Hilka started riding at the age of 10 in Frankfurt. She shared ponies throughout her teens, but stopped riding when she went to University. She moved to London in 1989 and worked as a radio producer and club DJ, then began riding again when she joined the BBC in 2001. Hilka started at Contessa in 2002 and started working at weekends in return for training towards her teaching exams. She now works alternate Sundays and enjoys teaching nervous riders in particular.
Instructors
We pride ourselves on the variety of instructors at Contessa, that are able to cater for all levels of rider from complete beginners to advanced levels. To find out the price of our lessons, please visit the Lessons section of this website.
Use the tabs above to meet our instructors.
Hilka Querl BHSAI INT.SM
Kim Darby ABRS ITA
Kim joined Contessa in 2006. She began riding at five-years-old and from the age of 13 got to ride the family pony, Archie. They successfully competed in the Pony Club. On leaving shool, Kim went to work for a financial organisation in London. After 11 years, she took a career break and came to Contessa to train for her instructor exams. During her time at Contessa, Kim achieved her ABRS ITA as well as an NVQ III. Kim currently works at Contessa on Saturdays.
Elaine Jenkins BHSAI
Elaine joined the Contessa team in December 2010. She is a BHSAI and enjoys all three disciplines. She gained her BHSAI at Gleneagles and then taught full time at Kingsbarn Equestrian Centre. Elaine hopes to use her time at Contessa to improve her riding and teaching skills and work towards the BHSII. Elaine enjoys teaching jumping and dressage to all levels of rider with a focus on position and effectiveness.
Amy Dickson
Amy started riding at age seven. She achieved the National Award in Horse Management at college and has since worked at several yards. Amy came to Contessa in May 2011 and is working towards her BHS stages and NVQ. She hopes to become a qualified Instructor and maybe teach abroad. She enjoys introducing children and novice adults to riding.
Ashleigh Foreman
Ashleigh has been riding since she was five and came to Contessa to improve her dressage in the hope of eventing in the future. She is training towards her level 2 and teaching qualifications. She loves teaching children and nervous adults as she finds their improvement the most rewarding.
Jess Howard
Jess came to Contessa after catching the 'dressage bug' from a friend. She would like to learn to ride classically, to train to the top and to learn about other disciplines such as Side Saddle and Vaulting. She is very happy in her choice to come to Contessa and with a keen interest in Natural Horsemanship and alternative methods hopes to gain the knowledge to train both horses and riders to her best ability in the future.
