I remember vividly on one of Monty Roberts’ early tours, he talked about the “one solution” to all your horse problems. A pill called Monty’s Medicine; little multicoloured pills with MnM on them. I thought the joke was obvious until a lady came asking where she could get them from. We are inundated by the […]
Stand still and feel
I was recently reading a post about the importance of teaching a horse to stand still and how it can quite often be a challenge. It is what I needed to hear but weirdly for myself and not my horse. Anyone else guilty of the ‘keep busy and avoid feeling’ approach to life? Or the […]
Are moments of brilliance enough?
This horse has definitely been sent to challenge me! The last few weeks have been full of some quite drastic thoughts about Jack and this week, it all came to a head. It is Horse of the Year Show week (we are not there), my aunt shared a video of Pie and I on a […]
The strength of horse riders
Have you ever asked a question whilst also not wanting to know the answer? Well, I did last week when I said to the vet “Are we talking season ending or career ending?” Every part of me wanted her to say “Oh no, a few weeks rest and he will be fine.” but I knew […]
Post competition disappointed
There is the preparation, the build up, the actual test/round/class, the wait for results and the aftermath – competing is physically demanding but also mentally and emotionally quite a workout too. After competing on Sunday, I found the aftermath a very intriguing place but also the mental noise needed some unpacking and I wanted to […]
Power through or pin it
Winters are always tough for equestrians with the weather, thick winter coats or high management clips and rugs, relentless mud making everything that bit harder….. Then this year, we need to add a basically non-existent summer season gone, lockdown restrictions with no end date, related personal stress and a questionable future season ahead. Why are […]
From Now On
What a memorable (for all the wrong reasons) year it has been. I am a big fan of a new year; it feel like such a definitive clean slate, fresh page, new beginning…. And despite the world putting a damper on things, I refuse to not feel my new year buzz! And thankfully it arrived […]
What I will be saying as I go in to the ring this year: mindset change
With the new year in full swing and a new season approaching, I am excited to be starting the year in such a better frame of mind to last year. I feel stronger and ready to take on whatever challenges 2020 will bring. That moment before the clock strikes midnight is always so significant to […]
Under pressure – One week until HOYS
I was sat in an interview once and the interviewer asked “How do you perform under pressure?”. Every part of me wanted to say “Like this!” and burst into a full vocal and dancing performance. I thankfully exercised some self control and didn’t. However, to this day, whenever I hear the Queen classic it makes […]
How long is ok to be ‘faking’?
The last few weeks have been quite intense; highs (Jack and I qualified for HOYS), lows (34 degree heat stopping play) and some middly stuff too (nearly falling off at a cross pole.) It’s been quite a lot for my brain to process to be honest. I found myself drifting back into my low place […]