Train, Learn & Progress at Totleywells with our #TeamTotley Equestrian Coaches

At Totleywells, we are proud to bring together some of Scotland’s finest coaches and trainers for a programme of clinics and camps designed to help every horse and rider progress.

Whether you’re building the confidence to tackle your first poles, developing your flatwork and jumping, or preparing for your first 2★ event, our training is designed around you and your goals.

We carefully select coaches who are not only exceptional at what they do, but who genuinely care about helping riders succeed. Working closely with Totleywells, they create an environment that is welcoming, encouraging and ambitious, where every combination can learn, develop and enjoy their training.

Most importantly, we want every rider to leave with new skills, greater confidence and a stronger partnership with their horse.

Our aim is simple: to make Totleywells one of Scotland’s best places to train, learn and progress—whatever your level or ambition.

David Gatherer, Eventing Coach

With over 30 years of coaching experience, David Gatherer is one of Scotland’s most experienced and respected eventing coaches. A British Eventing Accredited Coach and former 4* competitor, David has a wealth of experience across all three phases, with a particular talent for developing both horse and rider.

David is equally brilliant at flatwork and show jumping, but his real passion is cross country. His technical knowledge, enthusiasm and ability to understand exactly how a horse goes allow him to find the best approach for every combination. His clinics are renowned for making XC training fun, bold, encouraging and confidence-building, while developing the skills needed to progress safely and successfully up the levels.

David has inspired generations of young riders to progress and excel, while his encouraging style also makes him hugely popular with riders who may lack confidence. His aim is simple: to help every horse and rider understand the job, enjoy it and achieve more than they thought possible.

Gemma Kennedy, 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 has been built on her years at mentors’ yards having worked with Ron Brady, Kelly Connor and Sandra Low Mitchell. Gemma attained her UKCC Level 2 qualification in 2018.

Gemma gets the best performance from her pupils through her intuitive and studied 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 to the best results in the ring.

Lucy Gatensbury, Flatwork Coach

Based in West Lothian, Lucy Gatensbury is an experienced dressage and confidence-building flatwork coach with over 20 years of experience helping horses and riders of all levels achieve their goals.

Lucy is equally at home teaching children, supporting nervous adults to build confidence, and helping competitive riders improve their dressage scores and progress through the levels. Known for her creative and effective polework sessions, Lucy uses exercises designed to improve strength, balance and core development in the horse, while building confidence and accuracy in the rider.

Competing at Intermediate level herself, Lucy is currently working towards Grand Prix with her horse, Atlantico, bringing both passion and practical experience to every lesson.

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 he is 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.

Welcoming Matt Hanks, Veterinary Surgeon & Special Advisor to the Totleywells Board

We're delighted to welcome Matt Hanks as our Veterinary Advisor – a key appointment as we continue to pursue best practice and the highest equestrian standards here at Totleywells.

Matt brings a remarkable depth of experience and calm authority to our team. A Massey University graduate, he’s worked across both hemispheres as an equine vet since 1998, with specialist interests in reproduction, referral care and education. His career includes a decade at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, where he not only cared for horses but shaped the next generation of vets as a lecturer and Masters programme organiser.

Beyond the lecture hall, Matt is a published author, a trusted voice in client education, and a familiar face on veterinary TV – from Vet School to Supervets and Landward. His breadth of experience spans the stable yard to the show ring, having served as a vet at the Royal Highland Show for five years.

As a partner at Central Equine Vets in Edinburgh, Matt continues to lead in clinical practice, while his role as an Official Veterinarian for the UK government speaks to his integrity and expertise.

Having Matt support us at board level is a huge asset – both as a sounding board for veterinary excellence and as a champion for raising the bar in Scottish equestrian care.

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

Totleywells is proud of our motivated, dedicated, experienced and professional team. 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.