• The presenters

    Welcome to the SCT Online Learning programme for the Equine Groom and Senior Equine Groom Apprenticeships, Coaching and Functional Skills English and Maths - bringing world class training to everyone, available any time, anywhere.

    In developing this programme we have been delighted and privileged to work with some of the most successful professionals in the world to promote training and achievement through the Apprenticeship programme. We have had enthusiastic involvement from all parts of the horse industry, including Team GB coaches, a Team GB vet, leading international riders, Olympic course designers, former SCT apprentices, a Eurosport commentator and Lycetts Insurance Brokers. We very much appreciate all their support and outstanding expertise.

    The Maths and English Online Learning units are pioneering in showing where these skills are relevant and essential to yard and horse management to world class standards. Some of the filming for this was done at the Sunshine Tour in Spain, so enabling apprentices and employers to see the daily use of Maths and English in performance at international level. The units include practical demonstrations, explanations, links to practice tests and step by step guides in the skills and techniques required to achieve the Functional Skills.


    We hope this innovative way of learning and delivery will enhance your professional development and expertise, and inspire, motivate and encourage excellence.


    F C Belinda Turner MBE
    Chief Executive

    The presenters


    Photo of Ian Stark

    Ian Stark OBE

    Course Designer for many events including Chatsworth and Bramham International Horse Trials, the Eventing European Championships 2015, Tattersalls**** and Fairhill*****, USA . 

    Former British Olympic Team Selector. BBC Eventing commentator.

    Four times Olympic silver medallist, three times winner of Badminton International Horse Trials and seven times European Championships gold medallist.

    Photo of Lewis C. R. Smith

    Lewis C. R. Smith BVetMed, CertES (Orth), DESTS, DipECVS, FRCVS

    Lewis is a specialist equine surgeon based at Chine House Veterinary Hospital near Loughborough. Prior to this he spent 10 years as a Partner at Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons specialising in overground endoscopy and airway surgery. He qualified from the Royal Veterinary College and has worked in the UK, USA and Australia. He holds an RCVS Certificate in Equine Orthopaedics and the European College of Veterinary Surgeons Diploma in large animal surgery. He is one of 6 holders in the UK of the RCVS Diploma in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery. He has published research on a wide variety of surgery topics including fracture repair, joint medications and colic surgery. In 2018 he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for work on medication of joints.

    Photo of Mike Etyherington-Smith

    Mike Etherington-Smith

    Former Chief Executive of British Eventing. Course Designer for the Beijing and Sydney Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Rolex Kentucky **** Three Day Event and European Championships.

    Former Course Designer and Director of Chatsworth International and Blenheim International Horse Trials ***.

    Course designer for Adelaide International Horse Trials ***** , Luhmuhlen ***** and Millstreet ****.

    David Evans

    Course builder for Chatsworth, Blenheim****, Luhmuhlen***** and Bramham International Horse Trials****.

    Course builder for the Beijing Olympics, Tokyo Olympics and European Championships.

    Course Designer for Chatsworth, Burgham ****, Blenheim **** , Upton House, Alnwick Ford and Cornbury *** International Horse Trials.

    Photo of Mark Kyle

    Mark Kyle

    Member of the Irish team for the European and World Championships and Olympic Games Athens, London and Rio.

    Photo of Tanya Kyle

    Tanya Kyle

    Leading international event rider

    Photo of Melissa Whitaker

    Melissa Whitaker

    Wife of Michael Whitaker - one of the world's leading showjumpers and gold medallist European Championships, British team member at World Championships and Olympic Games.

    Photo of Joe Whitaker

    Joe Whitaker

    Leading international showjumper and former SCT Apprentice

    Photo of Kerry Finch

    Kerry Finch

    Head Groom for Michael Whitaker, Billy Twomey and John Whitaker, former SCT Apprentice

    Photo of George Whittaker atSunshine Tour 2015

    George Whitaker - showjumping double gold medallist, former SCT apprentice

    Winner of Team and Individual gold medals at the Pony European Championships. Winner of the Bronze medal at the European Young Rider Championships. Winner of the CSI ** Comporta, Portugal and the CSI *** at Maubeuge, France. Rolex 'One to Watch' for moving up 123 places in the World Rankings. Member of the World Class programme.

    Winner of  classes at the Sunshine Tour and throughout the world.
    Photo of henry Day

    Henry Day

    Leading dressage rider and former SCT Apprentice

    Photo of Donald Whitaker

    Donald Whitaker

    Leading international showjumper and former SCT Apprentice

    Photo of Yogi Breisner



    Yogi Breisner

    Former Performance Manager for British Eventing and Lead for the World Class Programme Coach & Staff Development. 

    Yogi led medal winning teams at the 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games in addition to enjoying many successes at both European Championships and World Equestrian Games.

    Yogi is also involved in National Hunt racing, training both jockeys and horses to jump.

