There comes a time in every rider’s career when they are in the market for a new coach. This might be due to changing circumstances away from the barn, something totally out of your control like the current barn is closing or maybe the current coach is no longer meeting the riders need. I’ve put together some tips and things to consider when you’re on the search for a new coach. This will focus on specifically looking for coaching even though sometimes this includes new boarding arrangements too. Once the decision has been made to move it is important to do some soul searching. Doing this with ..read more

By Guest Blogger, Ellen Kumar I frequently draw comparisons between two of the activities in my life: my current remote work lifestyle and riding horses. Surprisingly to some of my co-workers who aren’t riders, there are many similarities. Fellow equestrians, I’d love to hear your feedback. 1: Both activities require extreme communication.  I have been a mostly remote worker for 11 years and have learned I should over-communicate and thoroughly document so others are aware of my intentions, plans, wins and losses. If you’re not communicating as a rider, you are just a passenger. Y ..read more

Do you ever feel like you’re the only competitor at the horse show who is pooping their pants?  Everyone else seems to have their shit together, entering the ring looking confident, collected, and calm.   But not you … Nope. Every time you even think about entering the ring you feel physically ill. Those nerves creep up and roll around in the pit of your stomach. Your breath is short. Your head swims. You get nauseated to the point you question why you put yourself through horse showing in the first place.   As someone who is extremely in touch with, and open about my ..read more

I feel pretty comfortable in saying that we have all heard and said the saying, practice makes perfect. After all, we do ride horses! I say this saying all the time to myself, for everything in my life. Cooking? Practice makes perfect. Trying something new for the first time? Practice makes perfect. Trying to nail that one stride, or wanting the perfect distance to that long run oxer? Practice makes perfect. But, does practice make “perfect?”, or are we setting ourselves up for disappointment with this saying? I believe we are putting unneeded pressure on ourselves by striving to be “perf ..read more

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, 2020 has affected all of us one way or another. This year has presented many challenges, lows, highs, and taught us all life lessons. The biggest lesson I could take away from this year is to be thankful. This year has taught me to be thankful for all that I have, to be thankful for all that I have achieved, accomplished, to cherish my friendships and to always thank Abbey. I always made it a point to thank Abbey after each ride, because let’s be honest, she could throw me off or kill me at any point if she so choose to do so. 2020 was also th ..read more

Well, here in Nova Scotia, bathing season is long gone. And this makes my grey-loving-OCD heart, very, very sad. I live for bathing season. Keeping Abbey clean is something I live for. Grooming her, keeping up with her diva self is quite enjoyable for me, and her. I am honestly extremely lucky when it comes to owing a grey because, Abbey loves being clean. If Abbey gets dirty, watch out, her (and I) are on a mission.   I thought I would share some tips and tricks I have picked up along the way, when you can’t full bath, but want to try and stay on top of it during the muddy months, o ..read more

Do you ever find your mind just wonders, and you begin to feel like you are losing control?  Then do I have the book for you. I’ve been reading this self-help book called, Let That Sh*t Go: Find Peace of Mind and Happiness written by Nina Purewal and Kate Petriw. I’ve been trying really hard to refocus my negative, anxious thoughts to be more positive. More positive self-talk, instead of that negative self-talk that I so love to do. This book has really helped me quiet my chatty mind and use more of my observing mind. They provide great insight into different tools on how to become more s ..read more

Hey it’s me, The Nervous Equestrian, back again.  I’m back again with more (but healed now) broken bones, and returning back to the saddle jitters once again. But, this time around (I can’t believe I actually have to say, this time around… AGAIN), it feels different. Maybe I’m in a better place this time, maybe my mental health is better. Once I do start riding again, I’m sure the ol’ nervous nellie we have all grown to know will be back. But, with a much better let’s do it attitude (cross those fingers for that). I am anxious to start riding again, gett ..read more

I’ve been so focused on not allowing myself to grow as a rider, that I’ve lost sight on the bigger picture. I told myself that if I not where I want to be, or feel like I am where I should be at for my riding, then I’m not showing this upcoming season. I will basically give up and stop trying to self-improve and consider myself “as good as it gets”. Skills and growth take time; time that I am so impatient about. I am one of those people that “skill” and “natural talent” doesn’t come to easily. I’m clumsy as can be, fumble over my words and easily lost in my own mind.  I’ve been so focused on n ..read more

I am a believer in all things – all things that some people may find weird or different. I believe in ghosts, Bigfoot and of course, psychics. I, myself have had numerous personal experiences with mediums/ psychic mediums, and some pretty intense “ghostly” moments.  So, I thought why not try it with my animals. I hummed and hawed about it for months. Should I? Can I handle hearing what my animals had to say about me as an owner? Hearing it from a psychic medium about me and my loved ones is one thing, but hearing from someone who is communicating with my animals is a whole other level I wasn’t ..read more