As equestrians, we usually think that our time spent riding creates most of our learning and progress. After all, our goals are centered on improving equitation, making adjustments that resonate with our horse(s), and becoming experts in our chosen discipline. Naturally those goals are met in the saddle, with many miles in an arena or a show ring.
But there are times when life intervenes. You live in Nebraska and the temperature plunges to 10 degrees below zero. Your horse threw a shoe, and you can’t ride until the farrier makes it out to the barn. Your coach has gone south for the winter, and you need tips on improving your flatwork. You’re traveling for work... the list goes on!
Fortunately, there are many virtual learning opportunities that can be accessed at your own pace, on your own timeline, affordably, and —bonus! —even at home, in your sweatpants or pajamas. Some of the key benefits of virtual learning for equestrians include:
- Access to top experts who might otherwise be out of reach geographically (and/or financially).
- Virtual learning connects equestrians with world-renowned trainers, coaches, and veterinarians.
- Riders can learn from specialists in various disciplines such as dressage, jumping, eventing, and horse care, without the time and expense of traveling to clinics or workshops.
Noelle Floyd (NF+) is among the leaders in virtual equestrian education, with it's in depth courses at the core of it's offering. Its online videos feature elite riders and trainers including Anne Kursinski, Karl Cook, Tik Maynard, Boyd Martin, and Laura Graves (to name a few!).
Cate Chant, a professional show jumper and trainer who splits her time between her training barn, True North Equestrian, in Kenora, Ontario (Canada) and Wellington, Florida, shared the benefits of her NF+ membership. "Personally, I am a visual learner, and living in a rural area without a lot of equestrian infrastructure, it has been hugely helpful to my own riding to have online resources to learn from.”
“A standout Masterclass was Ian Millar’s class on body control,” Cate continued. “A section of that class’s workbook focused on self-analysis, where I had to identify my own strengths and areas for improvement as a rider.”
This post will explore four ways that virtual learning opportunities are paving the way for riders to learn more and become better for their horses.
1. Benefit from educational courses on your own time and schedule.
Online courses and clinics subtract the timely travel/commute time to clinics or workshops and make high-quality instruction more accessible to riders because they can be done 24/7 from anywhere in the world.
NF+ virtual offerings include Ask Our Instructors ("Office Hours") Recordings, exclusive sessions where NF+ members can connect directly with Masterclass instructors to ask personalized questions. Another feature is Guided Rides, audio-only tracks that are perfect to listen to when driving to the barn, tacking up, or even while you’re in the saddle.
Cassie Looker is an amateur rider based in Portland, Oregon who juggles a busy work schedule as Global Product Director for Nike with many hours of barn time each week. She said her NF+ membership has been invaluable.
“I’m a lifelong learner. I love to read, listen to podcasts, take classes, attend clinics, and talk to experts to broaden my knowledge for work, health, horses, everything!” she shared. “Noelle Floyd was the perfect fit for me during COVID. I was working from home so I could have Masterclasses playing in the background as I worked, and I could revisit things that I missed or wanted to listen to again at any time. Now, with a busy travel schedule, I still use it all the time.”
“Tik Maynard has been the greatest influence on my learning and growth as a horse person,” Cassie added. “I use things I’ve learned from him every time I go to the barn. He has improved my relationship with my horse and all horses I encounter. How Tik communicates with horses and his calm demeanor are my north star!”
Cassie said she was also influenced by—and frequently revisits—NF+ Courses like Karl Cook’s “Forward not Fast,” Laura Graves’ “Responsiveness to the Aids,” and Boyd Martin’s “Build Bravery Through Preparation,” among others.
2. Get individualized feedback via video coaching.
Many virtual learning platforms allow riders to submit videos of their rides for personalized feedback from trainers. This can be particularly useful for riders who don't have access to regular in-person coaching.
NF+ has a new feature in the member Community coming up called “Review My Ride,” where subscribers can submit videos of them riding and get feedback on live sessions with NF instructors.
PIVO technology uses a smart tracking camera that allows riders to record and analyze their rides without the need for a human videographer. It has become an essential tool for riders to improve their riding skills, participate in virtual lessons, and share videos with coaches, friends, or social media.
Four-star eventer Alexa Ehlers Thompson lives and runs her eventing barn, Clear View Farm, in Lexington, Kentucky and Ocala, Florida. She does a fair amount of training with her coach Maxime Livio, who is based in France, using PIVO.
“I love being able to have my coach with me at a show even if he can’t be there in person. Sometimes Maxime will finish competing in Europe and coach me from his lorry at the horse show!” she pointed out. PIVO has also come in handy for training her own Clear View clients when she has traveled to France to train with Maxime, for several months during COVID when she worked at an eventing farm in Ireland, and for clients who stay behind in Kentucky when she’s in Florida.
3. Get exposure to diverse topics beyond riding, and exposure to other disciplines.
Virtual learning can also give you access to different disciplines and also goes beyond riding instruction. Equestrians can explore topics like horse nutrition, health care, stable management, equine behavior, and even sports psychology. If they ride English, they can learn how to dip a toe into Western riding. Virtual technology in equestrian sport is breaking down barriers when it comes to what aspects of the sport riders can access. Some examples:
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NF+ features experts on groundwork, including Chelsea Canedy, Tik Maynard, and Josh Nichol. Groundwork with horses helps build trust, respect, and communication between horse and handler from the ground before riding. These three experts provide numerous videos that foster a safer and more harmonious partnership, creating a solid foundation for all riding disciplines. We offer a free 7 day trial.
- RideTV is a Western discipline-focused platform with a comprehensive offering of videos on various topics, including reining, sorting, cutting, tack and gear, and groundwork. Free three-day trial to see if it’s a good fit for you.
4. Stay Up to Date on Industry Trends
Although we may be slower on the uptake of digital tools and tech than the rest of the world, the equestrial world is catching up and realizing the ways in which these tools can help support us to become better horsepeople. Virtual learning helps riders stay informed about the latest training techniques, rule changes, and advancements in horse care, offering advice on a wide range of topics.
“I remember when I bought a young horse a couple years ago, it was so nice to have the Dr. Paul McClellan’s “Guide to Pre-Purchase Exam” on NF+,” Cassie shared. “It helped me put together a list of questions for my vet, trainer, and the seller.”
Initially driven primarily by the COVID pandemic, virtual mental health therapy has become a routine offering due to advancements in technology, changing societal needs, and increased accessibility to mental health care.
“We all go through times when we are low in confidence or possibly have anxiety creep up,” Cassie shared. “Dr. Jenny Susser’s “Performing Under Pressure and How to Control Fear and Anxiety” gave me great tools and tips to help me as I’ve worked through various issues.”
Conclusion
Technology offers a world of opportunity to learn more about our horses and about riding, and has the advantage of being available anytime, anywhere. The explosion of tech tools and online opportunities, available for all disciplines and all kinds of riders, is more than can be outlined in one blog post, but it’s safe to say this is a topic we'll be hearing a lot more of in 2025.
“Virtual masterclasses have given me the opportunity as a professional to learn from other professionals,” Cate pointed out. “It allows me to be a student of the sport on an ongoing basis!”
About the Author
Helen Townes is a writer and editor based in Portland, OR, and holds a master’s degree in journalism. She rides her Hanoverian Joey at Silver Winds Farms, a hunter-jumper barn in Banks, OR, and enjoys spending time with her family, watching soccer, and reading.