Your pathway to working in the international horse industry, from complete beginners to qualified professionals
Live Last read · last published · next check
My new master was an unmarried man. He lived at Bath, and was much engaged in business. His doctor advised him to take horse exercise, and for this purpose he bought me. He hired a stable a short distance from his lodgings, and engaged a man named Filcher as groom. My master knew very little about horses, but he treated me well, and I should have had a good and easy place but for circumstances of…
The Lady Harriet, who remained at the hall, was a great invalid and never went out in the carriage, and the Lady Anne preferred riding on horseback with her brother or cousins. She was a perfect horsewoman and as gay and gentle as she was beautiful. She chose me for her horse, and named me “Black Auster”. I enjoyed these rides very much in the clear cold air, sometimes with Ginger, sometimes with…
Are Your Students Struggling With the Basics? Have a System to Teach Them When students struggle with simple horse-handling tasks, it’s rarely because they’re incapable—it’s usually because they haven’t been given a clear, repeatable system. Something as basic as haltering a horse can quickly become confusing for beginners when straps are tangled, instructions are vague, […]
Outdoor Horse Care: A Guide to Keeping Paddock Horses Safe and Healthy Caring for horses that live outdoors requires time, commitment, and a good understanding of their daily needs. While paddock-kept horses enjoy a more natural lifestyle than stabled horses, they still rely heavily on humans for safety, nutrition, and monitoring. Whether you're a new […]
One day my lady came down later than usual, and the silk rustled more than ever. “Drive to the Duchess of B----'s,” she said, and then after a pause, “Are you never going to get those horses' heads up, York? Raise them at once and let us have no more of this humoring and nonsense.”
Why Looking Up Transforms the Way You Ride Every rider has been reminded at some stage to lift their gaze. Perhaps, like me, you heard it from a parent, an instructor, or an old poem shared by a grandparent. While we don’t need to stare permanently between our horse’s ears, keeping the eyes up plays […]
Mastering the Basics: How to Use Natural Aids When Training Your Horse Understanding how to apply natural riding aids is a core skill for any rider, whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your horse’s training. Natural aids—your legs, weight, reins, and voice—are how you communicate with your horse. Used correctly, they create […]
Regaining Confidence Around Horses: A Simple A–B–C Guide Horses are highly intuitive animals, often communicating their emotions and intentions through subtle body language. While many horses may appear calm and quiet, it’s essential to recognise when they’re feeling uncomfortable or unsettled—especially before they react with natural flight or defensive instincts. For riders and handlers,…
101 Lessons to Teach Beginner Riders Free eBook Download A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Confidence in the Saddle Dreaming of riding with confidence, balance, and ease? This FREE ebook is designed to help you overcome fear, build trust with your horse, and develop the skills you need to ride safely and confidently. 101 Lessons to […]
The next morning after breakfast Joe put Merrylegs into the mistress' low chaise to take him to the vicarage; he came first and said goodbye to us, and Merrylegs neighed to us from the yard. Then John put the saddle on Ginger and the leading rein on me and rode us across the country about fifteen miles to Earlshall Park, where the Earl of W----lived. There was a very fine house and a great deal of…
