Cathy Koetsier

About Me

Horses have been a constant thread running through my life for as long as I can remember. My abiding interests lie in sympathetic horsemanship; species-specific horse care, understanding equine communication & behaviour; and celebrating the extraordinary relationship that can grow between humans and horses. I am deeply committed to discovering ways of living and partnering with these marvellous animals that are as beneficial for them as they are for us.

I thoroughly enjoy teaching. I home educated my own children and I have spent many years supporting and helping home educating parents. I particularly enjoy supporting human learning and personal growth through interaction with horses. Because horses are acutely sensitive to body language and the energy or 'feel' of a person, they are uniquely equipped to help people explore self-awareness and develop greater congruence between their inner and outer selves. I love learning about and teaching horse psychology and communication. Alongside this I am a researcher and curious investigator of what species-specific lifestyles look like for equines, and I am rather opinionated about the importance of offering this lifestyle, as far as is possible, to the horses in our care. 

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Along the way, I have learned from many gifted horse people whose insights have helped me grow into a partner I hope my horses would choose. Influential mentors & teachers include Sharon Mallinson, Dave Stuart, Silke Vallentin, Mark Rashid, Jim Masterson, Zefanja Vermeulen, Jochen Schleese, Steve Peters, Lynn Henry, with whom I qualified as a Think Like A Pony instructor and Vanessa Bee, founder of the International Horse Agility Club.

After many years of participating in Horse Agility, I became an instructor, as it is a wonderful way of helping people practise and integrate horsemanship skills. My learning continues to evolve. I have enormous respect for Manolo Mendez and his deeply loving, holistic approach to training horses. More recently, I have been inspired by Nahshon Cook’s thoughtful, accepting, and quietly transformative way of working with both horses and humans. Motivated by the harmony and joy I see in Ben Atkinson’s demonstrations, I am currently enrolled in his online courses. And every year I am freshly inspired and motivated by the quality of horsemanship shown at the Horsemanship Showcase.

I first encountered the Masterson Method in 2012 when I watched Jim Masterson in a YouTube video. From the moment I saw it, I knew it was something I wanted to learn. I did all my training with Jim during his visits to the UK, and I became a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner (MMCP) in 2015. I was a mentor for students doing their MM fieldwork from 2018 to 2025, when I resigned, rather sadly, as other commitments required my attention. My love for Jim goes deep. No one taught me 'feel' or 'softness' as well as he did, and it is thanks to Jim that I have learned to 'stay below the brace', with horses as well as in the rest of my life. 

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My passion for horses has shaped my life for as long as I can remember. I don't remember a time when I wasn't desperate to be around them, so much so that it hurt. As I grew up in a non-horsey family, I rarely had the chance to be near a horse, but on those occasions when I did, I would savour the experience - rubbing my hands all over the horse’s neck and avoiding washing my hands for as long as possible so that I could treasure the fragrance. It seems only natural that I have found a calling that allows me to work so closely with these animals. It is a true privilege to spend my life easing the pain and enhancing the comfort of these beloved creatures.

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I am married to Craig, who like most husbands of horsey women, is an absolute legend, supporting my passion and loving my horses alongside me. Together we have raised five children. Horses were firmly woven into our family life as the children grew, enriching our children’s upbringing in countless ways. We have grandchildren now, and it brings me great joy to see the love of horses continuing into the next generation.

At our home in Norfolk, we share life with one dog and four ponies: two Highland ponies, one Connemara pony, and a Welsh x Coloured pony. They are all geriatrics now, ranging in age from 18 to 28. Don't be deceived by my use of the term 'pony'; only one of our four is pony sized. But as they are British Native breeds, the correct terminology is pony. I have a particular affection for our native breeds, many of which are sadly at risk of extinction. We have created a track system (also known as “Paddock Paradise”) for our ponies, and after witnessing the profound benefit it brings to their physical and emotional wellbeing, I am increasingly passionate about promoting this way of keeping horses.