A good trot can feel pleasant, balanced and reliable. The horse moves forward without rushing, the rider stays comfortably in the saddle, and the pair can…
Posts
The Difference Between A Good Trot And A Competitive Trot
Choosing Cross-Country Gloves That Keep Your Grip Secure
Cross-country riding asks a great deal from a pair of gloves. You need enough grip to stay connected to the reins over a drop, through water, and across a long…
What my first three-day event taught me about pacing
Before my first three-day event, I thought pacing meant deciding how quickly to ride cross-country. I pictured a stopwatch, a minute marker and a sensible…
Why I Schedule a Rest Day Even When We Feel Ready
There is a particular moment before an event when everything begins to feel possible. The horse is moving well, the transitions are prompt, the jump sessions…
When My Horse Took Me Around the Course
There is a particular kind of silence that settles over an eventing course before the first horse leaves the start box. The warm-up is full of movement and…
When a dressage judge looks bored
A dressage test can feel strangely personal. You ride down the centre line, salute, and spend several minutes presenting your horse to one person sitting in a…
Why a handful of hay can settle a nervous horse
A nervous horse can turn an ordinary moment into a full production. The float arrives, the saddle comes out, or a new horse walks into the yards, and suddenly…
The Simple Way I Check My Stirrup Length Before a Test
Before a dressage test, I want as few decisions as possible between leaving the warm-up and riding down the centre line. My horse has enough to think about, I…
What a Start Box Taught Me About Riding Through Fear
There are horses that prance into the start box as if they have been waiting all day for the countdown. They step between the rails, glance towards the first…
How To Build A Season Plan Without Burning Out
A full eventing season can look wonderfully simple on a calendar. Add a few dressage days, choose some horse trials, book lessons, and aim for a personal best…