Posts

Preparing Archie for a three-day event made me look at his feeding routine in a different way. At home, his meals were built around a familiar pattern that…

Packing for an overnight event is one of those jobs that seems simple until the lorry is parked at the venue and a missing girth, towel, or hoof pick suddenly…

My first horse trial on an unfamiliar property was supposed to be a straightforward day of dressage, show jumping, and cross-country with Archie. I had trained…

Before a competition, I want Archie’s canter to feel balanced, adjustable, and easy to organize. A good rhythm gives us a better chance of meeting fences…

Most dressage tests begin in the familiar rhythm of a daytime competition: an early alarm, a cool morning, a lorry packed before breakfast, and plenty of…

Cold-weather riding has a way of exposing every weak point in a kit. A jacket can be perfectly warm while fingers go numb within twenty minutes, especially…

A disappointing ride can follow me home long after Archie is untacked, fed, and settled into his stable. The scoresheet may show one missed flying change, an…

Finding the right veterinary team has become one of the most important parts of keeping Archie competition-ready. Eventing asks a great deal from a horse: the…

A dressage warm-up can change quickly. One minute Archie feels loose and attentive, and the next a simple transition becomes sticky, a leg yield loses its…

Cross-country schooling usually gives me a clear picture of where Archie feels brave, where he needs more support, and which questions require another…