SB Equestrian Essentials

30/06/2026

And we are off!!!!

This summer Timo and I are riding 410 kms which is roughly ten times the length of the Gaza Strip. We are doing it to raise £1,000 for the Palestinians Children’s Relief Fund. We will be sharing our progress along the way as well as facts about Gaza. So first up -

More than 56,000 children in Gaza have lost one or both parents since the conflict escalated, according to UNICEF.

So let’s help out. Anything you can donate, no matter how small is very appreciated ❤️

Today was a gentle start. Just 6.3kms with a hoof trim in the middle of it! We said hello to calves and mini ponies and the flies weren’t too horrendous. It feels good to have started. We’d love you to follow us on our journey.

https://give.pcrf.net/fundraiser/7365489

23/06/2026

410 Kilometres of Hope: Riding for Gaza’s Children

14/09/2025

Yes, yes, yes 🙌❤️

You can’t move quickly and erratically while tacking up, and get on and have a soft, smooth ride

Often folks move as if overly caffeinated around their horses. Their lead ropes are tangled up, they pet (or slap or scruffle) meaninglessly and erratically. They brush roughly, cinch up quickly, bang eyes and teeth and rumple ears in bridling. Their thoughts are racing, they aren’t organized in their approach and they are rushed.

This isn’t to say you should sneak around your horse, but moving thoughtfully and purposefully around them goes a long way. A horse has to deal with all this frantic and meaningless energy- some become nervous and antsy, some tune out. People go to describing their behavior as rude, nervous, evasive, whatever- when this same horse might be completely different with a calmer and more organized person.

Challenge yourself to have your thoughts and equipment organized before you step into the pasture or stall. Have your lead rope prepared and ready, take a few minutes to tune into your breath. Know what you’d like to accomplish, and then approach the horse. You’ll be amazed at the difference in them.

11/09/2025

Oh I’m loving the look of these! Vegan option available. So many options to find that perfect close ride feel. All the benefits of ba****ck pads in terms of developing your seat with extra comfort and weight distribution for your horse. Shimming options and different positions for the stirrup leathers. Listen with the sound on. Contact me if you are interested 🤩

10/09/2025

Oh I absolutely freaking LOVED hosting retreats. It was joyful. The horses and humans were a privilege to spend time with ❤️

One of my favourite weeks of the teaching year is the five day retreat. I'm going to share the story of this years as the magic unfolds...

05/09/2025

Loving connecting with new people via Hidalgo saddles. So great to hear about how horse women are putting the flexibility of Hidalgo saddles to great use in starting young horses. Plus that is some good looking saddle eye candy right there 🤣😎

Super excited to hit the ✈️ with Deanna Preis Horsemanship at Shade Tree Stables to visit our member Happy Hearts Horsemanship in the beautiful Pacific Northwest for a collaborative clinic !

Tia has all of her Hidalgo leather tree saddles cleaned up and ready for the weekend. Tia uses these saddles in her training program as they are so adaptable to all the different needs she faces.

She has a dressage model, and two Spanish saddles. She has a standard tree Spanish and a shire tree Spanish to accommodate the wider horses she gets in for training as these horses can be a true struggle and riding a learning horse in restrictive tack will create potentially life long bad memories for the horse.

Onwards and upwards! Praying for safe travels and lots of learning and memories made with fellow horse lovers this weekend! 🩷🩷🩷

02/09/2025

For anyone who needs to hear this today. The power of reframing is a wonderful thing and I’m leaning into it fully just now. If you are taking things to the next level with your horse, and feeling a little overwhelmed… take heart! It’s one of the ways to turn your wobbly feelings into your super power 🦸‍♀️

01/09/2025

Me and Temple smashing into Monday morning like we mean it! Miss riding this beautiful character and he was developing so many wonderful skills. Aided by an awesome Hidalgo Jerez saddle of course. Check out that square halt ❤️

29/08/2025

Okay so following on from yesterday, let’s look at how to reduce the effort of saddling on older (and younger!) joints. I have seen many different interesting approaches to saddling. My personal favourite is the ‘Frankenstein’…. Arms outstretched on approach and the saddle wrestled up the side of the horse. Not easy to watch and even harder to do. Nothing beats the assistance of momentum and learning to swing even a light Hidalgo saddle (5kgs) in place when you are doing it regularly makes a difference. Give it a go and your joints can thank me later. If you want a short explanation about how to set it up minus a saddle just comment momentum below

28/08/2025

La Grange des Selles is up the road from where I live and so worth a follow. Thierry takes superb photos and the captures of all the animals that call this special place home are just wonderful. Guaranteed to enhance your daily news feed ❤️