You've practiced your dogs leg and related distances and worked on your approach to the square oxer that you're sure you will meet at fence one. Show day and you arrive at the venue, park up, and walk the course. You walk the related distances, eyeball the seemingly ma-hoosive oxer at fence one - and … Continue reading Coping with Competition – Tips and Tales for Riders to Curb the Nerves
Dressage was coming. The Wild Atlantic Dressage Festival, that is - and seeing as I was helping with the promotion of the event, I set myself a the goal of rejoining Dressage Ireland, competing at the festival and riding a novice test for the first time. For many, this isn't a big deal, but for me, … Continue reading Enter at… Aye? Our Wild Atlantic Dressage Experience.
Background of the "Girthy" Mare "She's just being mare-ish," "She's just fed up of schooling," "Maybe she's got ulcers?" "Maybe she's just uncomfortable?".... These were the the thoughts that went through my head every time I dodged the wrath of my mare while tacking her up. Every time I crouched down to feel for the … Continue reading Schockemöhle Pallas Anatomical Girth – Product Review
It's been a while since I've written a little Miss G update. We've been quietly working away as best as we can in this wild winter weather and have been having fun between hacking, lessons and helping with the planning of an exciting new event. So, G moved home at the beginning of December after … Continue reading Trotting On… It’s nearly Competition Time
It's well known that mares have a reputation for being difficult. In horse people language the term we use is "mare-ish." Being the independent woman type with high moral standards, and owning two mares (one of which being chestnut), I feel pretty strongly that our equine lady friends are unfairly stigmatized. The topic sprung up … Continue reading Mares are from Venus – Geldings are from Mars
This is going to sound completely random, but that is how I roll... Does anyone remember the Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams? It's a 1989 film about a farmer who hears a voice telling him: "If you build it, he will come." Costner's character takes this as an instruction to build a baseball pitch … Continue reading If you build it…
"A year from now, everything you're stressing about won't even matter." Just a little over a year ago, while aimlessly scrolling through my insta feed, I stumbled upon the above quote. A daily inspiration post from one of those accounts created to suck in those who are lost in a virtual life limbo; attempting to … Continue reading A year from now…
It's nearly Christmas, and if you're like me, you're completely overwhelmed by all the Christmas Must-Haves that are currently saturating our social media streams. Instead of showing you my Christmas Wish-List (which is largely influenced by my life motto of "when I win the lottery") I thought I'd but together a little list of my … Continue reading Top 5 Durable Products for the Savvy Equestrian
Hello friends - it's been a while! I cannot believe that it's nearly December. Despite hating these long dark evenings I do love this time of year when the Christmas lights go up, bringing a little sparkle to our lives. Seeing as I've asked you all for input in Cara's show name before, I thought … Continue reading The Baby is growing up
Day 30 of #Blogtober asks to "Share a photo from the past and the story behind it." I have chosen this photo of my first horse, Solas. I first met Solas as a 3 week old foal when he came to the local stables with his mum. It was 1998 and I was 13... He … Continue reading The Price of a Dream
