Team 1 — Totleywells

Introducing our #TeamTotley Equestrian Coaches

Gemma Kennedy, Site & Equine Performance Manager, & Show Jumping Coach.

Gemma is a show jumper at heart, competing at 1.35 level including HOYS and Hickstead qualifiers, her success is home-bred having funded most of her own success by breaking and producing young horses from a young age some of whom went on to Foxhunter level before being sold to top international riders. The high stress of a warm-up is nothing to this cool, young woman who is totally dedicated to the care of the horses she is responsible for, and a committed coach to all that entrust their advancement to her. Gemma’s show jumping abilities and yard management experience has been built on her years at mentors’ yards having worked with Ron Brady, Kelly Connor and Sandra Low Mitchell to name a few. Gemma attained her UKCC Level 2 qualification in 2018 and is currently studying for her UKCC Level 3 and her BHS stage 4. Gemma is also a qualified HGV driver which comes in very handy for some of our nervous show mums.

Gemma is an experienced, beautifully quiet rider who gets the best performance from her pupils and her understanding of horses. She believes in good flatwork and puts a great deal of emphasis on the horse’s way of going and overall management leading the the best results in the ring. Knowledgeable, experienced and highly trained, Gemma runs a tight ship where healthcare and routine are incredibly important to her.

Scott Mclellan, Dressage Coach

Scott is an experienced BD coach who loves working with all levels of riders. Scott is a BDCC Level 3 Coach, BD Youth Coach, BD Para Coach and very proud to be a British Equestrian Coach for Excellence representing BD.

Scott has successfully ridden to Int1 level within dressage, winning Area festivals to PSG and Regional Titles. In addition Scott previously competed at International 3-day eventing and is experienced in producing young horses. Scott has extensive experience with grassroots and young riders, and was formerly Chief Instructor at the Pony Club. Scott is equally inspiring for young riders, accomplished riders and everything in between!

Scott focuses on the little things that make a big difference to the horse’s way of going, or for those all important dressage scores. Scott will expend every effort to ensure that every rider and horse progresses up the levels. He’s as positive as she meticulous and every lesson brings advancement at every level.

Scott teaches our livery clients and runs fortnightly clinics at Totleywells, including some of our multi discipline camps.

Claire Marshall, Eventing Coach

Claire Marshall is an inspiring eventing coach as tough as she is generous, and will push her pupils to achieve their goals by building their confidence through understanding their discipline and what their horse needs from them, and by building rider experience.

From early in her career Claire has produced all types of horses - through the backing process on to competing successfully. After finding a passion for Eventing, many of the horses Claire has produced from scratch have gone on to be very successful Event horses - including ex racehorses and Connemara ponies! Claire is passionate for training horses in a clear, sympathetic way that inspires confidence and development.

Claire passed her BHS Exams with distinction - and by age 25 had achieved the BHSII Qualification (now known as BHS Stage 4 coach in Complete Horsmanship). Claire is also a British Eventing Accredited Coach and a Pony Club Chief Instructor.

Claire is one of the most positive and inspiring young coaches to be found in equestrian business; her instinct for what will work best for both horse and rider is inspiring.

Claire visits us for regular clinics and teaches at multiple venues across Scotland as well as being team coach for the BE U18 Scotland Team.

We’re so proud of our #TeamTotley - our wee family of extra-milers!

Totleywells is a Scotland Real Living Wage Employer. It’s part of our ethos to make sure our team are trained, supported, remunerated well and have the benefits you’d expect of an important job looking after our treasured horses. Being on your A-Game means having the right amount of training, rest and support, alongside a great work ethic. Working with horses is hard work, but it’s also rewarding and fun (when the sun shines in particular)! And sure, paying people properly might make us more expensive, but would you trust your horse to someone who didn’t feel valued? We wouldn’t.

Our team means the world to us, and to our horses.