Meet the Committee

Chair - Sam York FBHS

A Fellow of the BHS and UKCC level Four and holds a MSc in professional sports coaching. International Coach, coaching and coach educator and BHS lead assessor both in the UK. Sam is a full time freelance coaching both in the UK but also with many contracts world, including the India National Event Team. Sam is a Howden way British Eventing (BE) Accredited Coach also a 12-21 BE youth coach. Also proudly official coach to the British Army sports teams, under their sports council.

Sam has been a senior university lecturer for over twenty years in equestrian science, worked in the BHS office as education development officer and still continues to have a role in the BHS providing professional consultation. Also, stepped up as technical delegate for the International Group for Equestrian Qualifications (IGEQ), advising on standard setting for equestrian qualifications world-wide.

Sam has also been involved with selecting, breeding and producing many top young horses with BEF breed status and national awards,

Produced horses and ridden professionally for owners for over thirty years competing up to four -star eventing, British Show jumping (BS) show jumping up to foxhunter finals and BS small opens and trained up to PSG level dressage competing up to advanced medium. Represented team GB and competed successfully at many national and international championships.

Sam has a great passion for the F & I and all it stands for and feels very honoured that she can be part of such a dynamic and hardworking committee.

Vice Chair - Nick Turner FBHS

I started my competitive career in Show Jumping winning the inaugural Young Riders Championship at Olympia then continuing to represent Great Britain at International Level.

After a 2 year period riding and coaching in Japan, I returned to the UK in 1991 and started Eventing, and completed my first Badminton in 1993. I continued to produce young horses with many of them reaching 5* level.

My passion for developing horses and riders led me to qualify as a Fellow of the British Horse Society in 2008, then from the following year coached the Brazilian and Irish Eventing teams at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games respectively.

I am a British Eventing Master Coach and an NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Master Coach.

Treasurer & Membership Secretary - Judith Murphy FBHS

I have been involved with horses for over 40 years, as member of the Beaufort Pony Club and then going on to qualify and work in the industry ever since, passing the Fellowship in 2014. I was Yard Manager at Huntley School of Equitation for 22 of those years until it closed. I now freelance and assess to BHSI/St 5 level. I now assess to Fellowship level.

Secretary - Alison Craig BHSI

I evented throughout my teens, captained University Student teams internationally, then specialised in dressage. Unusually I also have a business background, having a BCom degree, CA and CMC qualifications and am a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting (FIC)and I worked with a major management consulting firm throughout the ’80s and ‘90s. Having done the Landmark Forum in 1995, I went for and achieved my BHSI in 1996, and have been part-time freelance coaching ever since.

I am a BD Youth Coach and Assessor and Judge and work with local Pony Clubs and Riding Clubs. I am also a co-founder of EquiPosture, using the principles of The Alexander Technique. More recently I also became a BHS Approved Riding School Proprietor, overseeing St Teresa’s School Equestrian Centre in Effingham, Surrey.

This is my second stint on the committee helping F&I, and once again I’m excited to contribute in whatever way I can.

Danny Anholt FBHS

I have been the Director of Equestrian Sports at Millfield School since 2000, managing two centres with almost 100 horses in total and 25 full time staff.

I am a BE Accredited Trainer and BHS Chief Assessor. I originally trained at Porlock Vale Equestrian Centre after which I ran my own business, training event horses and riders. I then spent some years running the Beas River stables in Hong Kong, before returning to the UK.

I have been a supporter of the F&I Association for many years and was delighted to be asked to join the committee.

Amy Bannister-Bell BHSI

I grew up in North Wales, started out in a riding school, and attended the Northern Racing College in Doncaster when I was 16, hoping to pursue a career in racing. However after some thought I settled for riding out for local National Hunt Trainers and breaking yards, alongside studying and completing my BHS exams. In 2008 I became a student at Ingestre stables and came away 4 months later with enough exams to give me a platform to attempt to go it alone in the equestrian world. I gained my BHSI when I was 25, in 2014, and also hold a first class honours degree in Equine Science and Welfare, something that has led me to become a part-time lecturer for the Equine Degree at Glyndwr University in North Wales which I find very rewarding. I am also enjoying my role as a BHS Assessor, alongside freelance coaching, riding, and breeding a small number of competition horses & ponies.

