Meet Our Coaches
Beret Atkinson
Beret is a patient, knowledgeable coach and a favourite with Pegasus’s younger riders. She combines a patient approach with clear, precise instruction, helping riders progress from their first lessons towards intermediate riding.
Alongside her work at Pegasus, Beret currently coaches at Ambury Park Centre, a member of New Zealand Riding for the Disabled. Her experience includes remedial-riding coaching and working alongside Elise Power.
Elise Power · Head Coach
Elise Power is Head Coach at Pegasus Riding Academy and an FEI four-star rider. Alongside teaching, she oversees coaching quality across the academy, supporting our team in delivering clear, consistent instruction.
Currently studying for a master’s degree in psychology, Elise brings an added interest in how young riders learn, build confidence and approach new challenges. Her coaching combines experience in the saddle with sound foundations and care for the horse, helping riders develop their skills, understanding and lasting enjoyment of the sport.
Elise also holds the NZPCA A rider certificate.
Francesca Pausler
British and trained through the British Horse Society (BHS) system, Francesca holds the BHS Intermediate Instructor (BHSII) qualification and a bachelor’s degree in coaching from Hartpury University. A Level 4 dressage rider with private coaching experience, she brings formal instructor training and experience in the saddle to Pegasus.
Iris Marama
Coach
Katja Spooner
Originally from Germany and trained in the German FN system, Katja is a Level 4 dressage rider with extensive competition experience and an NZQA Level 5 qualification focused on therapeutic riding and coaching.
Her broad equestrian background includes riding schools, trekking and saddle fitting, together with past equine-management work at Ambury Park Centre, a member of New Zealand Riding for the Disabled. At Pegasus, she brings this blend of competition experience, coaching knowledge and practical horse care to our team.
Nell Dempsey
Coach
Shanae Savannah
Shanae brings a broad equestrian background to her coaching at Pegasus, with experience in show jumping, showing, show hunter and dressage. She has competed at Pony Grand Prix level and in Junior Rider and age-series classes with younger horses.
Her lessons focus on each rider’s goals, bringing together flatwork, arena craft and competition preparation. Shanae enjoys working through challenges with horses and riders, helping them build sound foundations, confidence and a clear sense of progress.
Symantha Pope
Trained in the USA and certified through the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA), Symantha (Sym) brings a thoughtful, confidence-building approach to coaching at Pegasus. An experienced show jumper with a passion for producing young horses, she helps riders develop sound foundations and a genuine partnership with their horse.
Her background in American hunter equitation brings another perspective to the arena. Sym’s approach reflects Pegasus’s belief that progress begins with care for the horse, clear communication and the confidence to keep learning.
Sym holds the NZPCA B rider certificate.
Vicki Wilson
Vicki has been riding since the age of eight and brings a lifelong love of horses to her coaching at Pegasus. With experience teaching through Pony Club and privately, she enjoys helping riders develop their skills, deepen their knowledge and care for the horses they ride.
Her own riding and competition experience spans dressage, show jumping and eventing. For Vicki, the value of each outing lies in learning and improving. She brings that same outlook to her lessons, encouraging steady progress and a lasting enjoyment of equestrian sport.
Vicki holds NZPCA D+ and ESNZ Level 1 coaching qualifications.