Coaching from Hannah and Rachel and CT Coaches

Hannah Weston
CT Team
Hannah can be found predominantly online in the CT Club, where she continues to make and share training videos for the (already bursting!) Home Study Courses, as well as offering support, advice and updates for CT Club Members.
In real life, she is based in North Yorkshire, England, and offers local lessons and regular teaching days at Hope Pastures Rescue Centre. She also teaches clinics and seminars around Europe.

Rachel Bedingfield
ct team
Rachel can also be found online in the CT Club, supporting members and sharing new material.
She splits her time between North Yorkshire, where her horses live together with Hannah’s herd, and Cortijo de Segura in Spain, which is a training center she co-founded with CT Coach Claire Waldron. Cortijo de Segura offers CT training courses in the sunshine with rescued horses.
You can also follow Hannah and Rachel through the Connection Training Facebook Page, Youtube Channel and Instagram!
CT Coaches
Our Coaches are highly experienced, knowledgeable horse trainers, certified in coaching Connection Training techniques. You can find them all in the Connection Training Club where they offer online Coaching, find Events with CT Coaches in the Calendar or follow the links in their bio’s for in-person teaching.

Melissa Deal
USA
Inspiring women to enjoy their horses through compassionate training! CT Coach based in North Carolina.
Melissa Deal
- Location: Burgaw, North Carolina, US
- Lessons: I offer freelance teaching at my yard and in the local area
- Clinics: I love to travel to teach Clinics
- Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews
Contact
Website: www.compassionatehorseclick.com
Phone: (1) 910-471-5445
Skype: melissa.deal8
Email: melissa@victorylanddressage.com



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Transforming your horse related challenges into heartwarming experiences for both you and your horse is my passion!
Do you crave learning to achieve reliable, repeatable results as you shape your horse’s behavior and build confidence in your own abilities in a compassionate and safe manner?
If so, let me assure you, you can…
- enjoy your horse like never before.
- feel like a girl again as you and your horse
- become deeply bonded through your Connection Training (CT) coaching experience with Melissa.
Melissa is a Certified Connection Training Coach, a Shawna Karrasch Master Course participant, a Recognized Compassionate Equestrian member and facility owner, founder of Compassionate Horse and has been certified by ARIA in Dressage, Hunt Seat and Western Equitation for 20+ years.
She’s a huge fan of Hannah and Rachel’s and is quite familiar with their methods, courses and book.
While Dressage was once a favorite pastime, ensuring that horses and the people who love them are communicating clearly and kindly with mutual consent is Melissa’s number one mission. She is a master at helping women read and understand their horse’s expressions and behaviors and coaching them to create the relationships of their dreams.
Melissa adores obstacle training, de-spooking exercises, groundwork and tricks for deepening connection and solving a variety of behavioral challenges and goals under tack and on the ground. From trailer loading and husbandry to groundwork and flying changes, Melissa can provide you with simple easy to follow online lesson experiences, training plans, one on one and group guidance and online resources. With your input, together, we will customize just the right program for your horse’s abilities and personality and your own needs and desires!
Melissa’s track record of rehabilitating horses who have suffered mentally, physically, and emotionally from the devastation of high-pressure training and abuse speaks for itself. Life and time are precious commodities. Melissa believes that you and your horse deserve to enjoy your time together and that you both have what it takes to do so because she’s seen it happen with so many others in her lessons. Horses can learn to love doing so many things including just hanging out and even being ridden! (and you might be surprised at the difference one-on-one coaching can make in the ease and timeliness of your relationship building and training results).
For example: A once physically and emotionally abused animal now performs happily in the dressage arena and wins! Previously confused and nervous – he now has a repertoire of tricks, loves being around people and seeks to both engage and please. Learn more about +R and the special horse that led Melissa to CT and the success of his complete rehabilitation in this video from her very early years: Getting your Horse to Say YES and Love it! Getting your Horse to Say Yes and Love it! Video 1
Seeking Confidence: Like many of you, Melissa has experienced traumatic personal injury and loss of confidence. She wasn’t even able to walk at all for close to a year after a riding accident. “I’ve felt unable to help a horse I loved. I’ve made every mistake possible it seems and felt horrifically responsible for past training failures. The horses in my life, my clients and I am living proof that your journey can be different. CT works on so many levels!” Melissa emphatically states.
You and your horse can join Melissa and her clients and Connection Training members by learning the positive reinforcement (+R) process and experience life changing results. +R methods aren’t just for teaching horses. Melissa’s program is well known for transforming the lives of people too. No need to worry about judgment or criticism from Melissa. Your comfort and learning and your horse’s happiness are vitally important to her and her team!
“I am a lifelong learner who has been studying with Shawna Karrasch and CT, living the +R life and coaching +R both live and online for years. I understand the doubts and fears that can come with trying a new instructor, training methodology and/or application, especially in an unfamiliar format. That’s why I offer an introductory lesson money back guarantee,” promises Melissa.
You have nothing to lose, if you want a safe, happy, connected relationship with a relaxed, confident horse. Schedule a session with Melissa and enjoy learning to communicate with your horse on a whole new level!
For an enlightening and comical experience, have a peek at the following videos,
“Examples of Positive Reinforcement Training with Humans by Melissa Deal” from the archives of many years ago.
Video 2 Humans and Horses + R training Video 2
Video 3 Humans and Horses +R training Video 3
We wish you and the horses that you love, the very best life ever – positively together!
Testimonials
Melissa put in an amazing amount of effort. It was apparent that she was watching and re-watching my videos, picking out the tiniest details. She was very good about questioning me about what was happening rather than just telling me her opinion on what she saw. She made a huge effort to really understand not only what was going on in a particular video, but to understand the horse’s and my backgrounds, what I wanted, and what we already had that we could build on. She has a very good grasp of how the basics relate to more complex behaviors, and of a reasonable evolution from said basics to a finished behavior appropriate for a particular horse and handler. She was very particular about my timing and technique, and in taking ME back to the basics, she helped me improve my horse’s behaviors immensely.
Melissa brings a depth of knowledge in classical training and teaching to clicker training. We need more trainers like her and I would recommend Melissa to anyone!

