“We are what we repeatedly do.” Aristotle. I love a good quote and Charlie Unwin used them to great effect in his talk entitled “Winning the mind game in training.” Sadly, this quote does mean I am late! I hate being late but I did get slightly lost getting to Charlie’s talk at the Rugby […]
The Sporting Mind – an evening with AP McCoy, Victoria Pendleton and Clare Balding
It is rare when you attend a talk because you love the interviewer rather than the interviewee but it was the case when I went to “The Sporting Mind – a select audience with Sir Anthony McCoy and Victoria Pendleton. Hosted by Clare Balding.”I love Clare and literally would do anything to have her job. […]
I’m going to be ok
Firstly, thank you to everyone who reads my blog. It started a year and a half ago as a little fun focus but it’s actually inspired me, challenged me and on this occasion maybe saved me a little bit. I wrote about my horsey confidence meltdown. The support, encouragement and advice I received was truly […]
No advice, no lessons – just honesty
Most of my blogs are designed to be informative or to teach something or are just hoping to make people smile or think. This one however, is just from the heart and honest. I have gone through a pretty tough time of late, as my first ever blog explained but even since then things haven’t […]
Not good enough
A few years ago, I had someone call about a pony I had for sale. We chatted for a while and then she said “He sounds amazing but he is too good for me.” I was confused by this. Was he too much money? Was he unsafe? No, she just didn’t think she could do […]
A kind word costs nothing
It’s Horse of the Year Show week! So many people fight for their place to be there and so many fail to make it. But for the lucky few, the opportunity to see their name in lights is here. It is an achievement to be there and everyone should be proud. So why the nastiness? […]
Sports Personality – what makes a winner?
What an incredible few days of sport with the World Athletics Championships, the FEI European Championships, the Belgium Grand Prix… I have been glued to the TV. It has been inspiring, humbling and at times weirdly stressful! But what I have been most intrigued by is the different characters in the sports – successful sports […]
The Hickstead Effect
I grew up with stories about Hickstead – my Mum and Aunt recounted endless tales about sinking in the mud and being stuck there for days, about seeing legends being made when they tackled the Derby bank, about trudging from the stable field down to ring 5 with a pony in each hand – even […]
Walk the line – you can’t afford one negative thought.
At every show, as the class draws near, we get the call: “Competitors can now walk the course.” For some this is like turning a computer on, making a morning brew, tidying a desk – just a task to do before the work commences but for others it is a gut wrenching call that symbolises […]