A is for Accurate I will be honest, when it comes to clipping I am as OCD as David Beckham. I’d never risk a horses (or my) safety for a perfect clip, but a good clip is like a classic Chanel bag or the perfect Little Black Dress – it can take your horse’s appearanceContinueContinue reading “The A to Z of Clipping Horses”
Author Archives: equestrianreality
The Big Orange Train Rides Again and Other Stories
So about a week and a half ago the orange train and I headed off on another side saddle adventure, one I had been looking forward to for weeks. Ciara O’Connell (this lady: http://sidesaddleciara.wordpress.com/) had organised for a group of us to travel back to Ballyduff House near Thomastown in Kilkenny to avail ofContinueContinue reading “The Big Orange Train Rides Again and Other Stories”
Things I Learned Riding Side Saddle at Ballyduff & Mount Juliet
Never take the p*ss out of a side saddle instructor online before she gives you a lesson. You will regret it! If you don’t know much about wine its fair enough to judge and choose a bottle by name – who could say no to a glass of antares? Always pack muscle gelContinueContinue reading “Things I Learned Riding Side Saddle at Ballyduff & Mount Juliet”
Medicinal Irish Hot Whiskey Recipe
So I spent most of last week working from bed dying slowly and loudly with what has been dubbed ‘that awful dose going round’. On Wednesday evening my head was completely blocked up and as I am allergic to anything containing pseudoephedrine there was only one thing for it – a medicinal hot whiskey. MyContinueContinue reading “Medicinal Irish Hot Whiskey Recipe”
Sometimes Looking Back is the Key to Moving Forward
A friend on an online equestrian forum recently created a thread that invited fellow members to post their earliest and most recent photo of them on their horse. I went searching through my laptop for photos while feeling that aside from trying new disciplines not much else would have changed in terms of my riding.ContinueContinue reading “Sometimes Looking Back is the Key to Moving Forward”
Crosse-ing The Line – A Polocrosse Adventure
2013 has been a year of adventures with friends old and new. This continued last night when we travelled to Carrickmines Equestrian Centre to have a go at Polocrosse. Now I knew very little about polocrosse before last night but I knew it involved going fast on a horse and using a racket so thatContinueContinue reading “Crosse-ing The Line – A Polocrosse Adventure”
Hunting In Ireland – Phrases & Terms
“Irish Hunting Cob” = comfortable square shaped horse with a short thick neck and a big shoulder. Usually feels like a couch, moves like a tank and jumps whatever is in front of it. May be hogged (mane shaved off) so a ‘Jesus strap’ may be needed “Jesus Strap” = neck strap of a runningContinueContinue reading “Hunting In Ireland – Phrases & Terms”
Happy 10,000 Views-iversary!!
Today was no ordinary Monday. Yes there was the usual zombie walk across the room to turn off the alarm clock that was drilling its alert into my barely awake let alone functioning skull, the Monday morning traffic, the realisation that its five full days before the weekend (and still over three weeks til payday)ContinueContinue reading “Happy 10,000 Views-iversary!!”
F**k It – I’m Taking Up Chess!
I say this at least once a week. In the past it has been due to a variety of reasons from having a toenail removed by a hoof to getting caught in lashing rain at shows while a pony delightedly refused to load. Last week it was having to traipse around a field to catchContinueContinue reading “F**k It – I’m Taking Up Chess!”
Things I Learned Last Week
– Never underestimate the terror a small pig who is innocently minding his own business can strike into a horse fifty times its size and on the other side of a fence# – Never try to catch a horse when you are in a hurry. They know, they always bloody know – Unless you enjoyContinueContinue reading “Things I Learned Last Week”
Equestrian Reality 