A horse that walks away, swings its quarters, backs up, or sidesteps as soon as the mounting block appears can make a simple part of riding feel like a daily…
Posts
A Calmer Way to Mount a Horse That Will Not Stand Still
Why A Lunge-Line Dressage Test Helps Horse And Rider
Dressage tests can feel very different when the letters, judge’s box and familiar arena suddenly become part of a competition day. At home, a movement may seem…
Why I Bring a Camera to Every Eventing Event
I never used to pack a camera. My kit bag was already bursting with saddle pads, gloves, a half-pack of carrots and the usual pile of braiding bands, and a…
A Four-Standard Grid Exercise for Better Rhythm and Confidence
Gridwork can look complicated when you walk into an arena filled with wings, fillers, rails and measuring tape. It does not need to be. With four standards, a…
What One-Sided Vision Taught Me in the Saddle
Some horses teach you through brilliance. They make a complicated movement feel easy, jump the widest fence on the course, or gallop cross-country as if they…
Practising gait transitions for a more obedient event horse
Obedience is often described as a horse doing what the rider asks, but the best examples feel more like a quiet conversation. A light aid produces a prompt…
Why a spare bridle buckle belongs in every eventing kit
There are glamorous parts of eventing: polished boots, a plaited mane, the atmosphere of the start box and that wonderful moment when horse and rider settle…
Cooling a Sweaty Horse Safely in Hot Australian Weather
A horse finishing a cross-country round in Australian summer can look as though someone has turned on a tap. Sweat darkens the neck, foam gathers beneath the…
How to Organise a Group Clinic with a Local Eventer
A good clinic can feel like a mini horse trial without the pressure of a prize-giving. Riders arrive with different goals, horses bring their own opinions, and…
What A Horse’s Expression After A Clear Round Means To Me
After a clear round, I often remember my horse’s face before I remember the time, the placing, or the number of jumping penalties on the scoreboard. There is a…