Welcome to Pivo Meets, a series where we get real and chatty with the faces of Pivo.
To celebrate women this March, we had a little tête-à-tête with Maddi Burchell.
A professional dressage coach, Maddi has been riding for over 30 years! Having trained with some of the world's finest trainers, her expertise lie in training horses and riders, as well as specializing in rehab work and corrective schooling.
One of Maddi’s many achievements is — The Dressage Coach — an online coaching platform for a community of riders, which also houses helpful resources and content created by Maddi herself. Her client’s mainly ride competitively, but her passion also lies in helping horses and riders reach their full potential.
Here’s an insight of her successful career, how she has made Pivo a part of her training and all that she has to share with the world and her community of equestrians.
First, tell us a little bit about the art of classical dressage. And what do you like the best about coaching and what do you like the best about riding?
Classical Dressage for me is all about creating a harmonious and truly beautiful relationship between the horse and the rider, that brings with it so many benefits in terms of horse and rider wellbeing.
This art emphasizes on a deep understanding and connection between a rider and a horse. The focus is on clear communication through subtle cues, resulting in a horse that moves willingly and appears light and balanced. It is a journey of constant refinement for both the rider and horse.
Classical dressage training also focuses on biomechanics and gymnastics, which strengthens the horse's body and improves its athleticism without force. This can lead to a longer and healthier career for the horse.
It also requires a rider to develop a strong, independent seat with subtle aids. This not only benefits the horse but also improves the rider's balance, coordination, and patience.
What I like best about coaching
Witnessing breakthroughs is what makes coaching magic. It's that moment a rider connects with their horse on a deeper level, a lightbulb clicks on, and suddenly everything makes sense. Confidence blossoms as techniques become smoother, and both the horse and rider move with newfound harmony.
I see horses transform throughout lessons, their bodies growing stronger and more capable. But the most rewarding transformation is watching riders own their journeys. I help them unlock their potential, celebrate personal victories, and achieve the goals they set for themselves. There's simply no greater joy than seeing that spark of accomplishment in their eyes.
What I like best about riding
There's a deep satisfaction that comes from riding a horse. It's more than just the physical movement - it's the connection you build. Seeing a horse grasp a new concept is truly rewarding.
The journey you take together is special. Witnessing their strength and capability grow, fills you with a sense of accomplishment. Horses are powerful creatures, yet they choose to collaborate with us. That trust and partnership is a feeling unlike any other.
You’ve been riding for over 30 years, how did you come up with the idea for online coaching through The Dressage Coach app and how is it going?
For over 20 years, I've loved coaching dressage in person. However, over the years, I have had to stop coaching some of my best clients because they moved away from my area. Dedicated students who moved, often wanted to keep training, but location became a hurdle.
In 2019, I started exploring ways to bridge that gap. Video conferencing seemed promising, and after trying different platforms, I found Pivo worked really well. It allowed me to continue coaching students remotely, no matter where they were.
Then came 2020 and the world changed. In-person lessons became impossible. Thankfully, the groundwork with remote coaching paid off. I could easily transition all my students online, keeping their dressage progress on track.
But some students wanted more support between lessons. Pivo came in handy again – riders started recording their rides and sending them for my feedback. This sparked an idea – The Dressage Coach App.
With my tech-savvy husband (who's also a fantastic photographer!) on board, we decided to create a platform to help dressage riders everywhere. He dove into app development, and after months of work, we launched the first version of The Dressage Coach App.
Fast forward to 2024 and our app has had a few changes and loads of new features added to it - Test Movements Guide, Schooling Exercises Library and Score Analyzer to name just a couple. We have what has been described as the most supportive and friendly online equestrian community with members all over the world, and the App also won the Equestrian Tech of the Year at the 2023 Equestrian Business Awards.
You use Pivo for online coaching and training, can you tell us how it has transformed your online coaching?
Pivo has been a game-changer! It's opened doors to coach way more riders than ever before. No longer limited by location, I can now work with riders not only across the country but around the world…and I do!
Pivo allows riders to send me videos of their rides, especially when they're facing specific challenges. This lets me analyze their ride in detail and provide much more targeted feedback compared to just an in-person lesson.
From a business perspective, Pivo has been amazing. It's given me the chance to exponentially increase my reach. Now, I can offer my coaching expertise to anyone, anywhere, any time. This flexibility is a huge benefit for both me and my clients.
Shop the Pivo Pod Silver Equestrian Pack here.
What kind of benefits do you see after integrating Pivo?
The Dressage Coach was built on four key ideas: affordability, sustainability, inclusivity, and accessibility. And Pivo turned out to be a perfect fit for all of them!
Since I travel less for lessons, there's less wear and tear on my car and the environment. Plus, my students save on travel costs too – it's a win-win situation!
Financially, remote coaching with Pivo makes a big difference. It's simply more affordable than in-person lessons for both me and my students.
Accessibility is huge for me. I want everyone to have access to high-quality dressage coaching, no matter their location, skill level or experience. Pivo makes this a reality – riders can learn from me anywhere in the world!
