Welcome to The Self-Taught Rider
Empowering Equestrians To Succeed Their Own Way
Who We Are
Empowering Independent Riders to Learn, Grow, and Thrive — With or Without a Coach
At The Self-Taught Rider, we believe that every rider deserves the tools, knowledge, and confidence to progress — no matter where they ride, who they ride with, or whether they have access to a coach or not.
This platform was created to guide equestrians who want structure and support on their self-teaching journey.
Through proven systems, mindset strategies, and equine-centered training principles, The Self-Taught Rider helps riders bridge the gap between passion and progress — one intentional ride at a time.
Where It All Began
Hi, I’m Adriana, the founder of The Self-Taught Rider — a coach, lifelong horse lover, and advocate for equestrians who want to grow independently while always putting the horse first.
For as long as I can remember, horses have been at the center of my life. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, I’ve explored nearly every corner of the equestrian world — from dressage, jumping, and eventing to barrel racing, roping, trail riding, and breed shows.
In 2015, I became a certified Equine Canada coach and began teaching riders of all levels in both English and Western disciplines. With an extensive background in competing, what truly drives me isn’t competition — it’s the connection between horse and rider, and helping others experience that same joy, trust, and confidence with their horses.
My Journey to Becoming a
“Self-Taught” Rider
My own path hasn’t been easy. After a severe riding accident left me with a broken back, I had to rebuild everything. My strength, my confidence, and my identity as a rider. Without consistent access to coaching at the time due to where I lived, I became my own student again.
I studied, researched, and learned to self-assess, creating systems and mindset tools that helped me return to riding stronger than before both in and out of the saddle.
Through that journey, I discovered something powerful:
"When riders learn to coach themselves with structure, clarity, and compassion — their progress becomes limitless."
That belief became the foundation of The Self-Taught Rider.
Our Philosophy
We believe learning never stops. Every ride is a lesson — for both horse and rider.
Our approach combines science, structure, and empathy to help riders train smarter, stay motivated, and build stronger partnerships.
At the heart of our philosophy is a simple commitment:
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The horse always comes first — welfare before the sport always.
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Rider fitness and mindset are just as essential as riding technique.
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True progress comes from patience, understanding, and consistency.
We help riders slow down, move at their horse’s pace, their own pace, and develop confidence through knowledge and positivity, not pressure.
What You'll Find Here
The Self-Taught Rider offers a full ecosystem of tools and learning resources to support independent riders at every stage:
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Digital Guides & Ebooks – Practical, step-by-step resources to help you take action right away.
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Online Courses & Video Lessons – Structured, self-paced learning for consistent progress.
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Membership Community – A supportive, judgment-free space to connect, share, and learn together.
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Virtual Coaching & Lessons – Personalized support for your specific challenges and goals.
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Free Learning Resources – Blog posts, guides, and tips for everyday improvement.
Why Riders Trust Us
Because we’ve been there. We know the doubts, the setbacks, the moments of confusion, and the quiet victories that make it all worthwhile.
Everything here is built from real experience, proven training methods, and years of professional coaching.
Each program, article, and guide is designed to give riders the same structured tools that top coaches use, but adapted for those learning on their own.
Our mission is to turn self-doubt into structure, confusion into clarity, and independence into confidence.
The Heart Of The Self-Taught Rider
This isn’t just a resource hub — it’s a movement for riders who believe in lifelong learning, empathy for the horse, and growth from within.
Whether you’re returning to riding after time away, building confidence after a fall, or simply wanting to ride with more purpose and partnership, The Self-Taught Rider is here to help you find your way forward.
Because great riders aren’t born — they’re built, one mindful ride at a time.
