Riding & Writing...: Riding in the Netherlands: An Interview with Zoë Coade

Zoë Coade

Photo Courtesy Hans Guldemond Photography

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.