There is nothing especially glamorous about my dressage preparation. I do not always have a freshly watered arena, a perfectly level surface, or an entire…
Posts
Why I Practice My Dressage Test in the Barn Aisle
My competition-morning food for a focused ride
Competition mornings begin long before the first bell. At an Australian horse trial, I may be awake before sunrise, checking rugs, filling water buckets and…
The Morning Routine That Sets Up a Good Show Day
A good show day rarely begins when the truck rolls through the gate or the horse enters the warm-up. It starts earlier, in the quiet hours when the yard is…
Choosing The Right Bit For Your Horse’s Mouth
Selecting a bit is less about finding the strongest piece of equipment and more about matching the horse’s anatomy, training, temperament and the rider’s…
The Quiet Pride Of A Clear Cross-Country Round
A clear cross-country round rarely arrives with the dramatic finish that fills a photographer’s frame. There may be no rosette lifted above a smiling face, no…
How to Handle a Vet Glance That Makes You Anxious
There is a particular kind of silence that can make a horse owner’s stomach drop. The vet pauses, looks at the horse again, or studies a swelling for a few…
Why I Never Skip the Trot Poles Before a Jump Round
There is always a moment before a show-jumping round when the temptation to save energy takes over. The horse has already worked, the arena is busy, and the…
The Time I Rode in the Dark and Learned to Trust My Seat
There are plenty of ways to discover that your horse knows more than you do. Some arrive during a cross-country run, when a ditch appears deeper than expected.…
What My Horse’s Favorite Treat Says About Our Bond
A horse’s favourite treat can seem like a small detail: the biscuit chosen from the feed-room shelf, the carrot expected after a lesson, or the particular…
How to Help a Horse That Gets Tense at Dressage Shows
A horse that feels settled at home can seem like an entirely different animal at a dressage competition. The arena may be familiar, yet the atmosphere is not:…