Dressage/Flat Training Camp with BD Coach Liza McQuistan & Dr Jo Winfield FBHS

Spend three days training with Liza McQuistan and Jo Winfield.

This camp is open to riders who want to work on their dressage/flat work only, with two coaches who train and competed in this discipline. So ideal for people who love their flat! 

Liza was born into a showing family and her ridden career began in a basket saddle at just six months old. From the age of three, she loudly and emphatically would never be led, which put a firm end to her mother’s dream of having a lead rein jockey! Upon joining the North Norfolk Pony Club, Liza quickly became a very competitive and active member of the branch, representing them in Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage and the Tetrathlon teams.

Eventing became Liza’s main focus while she trained with Ruth McMullen and Liza successfully took several horses up to Intermediate level. Accompanied by two event horses and two dogs, she spent four years at Sheffield University, where she gained BA (Hons) as a Chartered Surveyor, while maintaining her weekly competition schedule.

Liza returned home and planned to train horses on a part-time basis, but was so successful that she became inundated with horses to break or school. There was little choice but to make it a full time occupation! Her dressage training started in earnest with David Hunt. Liza then spent several years training with Jill Day, an International Grand Prix rider, who remains a valued friend and mentor. More recently, Liza has trained with Ferdi Eilberg, Arthur Kottas and Alain Francqueville.

Liza trains horses up to Grand Prix level and is a successful competitor and British Dressage Accredited Coach. She holds the UKCC Level 3 Dressage Specific qualification, is a List 4 BD Judge and approved BD Youth Assessor. Her qualifications and experience enable her to work with riders and horses at all levels and she enjoys supporting their progression and development.

When you’re passionate about something it shows in your work and Jo developed her passion for horses and riding at the age of 9. Falling off her horse back then, spurred Jo on to improve and develop a relationship with each of the horses she rode. She now uses that approach with the riders and horses that she trains, believing that horses teach us how to ride and for that teaching to be successful, each horse needs to trust and respect their rider. 

Jo’s educational background has taken her from a National Diploma in Horse Management at Warwickshire College to BSc (Hons) Equine Science at Hartpury University, MSc in Coaching Science to being awarded a Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise (PDSE) by University of Gloucestershire. You can read more about her research here.

Her other achievements include Eventing to intermediate level, Showjumping at Foxhunter and Dressage at Medium Level.

Jo was awarded Fellowship of British Horse Society and is now eager to assist others in their journey through the BHS career pathways. Jo’s passion for horses means that she wants to encourage others to develop a successful relationship with their horse and succeed, whether that is through an equine career or as a leisure pursuit.

Jo is also a British Eventing Coach, British Dressage Judge and an Assessor for the British Horse Society. Jo currently divides her time between Consultancy and Education carried out at Hartpury University, which is one of the UK’s leading equine educational establishments and has a reputation of international excellence.

The rest of Jo’s time is spent delivering excellent online training helping with all aspects of horse training management and behaviour to include competition and industry assessments both ridden, theoretical, practical and ground work.

Adult Training Camp information 2025

This training camp is open to all riders who are able to walk, trot & canter in an enclosed Arena with other riders.  ie. like a collecting ring. The training camp aimed at the everyday grass roots rider to the aspiring competition rider, with all levels catered for. Enjoy three days/two nights in the beautiful Breckland countryside at the peaceful Forest Edge Arena. There is plenty of time to chill and unwind with a leisurely hack, through the forest and surrounding countryside.

The cost of this Camp is £369 and includes:

A stable for your horse & six lessons. Also included is Lunch and dinner on day one, a cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner on day two and a cooked breakfast and lunch on day three. Also included are tea, coffee & juice. Vegetarian alternative is offered, and intolerances can be catered for. Lifestyle diets, for example low carb/vegan will need to be discussed direct with the center and may incur an extra cost.

There are two lessons on all three days. There is plenty of time to hack and watch others each day. The numbers in sessions are small with the aim of 4 riders in each. Each lesson is an hour.

Your camp starts from 8.30am on the first day, you will know your session time in advance so you can plan arrival time accordingly. Early arrival, the night before can be booked direct with the center and paid for along with hook-ups and haylage/bedding etc A link will be sent out three/four weeks before camp.

The Venue

The camp is set at Forest Edge Arena, run by Sam and Mathew, it’s an equestrian competition centre set in the heart of Breckland. This is an unspoilt and picturesque area of Breckland (Norfolk), which means this will be a peaceful holiday with your horse. Forest Edge has direct access to the forest and offers miles of off-road hacking, which you can take advantage off.

