Equestrian Fail – When Things Go wrong

We have all been there….those days where you consider taking up an indoor hobby that only involves inanimate objects….. This was me, not one of my finest moments. Miraculously we didn’t part company as the horse was a gent and lifted his head up and waited for me to cop myself on. My friend Hollie,ContinueContinue reading “Equestrian Fail – When Things Go wrong”

How To Mark Out And Complete An Even Blanket Clip

  If like me you are not blessed with a natural straight eye for things, trying to clip lines on blanket or trace clips can be a nightmare. My natural inability for straight lines is genetic. I blame my mother who left me at one point with a two inch fringe that made me lookContinueContinue reading “How To Mark Out And Complete An Even Blanket Clip”

Things Non Horse People Say

“What’s the difference between a horse and a pony” I’m serious, two colleagues in my office job conference called me one day to ask me to answer this in order to settle an argument between them. Turns out they were both wrong, go figure.  “Aren’t they dangerous?” I’m dangerous “You didn’t go out riding aContinueContinue reading “Things Non Horse People Say”

Old School Versus New School Horsemanship

Old School HorsemanshipIf horse is too fat…… feed it lessIf horse is too skinny ………….. feed it moreIf horse looks good………. feed it the sameIf the saddle doesn’t fit….. try a different oneIf the saddle fits ……….. use itIf horse is sick……. Ring the vetIf horse is well…… leave it alone and don’t go lookingContinueContinue reading “Old School Versus New School Horsemanship”

Things No Horse Owner Has Said, Ever

“Ah sure one horse is more than enough for me” “I was too busy cleaning the house to go up to the horse” “Why would I need more than one habit I can only wear one at a time anyway” “No, really, I don’t need another saddle cloth / rug / bridle / saddle /ContinueContinue reading “Things No Horse Owner Has Said, Ever”

A Ladies Guide to Preparing To Hunt Side Saddle in Ireland

The first step is to prepare to ride side saddle in general and you can find a guide to this here. Once you have mastered the bar stool and ridden side saddle on an actual horse without face planting it is time to start preparation for hunting side saddle in Ireland. Once Autumn hits everyoneContinueContinue reading “A Ladies Guide to Preparing To Hunt Side Saddle in Ireland”

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”

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”

The Reality of Grey Pony Show Preparation

Bay / Chestnut / Dun Pony Evening Before the show: – clean tack Morning of the show: – pick out feet – Groom – Put on travel gear Grey Pony The evening before the show: • Arrive at yard pleasantly surprised that pony is not quite as dirty as you expected. Pony turns around. SadlyContinueContinue reading “The Reality of Grey Pony Show Preparation”

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”