I thought my first novice event would be defined by the three phases: a dressage test, a show-jumping round, and a cross-country course. In reality, the…
Posts
What I Wish I Knew Before My First Novice Event
How I Choose the Right Bit for My Horse
Choosing a bit is one of those jobs that can look simple from the outside. Walk into a tack shop and there are rows of stainless steel, rubber, lozenge,…
The role of grit in a long cross-country run
There is a particular kind of tiredness that arrives during a long cross-country run. It is not quite the same as the fatigue after a hard schooling session or…
Learning to ride the horse in front of me
There is a particular kind of humility that comes with riding a horse who does not match the picture in your head. The picture may include effortless flying…
Why I prioritize flatwork over jumping
I love jumping. The energy of a horse locking onto a fence, the split-second decisions, and the feeling of galloping away from a clean effort are a huge part…
The Dressage Test I Forgot and the Ride I Had to Invent
There are plenty of ways to feel prepared for a horse trial. You can polish your boots, braid until your fingers ache, walk the cross-country course three…
Keeping Your Equestrian Goals Alive Through Winter
Winter can make an ambitious riding season feel very far away. The mornings are dark, the arena may be frozen, and a carefully planned schooling session can…
What My Horse’s Ears Tell Me During a Test
A horse’s ears can seem like tiny antennae, constantly sweeping across the arena and collecting information. During a dressage test, I find myself watching…
Why I Step Away From Social Media During Event Season
Event season asks for a particular kind of attention. It begins before the horse trailer leaves the driveway, continues through every transition between…
The Best Advice I Got About Riding with Soft Hands
Some riding advice sounds almost too simple to be useful. “Keep your hands soft” was one of those phrases I heard early and often, usually just as I was…