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…
Posts
Why I keep a photo of my first event horse in the barn
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…
Why I Choose to Ride Without Ear Plugs
There is a particular kind of silence that exists before a horse trial begins. It is not really silent: horses shuffle in their stalls, someone closes a…
What I Pack in My Tack Trunk for a Three-Day Event
Packing for a three-day event is less about filling every available pocket and more about building a reliable system. A horse trial can take me from an…
The role of your breath in a dressage test
A dressage test can make breathing feel like an optional skill. There are letters to find, movements to prepare, judges to impress, and a horse beneath you who…
When a horse tension-gallops on cross-country
A fast horse is not automatically a problem on cross-country. Eventing requires energy, bravery, and enough momentum to negotiate banks, ditches, water, and…
Why I Love Teaching A Green Horse To Jump
There is a particular kind of joy in teaching a green horse to jump. It is quieter than the thrill of galloping through a cross-country finish, but it reaches…