Avoca Park Equestrian

Our Equine & Human Team

We are blessed to have an amazing team of ponies, horses and coaches at Avoca Park. We are big believers of FUN, SAFETY, and EDUCATION! All our coaches have their coaching qualifications or are currently working through the Equestrian Australia courses under our mentorship.

Scroll down to find out more about our wonderful team!

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Meet Our Ponies

DAISY

Height: 10.2h

Colour: Chestnut

Sex: Mare

D.O.B: Unknown

Breed: Miniature Shetland

Max rider weight: TBC

Max rider height: TBC

Rider suitability: No experience to Beginner

The smallest member of our herd, will follow her handler anywhere. Cuteness overload.

VEGEMITE

Height: 11.1h

Colour: Black

Sex: Gelding

D.O.B: 2000

Breed: Shetland

Max rider weight: 35kg

Max rider height: 125cm

Rider suitability: No experience to Beginner

Perfect for our younger or petite riders, Vegemite is a cracker of a little pony. Helping riders develop skills to ride independently both in a group and by themselves.

SANTA

Height: 12.2h

Colour: Chestnut - blaze & socks.

Sex: Gelding

D.O.B: 1994

Breed: Welsh

Max rider weight: 45kg

Max rider height: 140cm

Rider suitability: Beginner to Basic Skills

Young at heart, he is a good fit for riders that need a well-educated pony to expand their knowledge. He is a forward moving kind little lad that accepts light hands and instruction from his rider.

HISTORY: Trained to Grade 3 Pony Club and competed up to State Championships for Jumping and Dressage

ROXIE

Height: 13.1h

Colour: Grey

Sex: Mare

D.O.B: 2006

Breed: Welsh

Max rider weight: 55kg

Max rider height: 155cm

Rider suitability: Beginner to Confident.

Perfect for more experienced independent riders but also fantastic for lunge lessons.

HISTORY: Trained through the Pony Club levels up to Grade 3 dressage and Grade 4 eventing.

HAZEL

Height: 14h

Colour: Bay

Sex: Mare

D.O.B: 2017

Breed: TBC

Max rider weight: 65kg

Max rider height: 165cm

Rider suitability: Beginner to Confident.

New to the riding school, Hazel received 6 months of intensive training through our kind and gentle training methods.

Hazel responds well to aids and a forward and keen to please personality.

Meet Our Horses

BEETLE

Height: 14.2hh

Colour: Brown

Sex: Gelding

D.O.B: 2002

Breed: Australian Riding PonyMax rider weight: 70kg

Max rider height: 170cm

Rider suitability: Basic Skills - Experienced

Beetle has been there and done it all! Pony Club, trail rides, shows and competitions. Beetle is a lease horse who joined us in August 2024. Beetle has a soft canter and is settling into his new role nicely :)

STORMY

Height: 15.1h

Colour: Bay - blaze & socks

Sex: Gelding

D.O.B: 2006

Breed: Clydesdale x Stockhorse

Max rider weight: 70kg

Max rider height: 170cm

Rider suitability: No Experience to Advanced

Perfect for our older children and smaller adults, his wonderful temperament enables him to work with both beginners and advanced riders.

HISTORY: Previously competed up to and including Grade 2 dressage and Grade 3 eventing. Trained in lateral movements such as shoulder-in, travers, renvers, and half-pass. He will counter canter but only for the most competent & confident riders.

RUSTY

Height: 15.2h

Colour: Chestnut Blanket - blaze & sock

Sex: Gelding

D.O.B: 2018

Breed: Appaloosa

Max rider weight: 75kg

Max rider height: 173cm

Rider suitability: Basic Skills - Experienced

Rusty joined us in 2022. His owner purchased him with the desire for trail rides but his aversion to floating brought him to us.

Rusty enjoys learning from a skilled rider as he is still younger. He can take beginners with a bit of experience if they are kind with their aids.

FELIX

Height: 16h

Colour: Brown

Sex: Gelding

D.O.B: 2007

Breed: Warmblood

Max rider weight: 75kg

Max rider height: 183cm

Rider suitability: No Experience to Advanced

A lovely gentleman suited to intermediate riders. He is patient, kind, wants to please, and easy to get along with in every manner.