    Photo of Andrew Saywell

    Andrew Saywell

    International show jumper, BritishTeam rider and British Showjumping coach.

    Photo of Michael Peacock

    Michael Peacock

    Strength and Conditioning Coach, Oaksey House, Injured Jockeys Fund

    Transitioning from athlete to coach, Michael has over 16 years coaching experience in various sports and specialised in strength and conditioning for the last 6 years. He has worked in professional football, tennis and rugby. Michael became the Strength and Conditioning coach for The Injured Jockeys Fund based at Oaksey House in the summer of 2012 and has worked with top professional jockeys such as Choc Thornton and Noel Fehily (King George VI double winner, Betfair Chase winner). During his time at Oaksey House, Michael also works closely with many international event riders from all over the world, including GB Eventers; Laura Collett, Tom McEwen, and Harry Meade.

    Photo of Julia Scott-Douglas

    Julia Scott Douglas B.Sc. Hons. RD SENr. Dip IOC

    Team GB Nutritionist

    In 1999 Julia Scott-Douglas qualified as an Accredited Sports Dietitian. She has worked in many sports, including cycling, running, rowing and rugby but has specialised in equestrian sport. She has worked in the racing industry for over 15 years and is tutor in nutrition at the British Racing School. Six years ago Julia joined the Equestrian World Class Programme and she now advises on riders' nutrition.

    In 2012 Julia became one of 179 Sport Nutritionists to graduate from the International Olympic Committee post graduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition. Following her graduation she worked for the English Institute of Sport as a Performance Nutritionist with the British Fencing team during the Olympics. .

    Photo of Matthew Sampson - Sunshine Tour 2015

    Matthew Sampson - SCT Masterclass Trainer. Senior British Team member for Nations Cups, Junior and Young Rider teams at the European Championships, Junior European Gold medallist

    Winner at some of the world's most prestigious competitions including 3* Arezzo, the 4* Sunshine Tour Grand Prix, the Young Riders Championship at Olympia, the Hamburg Derby, the Newcomers and Young Riders Final at HOYS, the 3* Beervelde Grand Prix in Belgium, 4* Donetsk in the Ukraine, and 3* Lummen.

    Senior British Team rider for Nations Cups

    Photo of Kate Goodger

    Kate Goodger - Team GB Sports Psychologist

    Kate Goodger PhD, C. Psychol is a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist who has worked in Olympic sport for over 12 years. She has worked with Team GB athletes and staff at 5 Olympic Games spanning summer and winter cycles.
    Kate joined Team GB Equestrian in 2013, following her role supporting GB Canoeing at London 2012 at their most successful Games to date. She also has a PhD in Athlete Burnout. Kate's current practice stems from a model based in neuroscience and works with what we know about the structure of the brain and how it operates. This approach has helped support successes in British Cycling, Liverpool FC and England Rugby and is now being employed across a range of settings away from sport; it is called 'Chimp Management'

    Photo of Morgan Kent in front of large white horse

    Morgan Kent - HK Horses - international showjumper and producer

    Leading international showjumper.

    Winner of many Grand Prix around the world. 

    Photo of Anna Goodley

    Anna Goodley - Lycetts Insurance Brokers

    Anna Goodley is an Account Executive at Lycetts Insurance Brokers. Lycetts are specialist Insurance Brokers who arrange insurances for those who live and work in the equestrian and racing industry. Anna spends a great deal of her time advising equestrian businesses, racehorse trainers and stud farm owners about their Combined Liability insurance.

    Photo Javier De Whittcrop - Sunshine Tour 2015


    Javier De Witt - Eurosport and Sunshine Tour commentator

    Photo of Liz Brown

    Liz Brown - Team GB Vet

    Vet for the European and World Championships and Olympic Games

    Photo of Richard Waygood

    Richard Waygood - Team GB Performance Director

    For the gold-medal winning Olympic Dressage Team at the London Olympics, British Eventing World Championship team and Performance Director for all equestrian teams for the Tokyo Olympics..

    Photo of Richard Waygood

    Christopher Bartle - Team GB Coach

    Chris was appointed Eventing High Performance Coach in 2017, joining the World Class Programme after 16 years with the German eventing team. During this time, he was involved in Germany's two Olympic team gold medals, a team silver, and also three individual golds.

    Before becoming a coach he competed in dressage and eventing and was part of the British dressage team from 1981 to 1987 and was crowned national dressage champion in 1984 and 1985.

    In 1997 he was part of the gold medal winning eventing team at the European Championships at Burghley. A year later, he won Badminton Horse Trials with World Perfect II. In 1996 and 2000, Chris was the dressage trainer for the British Olympic eventing teams and in 1999, coached the team for the European Championships in Luhmühlen. .

    Photo of Richard Waygood

    Henry Taylor

    Taylor Made Forage. National Hay and Haylage producer and supplier