Riding in the Netherlands: An Interview with Zoë Coade
Archived from the December 2025 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete www.floridaequineathlete.com
No Duplication Without Permission (c)
Today we’re joined by Zoë Coade, a horsemanship professional whose passion for
horses reaches far beyond the saddle. With years of hands-on experience, Zoë
has cultivated an approach that blends traditional training principles with a
modern, mindful philosophy—one that emphasizes connection, partnership, and
authentic communication between horse and human.
Her work extends across platforms, from a growing social media presence
to her podcast and online training programs, where she inspires a global
audience of riders at every level. What sets Zoë apart is her dedication not
only to guiding horses, but to learning from them—an ongoing journey that
shapes her teaching and enriches the lives of those she mentors.
We’re excited to explore her insights into horsemanship, the lessons
horses can teach us, and the ways she’s helping riders deepen their bonds with
these remarkable animals.
Zoë writes, “My back story is that some 25 years ago, the horse of my
dreams became my worst nightmare. Nobody in our immediate circle could help us.
She was perfect as she was, telling me I had to change, so that is what I did
and I set off on a journey leading me to sharing what I learned and continue to
do so, with YOU today.”
Welcome, Zoë!!
GM: What’s
the first horse you ever fell in love with—and do you still think about them?
ZC: Yes, absolutely.
It happened before I could even walk, I must have been about two years old. I
remember sitting up in my pram, looking across a local road where I grew up.
There was a field with three old broodmares, and one day my parents took me to
finally meet them.
You could also see them from my bedroom
window, but that first meeting is a memory I’ll never forget. There was a
six-bar metal gate, and through the third and fourth bars, I saw these
enormous, beautiful brown eyes staring down at me - gentle, curious,
extraordinary.
I still remember my parents complaining
about the smell, but to me, it was the most wonderful thing in the world -
earthy, alive, magical. I found myself wondering who these animals were and how
I could make them part of my life forever. I was around two
years old.
From that day on, everything in my world
became horse-related; toys, posters, T-shirts, tea-cups, you name it. And by
the age of eight, I was fortunate enough to be gifted my first pony.
So, in truth, it wasn’t just one horse I
fell in love with, but three - those nameless mares who somehow seemed to know
mine. They called to my heart that stays with me, always.
GM: What’s
one common misconception people have about building trust with horses, and how
do you help them overcome it?
ZC: One
of the biggest misconceptions is that trust is built through affection alone like
grooming, cuddles, treats, or simply being “nice.” While those things can feel
good to us, they don’t automatically translate to safety or clarity for the
horse.
Horses build trust
through consistency, boundaries, and the way we use our energy and intentions
around them.
I help riders
overcome this by teaching them that trust is not an emotion we try to give the
horse - it’s a predictable pattern the horse can rely on. When people learn to
communicate clearly, release pressure at the right moment, stay regulated, and
follow a simple approach-and-retreat process, the horse begins to understand
that the human is a reliable partner. From there, softness and connection grow
naturally, without forcing it.
Trust isn’t
created through trying harder - it’s created through becoming clearer and
having the tools to do so.
GM: What’s
the most powerful transformation you’ve witnessed in a student or follower
through your horsemanship teachings?
ZC: As an example a powerful transformation I’ve witnessed
came from a student who emailed me recently:
She
wrote, “I had a trainer for three months, but it’s from your platform that I
learned how to get more confident and work with my horses. Remember Zazu, my
defensive mare? She is now the most beautiful horse to work with. She’s quick
to respond, so focused on me, we walk and trot together at liberty… she just
loves playing and is not defensive at all anymore.”
She
later discovered why Zazu had been so defensive - the previous trainer
bullied her, always going straight to hard communications. Zazu simply shut
down and assumed all humans were the same.
Watching
her rebuild that trust, soften, and step into connection again… that’s
the kind of transformation that makes this work worth everything.
GM: How
do you balance technique with intuition when guiding someone to “get good” with
horses?
ZC: Balancing
technique with intuition is an art - and most riders only ever get taught half
of it. The beauty is, we all have it, we just have to learn how to tap into it.
For me, technique
gives the student something clear, structured, and repeatable to lean on. It
builds safety, timing, and understanding. But intuition is what turns those
skills into relationship. It’s the moment a student stops asking, “What should
I do next?” and starts feeling the horse’s answer before it even happens.
So I teach both in
layers:
1) First,
solid technique so the person and the horse feel safe. 2) Then,
I coach them to slow down, observe, breathe, and let the horse talk back. 3) Finally,
I help them trust that inner whisper - the quiet knowing that only comes from
connection.
When those two
sides meet, that’s when people really “get good.”
GM: What
inspired you to take your passion for horses to a global audience, and how has
that journey evolved?