Inclusion is another passion. I believe we all have a responsibility to make dressage more welcoming. The Dressage Coach App and Pivo allow riders who might not be able to afford regular lessons to still get expert coaching and support. It's fantastic to see them connect and feel part of a supportive community.
Describe a day in your life when you’re coaching with Pivo.
Since I coach riders worldwide, early mornings are standard – some clients in places like the Philippines prefer daytime lessons for obvious reasons, which means I might be teaching at 4 am! Coffee fuels my mornings as I work through video feedback requests from the previous day sent to me on the App.
The beauty of remote coaching is that I can seamlessly blend it with in-person lessons. Often, I schedule my sessions to squeeze in a remote lesson between face-to-face ones. My laptop ensures I can coach on the go and respond to feedback requests whenever I have a spare moment.
Pivo goes everywhere with me, too! I record my in-person sessions, so clients can review them later – a valuable tool for their riding progress.
Shop the Pivo Max Performance Pack here.
Any tips or tricks that you’ve developed over the time of using Pivo in your coaching & training that you’d like to share?
Definitely always use Guest Control for remote coaching sessions. This gives the coach the ability to control the Pivo during the session, which means the coach can zoom in and out as needed and there is zero chance that the Pivo will lose track of the horse and rider.
You hold numerous qualifications and accreditations, but what according to you has been your biggest achievement so far? You also won the Equestrian Tech of the year 2023, tell us a little about that, how does it feel?
I would have originally said the biggest achievement of my career was being selected for the National Development Program for Coaching Excellence by British Equestrian.
This National Lottery funded program was an amazing opportunity to develop my coaching, working alongside professional coaches for a wide range of sports at the highest level. Of course, winning The Equestrian Tech of the Year award in 2023 for The Dressage Coach App was also a massive achievement. Seeing my vision go from concept to reality and turn into an award-winning app meant a huge amount to me, but so much thanks need to go to our members and dedicated team who help me every day with the app and our community to make it such an amazing resource for riders.
Getting back to your venture, The Dressage Coach App, what is your training philosophy and how do you motivate your students? And what advice would you give to someone training to be an equestrian?
At the core of my dressage coaching philosophy lies a commitment to student-centered learning. Effective instruction begins with a deep understanding of each rider's individual goals and aspirations. This personalized approach allows me to tailor lessons that are both challenging and achievable, fostering a sense of accomplishment and propelling continued advancement.
Furthermore, honesty and transparency are paramount in the coach-student relationship. I provide candid feedback, highlighting areas for improvement while celebrating successes. This open communication fosters trust and empowers riders to approach their training with confidence.
The ideal dressage training program should not only develop technical proficiency but also nurture critical thinking skills. By equipping riders with the tools to independently analyze their riding and troubleshoot challenges, I empower them to become lifelong learners who can achieve their dressage aspirations.
Finally, the element of "fun" is essential for sustained motivation and enjoyment in any equestrian discipline. I strive to create a positive and supportive learning environment where riders can embrace the challenges of dressage training, while taking pleasure in the journey.
All of this needs to be framed around the horse’s needs to ensure the highest level of welfare is provided and we work at the horse’s pace as much as the rider’s.
When my riders trust the process, they see the results and that brings the motivation.
My advice to anyone wanting to get started in training, whether as a rider or a coach, would be to never stop learning, be open-minded, challenge yourself and if you’re not enjoying it, change what you’re doing.
Reflective practice is essential, as well as total honesty around performance. It’s no good to believe your performance is better than it is, because there’s always a judge around the corner ready to tell you the truth, so I make sure my clients hear it from me first!
What were the biggest changes in your coaching career after implementing online coaching? Did you face any challenges?
We’ve definitely faced challenges! One of the biggest hurdles has been to get our message out there, to tell people what we do and also to convince them to give remote coaching a try. The vast majority of people who try remote coaching with me or feedback sessions via The Dressage Coach App absolutely love it, but it’s still quite a new concept in the equestrian world. Equally, many riders don’t consider themselves technically-minded, so showing them how easy our app is to use, along with how simple using Pivo can be, is sometimes a bit tricky.
Is there any kind of "wrong" perception about online coaching that exists within the equestrian community?
Absolutely. I’ve spoken to clients who have experienced coaching where their coach doesn’t know how to get the best from the technology they’re using. For example not knowing how to use Guest Control on the Pivo. I think there are certainly some riders who are surprised by how effective remote coaching can be when done right, and when offered correctly, it can be such a great way to train for so many reasons.
You have established so much for your community of riders as well as horses, are there any changes you wish to see a few years down the line in your industry?
I am a firm believer in correct training of horses and riders and I would love to see a much bigger emphasis on coaches delivering this. There is definitely more to be done around horse welfare and the way horses are trained behind closed doors.
In terms of riders specifically, the equestrian world can be pretty harsh sometimes and we continue to see a rise in mental health issues within the riding world. Equestrians need to support each other and enjoy what they do, and if it’s not fun, then something needs to change.
Do you have any advice you want to give to riders looking to coach online?
My best advice for riders looking to coach online is to give it a go!
Save 10% when you shop Pivo with The Dressage Coach. Use discount code THEDRESSAGECOACH
Connect with Maddi Burchell on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thedressagecoach/
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