About Petros Spiliopoulos

Ever since I can remember I have been obsessed with our equine friends. Early on, in childhood I had the fortune of being offered the opportunity to learn to ride at the Centre of Equestrian Training of the Greek Cavalry.  Having spent most of my teenage years training and competing with  their junior show jumping team in club and national competitions I was encouraged by Leeson Sirett (F.E.I. Showjumping course builder) to come to Britain to further my training and experience.

I trained as a working pupil at Patchetts Equestrian Centre and achieved firstly my BHSAI and soon after my BHSII. My deepest gratitude goes to my early mentor and coach Wendy Hawkes who imparted her vast and valuable knowledge and experience and supported me through many years at Patchetts Equestrian.

While working at Patchetts as an instructor and manager, I was also able to extensively compete in show jumping, Dressage and Eventing.  The great number and quality of horses at that yard allowed me to develop a broad spectrum of experience and the ability to deal with allsorts of people and their horses.
I’m very proud to have been part of what was one of the best training yards in the country.

Since 1998 I have worked freelance, coaching riders and training horses at all levels of experience and ability.  It gives me great pleasure to see riders and horses realize their ambitions, no matter how modest or extravagant these might be.  I always encourage riders to be patient with their horses and to set realistic goals, creating sound foundations that they can build on gradually over time, enabling their horse to develop both the physical ability as well as the confidence to perform at their best.

My interest in assisting riders to develop has led me to further study with the Open University and I have now completed my BSc Honours Psychology.  This experience has been a valuable asset in coaching as it has enhanced my understanding of human nature and I have been able to apply this knowledge in appreciating the complexity of the relationship with our equine friends and the sort of issues that sometimes hold us back. My postgraduate study has taken me to to the field of Philosophy, attaining my PGC Humanities, using this to reflect on our philosophy of coaching riders and training horses.