Are you thinking about taking the leap from unaffiliated to affiliated showjumping? Or even just starting to try your hand at competing in the discipline? Then here are a few tips on what to expect and how to get started. Local, unaffiliated or affiliated shows – what’s the difference? There are several types of competition that are open to all riders; we’ll start off by looking at the ‘local’ and unaffiliated shows. “How do the two differ?” you ...

With all of my horses, young or old, I find ground work is key to their progression and development in training. So today, I’m going to talk about long reining, as I don’t see it being done as much as it should. It isn’t as difficult as you might think, and you can certainly make it fun and enjoyable for both you and your horse. In fact, it’s really beneficial for both rider and horse, regardless of the age or experience level of your horse; you could just be starting the backing process...

Ponies make great carriage drivers, especially if they no longer have a rider due to them being outgrown. This is the perfect solution if your pony is part of the family, as it means you can still enjoy them without selling. When driving, a pony is more than capable of pulling an adult, which means anyone in the family can get involved, and if you have pairs they share the load and become stronger than just driving a single pony. There are many things to consider when driving. An important consi...