The Story Behind EquiHub

EquiHub was founded by Debbie Wilson, a British Horse Society Accredited Professional Coach and BHSI, with over 30 years of experience working across the equestrian industry.

My journey began at the age of 16 when I joined a YTS scheme on a hunt and show jumping yard. Those early years taught me the value of hard work, dedication, and professionalism. Alongside my practical training, I worked towards my NVQ qualifications and achieved my BHSAI, laying the foundations for a lifelong career in the horse industry.

At 19, I travelled to the United States to work for renowned show jumper and US Chef d’Equipe Andrew Philbrick. During my time there, I gained invaluable experience working with high-quality competition horses in a busy show jumping, sales, and riding school operation. I was fortunate to train with excellent coaches, ride talented horses, and develop my skills in communication, customer service, and networking with owners, trainers, and clients from across the industry.

After returning to the UK, I established myself as a freelance coach before deciding to further my education. At the age of 24, I attended university and completed a BA (Hons) in Equine and Business Management. Throughout my studies, I continued coaching and worked at a hunting and hireling yard, preparing horses to a high standard for clients who expected exceptional service and performance.

Following university, I began my career in further education as a Practical Instructor before progressing to Lecturer, Course Tutor, and eventually Curriculum Leader. During this time, I helped educate and inspire the next generation of equestrian professionals.

My career then led me to Cheshire Riding School, where I spent several years as Centre Manager. In this role, I led a team of 45 staff and students, overseeing the care and management of 90 horses across 130 acres. Managing a large and diverse equestrian operation provided valuable experience in leadership, business management, staff development, horse welfare, and customer relations.

In 2017, I achieved the prestigious BHSI (British Horse Society Stage 5 Performance Coach) qualification, a milestone that reflected years of dedication to coaching and professional development.

Later, I relocated to Cumbria, where I initially worked within the racing industry before progressing to a work rider role, while simultaneously rebuilding my coaching business in a new area. It was during this time that I encountered a challenge many equestrians face: finding reliable local equestrian professionals, services, and events.

Despite years of experience and extensive industry contacts, I found it surprisingly difficult to locate the information I needed. It became clear that there was no central place where horse owners, riders, businesses, and professionals could easily connect.

Today, alongside my coaching business and part-time work within the racing industry, I also work as the Northern Regional Development Officer for the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), the official charity for the welfare of former racehorses. In this role, I work closely with owners, riders, coaches, venues, and industry stakeholders to develop educational opportunities, training events, and support networks that help former racehorses successfully transition into new careers after racing.

This role has further strengthened my belief in the importance of connecting people, sharing knowledge, and creating accessible opportunities within the equestrian community. Working across multiple sectors of the industry has given me a unique insight into the challenges faced by both horse owners and equestrian businesses, and has reinforced the need for a central platform where people can easily find trusted services, events, and professional support.

This challenge sparked the idea for EquiHub.

After discussing the concept with Angharad and Gareth at Carvetii, who have become supporters of both myself and my horse, they helped bring the vision to life through the development of the website. EquiHub officially launched in February 2025.

Our Vision

EquiHub was created to become a central hub for the equestrian community.

We have already developed an equestrian business directory and events calendar, making it easier for horse owners, riders, and professionals to discover opportunities, services, training, and events within their region.

However, this is only the beginning.

Our long-term vision is to create dedicated mini-webpages for equestrian professionals and service providers within the EquiHub platform. These pages will provide businesses with a professional online presence and include:

• Detailed information about products and services

• Business history and biographies

• Website and booking links

• Social media connections

• Image galleries and logos

• Contact information

• Reviews and testimonials

• Event and training opportunities

By bringing this information together in one place, we aim to make it easier for equestrians to find trusted professionals while helping businesses increase their visibility and connect with new customers.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple:

To connect the equestrian community by creating a trusted platform where horse owners, riders, coaches, businesses, service providers, and event organisers can easily find one another, share opportunities, and support the growth of the industry.

EquiHub is built by equestrians, for equestrians, and we are committed to helping the industry thrive through stronger connections, greater visibility, and improved access to information.

We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing to grow EquiHub into the go-to destination for equestrian services, events, and professional connections across the UK.