Sarah Venamore

Sarah Venamore is the NSW State Pony Club Dressage Coach and a highly respected educator within the Australian equestrian community. Deeply involved across multiple areas of the industry, she currently serves on both the Equestrian Australia NSW Coaching Committee and the Australian Pony Club Coaching Committee, contributing to national standards in rider and coach development.

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Sarah is widely recognised for her extensive coaching work, travelling across Australia to train young riders, Pony Club groups, coaches, vaulters, adults, and competition riders, as well as assessing coaches in her role as an EA Coach Educator. Her practical and supportive teaching style has made her a sought‑after mentor for riders of all ages and levels.

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An accomplished author, Sarah has written several books featuring training exercises designed to help riders and coaches build stronger, more effective partnerships with their horses—both in individual work and group settings.

At home, Sarah owns and operates Equiste, a well‑known agistment centre offering a variety of equine accommodation packages. Equiste is also the base for her popular Ladies Camps and Young Rider Clinics, blending equestrian education with fun, community, and great food. Sarah regularly hosts a working pupil, offering hands‑on training in coaching, horsemanship, and day‑to‑day property management. She also trains horses sent to her with the goal of progressing their education and improving their ridability for their owners.

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With the growth of online learning, Sarah now provides regular virtual lessons to riders across the country, helping them stay connected and supported in their training.

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Sarah’s dedication to her work has been recognised through multiple business awards. Over the past two years, she has won the Leeton Microbusiness Award and been named a finalist in both the Riverina Microbusiness Awards and the Australian Women’s Small Business Awards—achievements she credits to the horses who continue to inspire her career and passion.

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Session Details

This session explores how to effectively coach a group lesson with riders of varying standards while still achieving strong individual learning outcomes. The focus is on setting a clear structure and plan from the outset, so riders understand their tasks and can work at a level appropriate to their own ability. Rather than spending the lesson directing traffic or managing spacing, the coach establishes purposeful exercises that allow the group to flow independently. This frees the coach to observe, provide meaningful feedback, and build rapport with each rider. By encouraging autonomy within a structured framework, riders develop greater confidence, understanding, and responsibility for their own progress. The result is a productive, inclusive lesson environment where every participant feels supported, challenged, and motivated to improve.