Posts
Our first clear round at a new venue was never meant to become a landmark moment. I had arrived with the usual mixture of optimism and nerves, hoping Archie…
Cross-country days ask a great deal from both horse and rider. We gallop over varied ground, leave the saddle for banks and drops, land from awkward angles,…
A competition weekend can make Archie look as though he has endless energy. He travels, warms up, focuses on dressage, jumps in the arena, tackles the…
There are fences that test a horse’s technique, and there are fences that seem to test every part of a partnership at once. At our autumn event, Archie found…
Competition mornings with Archie begin long before we load the lorry. I like having enough time to groom him carefully without turning every brush stroke into…
Walking a show jumping course is one of the parts of competition that looks calm from the outside but feels intensely busy from the saddle. Before Archie and I…
A good ride begins before the saddle goes on. When I arrive at a venue, there is usually plenty to think about: unloading Archie, checking his legs, walking…
Ground poles have become one of the most useful tools in my schooling sessions with Archie. They are simple, inexpensive, and easy to set up, but they give us…
My first eventing show with Archie taught me that the jump from Training Level to Beginner Novice is less about one dramatic obstacle and more about the way…
A cross-country round can finish with a horse carrying a great deal of heat, fatigue, and excitement. Even when a horse has jumped confidently and galloped…