Meet Diana
About Diana Burgess
Horses have been my passion and my way of life for as long as I can remember. I’m Diana Burgess, an equestrian coach and trainer based in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. Originally from Canada, I’ve spent my whole life learning, competing and working with horses, always looking for ways to develop my own knowledge and help horses and riders reach their potential.
My experience spans a wide range of equestrian disciplines. From competing at four-star level in eventing and riding dressage at Medium level, to showjumping up to 1.30m, riding hunters at HOYS and training winning point-to-pointers, I’ve experienced first-hand the different skills, challenges and demands that come with producing horses and achieving success.
Today, I bring that breadth of experience into my coaching, combining practical horsemanship, biomechanics and mindset to help riders develop their skills, confidence and partnership with their horses.
For me, good riding is about so much more than technique. It’s about communication, trust and understanding, and recognising that the rider’s mindset can be just as important as their physical ability.
Whether you’re looking to build confidence, overcome a challenge or take your performance to the next level, my aim is to help you become a more effective, thoughtful and confident rider, so you and your horse can progress together.
Riding Career Highlights
My riding career has been a thrilling journey filled with competition, accomplishment, and invaluable mentorship. Here are some highlights:
-
Eventing: Competed at the prestigious 4* level, including appearances at Blenheim and Bramham Horse Trials.
-
Dressage and Show Jumping: Achieved success in both disciplines, showcasing elegance, precision, power, and athleticism.
-
National Accolades: Earned the titles of Canadian Preliminary National Champion and British Riding Club National Champion.
-
International Recognition: Long-listed for the Canadian 3-Day Eventing Team.
-
Legendary Mentorship: Trained under the guidance of equestrian icons Bruce Davidson, Martha Griggs (Canadian Olympian) and Lucinda Green MBE, whose wisdom continues to shape my approach.
Coaching Philosophy
Sharing the transformative power of horsemanship is what truly fulfils me as a coach. My mission is to foster a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone can find confidence and joy.
In my coaching, I incorporate the values of respect, partnership and growth. Going beyond just skill acquisition and competition success, I want to foster a deep connection between horse and rider. I enjoy mentoring aspiring equestrians, sharing my knowledge accumulated over years and guiding them through the complexities of horse care, training and competition.
My coaching style is adaptable, meeting the unique needs of each student and horse. We'll focus on building a strong foundation of skills, developing clear communication, celebrating those "lightbulb” moments, and setting goals that are both inspiring and motivating.
After a challenging 80cm eventing debut, my daughter and her pony joined Diana Burgess Equestrian. Di quickly boosted their confidence and provided essential encouragement, helping make immediate improvements through clear guidance. This fostered trust between rider and coach, leading to significant progress. Our commitment to Di's coaching approach resulted in a happy and confident duo, improved eventing scores, and even moving up a level. We're excited to continue this journey together!