Maddy Frewin is a passionate rider and coach known for her dedication to producing young ponies and horses. At just 13 years old, she trained her first pony to FEI level and became the highest-placed individual GB rider at the Pony European Championships in Vilhelmsburg, Denmark (2016).
Since then, Maddy has represented Great Britain internationally with five different horses, including appearances at the Junior and Young Rider European Championships in Holland, France, and most recently, Hartpury, UK.
Now based in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, Maddy rides full-time and manages a talented string of horses aged 4 to 15. Her current international competition partner is the 15-year-old Blue Hors Dexter. Alongside riding, she teaches young riders across the region, sharing her experience and inspiring the next generation.
Maddy is proud to be part of the Dressage Under 21s UK team and is deeply committed to helping young riders grow in skill and confidence. As one of our leading junior dressage coaches, she combines competitive insight with genuine enthusiasm for youth equestrian training.
Jackie Beaven is a highly experienced rider and coach who has bred and trained numerous young horses, successfully competing them through the levels — several up to PSG and Inter I, and her most recent mount to International Grand Prix, retiring sound and strong.
With a lifelong passion for coaching, Jackie takes pride in helping riders achieve their goals — whether big ambitions or small milestones. Her supportive, hands-on approach has earned her a strong reputation as one of our trusted youth equestrian trainers.
A certified UKCC Level 3 coach, Jackie currently teaches a fantastic group of clients who are thriving in their riding journeys. As part of the Dressage Under 21s UK team, she brings deep knowledge, encouragement, and enthusiasm to every session — making her a key figure among our under 21 dressage trainers.
Theresa Smyth (BHSII, UKCC Level 3) brings over 20 years of experience in training and competing horses at advanced levels. She has ridden for several renowned professionals, including Pammy Hutton, Vicki Thompson, and Peter Storr, and competed internationally at Young Rider level.
Theresa has successfully trained numerous horses to Intermediaire I and II and is currently competing her own horse at Inter I, while training toward Grand Prix under the expert guidance of Carl Hester.
In addition to coaching, Theresa is in her second year of a degree in Equine Physiotherapy, which enhances her ability to support both horse and rider with a more in-depth, science-based approach.
As part of the Dressage Under 21s UK coaching team, Theresa is proud to contribute her expertise as one of our most experienced under 21 dressage trainers. Her dual background in performance and physiology makes her a valuable asset to young riders looking to grow under the guidance of an accomplished youth equestrian trainer.
Abbie Newbury began her competitive career in the showing ring at just 5 years old, achieving multiple wins at county level. By age 11, she shifted her focus to dressage, producing her first young pony through the BD Youth system and earning many early successes.
Abbie went on to produce an inexperienced horse all the way to junior international level, representing Great Britain at the Junior European Championships and playing a key role in securing 2nd place for Team GB at the Nations Cup in Saumur.
With a deep passion for developing young horses, Abbie now trains and competes a string of talented horses ranging from 4-year-olds to a 9-year-old PSG horse. She holds a BDCC Level 3 coaching qualification and enjoys working with riders and horses of all levels and ages.
As one of our committed junior dressage coaches, Abbie combines technical precision with encouragement and insight. She’s also currently training to become a BD Listed Judge, further strengthening her skill set as a trusted youth equestrian trainer within the Under 21 Dressage UK team.
Shelagh Steven (BHSSM, BHSII APC) is an accredited British Dressage Trainer with a lifelong belief that every horse has the potential to perform with correct form. As a passionate member of the Under 21 Dressage UK team, Shelagh is committed to making regular training both accessible and affordable for riders of all abilities.
Her approach emphasises small-group sessions, typically working in groups of three, where riders of similar levels can train together and maximise learning outcomes. This supportive and structured environment is a hallmark of her work as one of our most thoughtful and dedicated junior dressage coaches.
Shelagh’s training philosophy centres around building harmony between horse and rider. Her greatest satisfaction comes from watching those partnerships grow — celebrating improved technique, confidence, and connection in every session.
To keep her teaching fresh and versatile, Shelagh regularly trains with Debby Lush Dressage and hones her skills with a dynamic group of Welsh and Welsh-cross ponies. Her broad experience helps her guide young riders with different mounts, making her an exceptional youth equestrian trainer.
An active British Dressage competitor, Shelagh continues to walk the talk. One of her proudest achievements was competing her 14hh Welsh Cob mare at medium level at Hartpury, showcasing that size and heart go hand in hand in this sport.
Dressage Under 21s UK
We use cookies to analyse website traffic and optimise your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.
Owners might want to give their horse cookies as a tasty snack. However horses cannot eat cookies that were made for humans.