A disappointing dressage score can follow you out of the arena long after the final halt. You may replay the crooked transition, the tense halt, or the moment…
Posts
Recovering from a disappointing dressage score
Cross-Country Speed: When to Push and When to Hold Back
Cross-country is often described as a race against the clock, but that description misses the judgment at its center. The fastest ride is rarely the one in…
The day my horse and I became a team
There are moments in eventing that look insignificant from the outside. A horse shifts weight in the warm-up. A rider softens a hand. The pair leaves the start…
How dressage tests make me a better rider
Dressage tests have a way of making me pay attention to details I can sometimes ignore at home. A schooling session may feel productive because my horse is…
Packing My Tack Trunk: A Complete Checklist
Packing for a horse trial is one of those jobs that looks simple until the weather changes, a boot disappears, or your horse decides to cover every clean item…
Finding Your People at the Stables as an Adult Amateur
There is a particular kind of belonging that develops around horses. It can begin with a shared mucking schedule, a borrowed hoof pick, or the person who…
The worst fall I ever took and what it taught me
There are falls that leave you muddy, embarrassed, and eager to get back on. There are falls that bruise your pride more than your body. Then there are the…
Why I write candid recaps after every horse trial
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…
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…