A warmblood and a Thoroughbred can both become extraordinary eventing partners, yet they often ask different questions of the rider. The contrast is not simply…
Posts
Riding the Horse Beneath You
Why good cross-country boots are worth every penny
Cross-country is the phase of eventing that makes me feel most alive and most aware of every decision I have made before leaving the start box. The rhythm is…
What a stopped horse taught me about eventing
There is a particular kind of silence at an eventing start box. The announcer has called your number, the cross-country timer is ready, and the horse beneath…
The value of walking the course twice with a friend
There is a particular kind of quiet concentration that settles over a cross-country course before the start of a horse trial. Jumps stand bright against the…
Resetting After A Disappointing Dressage Score
A low dressage mark can follow you around the showground. It appears on the sheet in black and white, while your memory supplies every detail: the hurried…
Why I keep a photo of my first event horse in the barn
There is a photograph pinned to the wall of my barn that has outlasted several calendars, a few saddle pads, and more than one ambitious training plan. The…
The Cool-Down Routine I Trust After A Hard Run
After a demanding cross-country round, the finish flags are only the beginning of the work. My horse may be full of adrenaline, breathing hard, and still…
What the cross-country fence crew never sees
A cross-country fence crew arrives long before the first horse leaves the start box. They check flags, walk the takeoff and landing areas, shift rails, clear…
How I structure a week of training before a horse trial
The week before a horse trial has a different rhythm from an ordinary training week. I am no longer trying to create a new athlete, solve every weakness, or…
When the Right Ride Means Releasing the Wrong Goal
There is a particular kind of disappointment that follows a competition goal you have carried for months. It is not always dramatic. Sometimes there is no…