Training, Mentorship, and the Value of a Trusted Coach
- Emily Miller
- Mar 16
- 3 min read
A Weekend Clinic with Peter Borggreve
This weekend, Jennifer Diamond will once again ride under the guidance of Peter Borggreve, her coach of the past eight years, as he travels to host a training clinic. For Jennifer, opportunities like this are not simply about preparing for competition - they are part of a long-term philosophy about how riders and horses develop over time.
In a sport built on patience, feel, and refinement, Jennifer believes strongly in the importance of mentorship and consistent guidance. Riders rarely progress alone. Behind every successful program is a network of trainers who help shape both horse and rider along the way. And for Jennifer, that journey began long before international coaching entered the picture.
A Foundation Built from the Beginning
Jennifer’s earliest coach was her mother, Colleen Diamond, who has guided her riding since childhood. Like many lifelong equestrians, Jennifer’s introduction to the sport was not through formal competition goals, but through years spent developing the basics of horsemanship and feel. That early training laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
Colleen’s emphasis on fundamentals - balance, patience, and correct development of the horse - continues to influence Jennifer’s approach today. Those early lessons created the foundation that has allowed Jennifer to continue refining her riding under the guidance of other experienced trainers. In many ways, the coaching relationship between Jennifer and her mother represents the first and most enduring layer of her program.
A Philosophy Built on Coaching
For Jennifer, working with experienced coaches has always been a central part of her approach to training. She believes that no rider develops in isolation, and that strong mentorship is essential to progress in dressage.
“I’ve always believed that no one goes anywhere in this sport without a coach,” Jennifer explains. “You need someone who believes in you and the program you’re building, but who will also push you to be better. That balance is incredibly important.”
In Jennifer’s view, a great coach does more than offer technical corrections. They provide perspective, accountability, and the ability to recognize subtle details that may not be obvious from the saddle.
“A coach has to be willing to challenge the work,” she says. “Progress doesn’t happen if everything feels comfortable all the time. The right trainer supports you, but also pushes you to improve.”
This philosophy has shaped the way Jennifer approaches her own training program and the partnerships she has built with the coaches who have guided her career.
Peter Borggreve: Experience and Perspective
Based in Germany, Peter Borggreve is widely respected within the dressage community for his classical and systematic approach to training. His work focuses on developing horses correctly over time, emphasizing balance, straightness, and the gradual building of strength and understanding. Rather than focusing on quick results, Peter’s philosophy centers on the long-term development of both horse and rider.
This approach aligns closely with Jennifer’s own training values. Riders who work with Peter often describe his ability to recognize small adjustments - details that may seem subtle but ultimately transform the quality of the horse’s work.
These refinements often involve improving the horse’s balance, developing more consistent connection, and strengthening the foundation required for advanced movements. It is this attention to detail that has made his coaching relationship with Jennifer so valuable over the years.
A Weekend of Focused Training
This weekend’s clinic offers an opportunity to continue that work in person. Clinics provide a focused environment where riders can step back from daily training and analyze the details that influence long-term progress.
For Jennifer, sessions with Peter often return to the fundamentals - rhythm, straightness, and connection. Even as horses advance through the levels, these core principles remain the foundation for every movement. Each ride becomes an opportunity to refine the partnership between horse and rider. The goal is never simply to “fix” something in a single session. Instead, clinics provide direction and perspective that shape the training program in the months that follow.
A Program Built on Mentorship
Dressage is often described as a lifelong pursuit, and Jennifer’s program reflects that philosophy. From the early guidance of her mother to the continued mentorship of Peter Borggreve, each stage of her development has been shaped by the influence of experienced trainers.
For Jennifer, that network of mentorship is not just valuable - it is essential.
Because in dressage, progress is rarely the work of one person alone. It is built over time through collaboration, patience, and a shared commitment to the correct development of the horse. This weekend’s clinic is simply another step in that ongoing journey.
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