ZC: What
inspired me to take my passion for horses to a global audience was the simple
truth that good horsemanship shouldn’t be limited by geography. For years I
watched horse owners and lovers struggle - not because they lacked heart, but
because they lacked access to guidance that honoured both the horse’s nature
and their own.
I realised that if
I could share what I’d learned, not just locally but worldwide, I could help
people feel less alone, more capable, and more connected to their horses no
matter where they lived.
The journey has
evolved in ways I never expected. It started with small videos and answering
questions online. Then it grew into podcasts, workshops, and an online platform
with students in countries I’ve never even visited. Along the way, the mission
stayed the same: make good horsemanship understandable, compassionate, and
accessible to anyone who wants to learn.
Every message from
a student, every transformation story, and every horse that becomes softer,
safer, and more willing keeps that inspiration alive.
GM: If
you could whisper one truth into the ear of every new horse owner, what would
it be?
ZC: I
would whisper this:
“Slow down. Your
horse is already listening.”
New owners often
feel pressure to do, to train, to fix, to prove. But the real magic
begins the moment you pause, breathe, and let the horse meet you as you are.
Horses don’t ask
for perfection. They ask for presence, softness, and the willingness to learn
alongside them. If you start from that place, everything else; communication,
confidence, partnership, it unfolds naturally.
GM: If
"Get Good With Horses" became a movement beyond horsemanship, what
values would it stand for?
ZC: It
would stand for the same values horses teach us every single day - just applied
to life:
Presence over
pressure.
Learning to pause, breathe, and respond instead of reacting.
Connection before
control.
Prioritising understanding, empathy, and relationship in every interaction -
human or horse.
Responsibility
without ego.
Owning your behaviour, your energy, and your impact, rather than blaming the
world around you.
Growth through
consistency.
Small, repeated actions that compound into confidence - not quick fixes or
shortcuts.
Kindness with
boundaries.
Being soft without being walked over; clear without being harsh.
Courage in
uncertainty.
Showing up even when you’re scared, learning even when it’s uncomfortable.
If Get Good With
Horses became a movement, it would be about becoming the kind of human a horse
would trust - and the kind of human you can be proud of in every area of life.
I post this style
of horsemanship wisdom on my socials almost daily.
GM: What’s
one thing people always get wrong about horses until they’ve spent real time
with them?
ZC: People
often assume horses are simple - that they either “behave” or they “misbehave.”
But
once you spend real time with them, you realise they’re some of the most
emotionally honest creatures on earth.
Nothing
they do is random.
Nothing
is personal.
They’re
always communicating, always responding to the environment, our energy, or the
clarity of our communications.
The
mistake many people make is thinking a horse is being difficult, stubborn, or
testing them. In reality, the horse is usually confused, overwhelmed, or doing
the only thing that makes sense to them in that moment.
When
people slow down, strip away the ego, and start listening instead of labelling,
everything changes. The horse reveals their softness, their humour, and their
willingness. And that’s where the real relationship begins.
GM: What’s
one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s just starting out with horses and
feeling overwhelmed?
ZC: Start
small, breathe often, and remember this: no one was born knowing how to do any
of it. Feeling overwhelmed isn’t a sign you’re failing - it’s a sign you care.
The best thing you
can do in the beginning is focus on understanding the horse before trying to
“do” anything with the horse. I have a module dedicated to this called “Who
Horse Are.” It is so important to understand them as a species first.
Learn how they
think, what they need to feel safe, and how they read the world. When you build
from knowledge instead of pressure, the overwhelm naturally dissolves into
clarity.
And don’t try to
learn it all in one go. Pick one skill, one habit, one small moment each day
and get good at that. Progress in horsemanship is just a collection of tiny
wins stacked over time.
If you want steady
guidance, I share simple, educational episodes on my podcast and practical
how-to lessons with support in my online training, so you never have to figure
it out alone.
GM: What
does horsemanship mean to you?
ZC: Horsemanship,
to me, is the art of partnership and relationship. It’s not about dominance or
control - it’s about understanding, respect, and communication.
It’s the quiet
moments where a horse trusts you enough to follow your lead, and the mutual
growth that comes from patience, consistency, and empathy.
Good horsemanship
is a lifelong journey of learning from the horse as much as teaching them, and
it’s about creating a bond that transcends riding - where connection, care, and
instinct guide every interaction.
About Zoe:
Zoë Coade is a
horsemanship professional whose passion for horses extends beyond riding. She
teaches connection, partnership, and communication between horse and human.
With years of hands-on experience,
she combines traditional training principles with a modern, mindful approach to
horsemanship.
Through
her growing social media presence, podcast and online training, Zoë shares her
knowledge and inspiration with a global audience, helping riders of all levels
deepen their bond with their horses. Her work reflects a lifelong dedication to
learning from horses as much as guiding them.
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Zoë Coade |
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Zoë Coade |
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Zoë Coade |
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