HISTORY: Extensive dressage training.

PERRY

Height: 16.2h

Colour: Bay

Sex: Gelding

D.O.B: 2012

Breed: Thoroughbred

Max rider weight: 80kg

Max rider height: 188cm

Rider suitability: Basic Skills to Advanced

Perry has been having ongoing training with Avoca Park since 2021 and can give riders the skills on how to ride forward horses. Perry is safe but also makes riders think about how to apply their aids to receive a desired result. He is the perfect school horse for experienced riders returning to riding or riders ready to purchase their own horses.

HISTORY: Raced until late 2021 and started re-training in 2022.

HOLLY

Height: 16.3h

Colour: Bay - Star/Stripe/Snip Joined & Socks

Sex: Mare

D.O.B: 2005

Breed: Clydesdale x Quarter Horse

Max rider weight: 90kg

Max rider height: 191cm

Rider suitability: No Experience to Basic Skills

EDORAS JAZMINE

Height: 17.3h

Colour: Grey

Sex: Mare

D.O.B: 2004

Breed: Dutch Warmblood

Max rider weight: 85kg

Max rider height: 173cm

Rider suitability: Advanced to Experienced

Aka Jazmine. She is excellent for riders looking to develop a feel for the higher-level exercises including shoulder-in, travers, renvers, half-pass, walk-canter, canter-walk, counter canter, flying changes, some piaffe, and some passage.

HISTORY: Small tour champion winning and placing in all competitions during her travels through NSW and QLD with wonderful percentages.

Meet Our Coaches

Leanne

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Qualified EA level 3 Dressage Coach.

Qualified level 2 Jumping Equitation Judge.

Licensed level 1 teacher in Philippe Karl’s School of Légèreté.

During her riding career, Leanne trained and competed Avoca Black Saint to Grand Prix and in that time represented both Australia and Victoria.

Leanne is currently continuing the development of her riding with the School of Légèreté and studies many aspects in maintaining and improving the horse and rider’s wellbeing.

Renee

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Qualified EA Introductory Coach.

Renee has been coaching for 15 years.

She is currently studying and working towards her Level 1 Equestrian Australia Coaching qualifications.

Renee is with the rider all the way, encouraging and helping each rider with their challenges and successes!

Renee is our regular coach on weekdays.

Amy

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Qualified EA Introductory Coach.

Amy has over 9 years’ experience coaching young riders and groups. She loves coaching and guiding riders with a passion for horses.

Amy is our regular Saturday coach. She has a fun and happy approach to her coaching but never shy to provide a challenge. Amy has a knack for helping her riders find their courage while enjoying a giggle.

Mandy

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Qualified EA Introductory Coach.

Mandy previously worked for a riding school in England for over 5 years before moving to Australia.

In Australia, she completed an Advanced Diploma in Horse Management and went on to ride trackwork and work senior roles in racing at Caulfield Racecourse for 10 years.

Mandy works as our office manager but it's not uncommon to see her teaching both children and adults throughout the week, and occasionally over a weekend. She prides herself in creating a fun but safe environment for her riders.

Danya

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Qualified EA Introductory Coach

Danya has been working at Avoca Park since early 2019. She started as a client, became a junior stable-hand, then worked through her EA courses and embraced the opportunity to be mentored by Leanne Williams and the team.

She has become a sensational coach. She has a calm and kind manner with her clients in their lessons.

Danya has continued with regular riding lessons under Leanne with the aim to always learn and improve. Danya is our regular Sunday coach, and works occasionally throughout the work around her Uni commitments.

Victoria

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Qualified EA Introductory Coach.

Vicky has been a part of the Avoca Park family for several years as a client riding with Leanne as her coach. Teaching at Avoca Park 2022-2024.

She is currently studying and working towards her Level 1 Equestrian Australia Coaching qualifications.

Vicky has a Riding school in Bass but comes and helps us on occasion when we're super busy!