The first breastplate I fitted for cross-country looked perfectly sensible when it was hanging on the bridle rack. Once it was on the horse, however, every…
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What I Wish I Knew About Fitting a Cross-Country Breastplate
How to Re-Train a Horse That Has Learned to Rush Fences
Every eventer eventually rides a horse who decides jumping is best done at full noise. The behaviour shows up in different shapes. Some horses throw their head…
What Riding A Friend’s Horse Can Teach You
Riding a friend’s horse in a shared field can be one of the most useful ways to broaden your experience without adding another horse to your own string. The…
Why I Always Have a Plan B for My Horse's Breakfast on Competition Day
There's something about a horse trial morning that strips away every illusion of control. You arrive in the dark, the float parked crooked because the ground…
Stretch and strengthen your lower leg for better balance in the saddle
When you think about eventing, the first things that come to mind are usually the big moments, like galloping across country, the precision of a show jumping…
What a Horse's Eye Contact Tells Me About His Trust Level
I've been watching eyes for as long as I can remember riding. Not the human kind, although those matter plenty in this sport, but the wide, dark, side-lined…
When your mates beat you to the ribbons: handling envy in the eventing world
You have spent months preparing for this weekend. Your horse feels good, you have done the homework, and you are ready. Then you watch your best friend float…
Mastering cross-country combination fences with confidence
The first time you spot two or three efforts stacked across the field, your heart lifts, your hands shift, and your brain starts to run scenarios all at once.…
Why I Carry a Pocket Notebook to Every Lesson and Clinic
There's a small spiral-bound notebook tucked into the pocket of every pair of jodhpurs I own, and a second one stuffed into the back of my truck. It started as…
Finding Balance On A Sloping Dressage Arena
A sloping dressage arena changes the feel of every stride. The horse has to manage balance on an incline while still staying attentive to the rider’s aids, and…