The Life of Riley
The week began with a quiet cup of coffee and a sense of excitement for the day ahead. I couldn’t wait to see Riley’s new Childeric saddle fitted, and meet with Helen Dunning from Orange Horse...
This morning, as I drove to the yard I couldn’t shake my feelings of guilt, knowing how Riley and Blackjack had spent the night—hungry and confined in bare stables, I also felt apprehensive because...
There’s something mesmerising about watching a truly quiet dressage rider. They seem to float across the arena, giving the illusion of doing almost nothing —yet everything about the horse beneath...
Lately, life seems powered by coffee and filled with horse appointments. This week kicked off with yet another road trip—complete with my usual Starbucks stop and, of course, a puppuccino for...
I sometimes wonder whether any equestrians ever sail through a week without at least one hiccup. Not every setback is of huge consequence but this week has once again reminded me how often the...
We cross paths with all sorts of people on our equestrian journeys, each leaving their mark in different ways. There are the ones who can’t resist offering unsolicited advice, the ones who...
Not every week starts the way this one did—and thank goodness for that. Poor Blackjack had a vet visit for an ulcer scope, which wasn't going to be pleasant for him. Watching your pony sedated and...
Why is it that one small thing can suddenly make me even more nervous than usual? This week, Blackjack and I had a lesson with Laura, and I’m still in that stage of feeling apprehensive about...
This week was not only exciting but also out of the ordinary — we were heading to Newent for a yard tour and demonstration at none other than Carl Hester’s yard. These were no ordinary gates It’s...
To celebrate my birthday this year I thought it would be lovely to spend extra time with Riley and Blackjack. Since we live an hour away from them, we decided to book a cottage for a couple of...
"All dressed up with somewhere to go" perfectly summed up my Saturday morning as Riley and I set off for Foxes Competition Centre to tackle our very first British Dressage Prelim test. This was a...
A gradual process After several months away from riding Blackjack—first due to his rehab and then his training with Laura—I felt it was time to tentatively get back in the saddle. I knew the process...
Laura is beginning to get the measure of me Riding took an unexpected turn this week during our lesson with Laura (Parkes), when Riley and I practiced a prelim dressage test. I think Laura is...
Challenging with a capital C Riley and I had a fun pole lesson this week although it was challenging with a capital ‘C’. Now Riley always enjoys our pole lessons and is usually a keen partner. This...
Falling off is inevitable Those of us that ride horses know that falling off is, at some point, inevitable—though we all do our best to avoid it. This week, however, I found myself falling off...
Trepidation Saturday morning for me was perfect, Riley and I had a super lesson with Laura Parkes and afterwards went for a hack with Rachel and Blackjack. I say perfect, as it was a wonderful way...
Keep showing up To quote the classic song “What a difference a day makes” - it really does. After crying into my riding gloves on my last ride with Riley I had a lesson with Laura Parkes, and came...
An emotional adventure This morning, as I headed off to the stables, I had no idea I was walking straight into a bit of an emotional adventure. After bringing Riley and Blackjack in from the field,...
Not Everything on the Outside Reflects the Inside Which sums up my first hack on Riley since recently moving to our new yard in North Wales perfectly. During our early time together, hacking on...
A crystal ball If I owned a crystal ball, I’m still not sure that I would have foreseen how I would begin 2025. If you had asked me at the beginning of 2024 where my ponies would be in twelve...
Nonchalant I know that I am partly responsible for the events that unfolded, but some days with Blackjack do test me. I had brought both Riley and Blackjack in from the field after their overnight...
The horseflies were out with a vengeance Sometimes the little unexpected things can cause problems to such an extent that changes to routine practice are required. Frustrating as this is, I'm...
We set off with some trepidation. Earlier this week, after tacking up Blackjack for our lesson, Emma (my coach) arrived on the yard and announced that we were going on a small hack...
Good intentions So far, each day in June seems to have begun wet, windy and cold. This particular June day commenced in the same fashion with both Blackjack and Riley coming in from the field with...
Lack of enthusiasm Earlier this week, I noticed that Blackjack was displaying a lack of enthusiasm as I approached his stable to tack him up prior to a morning lesson. He was lying down, looking...
A work in progress Since owning Blackjack, every time I have ridden it has been under the guidance of Emma (my coach) which has been essential. This week I went solo, briefly, but you have to start...
A miraculous moment When Riley first came to me, he had spent most of his life as a field pony, backed but not ridden, so there was a long road ahead and much for him to learn. One of the many early...
All dressed up with nowhere to go There is an idiom which goes "all dressed up with nowhere to go", which seemed appropriate for Riley and I this week although it wasn’t quite true, as he wasn’t...
A perfect day for a hack. When it comes to being around horses, confidence is important and yet for me it seems so capricious. Recently, after a miserable and wet start to the Spring, sunshine...
Utter naivety We are often reminded to be grateful, and believe me, I do feel grateful for all kinds of little things every single day. When it comes to gratefulness, there’s no limit to what one...