The venue offers a warm friendly welcome. The facilities include, stables, indoor toilets & showers*, a snug & cafe, a 77x35m indoor arena, which has an Andrew Bowen pro-wax surface & a large outdoor arena.

* There are two showers, which cost £1 for five minutes, these can be affected by water pressure and are typical of what you would find when camping. There may be a wait time at peak periods.

You need to bring a tent/horse box etc to sleep in, electric hook ups are available as an extra, book with centre direct.

Lodges can be booked here https://www.forestedgelodges.com/

Dogs: a dog may be bought to camp with the acknowledgement of myself. Please do not bring a dog that is prone to barking as it upsets the peace and tranquillity of the setting and disturbs other campers. Dogs should be kept on leads while on the yard.

Camp Rules & Disclaimer

Lessons

As this is an adult camp, tack inspections will not be made at the beginning of each lesson. We ask before you come to camp that you check all tack for signs of wear and tear and make sure it’s clean and well fitting. Should you have any concerns about your tack or fitting please speak to your coach at the start of your first lesson.

Please make sure you’re at the place of lesson just before the start time and are mounted so the coach can start each lesson promptly. Please make sure you pass left to left in the schools and walk on the inside track.

Stables and Forest Edge equipment

You are responsible for any damage to the stables or equipment provide by Forest Edge, any damage, i.e. ‘holes in stables walls’ will need to be paid for by the camper directly to Forest Edge, I accept no responsibility for any damage your horse may do. All campers must have third party insurance.

Hacking

If you plan on hacking please bring a Hi-Viz tabard/jacket. You will be issued with a tags, for your saddle/horse, this will have the centre land line and my mobile number, please make sure you have this on when you hack.

Camp Disclaimer

The Instructors, myself and venue have taken reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone present. Full risk assessments have been made and are available for anyone to see. For these measures to be affective, everyone must take reasonable precautions to avoid and prevent accidents themselves.

Guests

Please speak directly to me if you have someone who would like to come to see you at camp. Guests are welcome, but I like to know who is on site for security reasons. 

Loading

The camp closes at 4pm on the last day, both the instructors and I are keen at this time to return home to our families; therefore, we are unable to help load difficult loaders. If you have a horse that can be tricky to load, please arrange for a friend to turn up and help you load at the end of camp.

Booking Terms and conditions

Horses

• All horses must be no younger than four years of age and be of an appropriate fitness level for the activity being undertaken – hooves and shoes must be in good condition.
• Tack must be suitable, in safe condition and fit correctly.
• Any stallions must be informed to the organizer at the time of booking. No person may bring a stallion without ensuring, at all times, that other riders, horses and members of the public are not at risk. Stallions should be identifiable by a bridle tag and/or yellow tail ribbon. Any stallions deemed to be unsafe by the organiser may be directed to leave the site.
• All horses must be up to date with annual equine influenza vaccinations and must be 6 days clear from their most recent vaccination. Spot checks will be made at the event.
• Horses should not be left unattended when tied to horseboxes.
• It is a legal requirement to have your horses’ passport when travelling to events.

Riders

• Hats to the current standard must be worn and correctly secured at all times when mounted. Please check yours meets current standards which can be found at http://www.bhs.org.uk/headwear
• Body protectors are strongly recommended and should comply with current standards – also found on the BHS website at http://www.bhs.org.uk/body-protectors
• All riders must wear suitable riding footwear when mounted. Wellington boots and trainers are not allowed.
• I strongly recommends wearing hi-viz when hacking & riders are advised to carry a mobile phone and be aware of the emergency contact number for the event.

Payment & T&C

A non-refundable deposit of £85 will secure your place. The balance must

be paid at least eight weeks before camp is due to take place.

• Refund of Deposit before the balance is paid (eight weeks before camp).

A refund of the £85 deposit is only given on production of a vet’s/Dr’s

certificate stating the horse/you will not be fit for work in the month of camp.

No refunds of deposit are given for change of mind or circumstances.

• Refund of Total

Eight weeks before camp the following will apply:

A full refund will be given on production of a vet’s or Dr’s certificate stating the

horse/you is not fit or likely to be fit for work in the camp month.

Less than six weeks before camp.

No refunds can automatically be given no matter what the circumstances,

Vet’s/Dr certificate or otherwise. At this late stage I may not be able to fill your

place and the centre and coach will still need paying.

However, I will try to fill your space, the later the cancelation the harder

this is.

As with all holidays it’s advisable to get insurance, then should you need to cancel, this would cover your holiday cost.