ABOUT ALISON.
My name is Alison Lincoln. I am a writer, coach and freelance groom. I have been involved with horses since I was a child coming up through Pony Club and competing at Affiliated Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing. Having spent many years training and competing I realised I needed to learn more about the science behind equine sports so enrolled in a degree in Equine Sports Coaching, completing it in 2004. As a mature, part-time student working full time in sales to fund my study I realised it was time for a career change and became a lecturer in horse and human sports science.
The next 3 years were spent working in various colleges across the UK teaching modules in Equine and Human Sports Performance, Sports Psychology, Coaching and Exercise Physiology including managing the distance learning foundation degree course at Warwickshire College.
Following a move to Scotland in 2007, I spent the next 12 months writing a book, “Equine Sports Coaching,” which was published in 2008 and has remained on the British Horse Society’s recommended reading list for their coaching qualifications ever since.
We have now moved (1 husband, 1 cat and 2 horses) back down south into a lovely DIY livery yard - quite a culture shock after having our own stables and land in Scotland! My 2 boys are loving the better weather and the absence of midges. Arty is a 21-year-old, retired Irish Sport Horse whom I have had since 3 years old and backed myself. Although to be honest he had pretty much read the book on how to be a riding horse and taught me more than I taught him! Leo is a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse whom I have had for 3 years. Hopefully, he will turn his hand to eventing, although so far he has proved himself both accident/illness prone, with a greater inclination to stand in his stable and eat than gallop up and downhills. But that’s the joy of horses, seeing where their talents and inclinations lie and working in partnership to reach their and my potential.
I love riding and training horses. I love reading about riding and training horses and I love learning. My aim is to make the science of training, coaching and psychology accessible to all. There is a lot of information available on the net and via social media but not all of it is tried and tested or (to borrow a currently well-used phrase) based on science.
As riders, we can spend many hours training independently and I believe we can become our own equine sports coaches developing highly personalised strategies and techniques to be the best rider / trainer / coach in whatever discipline you choose and whatever your ambition.
I’m really looking forward to working with you, sharing my thoughts and ideas. I love being asked interesting and often important questions on coaching, psychology and sports science so please do get in touch. I can’t promise to have all the answers but I’ll often know whom to ask or where to find them.
