Wind turns an ordinary horse trial into a test of adaptability, preparation and trust. Flags snap, trees bend and the arena seems to move whenever a gust…
Posts
How to Handle Windy Conditions at a Horse Trial
Why I Teach My Horse to Stand Still While Mounting
Years ago, I treated mounting as the least important part of getting ready to ride. If my horse shuffled forward, I blamed her feet. If she stepped sideways, I…
How to improve your memory for walking courses
Walking a course at an eventing venue is more than checking that the fences are where the course map says they are. It is a chance to build a clear, physical…
The best way to clean your tack after a muddy cross-country
Cross-country has a way of leaving its mark on everything. A wet course can turn boots, girths and stirrup leathers into gritty brown soup. The temptation is…
What to Do When Your Horse Gets Loose at an Event
A loose horse at a horse trial changes the mood in seconds. One moment you are checking the next start time or watching a warm-up stride; the next, people are…
How to manage a horse that bounces in the trot
A horse that feels springy under saddle can be delightful to ride, especially when the movement is loose, rhythmic and confident. It can also make a rider…
Why I Keep a Set of Show Only Riding Gloves
My competition gloves have a habit of looking as though they have already completed a cross-country round. That is usually because they have: palms darkened,…
How to school cross-country without a full course
Full cross-country courses are the benchmark for eventing, but they are not the only way to prepare a horse and rider. At many clubs, courses are booked,…
Check trailer tyres before every event
I remember standing in the driveway before sunrise with the horse loaded, the float hitched and the whole day organised around a cross-country course. Then I…
How to Handle a Horse That Jumps Left at a Fence
A horse that drifts left over a fence is usually dealing with something the rider cannot see from the saddle. It may be refusing the line, changing canter…