Our Group Coaches

Currently we have five qualified Group Coaches who are trained and qualified to RDA standards and undergo regular assessments.

Penny Fletcher. R.D.A.G.C - Penny first joined the group in 2001 and took on the role of Group Coach in June 2005. She has a wealth of equine experience running her own riding school for many years and breaking and training young horses.

Sharon Broadbent R.D.A.G.C - I have been involved with and owned my own horse for over 30 years and was first introduced to RDA Nottingham Group in 1987 but had to leave due to a young family and work commitments. In September 2015, having retired, I decided to contact the group again to help. After about 18 months I was asked to become a group coach and was very pleased when in December 2017 I passed my assessment and now look forward to a long and happy relationship with the group.

Kay Wakefield, R.D.A.G.C. I joined RDA in September 2021 after retiring from primary school teaching. I have always loved horses and was a ‘pony mad’ girl, being lucky enough to own my own pony. Pony Club gymkhanas, hunter trials, grooming and tack cleaning and riding across the Scottish moors were how I spent all of my spare time till the age of 16; volunteering for RDA seemed an obvious choice when I was looking for a charity to join. I completed my coach training and passed my assessment in June 2024 so I’m now a R.D.A.G.C. 

Julie Hill, R.D.A.G.C. I’ve been hooked on riding now for 46 years after “ having a go” on my friends pony when I was 10. I owned my own horse for about 15 years till she passed away in 2023. I’d known her all her life. So I joined the RDA to get my horsey fix without the daily chores and commitment. I love the people and horses. I’ve just passed my assessment and look forward to the future and every lesson.

Sally Ikeringill, R.D.A.G.C. I'm excited to have qualified as an RDA coach. I was an RDA volunteer with my local group when I was a teenager, so it's great to be back forty years later! In my working life, I started out as a primary school teacher and after that I worked mainly with schools on environmental education projects. I believe that the connections we make between children and animals can be life changing and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to be part of that again. My own love of horses began when I was a child and I'm sure it will last for my lifetime. I hope I can pass on this gift to children who perhaps wouldn't have the opportunity to meet ponies in their everyday lives.

COUNTY COACH FOR NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: Lesley Davies R.D.A.C - Lesley joined the Nottingham group in 2005 as a volunteer helper.  Lesley is now a fully-fledged Coach with both Belvoir Vale and Kesteven RDA in Lincolnshire and has also taken on the role of County Coach for Nottinghamshire.  Lesley says " often what we consider to be the smallest improvement can produce the biggest change in the rider’s' life".