After a horse trial, I am rarely thinking about food in the polished, organized way I imagined I would when I left home that morning. I may have packed snacks,…
Posts
The post-event meal that brings me back to earth
How to handle a horse that’s too fresh on XC
A fresh horse on cross-country can be thrilling, alarming, or both at once. The stride feels bigger, the reactions arrive faster, and the rider may start…
Why I Always Carry a Pocket Knife in the Barn
There are items I expect to use at the barn every day: a lead rope, hoof pick, grooming brush, gloves, and a water bottle that I will inevitably leave…
What A Failed Combination Fence Taught Me About Eventing
There is a particular kind of silence that follows a mistake at a horse trial. It is not the peaceful silence of a settled horse after dressage or the relieved…
The Quiet Thrill of Seeing a Student Succeed
There is a particular kind of happiness that comes from watching a student accomplish something they once believed was beyond them. It is different from the…
How I Keep My Mind Sharp During A Long Dressage Test
A long dressage test asks for a particular kind of concentration. I have to remember the pattern, feel what is happening underneath me, make useful…
What A Water-Stopping Horse Taught Me About Eventing
Some horses meet water in an eventing arena as if it were an old friend. They prick their ears, lengthen their stride, and splash through with complete…
Why I warm up differently for dressage and jumping
Warm-up is one of those parts of eventing that can look almost identical from the outside. The horse walks, trots, canters, and responds to a few familiar…
The real cost of eventing and how I manage it
Eventing has a way of making a single weekend look simple from the outside. A horse arrives, a rider puts on a show jacket, and the pair moves through…
Rebuilding Confidence After a Spooking Incident
A horse spooks in a heartbeat. A shadow shifts, a branch cracks, a plastic bag catches the wind, or a familiar object appears in a new place. The reaction may…