Competition-day hunger has a particular way of showing up. It is six in the morning, the horse has eaten, the trailer is packed, and you realise you have had…
Posts
What to eat on competition day for steady energy
Why I Use a Quarter Sheet in Cool Weather
Cool weather changes the feel of a ride long before it becomes genuinely cold. The air may be crisp, the arena surface may still hold overnight damp, and a…
Keeping a young horse straight in canter
A young horse can produce a technically tidy canter and still run out of line the moment the rider asks for something unfamiliar. The difficulty is rarely…
Plan a Show Jumping Warm-Up That Works
A good show jumping warm-up should leave your horse comfortable, attentive and ready to use its body. Learning how to plan your warm-up routine for show…
Why I Always Carry a Pocket Knife at Horse Trials
There is a small folding knife in my gear bag whenever I am at a horse trial. It is not a survival tool or a dramatic gesture; it is simply one of those useful…
What my most embarrassing dressage moment taught me
There is one dressage test I can replay in my head with uncomfortable clarity. It happened at a small spring competition near Camden, south-west of Sydney,…
Why a horse drops behind the leg and how to fix it
When a horse drops behind the leg, the rider usually feels the body slide away from the requested direction. The horse may drift sideways, swing its quarters…
A Calm Introduction to Horses and Cross-Country Water
Cross-country water can look straightforward on a course map, yet reflections, moving surfaces and changing footing turn it into one of the trickiest obstacles…
Preparing for a three-day event on a tight budget
Eventing has a way of turning a simple goal into a three-part logistics exercise: dressage, show jumping and cross-country each need time, preparation and a…
Why I Love Early Morning Rides Before Work
Before the city has properly woken, the horse and I have usually finished our warm-up. The roads are quiet, the arena lights feel unnecessary, and the only…