A competition day begins long before the first bell, yet it can unravel in the twenty minutes it takes to find a clean bridle, locate a body protector and…
Posts
How to Organize Your Trailer for a Stress-Free Competition Day
Building a strong partnership with your farrier
A farrier may spend only an hour at your yard, yet their decisions can shape a horse’s comfort, movement and confidence for months. Shoeing is more than a…
What I do when my horse spoks at a flower box
The flower box beside my yard gate is perfectly ordinary. It sits under the eave, holds a few hardy natives and catches the morning sun. My horse still treats…
Keeping Your Mind Steady During The Dressage Warm-Up
The dressage warm-up can feel like a small competition before the real one begins. Horses are moving in every direction, riders are checking their test,…
Why Each Phase Deserves Its Own Horse Trial Goal
A horse trial gives us one final result, but it is made from several very different conversations between horse and rider. Dressage asks for concentration and…
Finding balance when the reins and stirrups are gone
There is a particular kind of honesty in a riding lesson where the reins are tied up and the stirrups are removed. Without familiar straps beneath your feet or…
Building Strength And Confidence Through Hill Work
Hill work can be one of the most useful additions to an event horse’s conditioning programme. It develops hindquarter strength, improves balance, raises…
What A Disunited Canter Taught Me About My Seat
There are riding mistakes that announce themselves with a dramatic refusal, a rail on the ground, or a very clear loss of balance. Then there are the quieter…
Why I Walk Every Course Twice Before Deciding
Before a horse trial, I can usually tell myself that I am being sensible. I am checking the map, studying the fences, thinking through the time, and trying to…
Preparing My Horse’s Legs For A Busy Eventing Weekend
A busy horse-trial weekend can look glamorous from the outside: polished tack, plaited manes, clean boots and the familiar rush from dressage to show jumping…