyes. Our brain controls our body so Lotti teaches the need to be working on the Neurocentric muscular skeletal systems.

Esme Higgs

Video & content producer of ‘This Esme’ YouTube channel

I make videos about all things horsey such as Vlogs with the ponies, horse care videos and edits of me riding to help other equestrians learn more about these beautiful animals as you never stop learning with horses.

Lydia Heywood

Event Rider, founder of Cool.ridings & DEI Consultant of Royal Agricultural University

Lydia is an Event Rider based in the UK proudly representing Jamaica 🇯🇲. She is the Founder of @cool.ridings which is focussed on encouraging diversity in equestrian and the DEI Consultant for Royal Agricultural University.

Carl Hester MBE

Olympic dressage rider

Rhea Freeman

Rhea is an award winning PR adviser, social media expert and works with numerous equestrian businesses and riders to help them promote themselves better. She produces the award winning Small & Supercharged Podcast each week and also has a free Facebook community for equestrian brands and influencers called Small & Supercharged. Rhea is passionate about the equestrian trade and spends a lot of time teaching people- whether businesses, influencers or riders- how to grow their brands, work together for mutual benefit, and reach their target audience in more effective ways.

Anna Bridges

Team GB endurance rider

Anna is an international endurance rider having represented Team GB on multiple occasions including European and World Championships and the World Equestrian Games. Based in Northamptonshire, Anna has a small yard at home from where she trains her endurance horses. Alongside competing, Anna is also an endurance event organiser and is the Chef d’Equipe for the British Development Squad. She is passionate about making endurance accessible and understandable by all from grassroots through to open competition, but equally promoting the professional and scientific sides of the sport at the higher levels.

Dr Diane Fisher

Chief Medical Officer of BETA