Nicola Wilson on Coaching Foundations, Resilience and Partnership

When Allison Lowther catches up with Nicola Wilson MBE BHSI, the conversation doesn’t start with medals or big moments. Instead, Nicola talks about the everyday things that really matter - understanding the individual horse, taking time to build strong foundations, and creating training that feels calm, fair, and thoughtful.

The conversation also turns to resilience, perspective, and the lessons life has taught her along the way. It also looks at her passion for training and coaching.

These are exactly the kinds of conversations we love at Horses Inside Out. It’s also why we are so pleased that Nicola will be joining us as our after-dinner speaker at the Horses Inside Out Gala Dinner on Saturday 21 February.

Her coaching philosophy mirrors our own values and we are delighted to share some of them in this article.

Coaching That Starts With the Individual

“My coaching training principles are founded on treating each horse as an individual,” Nicola explains, “recognising their unique fears, strengths, and weaknesses, and ensuring strong foundations before progressing to more complex work.”

Treating each horse as an individual is one of Nicola's core training principles

This commitment to the individual horse-and-rider partnership sits at the very heart of her approach. Training, for Nicola, is never rushed and never generic. It begins with a clear understanding of basic responses, allowing confidence and correctness to develop step-by-step. Only when those foundations are secure does she believe progression should take place.

Her rider-centred approach places safety, well-being, and enjoyment firmly above competition results. This is a refreshing and reassuring philosophy in a results-driven world.

Calm, Methodical and Welfare-Led

Effective coaching is about far more than telling someone what to do. Nicola places great emphasis on how information is delivered.

“Clear, timely, and constructive feedback,” she says, “alongside an awareness of body language, tone, and positioning” are essential tools of good coaching.

Sessions are calm and methodical, deliberately free from emotional outbursts. The aim is always to empower riders through understanding and confidence, enabling them to build harmonious, lasting partnerships with their horses.

Equine welfare underpins every decision. Nicola considers not only the physical needs of the horse, but their social and behavioural well-being too. This truly holistic view of training is one that resonates deeply with the Horses Inside Out ethos.

Planning for the Long Term

Nicola believes in structured goal setting. Riders work with long-term and annual plans, supported by regular evaluation.

This approach avoids reactive, short-term decisions. Instead, it creates clarity, consistency, and confidence for both horse and rider. This clear sense of direction isn’t just for performance but for the personal development of the rider.

This approach from Nicola is shaped by experience, reflection and a deep understanding of the realities of being involved in equestrian sport.

Resilience Shaped by Experience

Nicola’s empathy as a coach comes from having lived the highs and the lows of elite sport.

“I have been on this journey as a rider,” she says. “I have struggled, failed and learnt how to turn failure into success.”

Her resilience was tested following a career-ending fall at Badminton in May 2022. She was paralysed from the neck down and spent five months in hospital. She had to relearn the most basic life skills, including dressing, washing, feeding herself, and walking.

Now living with Central Cord Syndrome, Nicola focuses not on what she has lost but on what she has.  

“I focus on what I have and can do, not on what I have either lost or can no longer do. I know only too well that it was only sheer luck that I am not still paralysed… and am determined to make the most of the future.”

This mindset shapes her coaching, her outlook and the inspiration she brings to others.

A Lifelong Love of Coaching

“I love coaching,” Nicola says. “It's as if I am riding the horses and I love being part of riders and their horses’ journey.”

Nicola competed successfully at the very top of the sport for many years

Nicola competed successfully at the highest levels of eventing for many years, winning team and individual medals. She brings that experience to her coaching with humility and openness. She loves learning and believes there is always more to understand about horses and riders. Being part of a rider’s support team matters deeply to her.

"It's amazing being a small part of the support team helping riders achieve their dreams as so many fantastic coaches helped me."

Join Us at the Gala Dinner

We are incredibly honoured to welcome Nicola as our after-dinner speaker at the Horses Inside Out Gala Dinner on Saturday 21 February. Her story, her insight, and her thoughtful approach to coaching promise an evening that is both inspiring and relevant to anyone passionate about horses.

If you value strong foundations, ethical training, resilience, and the power of knowledge, this is a night you are not going to want to miss.

We look forward to welcoming you and hearing Nicola’s story, in her own words.

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