My Christmas present to myself this year was a trip to the Ultimate Dressage Experience. This equestrian pursuit is the brainchild of dressage rider Sandra Blake Farrell and is based at Dollanstown in Kilcock Co. Kildare. The Ultimate Dressage Experience invites riders to have a lesson on a school master dressage horse and enjoy theContinueContinue reading “Ultimate Dressage Experience Lives Up To It’s Name”
Category Archives: Dressage
The Reality of Riding A Dressage Test
Because sadly we all cannot be Charlotte…. Dressage test movement: “Enter at A, proceed down centre line in working trot” Dressage test reality: Attempt to get straight before entering arena. Deep breath, enter at A. Realise you are a little to left. Left leg, left leg, damn too much left leg, right leg. Okay that’sContinueContinue reading “The Reality of Riding A Dressage Test”
A Dressage Clinic with a London 2012 Champion
Back on Easter bank holiday weekend I attended a dressage clinic at Toberton Lodge. Now you are probably thinking sure that’s a good while ago, and it is but I figured it made sense to work on what we covered and see how it went before I wrote about it. Our clinic was with IrelandsContinueContinue reading “A Dressage Clinic with a London 2012 Champion”
When Opportunity Met Preparation
“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity” is one of my favourite phrases. So often in competition, especially when things go wrong, we talk about what you can buy – the best horse with the most potential, the expensive clothing, the sessions with the best coach / instructor / sports psychologist. However it is the existenceContinueContinue reading “When Opportunity Met Preparation”
Riding Club Festival – Survival Tips
It is almost time for the annual riding clubs festival. Times have been issued, weather apps are being consulted, child of prague statues are being plonked out on doorsteps, plans are being made and lists are being written. You can check out what I learned at last year’s festival here. In the meantime, considering IContinueContinue reading “Riding Club Festival – Survival Tips”
A Holstein, A Half Hanoverian and a Whole Lot of Work
A few weeks ago the big lady and I headed off on another adventure, this time to a dressage clinic with Heike Holstein. The horse (the half hanoverian) twigged that she was going somewhere as soon as the travel boots appeared and decided to dig a hole in her bed in excitement, as youContinueContinue reading “A Holstein, A Half Hanoverian and a Whole Lot of Work”
“So, How Did You Get On?”
Shows in general: “He / She was BRILLIANT” = I was sadly not that brilliant and we did not place hence the lack of any other details “Just a few problems” = It didn’t go well and I don’t want to go into details. In fact I want to go home and eat my ownContinueContinue reading ““So, How Did You Get On?””
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”
Prayer To The Dressage Gods
Our Dressage Judges Who art in jeeps Hallowed be thy marks May my flatwork come And movements be done In the arena as they did in practice Give us this day an eight or ten And forgive us accidental half passes As we forgive those who give bad marks against us Lead us notContinueContinue reading “Prayer To The Dressage Gods”
Dressage Sheet Comments Deciphered
“Nice Entrance” – Don’t get cocky we are only one movement in “Wobbled on centre line” – horse wandered from A to C like a drunk trying to walk a straight line “Could show more inside bend” – Horse should be looking where it is going not gawking out of the arenaContinueContinue reading “Dressage Sheet Comments Deciphered”
Equestrian Reality 