There are ordinary disappointing rounds, and then there are rounds that seem to unravel in real time. Mine began with a tense approach, continued through a…
Posts
What My Catastrophic Show Jumping Round Taught Me About Reset
How to Encourage a Lazy Horse to Be More Forward in Dressage
A horse that feels lazy in dressage can make every session seem harder than it should. The rider asks for walk, trot or canter, receives a delayed shuffle,…
The Triple Bar That Changed How I Ride
The first time I rode a triple bar, I spent far too long pretending I was calm. The fence sat brightly in front of us, broad and inviting in the way that only…
Why I use a bareback pad sometimes for lateral work
There are schooling sessions when I want a little less between me and my horse. Not less security, preparation, or responsibility, but less leather, flocking…
Make a DIY Dressage Arena Marker Set for Home Practice
A full dressage arena can feel like a serious project, especially when the nearest permanent school is a long float trip away. In reality, a useful home marker…
What I Wish I Knew About Fitting a Cross-Country Breastplate
The first breastplate I fitted for cross-country looked perfectly sensible when it was hanging on the bridle rack. Once it was on the horse, however, every…
How to Re-Train a Horse That Has Learned to Rush Fences
Every eventer eventually rides a horse who decides jumping is best done at full noise. The behaviour shows up in different shapes. Some horses throw their head…
What Riding A Friend’s Horse Can Teach You
Riding a friend’s horse in a shared field can be one of the most useful ways to broaden your experience without adding another horse to your own string. The…
Why I Always Have a Plan B for My Horse's Breakfast on Competition Day
There's something about a horse trial morning that strips away every illusion of control. You arrive in the dark, the float parked crooked because the ground…
Stretch and strengthen your lower leg for better balance in the saddle
When you think about eventing, the first things that come to mind are usually the big moments, like galloping across country, the precision of a show jumping…