British international Grand Prix dressage rider, producer and accredited UKCC level 3 coach, Daisy Coakley, is based in Hertfordshire. Daisy previously evented up to intermediate level but turned to pure dressage and hasn’t looked back, winning eight national titles over the years. She also won the BEF Excel Talent programme in 2018 which allowed her to take her HGV test, train with Gareth Hughes and complete her UKCC level 3. The highly talented Daisy has also previously won bursaries from sport England and the BD Young Professionals Award.
Daisy and Affinity Bay at home
One of Daisy’s favourite competitions was taking her own horse Affinity Bay to his first International at Small Tour level. She says “He tried his socks off and got really consistent scores. It meant so much as he notoriously got over excited at shows, and it crept into his performance. But he really knew what that one meant to me and pulled it out of the bag.”
Daisy (mostly) owns a gorgeous 5-year-old Hanoverian mare called Stella. She also owns her Irish Sports horse Finn who competed up to Grand Prix until retiring last year. She also has some other super competition rides which she compete for owners –
Cleopatra II who Daisy has ridden since she was a 5yo (now seventeen!) is competing at Grand Prix.
Santorini is a stunning chestnut gelding who is currently out at Inter I.
Zezar is a beautiful Friesian who is out competing at Advanced medium.
Fresco is a gorgeous 6-year-old doing young horse classes.
At the moment, Daisy and the team are getting ready for regionals in February at Wellington with Santorini in the Inter I and Zezar in the Advanced Medium/medium Freestyle.
How did horses come into your life?
Daisy and Fresco – owned by Coral Bloom
My mum brought me up on the back of a horse. Before I was two, she would plonk me on her ex race horse and we would go out for a ride a lead hack. At two I got my first pony called Cracker Jack; he is now 39.
When and where do you ride?
I ride almost every day, and I ride all over! Essex, Herts, Stanmore. I will travel to sit on beautiful horses.
Who do you train with?
Daisy attacking the cross-country with her old event horse Louis (Urbanus II)
I am very lucky to train with Gareth Hughes. And I now travel up there to train every month. I met Gareth through one of my owners Judy Firmston-Williams. I was lucky enough to win some funding through the BEF Excel talent programme and I got the opportunity to base myself with Gareth for over a month. It was brilliant as I not only got to train with him almost every day on the two horses, I took but I got to work on the yard. It was great to see the inner workings of a top Olympic dressage yard. The team were absolutely lovely, and I was delighted to work with their very happy horses.
I also train with Judy Harvey who is a list one judge and selector. She is a great trainer, and we often see her a few times a month.
What are you and your horses currently working on?
Daisy winning another national title with Cleopatra II (Daya) owned by Judy Firmston Williams
Currently trying to train more horses to Grand Prix. I’m excited to start the journey again with the young horses.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
My owners, trainers, sponsors and family are my key crew.
Have you faced any challenges on your dressage journey?
Many. Lameness issues, a few rides that I lost. But it is all a learning curve and sets you up better for the future.
What do you love about riding?
In the saddle is where I feel most comfortable. I love the connection you create with the horse. It ends up feeling like you are as one.
What are your future aspirations?
I would love to ride at Olympia! To some mega Christmas music.
Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding?
Daisy and the beautiful Zezar owned by Kate Tora
I used to suffer massively when about to go cross country. But for the dressage I’m a much more relaxed competitor. I love a bit of pressure and the adrenaline rush afterwards! I have also done quite a lot of work with sports psychologists over the years and feel this has really benefitted how I look at competing. For me all the work goes in before the day of the show. And on the day, you just have to let the training kick in.
How do you deal with them?
Lots of work with a wonderful lady called Lisa Sparrowhawk.
Do you have any rituals before competing?
I phased these out as it got too complicated.
Your Top Tip
Plan backwards. Pick your show date then work back from that and put things in the diary. This will help you feel prepared and confident.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Keep it simple and trust your gut!
Want More?
If you enjoyed meeting Daisy you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here. You can keep up with Daisy’s progress and visit her instagram page here