REGISTER HERE https://no-nonsense-leadership.webinargeek.com/meet-the-pro-with-melissa-packer-and-jerry-naish

Date and duration

Thursday 05 March 2026 - 19:00 GMT

2 hours

About

Live Q&A – Winning After Winter

Hosted by Dan Gwalter and Claire Shepherd, WES Area 10

Join us for a collaborative, season focused live Q&A exploring how to prepare both horse and rider for the year ahead, with Melissa Packer, Equine Vet, and Jerry Naish, Performance Coach.

This session brings together two complementary disciplines that are often considered separately, physical preparation and mental readiness. The aim is to help riders think more holistically about returning to work after winter, setting their horses and themselves up for a consistent, confident, and successful season.

Melissa Packer will share a veterinary perspective on post winter conditioning, soundness considerations, and how to reintroduce work responsibly. Her focus is on helping riders understand what is happening in the horse’s body as workload increases, how to spot early warning signs, and how to build fitness in a way that supports longevity rather than short term gains.

Jerry Naish will address the rider side of preparation, covering mindset, confidence, routines, and performance habits. His work centres on helping riders manage expectations, rebuild momentum after time off, and approach the season with clarity and intention rather than pressure or comparison.

Together, Melissa and Jerry provide a joined up view of preparation that recognises that success in the season ahead depends on alignment between physical readiness and mental resilience.

During this live interactive Q&A, members will have the opportunity to ask questions about:

• Bringing horses back into work safely after winter
• Conditioning, workload progression, and recovery
• Managing niggles, fitness gaps, and early season concerns
• Rider mindset, confidence, and seasonal goal setting
• Creating routines that support consistency rather than burnout

Hosted by Dan Gwalter and Claire Shepherd as a WES Area 10 collaboration, this session is designed to support riders at all levels as they prepare for the season ahead. Expect practical guidance, professional insight, and advice that helps you start the year strong, informed, and focused.

Live interactive Q&A

Hosts

Dan Gwalter

Claire Shepherd, WES Area 10

Guests

Melissa Packer, Equine Vet

Jerry Naish, Performance Coach

Bring your questions, your plans for the season, and a willingness to think beyond quick fixes. This session is about preparation that lasts, for both horse and rider.