From the saddle, an eventing round feels like a series of immediate problems. Is my horse listening? Did I prepare the turn? Are we going to make the distance?…
Posts
What The Placing Judge Sees That I Don’t
The art of giving your horse a quiet night before a big day
The evening before a horse trial can feel strangely important. The entries are checked, the tack is cleaned, the route has been studied, and the alarm is set…
Rebuilding Your Confidence After A Spooky Fence
A spooky fence can occupy far more space in a rider’s mind than it does in the arena. The actual moment may last only a few seconds: your horse sees something…
Why I keep a “good ride” list on my phone
My phone contains the usual collection of photos, messages, weather screenshots, and half-finished notes. It also contains a running list with a deliberately…
What a quiet water bucket taught me after cross-country
The horse had just finished a fast, demanding cross-country run, and every part of him suggested that water should be the first thing on his mind. His coat was…
A better stretch for your back, in and out of the saddle
Riding can make the back look strong and composed while asking it to do a surprising amount of work. A horse’s movement travels through the rider’s seat,…
How to Teach Your Horse to Wait at the Start Box
The start box can make a calm horse feel suddenly electric. The atmosphere is different from home: speakers crackle, numbers are called, spectators gather near…
The First Time I Rode a Cross-Country Saddle Correctly
I had used a cross-country saddle before. I had sat in one during lessons, hacked in one around the farm, and taken one to schooling days where the jumps…
Why I Roast Marshmallows at the End of a Horse Trial Day
By the time the last horse has left the cross-country warm-up and the final scores are posted, I am usually operating on adrenaline, dust, and whatever snacks…
What The Barn Community Taught Me About Support
Support in the equestrian world rarely arrives with a speech or a dramatic gesture. More often, it looks like someone holding a horse while I tighten a girth,…