I live in North Wales at Clwydian Stud which I run with my partner Alice who is also a BHSI. I am a huge National Hunt racing enthusiast and aim to organise more racing-themed trips for the F&I in the future.

Brendan Bergin BHSI

I hold an Honors degree in Animal Science - Equine [BAgrSc-Eq (Hons)] from University College Dublin. I have worked and trained in the Ireland, UK, Australia and Denmark to start building my experience before settling back in to my native Ireland. We have a riding school and training centre near Wicklow which has grown from humble beginnings. Developing from a small functional centre to a multi-disciplinary training centre designed with young horses and riders in mind.

I gained my BHSI in 2017 as well as the ETCM (2013). I specialise in horse and rider centred development and have a special interest in working with clients towards specific competition goals in eventing, show jumping and dressage. I am a regular contributor to two of Ireland’s most popular equine publications; “The Irish Field” and “Grassroots Gazette”. I am a BHS Assessor and Pony Club Examiner and I train students towards BHS Complete Horsemanship Pathway, BHS Ride Leader Pathway and Pony Club Exams as well as mentoring coaches and trainers to develop onwards.

I have always aspired to be part of this unique association and a privileged to serve on the committee.

Becky Monk BHSI

I am a BHSI and proprietor of my own equestrian centre I have built up from the age of 18. My Centre is a BHS Where to Train, an RDA Approved Centre and Pony Club Centre and I have competed to intermediate BE, Foxhunter and Grade C championships BS and competed BD to PSG. I am an RDA advanced coach as well as an assessor for work-based diplomas.

I have a close working relationship with Haddon Training, run educational programs for post-16 learners with SEN, and provide activities and education for primary age children where schools need alternative provision. I have trained riders to Area, Regional and National level competitions in BD as well as training athletes to international para dressage. I am currently on a PgDip program in coaching through Gloucester University.

I have been a member of F&I since I passed my I, and have very much enjoyed being part of the Association and the training opportunities it provides. I wish to contribute my energy and enthusiasm for education within the Association."

Jen Morris BHSI

Horses started for me when my Mum got a wee black mare "Lady" as the family pony & we shared a rented field. My sisters and I joined Aberdeenshire Pony Club and we saved up our paper money to occasionally hire a trailer to get to a pony club rally. Most of the time we attended dismounted - which it did mean I was a pretty sharp PC quiz team member for many years!

I gained my BHSI in May 2018, deciding to come back to exams having passed the BHSII in 1993 when I was at Warwickshire College doing an Advanced National Certificate in Equine Business Management (distinction). After college I worked a season in an event yard in Belgium, also freelance coaching & riding while I was there.

I have two sons Chris & Luke. Both are grown up now but they came through Pony Club and we did endless touring of the country with Tetrathlon, PC teams & BE events.

2018 was also the year of becoming a BE Development Coach and Pony Club Specialist Coach for Eventing & Tetrathlon. At the Scottish BE ball 2018 I was humbled to be awarded BE Personality of the Year.

Coaching is my passion but I now also work part time at my husband's Trailer company in Aberdeenshire.

I continue to train regularly and compete BE, BD & BS.

Faith Ponsonby BHSI (Irish Representative)

I am proud to be a BHSI, and an Assessor for BHS Stages 1 to 3. I am an FEI International 4 and 5 star Eventing Judge and List 2 Judge for Dressage Ireland. I am on SG GB BSHA, BSPS, Irish Hunter and Irish Pony Society Judges’ Panels. On Irish Pony Club Training Committee and A Test Assessor.

I am a Horse Sport Ireland Level 2 Tutor and Level 3 Side Saddle Coach. Formerly a lecturer in Kildalton College, now I concentrate on my private coaching Assessing and legal Expert Witness work.
I compete in Dressage and Show Jumping and I hunt with Waterford Foxhounds regularly. I train competition and recreational riders for all disciplines. I am passionate about equine education and appreciate all that F&I does to further our education.

Sue Ricketts BHSI (Northern Representative)

As the F&I Northern Representative, my aim is to engage people and get them more involved with the Association.

As well as being a full-time coach, I am currently a BHS Lead Assessor, a British Dressage list 3 judge and spend a proportion of my time as an Equine Sports Massage Therapist.

The Association is a fantastic way for our members, who are all experienced and highly qualified people, to train together and discuss new ideas and training methods. We plan to organise more training sessions for members in our area and to increase the number of active members we have. Please contact me if you have ideas for training days.