A horse trial can be over in a few minutes, but it rarely feels finished when I drive home. The dressage test has its final salute, the show jumps have been…
Posts
Why I write candid recaps after every horse trial
Learning To Trust My Horse Over A Fence
There is a particular kind of silence before a fence. The arena may be full of hoofbeats, trainers, and familiar voices, yet my attention narrows to the horse…
My Go-To Stretches for Tight Hips After a Long Ride
A long ride can leave me feeling accomplished, tired, and slightly folded into the shape of my saddle. The stiffness usually shows up later, when I climb out…
Fueling for Eventing: What I Eat on Competition Day
Competition days start long before a horse walks down the centerline. There is the early alarm, the drive to the venue, the familiar knot of nerves, and the…
The Unexpected Value Of A Bad Show Jumping Round
A polished show jumping round gives you a satisfying result: clear fences, steady rhythm, and a score that reflects the work put in at home. A poor round…
Building A Better Canter One Drill At A Time
A good canter is one of those things riders can recognize long before they can explain it. The horse feels balanced without becoming rigid, the stride covers…
How my horse taught me to handle rider nerves
I used to think rider nerves were a problem to solve before entering the arena. If I prepared enough, memorised every movement, and ran through the…
Five Things I Do The Night Before A Competition
The night before a horse trial has its own particular atmosphere. The lorry may be parked outside, boots may be drying by the door, and my brain may be running…
Why I stopped comparing my dressage test to everyone else’s
For a long time, a dressage test felt like a public ranking of my riding before the results were even posted. I would leave the arena and immediately start…
The Art of Walking the Cross-Country Course Twice
There is a particular kind of tiredness that arrives before a cross-country round has even begun. It comes from climbing hills, studying fences, stopping…