I've been watching eyes for as long as I can remember riding. Not the human kind, although those matter plenty in this sport, but the wide, dark, side-lined…
Posts
What a Horse's Eye Contact Tells Me About His Trust Level
When your mates beat you to the ribbons: handling envy in the eventing world
You have spent months preparing for this weekend. Your horse feels good, you have done the homework, and you are ready. Then you watch your best friend float…
Mastering cross-country combination fences with confidence
The first time you spot two or three efforts stacked across the field, your heart lifts, your hands shift, and your brain starts to run scenarios all at once.…
Why I Carry a Pocket Notebook to Every Lesson and Clinic
There's a small spiral-bound notebook tucked into the pocket of every pair of jodhpurs I own, and a second one stuffed into the back of my truck. It started as…
Finding Balance On A Sloping Dressage Arena
A sloping dressage arena changes the feel of every stride. The horse has to manage balance on an incline while still staying attentive to the rider’s aids, and…
What a New Eventing Venue Taught Me in a Single Weekend
I'd been staring at the entry confirmation for three days before I actually let myself believe I was going. A new eventing venue, four hours from home, a horse…
Why cooling down your horse after show jumping matters
I still remember the round at Sydney International Equestrian Centre where my mare pulled off the clearest jump-off of her career. We landed after the final…
Keeping a Hot Horse Calm After a Clear Round at an Event
The roar of the crowd, the rush of adrenaline, the sheer joy of a clear round — few things compare to the moment you and your horse cross the finish flags with…
Why I always thank the volunteers and officials at every event
I had a bad dressage test at Boneo Park once. The kind where you leave the arena in a fog, hands shaking, and you barely remember the trot serpentine even…
What makes a great eventing coach and how to find one
Picking someone to guide you and your horse through the three phases of eventing is one of the most significant decisions you will make as a rider. A good…