5 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Washing Your Horse

Using cold water You wouldn’t wash your own hair in cold water! Using warm water will allow your shampoos and products to lather much better. It also feels more pleasant for the horse. Mix your shampoo into warm water in a bucket and lather up and apply with a sponge or soft cloth Wasting theContinueContinue reading “5 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Washing Your Horse”

8 Simple Tips To Clipping Safely

Use Your Head If you are clipping, wear a hat. I keep an older skull cap in my kit for clipping so that I don’t end up with hair stuck to my good hat. Clipping out a horse will involve leaning in under the horses belly and having your head in close proximity to theContinueContinue reading “8 Simple Tips To Clipping Safely”

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”

“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?””

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”

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!”

A Ladies Guide to Preparing to Ride Side Saddle

I was asked earlier today by a rider if there were any exercises she could to prepare for riding in a side saddle lesson. Having only recently converted to the sideways side I thought it was only fair to share my experience and what I learned in those valuable first few weeks.   Phase 1ContinueContinue reading “A Ladies Guide to Preparing to Ride Side Saddle”