Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Crain.
Hi Erin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Horses have been a part of my life since I could walk. A second-generation riding instructor, I spent my earliest years around horses—often in a playpen beside the arena while lessons were underway. I began riding at five years old, competed in my first horse show at seven, and started breaking and training horses in 2004 before teaching professionally in 2009. Although I began my competitive career in the Equitation ring, I quickly found my passion in Eventing.
After more than a decade balancing a corporate career with coaching, I left the corporate world in 2021 to pursue horses full-time. What began as sharing educational riding content online has grown into a global community of riders. Today, I coach riders in Central Texas and virtually across the country.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most people building a business around something they’re passionate about, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Early in my career, I thought becoming a better coach meant learning more exercises and refining my technical knowledge. While those things are important, I realized that lasting change doesn’t come from constantly changing the horse—it comes from better understanding the conversation between horse and rider.
That shift completely changed the way I teach. Instead of focusing only on what the horse is doing, I began paying closer attention to why the horse was responding that way. It reinforced my belief that horses are incredibly honest animals—they simply reflect the communication they’re receiving. This has been incredibly powerful for my brand, but definitely wasn’t always that way. I’ve experienced eye rolls and hesitation a LOT through the years.
Like many small business owners, there were practical challenges too. Leaving a stable corporate career in 2021 to pursue horses full-time was a big leap of faith, and more recently I’ve expanded my coaching to include virtual analyses so I can help riders beyond my local area. That has allowed me to combine my teaching experience with technology, but has definitely been a learning curve.
Becoming a mother has also challenged me to think differently about how I serve riders, leading me to expand my virtual coaching so I can keep helping horse-and-rider partnerships while balancing family life.
Every challenge along the way has shaped my philosophy: better riding starts with better understanding. My goal has never been to create quick fixes, but to give riders the knowledge and confidence to create lasting change with their horses.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work with riders of all levels, from those building confidence to competitive eventers and jumpers, with one goal in mind: helping them better understand the conversation they’re having with their horse. Whether I’m teaching in person or working virtually, I focus on identifying the small changes that create the biggest improvements in both horse and rider.
What sets my coaching apart is that I don’t simply tell riders what to do—I help them understand *why* their horse is responding the way they are. By focusing on things like balance, timing, body awareness, and communication, I help create changes that are lasting rather than temporary.
I’m probably best known for my ability to break down complex concepts into simple, practical ideas that riders can immediately apply. I also tend to use a lot of analogies- some of my favorites include Jell-O, a mullet and a toilet bowl! My coaching style is thoughtful, encouraging, and rooted in understanding rather than force. I want riders to leave every lesson feeling more confident, more capable, and with a clearer understanding of how to communicate with their horse.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a particular competition result or title (although those are dear to me)—it’s hearing clients say that riding finally feels easier, that they’re enjoying their horses again, or that they understand something that had frustrated them for years. Helping riders build confidence while creating happier, more willing horses is the most rewarding part of what I do.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve never considered myself someone who takes risks just for the sake of it, but I’ve realized that many of the biggest moments in my life have come from being willing to step into the unknown when something felt important enough.
One of the first major risks I took was leaving home at 12 years old to become a working student so I could immerse myself in horses. It taught me independence at a young age and reinforced that growth often requires stepping outside of what’s comfortable.
Later, I spent six months studying abroad during college, embracing a completely different environment and culture. Then, one of the biggest leaps of faith came when I moved to Texas without knowing anyone and without having family here, just two weeks after finding a job. I simply believed it was where I wanted to build my future. Looking back, that decision changed the course of my life—I built a business I love, met my husband, and we’ve since welcomed our baby boy.
Professionally, leaving a stable corporate career to pursue horses full-time was another leap. Like any entrepreneur, there was uncertainty, but I believed in the vision I had for the kind of coach I wanted to become.
Those have all shaped the way I think about risk. I don’t see it as something to chase or avoid. I see it as something to evaluate carefully and embrace when it aligns with your values and long-term goals. Interestingly, that’s very similar to the way I approach horses. Progress doesn’t come from forcing things or taking reckless chances—it comes from building trust, having a clear plan, and being willing to take the next step even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
The greatest opportunities in my life have come from moments that initially felt risky, and they’ve taught me that meaningful growth almost always requires a little courage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://erincrain.net
- Instagram: e_c_equestrian
- Facebook: E.C. Equestrian
