Dressage Days

As a List 3 Judge, BDCC Level 3 Coach and Chair of the North & East region, Vikki Hayton has been instrumental in helping many a rider to achieve their dressage ambitions. With a lifelong passion for coaching, Vikki has run Markham Dressage at College Equestrian Centre in Nottinghamshire for over 20 years. She lives near Tuxford with her husband Les, three dogs - Ginny, Fred and Timothy - fourteen horses, three cats and a variety of chickens!

As a child. My parents rode horses, and my sisters were keen. We had horses at home, though I can remember hurtling through the air, and into the vegetable patch, as a result of one of them booting me! It did nothing to put me off however and I’ve always loved horses for as long as I can remember.

I started riding seriously in my late teens, when I married my husband Les, and I then had my children, Emma and Matthew. I ran a small riding school from home, although it was frantically busy as I was training to be a schoolteacher and doing my BHSI as well. We were an eventing family, competing seriously as the children got older, both representing GBR in Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders. We had a string of event horses, which I was producing and competing whilst helping to fund it by working as a teacher in school, alongside coaching. We then moved to College Farm EC, where I continued to run the riding school for 25 years plus.

I love coaching and was fortunate to be funded by my school to do a Masters in Teaching and Learning. This helped with my coaching and the skills easily transfer to equine combinations. I then did my UKCC Level 3. I now specialise in coaching eventers and dressage riders and run a livery yard, Markham Dressage. I’m still producing horses and have coached my niece, Natalie, who represented GBR in dressage. I’ve produced horses up to GP, achieving success with Markham Sultan, and competed at the Home Internationals.

The BD Coach Package is fi nally here and it’s great to

MATTHEW ROBERTS have a package tailor made for dressage coaches. I’m proud to be part of a system that’s recognised and endorsed by BD and it gives me access to a hub of helpful information, supporting documentation plus a free subscription to UK Coaching, with all the benefi ts of being part of a wider network and the latest coaching techniques from a wide range of sporting experts. I wear my coaching jacket with pride, and I know that as an ambassador for BD I look professional and I’m part of a network of expertise that’s endorsed by BD.

As Chair, I’m very fortunate to be supported by Jo Byrne, my DO, and a hardworking, dedicated committee. I’ve served on the committee in since 2004 and been Chair for eight years, so sadly, my term as Chair is coming to an end. It’s been rewarding to watch the region develop, and the pinnacle of that success last year was winning the Senior Home International. We’ve a very successful Flexi Coach system and our members now have access to 46 accredited BD coaches, of which 30 are Youth Coaches/Assessors.

Walking on the beach with my dogs, or going for a nice long hack and a gallop!

Stephen Clarke, Carl Hester, Reine Klimke, Mary King, the late Mrs Jane Rook and Her Majesty the Queen.