Fear is part of my preparation for cross-country. I do not mean the dramatic, cinematic kind that makes me want to turn around and go home. Often it is quieter…
Posts
How I Manage Fear Before Cross-Country Galloping
Building a partnership with a lease horse
Leasing a horse can feel like stepping into ownership without signing up for every financial, logistical, and long-term responsibility that comes with it. For…
Lessons from a Dressage Judge’s Comments
A dressage test can feel strangely brief. After weeks of schooling, hauling, braiding, warming up, and trying to keep nerves from taking over, the ride may…
Post-competition recovery for horse and rider
The final salute, the last fence, or the walk back through the finish flags can feel like the end of a horse trial. In reality, it is the beginning of another…
The bridle change that reshaped our rides
Tack changes rarely feel dramatic when they happen in the aisle. A different piece of leather is laid over the saddle rack, a bit is fitted, and the horse gets…
The difference between training at home and competing away
A horse can feel wonderfully settled at home and still seem to become a different animal when the lorry arrives at a competition venue. The arena is…
How My Family Supports My Equestrian Obsession
Eventing can look like a collection of exciting moments from the outside: a horse stretching through a dressage test, a clean show-jumping round, or the rush…
The Quiet Progress That Keeps Us Going At The Barn
A horse does not need to win a blue ribbon for a day at the barn to matter. Sometimes progress looks like a softer transition, a calmer grooming session, or a…
When Loading Became the Lesson
There are horse problems that announce themselves gradually. A missed lead becomes a training note, a rail down becomes a reminder to ride forward, and a tense…
The Mental Game of Walking a Cross-Country Course
Walking a cross-country course can look deceptively simple from the outside. Riders stroll from fence to fence, glance at the numbers, chat with friends, and…