Claire Waldron
spain
CT Coach and founder of Cortijo de Segura, working with rescued horses in Spain.
Claire Waldron
- Location: Granada, Spain
- Lessons: I offer courses and lessons based at my home: Positive Horse Training Spain - Granada Province
- Clinics: I travel internationally for private lessons and to give clinics
- Online: I offer online video coaching (Contact me for a FREE 30-minute consultation to see how we can work together)
Contact
Website: www.positivehorsetrainingspain.com
Email: clairewaldron@msn.com



Hi, I’m Claire Waldron and I am proud to be Connection Training’s first Certified Coach. I joined CT when it was launched in 2014 as an Elite Student. I live in Spain and needed help with my traumatised mare, Segura. I wasn’t sure that I could get the help I needed online, but I was desperate and there was no help available locally.
I am so glad I took the chance! I had monthly coaching calls with Hannah, Rachel or Shawna. I restarted Segura following the Foundation Course, and bit by bit, she began to calm down and respond to me. Within the year I was back to riding her again and we developed a once-in a lifetime relationship.
This gave me a new path in life. I began working in Customer Support for CT and set my eyes on becoming a CT Coach. I already had an HND in Equine Management and had studied Equine Behaviour online. I had also worked at Leahurst Equine Veterinary Hospital (Liverpool University) where I had taught horse-handling to vet students, so I knew I loved teaching.
I spoke at the CT Conference, 2016, where I was also awarded my Coaching Certificate. I began coaching online and also taught live in the Azores. I love both equally. It’s great to be with students and be able to actually work with the horses directly in live teaching. Online teaching is wonderful too. It is so effective to watch a video of their work with a student, as we see so much we can work on. Students make wonderful progress and I am living proof how effective it is, for handling, riding and the relationship.
Also in 2016, Rachel Bedingfield and I decided to form a business together to create Positive Horse Training Spain at my home in Spain. We have up to 10 rescued horses and students stay at our lovely villa for week-long horse-centered learning holidays which Rachel and I co-teach. Also, you can come for a shorter stay and work with me for 3 days in small groups. In addition I offer individual bespoke coaching depending on how long you want to stay.

