At first glance, you might perceive us as just another PR agency, but peel back the layers, and you’ll uncover a rich tapestry of experience, woven together by a shared love for horses and the countryside.
At Coate PR we’re a team of seasoned PR and marketing professionals but what sets us apart is our deep-rooted connection to the equestrian world. A passion that pulses through our veins and colours every aspect of our work.
Each member of our team brings a unique story to the table. From the thrill of the racetrack to the tranquillity of the dressage arena, we’ve lived and breathed every part of equine and country life. Our collective history isn’t just a footnote in our professional journey; it’s the driving force behind everything we do.
Here is a snapshot of our personal experiences:
April Coate
No one in April’s family was horsey but it all started when she was 11 years old and began to ride out with a friend who lived on a farm and had a couple of ponies. She introduced April to a local riding school, and this is when the lessons began which led to a loan pony and her own horse when she was 14. Her boyfriend (now husband and Co-Owner of the agency) had a very horsey family who introduced April to eventing. A decade of many happy years eventing with family and friends followed.
April completed her degree in Equine Business Management at the Royal Agricultural University in 2013, her first role was as a Marketing Executive at Griffin NuuMed, a manufacturing company that hand-made numnahs and saddlepads. In 2015 April began her role with the agency that she now owns.
Her passion for the equestrian world was what attracted her to work for the agency. During the first few years with JB Promotions (now Coate PR) April worked with clients such as Mitsubishi Motors supporting their sponsorship for Badminton Horse Trials and the Badminton Grassroots, Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, Dodson & Horrell and the FEI European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle.
April still owns Granite, her 18-year-old Irish Draught X Thoroughbred who you may have seen was the cover star for our winter photoshoot for our client, British Horse Feeds and The Golden Paste Company!
Kim Forster
Kim started riding when she was six, taking every opportunity to ride, helping out at the local riding school at weekends and school holidays. It wasn’t until she was working in PR in London that she had her own horse and caught the bug for competing, clinics and training. Whilst in London, Kim kept two horses at Merrist Wood College in Guildford where they were ridden by the students during the week and Kim at the weekend. Kim’s Irish Thoroughbred horse Ryan was given a starring role in the display to mark HRH The Princess Royal officially opening the new indoor facilities at the college.
Kim took Ryan to the New Forest when she moved out of London and spent many happy hours exploring one of the best places for hacking in the UK as well as competing and beginning to grow a passion for dressage. When Kim moved to Somerset – she was able to have her own horse at home with a companion and Ryan enjoyed his latter years being pampered and enjoying a new career in veteran showing. He died at home aged 28 having spent 21 years with Kim.
Getting a new horse was always going to be an issue after all that time and it took quite some time for another great character to join Kim’s Yard – Funky a 16.3 hand German Warmblood was about to make his presence felt. Kim’s dream of a real dressage horse at last came true and for the last seven years Kim has achieved quite a few of her aims in dressage, qualifying for Petplan Equine Area Festivals and Regional competitions up to Elementary level and Dressage to Music. The plan was to make the step up to Medium in Spring of 2024. However, Funky sustained an injury and is currently enjoying some time off to recover and hopefully will be back in work for 2025.
For Kim, riding is therapy and training and competing give her a real mental break from work – time to relax and enjoy as well as having a goal in mind. So, she is now on the look out for another horse to keep her sane whilst Funky heals and fingers crossed is able to compete again.
Tiggy Vale-Titterton
From a very early age Tiggy competed all over the country in working hunter, show hunter and coloured flat classes. After enjoying a number of successes; competing at the Royal International Horse Show and Horse of the Year Show on a number of different occasions and winning overall Equifest Supreme Working Hunter champion at the East of England showground, Tiggy turned her focus to the racing industry.
Having been brought up around racehorses, Tiggy had spent many evenings and weekends on a racecourse studying form alongside her homework! After taking a gap year following her A-levels and completing work experience at Warwick Racecourse, Tiggy knew she wanted to pursue a career in the racing industry. In 2017 she started at Hartpury University studying International Horseracing Business where alongside studying for her degree she worked for The Jockey Club in their marketing department at Warwick and Cheltenham Racecourse and for a variety of different racehorse trainers, both National Hunt and dual purpose.
After graduating in 2020 Tiggy joined top National Hunt trainer Dan Skelton as Head of Communications in his racing office. Here she enjoyed 3 and half years of numerous successes with Team Skelton including 2 Cheltenham Festival winners and multiple graded and listed winners. Tiggy has also ridden herself in Point to Points enjoying her first winner at Chaddesley Corbett in 2022.
With an extensive network in the racing industry, covering the lengths and breaths of the UK and Ireland, Tiggy has a wealth of connections and knowledge to offer any client wanting to establish themselves in the racing industry combined with her experience and passion for marketing and social media.
Sophie Green
Sophie has been around horses her whole life and has many pictures of her sitting in front of her Mum in the saddle. As a toddler, Sophie got her first pony – a Shetland called Pandora, who turned out to not be the cuddly child’s pony that she was intended to be! Sophie went through Pony Club, enjoying highlights such as summer camp and competing in several of the area teams.
Sophie wanted to continue her passion for horses through her degree and studied International Equine and Agricultural Business Management at The Royal Agricultural University. Following a dissertation in the horse human bond, Sophie went on to study a Master of Research postgraduate degree in Anthrozoology at Hartpury. From this, Sophie had her dissertation study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour.
Sophie has enjoyed many days eventing and in more recent years, dabbled in some side saddle too – a highlight being at Royal Windsor Horse Show for the University Teams Showjumping. Having spent many years grooming for different riders in her early career, Sophie has gained experience in several different disciplines including showing, polo, dressage, racing, hunting, eventing and even International horse transport. Sophie then went on to work for a well-known equestrian charity working with volunteers in the equine welfare sector and then for a global pharmaceutical business selling equine supplements.
With a passion for research combined with a love for writing, Sophie is on hand for any copywriting that our clients require as well as designing and executing exciting organic and paid social media plans.
Jo Adams
Jo started off her horse centric life at the age of 4, after being offered the choice of riding or ballet lessons. Needless to say, this has probably shaped her life ever since! After numerous naughty loan ponies through the years, Jo has since had a 15-year partnership with her mare, Lizzie.
The two grew up together and saw out their Pony Club years competing in Tetrathlons, summer camps and seasons hunting, alongside other numerous fun excursions! It was the love of horses that inspired Jo to attend the Royal Agricultural University in 2013 to complete a degree in Equine Science and Business. Before, during and after university Jo has always been around horses, having groomed for eventers, worked on racing yards, and has also ridden numerous horses for others alongside her own pursuits.
Jo started her marketing career in an equine based business, then went on to work on an estate in Gloucestershire before returning to the world of equestrian marketing when she joined Coate PR. Social media is Jo’s passion and she has worked on big campaigns for clients around horse health and awareness.
So why Coate PR?
Some may see horses merely as majestic creatures, but to us, they represent something far more profound. Horses embody the values we hold dear; loyalty, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. They’ve taught us patience in the face of difficulty, and they’ve shown us the true meaning of partnership.
Our commitment to the equestrian world extends beyond a mere passion—it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly. Whether it’s promoting equine events, championing animal welfare causes, or helping equestrian brands flourish, we’re dedicated to making a meaningful impact in every endeavour we undertake.
So, as you navigate through our website coatepr.com or engage with our services, remember this: we’re not just a PR agency. We’re a community of experienced individuals united by a shared love for horses and the countryside. Join us on this journey where the hoofbeats of passion and professionalism echo in harmony, leading to unbridled success!