MOTIVATED by a desire to support equestrians and equestrian professionals, Nicola Kinnard-Comedie BHSAI MSc founded NKC Equestrian Training in 2007.

Her infectious positivity is the perfect conduit for delivering high-quality training to equestrians and equestrian professionals across the globe. Since its inception, NKC Equestrian has welcomed hundreds of owners and riders onto their one-day or online courses in horse first aid, nutrition and laminitis.

Scientific fact is at the heart of all of the NKC courses, and Nicola is a firm believer in myth-busting and challenging old wives’ tales commonplace in the equine realm. All NKC Equestrian equine health training is delivered by specialist vets who offer the latest in veterinary thinking and in technological advances.

As well as horse health courses, Nicola also provides unique business coaching for equine therapists including equine physiotherapists, chiropractors and sports massage therapists:

“I have a group coaching programme specifically for equine therapists looking to grow their businesses, and I also provide bespoke one to one coaching. Helping horses and helping practitioners to help more horses is always at the centre of any training that I offer.”

Nicola began as an equine coach but was motivated to become involved in equine education outside of the sand arena, discovering a wider opportunity to support equestrians and their animals.

Helping owners

“I spent many years as a freelance riding coach, and I’ve also run some big equestrian centres, including one in Greece. I had a few years out of full-time horses and enjoyed a successful time in a sales role, and I really wanted to combine all these skills with my love of helping owners and horses. I have welcomed over 1,000 owners and riders onto my courses and met many wonderful people. I love being able to have a bigger impact and help more people.”

NKC Equestrian also runs the highly respected annual Healthy Horse Conference with speakers of note from across the equestrian industry.

“I love my annual conference, and 2021 will again be running it as a live online event. It is fantastic to be able to open this platform to delegates from around the world, and it is so useful to be able to watch the lectures again. This year, we welcome Dr. Nicky Jarvis, head of veterinary and care at Redwings, European Specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Sue Dyson and we are delighted to have Olympic eventing legend, Mary King as a special guest speaker this year. More speakers will be announced over the spring.”

NKC Equestrian delivered the 2020 annual conference online due to the on-going pandemic.

Still, in an advantageous twist for education and Nicola, Covid 19 has encouraged many more people to sign up for online learning:

“Covid-19 meant moving all of my training online for now, but it has been wonderful to assist more owners and therapists this way.

“I am very fortunate to be able to say that I have managed to turn the situation into a positive one, and I have some big plans for 2021.”