Mary Longden

Mary Longden is one of the world’s most highly qualified and respected equestrian coaches, renowned for her lifelong dedication to improving rider education, coach development, and horse–human partnerships across all levels of the sport. Born in England, Mary has lived and worked internationally—including Ireland, Canada, and now Australia—and has built a global career spanning more than four decades.

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Mary holds exceptional formal qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Special Education, an Allied Health qualification, accreditation as a British Horse Society Instructor (BHSI), Equestrian Australia Level 3 Coach and Coach Educator, and RDA Australia Level 2 Coach and Coach Educator.  Her diverse expertise enables her to work seamlessly across high‑performance sport, therapeutic riding, and inclusive coaching environments.

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Mary has taught and mentored riders and coaches across Eventing, Dressage, Showjumping, Para‑Equestrian, Special Olympics, and RDA programs, helping develop combinations from grassroots through to World Championships, Olympic and Paralympic level.  She has also worked extensively in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Dubai, the US, and more, earning a reputation as an international equestrian consultant and educator.

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Mary is a former FEI Three‑Day Event “I” Level Judge and FEI Para‑Equestrian Dressage Judge, and has judged at major international events including the Sydney Paralympics and Para‑Equestrian World Championships.  She later stepped away from judging to focus more deeply on coaching and developing future coaches.

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A leader in inclusive equestrianism, Mary has been Vice President of the International FRDI (now HETI) and served on the inaugural FEI Para‑Equestrian Technical Committee, contributing significantly to the global development of therapeutic and adaptive riding.  She remains an active member of the HETI Educational Committee.

Mary is also an accomplished author and educator, having written Teaching Disabled Riders and Coach With Courage, and producing the Riding Towards Excellence DVD series, which has helped thousands of riders and coaches around the world.  Her online education initiative, Longden Learning, continues to expand her impact globally.

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A Life Member of RDA Australia with more than 40 years of contribution, Mary is widely admired for her clarity of instruction, practical insight, and deep commitment to ethical, enjoyable, and lifelong learning in equestrian sport.  Her guiding philosophy—“Everyone who wants to ride well, can”—reflects her belief in the potential of every horse and rider partnership.