Angelica Hesselius
Sweden
CT Coach and Academic Art of Riding Instructor based in Sweden.
Angelica Hesselius
- Location: Sundsvall, Sweden
- Lessons: I travel all over Sweden and internationally to give clinics and lectures. For those nearby there is possibilities for freelance lessons and study groups. Parts of the year I also welcome students to come to my home as week-students with their own horse or to work with my horses and take part of my everyday training.
- Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews
- Languages Spoken: English, Swedish, Scandinavian Languages






Horses and horse training are my greatest passions. In both my own training and in my teaching I focus on balance. Balance through both connection with the horses mind and connection with the horses body. I love how gymnastics and a greater body awareness can improve our relationships with our horses and ourselves. I’m also a longtime teacher and trainer of the Academic Art of Riding- a way of gymnasticising your horse according to the classical principles of dressage guided by modern biomechanics.
So, even though a search for balance has guided most of my horse life I was, however, looking for more. More connection, more relaxation. I want horses that love training and to be around their humans. I want to give my horses more choices and more control to be able to be really active participants in their own education. This is something I have found in Connection Training, and a more process-focused way of teaching.
My greatest teachers on my journey are, however, my lovely horses. Each and every one with their own special needs. I believe education should be accessible to everyone and to every-horse, no matter the breed. This, and a welcoming open atmosphere, is something we found in the Connection Training Club and also something I try to mediate in my teaching every day: Think, grow. Learn, know.

Kristen Vanderpool
Canada
CT Coach and groundwork, riding and obstacles specialist based in Red Deer Alberta, Canada
Kristen Vanderpool
- Location: Red Deer Alberta, Canada
- Lessons: I teach individual and group lessons and clinics in Central Alberta
- Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews





I realized a number of years ago that positive reinforcement was the only way I wanted to train. Since then, I’ve been able to develop and create meaningful connections with horses and other animals. Connection Training has been perfect for this. Creating a partnership based on mutual trust and cooperation is what I love and the main reason why I do this. I am honored to help others in any way I can.
Specialties
My favorite thing to work on is foundation ground/saddle work. I love starting horses and creating a great foundation of trust. I enjoy combining this with obstacles, and objects; they make the foundation work more fun and help to create trust, reduce fear and develop balance skills. I have worked with many horses in this area and it brings me great joy to see their success!
Interests
I currently school in Classical Dressage under a Phillipe Karl certified instructor. I am able to take what I learn and convert it to R+ easily. I’m happy to share what I know.
Testimonials

Judith Edel
UK
CT Coach and horse agility specialist based in Wales, UK
Judith Edel
- Location: Llandrindod Wells, Wales, UK
- Lessons and Clinics: I teach regular monthly Horse Agility clinics, and am available for clinics (Horse Agility or CT) and freelance lessons. I teach mainly in mid Wales and the surrounding counties (Herefordshire, Shropshire, South and West Wales), but I can also travel further afield.
- Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews
Contact
Website:
www.positive-equitation.co.uk
Email: positive-equitation@outlook.com





I have loved horses all my life, and although I grew up in a city I was lucky enough to spend my weekends and school holidays at a local riding school. I learned a lot about the practical side of riding and caring for horses, and built good relationships with a lot of the ponies, but always had a feeling that there could (and should) be more to the relationship than just riding and hard work. It wasn’t until years later when Honey, my first horse, was on box rest that I discovered the fun of clicker training to give us things to do and think about while she was recovering from an injury. It was clicker training (and later Connection Training) that showed me that the missing part of the puzzle had been that the horses weren’t enjoying the relationship as much as the people were, and once the horses were given the opportunity to both understand and truly enjoy what we were doing, it became much more fun for all of us.
I enjoy teaching all aspects of horsemanship, and I consider that my job as a coach is to make horsemanship fun – as fun for the horse as it is for the handler. I have had first-hand experience of when things go wrong, when both handlers and horses can lose confidence in each other. I have helped many partnerships rebuild their relationship, using the principles and process of positive reinforcement to overcome fears and doubt, and to create a bond that is strong, deep, and secure.
My speciality is obstacle training and Horse Agility; I am a Horse Agility Accredited Trainer and have been European Horse Agility Champion (liberty or on lead) four times with my little rescue pony, Pip, and my donkey Molly, who was also Reserve World Champion donkey in 2017 – we are proudly taking positive reinforcement right to the top of international competition! I teach regular monthly Horse Agility clinics, and love using obstacle training to help both horses and humans overcome their fears and worries, gain confidence in each other and learn new ways to communicate, using empathy, emotional awareness, and of course positive reinforcement.
Positive Equitation: Making Horsemanship Fun

