Flying changes can look like a single polished movement, but the change of leg is only the visible part of the exercise. Underneath it sit balance,…
Posts
The Best Way to Practice Flying Changes at Home
How to Keep Focus When Your Friends Are Watching
There is a particular kind of pressure that arrives when the people in the rail-side seats know you well. They have seen your horse spook at a plastic bag,…
Why I Always Thank My Ground Crew After a Run
When I finish an eventing round, the first people I look for are rarely the judge, the photographer or even my friends gathered beside the arena. I look…
The Difference Between A Good Trot And A Competitive Trot
A good trot can feel pleasant, balanced and reliable. The horse moves forward without rushing, the rider stays comfortably in the saddle, and the pair can…
Choosing Cross-Country Gloves That Keep Your Grip Secure
Cross-country riding asks a great deal from a pair of gloves. You need enough grip to stay connected to the reins over a drop, through water, and across a long…
What my first three-day event taught me about pacing
Before my first three-day event, I thought pacing meant deciding how quickly to ride cross-country. I pictured a stopwatch, a minute marker and a sensible…
Why I Schedule a Rest Day Even When We Feel Ready
There is a particular moment before an event when everything begins to feel possible. The horse is moving well, the transitions are prompt, the jump sessions…
When My Horse Took Me Around the Course
There is a particular kind of silence that settles over an eventing course before the first horse leaves the start box. The warm-up is full of movement and…
When a dressage judge looks bored
A dressage test can feel strangely personal. You ride down the centre line, salute, and spend several minutes presenting your horse to one person sitting in a…
Why a handful of hay can settle a nervous horse
A nervous horse can turn an ordinary moment into a full production. The float arrives, the saddle comes out, or a new horse walks into the yards, and suddenly…