A horse can say an extraordinary amount without moving his feet. The set of his neck, the softness around his jaw, the rhythm of his breathing and, especially,…
Posts
What a Horse’s Ears Tell Me About His Focus During Dressage
How I Train My Eye to Find the Perfect Distance in Show Jumping
Finding the right distance to a show jump is one of those skills that can look almost magical from the ground. A confident rider seems to see the stride, make…
Packing a tack trunk for a two-day horse trial
A two-day horse trial asks more of a tack trunk than a regular lesson or single-day outing. The horse needs familiar equipment for dressage, show jumping, and…
Why I take a walk around the event grounds before check-in
There is a particular kind of quiet that settles over an event venue in the early morning, long before the first dressage bell rings and the loudspeaker…
When a horse refuses a fence on cross-country
A refusal on cross-country can feel enormous. You are moving at speed, the jump is fixed, people are watching, and suddenly your horse plants the brakes. The…
What My First Water Complex Fall Taught Me About Eventing
The first splash through a water complex always feels like a handshake with the sport itself. You ask, the horse answers, and for a few strides the world…
Smart Cross-Country Warm-Ups When You're Running Short on Time
Picture this: you've just finished your dressage test, flung your jacket back at the float, and the next time you look up the cross-country warm-up is already…
A Calmer Float Trip To Your Next Horse Competition
A competition day often starts long before the dressage steward calls your number or the cross-country warm-up opens. It begins when your horse walks towards…
Why I always check the weather before heading off to an event
There's a particular kind of panic that hits when you're halfway down the M1, the trailer lights bouncing in the mirrors, and the sky ahead turns the colour of…
A thank you to the person behind every great day
When I pull up after a clear cross-country run, heart still hammering and horse still bouncing beneath me, my first thought isn't always about my own…