Our Vision, Mission & Purpose
Vision: Farnham excels in building a successful and unified team of coaches, riders, horses and groomsman that help to open doors, to flourish and reach our full potential. We are the home of champions!
Identity: We are Farnham Riding School. We are passionate, successful, enthusiastic, diverse and knowledgeable horseman and role models. Together we are a supportive, professional and innovative family.
Purpose: Our purpose is to create a space that is safe and progressive, to support and grow knowledgable horseman while working with content, successful and happy horses.
Meet the team
Tamar Gliksman
Owner and coach, Tamar is a SANEF Level 1 and 2 qualified instructor who earned the prestigious FEI Level 1 coaching qualification in 2011, followed by Level 2 in 2012. A firm believer in continuous learning, Tamar is deeply committed to upskilling herself to stay at the forefront of her sport.
As a passionate and savvy businesswoman, Tamar’s dedication to her craft shines through in her teaching and her approach to her business. She specializes in coaching competitive riders, bringing energy and enthusiasm to her lessons. Her focus is on fostering a strong partnership between horse and rider, helping them work as a team to achieve their personal goals.
The consistent success of Tamar's pupils is a testament to her expertise and commitment. Her passion for show jumping, coupled with her extensive knowledge, makes her a highly sought-after coach and a valuable ambassador to her sponsors.
Lauren Courtenay
Gauteng based coach and competitor, who currently competes up to the Open grades in Dressage and showing with her own horses and her competitive rides. She believes in continuously expanding her knowledge and experience, and passing the same on to young riders to create a future generation of holistic horsemen and women. With experience with a variety of horses, Lauren's expertise lies with assisting riders in maximising their partnerships with their horses in and out of the arena. She encourages a hands on approach to riders as she believes it gives an incredible insight to true horsemanship, and learning opportunities that extend beyond the arena.
Samantha Hardcastle
Samantha is our head coach she has lots of experience coaching all disciplines and specialises in showjumping.
Sam is a qualified a level 1 IGEQ coach
She has jumped in the open classes for 4 years and has competed in open equitation, open showing and elementary dressage.
You can spot Sam around the yard with her dog Jimmy close behind her.
Thandiwe Mlingwa
Thandiwe, fondly known as Thandi in the office, is originally from Zimbabwe. She has been in South Africa for many years, and this is where she now calls home! Thandi is known for attention to detail, and her friendly demeanor. There is no person more kind and loyal than Thandi! Thandi is your go to person for; lesson scheduling, Make ups, RSVPs & bookings, passport administration, and any Farnham paper work.
Lara Ellwood
Lara is our Wellness Manager and has a background in psychology. Lara is known to make your day better; she is your go to person to, discuss your growth, journey and experience at Farnham. Lara also offers performance coaching, life coaching and counselling.
Petrus Mashiri
Coach Petrus has been an integral part of the Farnham team for over 20 years. He holds his EQASA level 5 coaching qualification. His unwavering passion for horses and coaching shines through in his boundless enthusiasm and ability to bring joy to every lesson. With an effective approach that blends fun with expertise, Petrus instills confidence in his riders, helping them build a strong foundation in their riding journey. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, Petrus is the ideal coach to nurture your confidence and keep you on track to achieving your goals.
Kelly Davidson
Coach
Kelly brings over 25 years of professional riding and coaching experience to the team. Having competed across multiple disciplines, she brings a wealth of knowledge that allows her to coach riders in a variety of equestrian sports.
With a focus on classical riding techniques, Kelly ensures her students build strong foundations, particularly for novice riders. Her nurturing and supportive approach creates a positive learning environment, empowering riders to grow in skill and confidence.
Thandiwe Mlingwa
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