Belinda Daws
Australia
CT Coach passionate about the horse-human journey together based in Queensland, Australia
Belinda Daws



Testimonials

Suzy Deurinck
The Netherlands
CT Coach specialising in problem-solving and behaviour based in The Netherlands
Suzy Deurinck
- Location: Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands
- Lessons: I teach lessons at your horse's place
- Clinics: I teach clinics with horses and give theory seminars. My lessons and clinics are taught in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
- Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews
- Languages: I teach in Dutch or English
Contact
Website: www.deurinck.nl
Skype: Suzybelt





Hello 🙂 I am Suzy and I so happy to be a Connection Training Coach. I work fulltime with horses and horse owners to help them understand each other better. As an animal scientist, I love using the latest research and figuring out why horses act the way they do.
Reward based training is a life style and not just a trick I use with horses. My goal is to have everyone enjoying themself: both horse and human!
I have a 21 year old mare. She used to be very anxious and went easily into the shut-down mode. She has changed so much! I think I can summarize it by the change of her spirit animal: it used to be Eeyore and nowadays it is Tina Turner!
I work a lot with aggression, since that is a big issue in my area. My point of view is that you first have to show the horse you are his/her friend, before you even think about setting up rules. I love the moment the horse connects with the owner, and all the anxiety and stress disappear.
Another subject that I often see is loading. The interesting part about loading is, that you can so do much in training! I advice people to take smaller -but effective- steps and it works like a charm.
Testimonials

Venya Bonebakker
Slovakia
CT Coach specialising focused on a happy horse-human relationship and healthy management
Venya Bonebakker
- Location: Zvolen, Slovak Republic
- Lessons and Clinics: I teach lessons and clinics at your horse's place or you can come to me and have lessons with my 7 equids - 5 horses, 1 pony, 1 donkey
- I teach lessons and clinics in Slovakia and surrounding countries. I'm happy to travel further on request.
- Online: I offer online Coaching Calls, Video Reviews and Slovak language membership site.
- Languages: I teach in Slovak or English






I started my R+ journey 11 years ago, but having no information nor money, I was left to experiment with my horses on my own. I have been a horse owner for 18 years and have kept a bunch of them at home for 13 years, so I had enough material and time to experiment with :D. However, it was very painful as I created some overaroused horses. However, I wasn’t ready to give up on my way of having harmonious partnership in which we all are happy and continued to search for answers.
Fortunately enough, I discovered Hannah 7 years ago, fell in love with her attitude and soon invited her to teach at our place. It was the first ever clicker horse demonstration in Slovak and also Czech republic. Since then, I’ve been building a community in our country around R+ and inviting the best teachers like Hannah, Rachel, Shawna Karrasch, Rachael Draaisma and, nowadays, colleagues such as CT Coaches Angelica Hesselius and Suzy Deurinck.
In my training I love experimenting with all kind of techniques and creating happier horses. I am bit obsessed with their emotional state and I love to observe every small change in their attitude or expression and search for a way how to change it into better state of mind.
Honestly, the emotional state of the horse is, for me, much more important than teaching behaviors. My focus is always on the relationship part, which is sometimes tricky to keep in balance with training when using food rewards.
In my coaching, I focus on you and your horse as partners, where both have some needs. Taking into account your personality and your horse’s emotional state, my aim is to find a training plan which fits to both of you.

Gesine Jimenez Martinez
Norway
CT Coach passionate about healthy movement and groundwork based in Moss, Norway
Gesine Jimenez Martinez
- Location: Moss, Norway
- I love to give presentations and demonstrations
- I teach freelance lessons and clinics
- Online: I offer online Coaching Calls and Video Reviews
- Languages: I teach in German, Norwegian or English
- I teach mostly in South-Eastern Norway, but I love to travel anywhere in the world!
Contact
Phone: +47 41372232
Skype name: Gesine.ewert





