About

Learn about Nicola Smith, the creator of Dressage Rider Training

Nicola Smith; I am a Personal Trainer, Nutrition and Lifestyle coach. I have been involved in the wellness industry now since 2002. I studied at the University of Otago, gaining my Bachelor of Physical Education, majoring in Sports Science and Exercise Prescription. Throughout my studies, I worked one-on-one personal training out of Les Mills with clients while I continued to learn.

After finishing my degree, I discovered I needed to know more, so I continued to train clients while taking my study further. I went on to be certified through the Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology (C.H.E.K) Institute as a Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach level 2 and then went on to gain more qualifications with the C.H.E.K Institute in relation to program design, scientific core and back training.

I am now also a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner which has helped take my knowledge to a new level a truly help my clients holistically.

My passion for dressage led me to create dressage rider training and apply what I know about human health and well-being to the dressage athlete. There is something so powerful about training a horse, and when riders treat their own health and well-being alongside their horses they are truly able to shine as a powerful combination.

I remember someone saying to me once that training a dressage horse is like training a gymnast without being able to talk to them. It takes great skill, patience and the right training and mindset. They are incredibly powerful and willing animals it is incredible what we are able to achieve when the training is right, and we build a solid foundation to do it from. All of this wouldn’t be possible without having a healthy body and mind to do it.

Dressage Rider Training is designed to bring clarity to your rider fitness and well being and help make it easy for you.  Giving you the tools understand what you need to do to achieve health and well-being.

Use this site to help you thrive as a dressage athlete and start to take care of your own health and well-being along side your horses.

You are after all a team effort!

Take a look at our DRT system to get started.