Having a horse stand on you either being a delinquent brat or jumping on you terrified when expecting you to save them. Injuries will range from the standard ‘oh my f**king god it hurts’ bruised foot to broken toes. Losing a toe nail thanks to the above and spending at least one season unableContinueContinue reading “Horse Related Injuries that are Practically a Rite of Passage”
Tag Archives: ponies
RDS Dublin Horse Show – Things To Look Out For
A teenager that looks like a Spooks or Kingsland stall threw up on them. A child with a face plastered in chocolate or ice cream. A child crying because they want ice cream. A pony with a cracking jump. A child jumping higher on a 12.2 pony than you would everContinueContinue reading “RDS Dublin Horse Show – Things To Look Out For”
The A to Z of Clipping Horses
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”
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”
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”
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”
Things I Learned At The Festival
Always pack suncream, shorts, an umbrella and water proofs because if it the weather is not lashing rain and baltic it will be tropical! Wearing a top hat one size too small for your head in 30 degree heat may not be the best idea… and no the hat will not stretch to fitContinueContinue reading “Things I Learned At The Festival”
Things I Learned Trying Side Saddle
It is possible to use and stretch muscles you did not actually know you had. You will know you have these muscles the next day and where on your body they are located – they will tell you, they may in fact scream abuse at you. It is a relief to realiseContinueContinue reading “Things I Learned Trying Side Saddle”
You Rode Horses Growing Up in the 90’s When….
* The gospel was ‘Horse and Pony’ magazine and Freddie the chestnut pony was god. The posters covered every inch of your wall, the free stickers ended up on every school book and some of you might even remember the day the magazine went from black and white to colour! * You wanted to rideContinueContinue reading “You Rode Horses Growing Up in the 90’s When….”
Equestrian Reality 