I have two veteran horses - but you wouldn't know it by looking at them! Seventeen year old Giselle is generally a good grubber but she can be fussy. Twenty-one year old, Solas, is a glutinous gelding, who would eat all around him given the opportunity. He once robbed a ham salad sandwich from my … Continue reading What’s in the feed?
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…
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
Back at the beginning of August I finally purchased a new pair of reins. I had been putting off buying a new pair as my old reins were literally molded to my hands! I had tried a few different brands from bridles I had picked up over the years but as the old faithfuls deteriorated, I … Continue reading V-Grip Hybrid Rubber Reins from Henry James Saddlery – Product Review
Fear. Everyone fears something. Every rider has some little thing that scares the livin' bejaysus out of them. The sound of the jump cups tinging as your instructor puts them up a hole, sharing a lesson with the some one who appears to be absolutely flawless with an amaze-balls horse, or the pre-competition nerves leaving … Continue reading F.E.A.R. & Determination
Wild Atlantic Rider 