There are some things I can leave behind when I head to a horse trial: the extra hairbrush, the second pair of breeches, and at least one item I packed with…
Posts
Why I Always Carry A Spare Pair Of Gloves
Practising Flying Changes Without a Dressage Arena
Flying changes have a reputation for requiring a perfectly marked dressage arena, a letter at every corner and a horse so straight that the slightest wobble…
When a new saddle rubs your horse: a practical guide for riders
You have been eyeing a new saddle for months, finally taken the plunge, and it looks perfect on the stand. Then, after a few rides, you spot it: a patch of…
Why I Choose a Double Bridle for Dressage but a Snaffle at Home
Anyone who has spent a decade plus chasing eventing ribbons around this country will tell you that bridles are rarely a one size fits all conversation. My own…
Conquering fear on the downhill gallop
Every eventer knows that moment. The crest of the hill appears, the ground falls away in front of you, and your stomach drops faster than your horse's…
The Night-Before Grooming Routine That Sets You Up for Eventing Success
The night before any eventing competition has its own particular rhythm. Feed buckets clatter, hay nets get loaded, saddle pads get pulled from the wash rack,…
Keeping your head before the cross-country bell rings
Waiting for your cross-country start time has a strange kind of weight to it. You have done the work, the dressage is behind you, the rails in the show jumping…
A judge's car, a spinning horse, and a hard lesson
It was a warm Saturday at a grassroots event in country New South Wales, the kind of day where the sun climbs early and the judges arrive with eskies,…
Why I Never Skip a Post-Ride Trot-Up, Even at Home
The other week a friend watched me finish a flatwork session, jump off, loosen the girth, loop the reins over my horse's neck, and then walk her to the far end…
How to Handle a Last-Minute Tack Adjustment Before Your Test
There is a particular kind of tension that arrives in the final minutes before a dressage test. The warm-up is busy, your horse is beginning to feel focused,…