I reckoned something was wrong when she didn't turn around in her stable to come say hello. Delilah stood facing the back wall, and when she slowly swung her head around to look at me, she looked like there was a world of hurt in her eye. She picked up a hoof and put it …
Equestrian Maths
At the Dublin Horse Show this past August, I saw a bee-yoo-ti-ful pair of jodh boots by Ariat, which had a good heel and a lovely rounded toe and a zip. Loved them at first sight; at second sight, after a fumble for the specs and a discovery of the price tag — €279 {!} …
Putting The Mockers On Myself…
...ahhh, just can't resist, though. I am off for The Christmas in seven weeks. I have — hang on — 12 lessons left. 'Sue!' I am shouting at myself, 'Don't!' I have only come off Connell three times this year. I came off Connell three times in one lesson, once. Holy moly, that was a bad …
Adventures in Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning
Very new ones, in fact. Here's a feature I wrote about what it's all about when you work with horses as therapeutic partners. I've just finished a diploma in Equine Handling, Husbandry and Instruction with ELISTA Education and am preparing to do the progression course in Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning this autumn. It is …
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‘Get Out of My Face, Woman!’
Received wisdom has it that if you hold up a hand in front of a horse, it will investigate it with its mouth, mainly to see is it edible or not. They like to have a good sniff of a head collar, bridle, or any implement of grooming, juuuuust to make sure — even though …
Goodbye to the Grand Stretch
Noooooooooooooooo! Not the temperature, because sure, why wouldn't it be borderline freezing in August in Ireland? And not really complaining about that so much as regards Connell, who is happier in the cooler weather and less sticky. I am sad because every day, the sunset occurs a couple of minutes sooner, so that means: no …
Next? Prix Caprilli Test 2
I'm on one of my thrice-yearly tears, throwing stuff away, giving stuff away — clearing out. Someone looking round the place might be surprised by this, because even I'm a bit 'Eh, really?' but there have been three large bin bags that have made their way out the door. We'll see, there may be more …
You Gotta Start Somewhere: My Very First Dressage Test Ever
Ever done correctly, that is, with the white things down on the ground, and the silence. There have been any number of times in which instructors have tried to incorporate a dressage test into a lesson. Sure, we do loads of flat work in the warm up, but the flat work never gets its own …
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Chris Pratt Talks to Raptors the Way I Talk to Horses
'WHAT DID I JUST SAY?' As a media professional, I should probably know more about Jurassic World than I do, which is mainly not much, which is because I squealed and jumped and hid my eyes so much during Jurassic Park that I am maybe too scared to go see it. Then the internet lead …
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Larger, Life: The Limerick Giant and Royal de Luxe
I really don't know where to put this, so I'm putting it here. My virtual real estate is actually rather focused, and while I wish I could file under: Culture [RIP, ITM], I think we're fine in my equine neck of the woods. I missed horseriding because of this, so you know it had to …
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MANY BRAVE FOOLS 