For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by the movement of horses. I can watch them in the pasture roaming, playing and running for hours without getting bored. As I got older and more engaged in the equestrian world, I realized how many horses lose their ease, flexibility and joy of movement after being put into training – or “work”.
Since then my goal has always been to find a way of training horses that wouldn’t take anything away from their worriless days as youngsters in the field, but to add something positive to their everyday life so they could grow into strong, healthy bodies and personalities. In my opinion, Connection Training gives us all the tools to achieve this goal, and that’s why I am over the moon to be able to pass on and gain new experiences and knowledge with such a great partner at my side.
I have always been a big fan of ground-work for the simple reason that I can see the horse in his or her entirety and enjoy the movement. And with the help of some great trainers, I found ground-work to be the most useful tool for me to help a horse recover his balance, strength and joy in movement.
Over the years, and especially with the help of Connection Training, I learned about the importance of a happy and relaxed state of mind to make progress in physical rehabilitation and vice versa, that stressed, anxious horses turned into calm, reliable rides after their physical issues were addressed. I try to look at every problem in a holistic way; so, even when I work with a physical issue, I try to make training as mentally stimulating as possible and look for potential improvement in management, nutrition, enrichment etc.
My dream for the future of horses and humans is that humans start to see their horses with different eyes – not looking for what the horse can do for them but what they can enjoy together based on a mutually beneficial connection. I believe, many of the Connection Trainers are already there and I am gratefully looking forward to working and growing together with you on our equine journey!

Megan Hines
Ireland
CT Coach based at a rescue centre in Ireland, specialising in helping leisure and rescue horses.
Megan Hines
- Location: Carbury, Co. Kildare, Ireland
- Lessons and Clinics: I teach throughout Ireland and can travel to the UK. I offer private coaching as well as courses, clinics and demonstrations for groups.
- Online: I offer online coaching (GMT)
- Working Students: Our rescue farm offers horse care and training placements
- Languages: I teach in English (South African)
Contact
Website: https://www.meganhinesequine.com/
Skype: Megan Hines, username megan.twine
Email: meganhinesequine@gmail.com






What Our CT Club Members Say
Certified CT Coaches
A little personal coaching can make a big difference in the journey with your horse. Getting experienced feedback, advice and guidance can really help you to overcome ‘stuck’ points and progress more easily and smoothly with your horse.
Finding the right local instructor for you can be tricky, but thanks to the internet, you can now access top quality coaches who understand how you want to work with your horse. Online coaching is simple to do (we promise!) and is a really great way to get feedback on your training and one-to-one discussion and advice with a knowledgeable coach. In fact, we find that students make the best progress with online coaching because the process of reviewing and discussing your training gives you deep awareness and insights into your training to take with you to the next session.
All of our certified Coaches have undergone at least year of training with us, both online and in person, and have all worked with a wide range of horses themselves as well as taught both in person and online through their extensive case studies and work in the field. They were selected because of their experience, knowledge and supportive, friendly personalities and we can recommend Coaching with them whole-heartedly.
Each Coach has specific experience and specialities. Please review their bio’s to find the best one for you and your horse.
You can book Coaching with them, both online and in person, by contacting them directly through their contact information below.

Melissa Deal
USA
Inspiring women to enjoy their horses through compassionate training! CT Coach based in North Carolina.

Claire Waldron
spain
CT Coach and founder of Cortijo de Segura, working with rescued horses in Spain.
Claire Waldron

Angelica Hesselius
Sweden
CT Coach and Academic Art of Riding Instructor based in Sweden. ………………………………………………………………………………….
Angelica Hesselius

Kristen Vanderpool
Canada
CT Coach and groundwork, riding and obstacles specialist based in Red Deer Alberta, Canada.
Kristen Vanderpool

Judith Edel
UK
CT Coach and horse agility specialist based in Wales, UK.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Judith Edel

Belinda Daws
Australia
CT Coach passionate about the horse-human journey together based in Qld, Australia
Belinda Daws

Suzy Deurinck
Netherlands
CT Coach specialising in problem-solving and behaviour based in The Netherlands
Suzy Deurinck

Venya Bonebakker
Slovakia
CT Coach specialising focused on a happy horse-human relationship and healthy management
Venya Bonebakker

Gesine Jimenez Martinez
Norway
CT Coach passionate about healthy movement and groundwork based in Moss, Norway
Gesine Jimenez Martinez

Megan Hines
Ireland
CT Coach based at a rescue centre, specialising in helping leisure and rescue horses.