There is a particular kind of confidence that comes from knowing how to leave a horse safely when a ride has gone wrong. It is not the dramatic confidence of…
Posts
Why I practice emergency dismounts regularly
What It Takes to Event a Horse You Raised Yourself
Raising a horse from the beginning gives an event rider an unusually close view of how a partnership develops. You remember the awkward youngster, the first…
The gear that changed how I ride
There are plenty of purchases in eventing that feel important at the time. A new saddle can make a horse feel wonderfully free through the shoulder. A smart…
Staying Warm at a Cold-Weather Horse Event
Cold-weather horse events ask for a different kind of preparation. The schedule may look familiar—arrival, tack-up, warm-up, competition, untacking, and the…
The Day I Stopped Forcing the Partnership
There was no dramatic fall, no refusal that sent me flying, and no single disastrous competition that made everything obvious. The realization arrived quietly,…
Why I Love the Smell of Hay in a Stalled Trailer
There are horse smells that cling to your clothes, settle into the mats of a truck, and follow you home long after the last bucket has been rinsed. Fresh…
What My First Fallout With A Trainer Taught Me
The first time I fell out with a trainer, I expected the hardest part to be the practical fallout. I imagined awkward conversations at the yard, uncertainty…
How to Handle a Horse That Bolts in the Warm-Up
A horse that bolts in the warm-up ring can turn an ordinary competition day into a serious test of judgment. The first few strides may look like fresh energy,…
The quiet magic of a perfect dressage halt
A dressage halt lasts only a few seconds, yet it can hold the entire story of a test. The horse steps forward from the final movement, the rider gathers the…
Why I Always Carry a Spare Set of Reins
There are plenty of things I remember packing before a horse trial: boots polished the night before, safety vest, medical armband, snacks that will probably…