Sally Collins earns top honour through decades of dedication

By Andrew Smith

Over two decades of hard work in the coaching arena paid off for Sally Collins at the 2025 Equestrian Queensland Annual Awards.

The horsewoman was crowned the EQ Coach of the Year at November’s awards ceremony in Brisbane.

Collins, who is also a Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Approved Coach, was nominated alongside other QOTT coaches including Christine Bradfield, David Finch, Gemma Creighton and Kadi Eykamp for the top honour.

“I was very humbled and very excited, I just really love my job and enjoy what I do,” Collins said.

“To be nominated with all those people was just amazing, and then to actually win, it was something that I wouldn't have even thought I would have done, so I’m very lucky.”

The award recognises an Equestrian Australia Accredited Coach whose dedication and skill has positively influenced both human and equine athletes during the previous 12 months.

It also rewards a coach who has made a significant contribution to the success of individuals or teams to assist them in achieving outstanding results at the highest level of senior or junior competition.

Collins, who is based in Cooroy, said she had been coaching for around 20 years with her main focus on retraining thoroughbreds.

“I've always done dressage, and I really like it because it's a challenge,” Collins said.

“Every horse needs that foundation to be able to progress to be a better horse, and be supple and get that gymnastics-type of training.

“Each horse I've got, I've just tried to see how far we could go and just progress from there, and I love the whole journey from a young horse to the FEI levels.”

Collins joined QOTT as an Approved Coach in December 2024 after being encouraged by some clients who owned off-the-track thoroughbreds.

“I love watching them come and progress with that, and QOTT is very supportive of them in giving them the free lessons to be able to achieve what they want to achieve,” Collins said.

“I love watching them have a second life, and a second chance at doing something.

“Some of them can really move, and most of them can jump, so it's really rewarding to watch them progress on to something else.”

Local riders Imogen Crang and Sienna Rudd are among those who have benefited from the coaching provided by Collins through the QOTT Subsidised Lessons Program.

“It’s an amazing program, and I'm really excited and happy to be a part of it, giving the thoroughbreds a new lease on life and another direction to go in.

“I love setting goals with the client and seeing what they'd like to achieve, and then a couple of months later achieving those small stepping stones to get to the end result is pretty exciting.

“Watching people's journeys and how they improve and understand their horse a bit more and grow as a partnership and develop as a team is great - whether they're doing dressage or some flat work for jumping or eventing.

“I just love watching their progress and both improving and getting stronger together.”

 Click here to find out more about the Subsidised Lessons Program.