
What is normal?
Bronson and I had a great time at one of Pips Horse Connection Clinics this weekend. We’ve made tremendous progress together and Pip was helping us to build upon that and reach the next level in our training. The sun was shining, we were up in the grass arena, which has panoramic views of the rolling Somerset hills and it was just perfect! As always, the ladies in attendance were so supportive and even gave me a round of applause after our first lesson! I had never experience

Noticing the good!
Recently I was forced to have a five month break from working with my horse Bronson as, due to the flare up of an old repetitive strain injury, I was unable to use my arms. I couldn’t even drive never mind anything else! Thankfully Pip offers training livery so, rather than Bronson becoming a field ornament and losing all his fitness, Pip brought him even further along in his training. Happy days! Not only did he go from being dangerously nappy to being happy to hack out alo

Where there's a will, there's a way!
When I first came to Pippsway, after a 20 year break from riding, it transpired that all my bad habits and muscle memory had sadly endured the 20 year break. In walk I was ‘pumping’ with my seat, in trot I was putting all my weight in my stirrups and was rising far too high out of the saddle and in canter I was either bouncing on my horses back, or, if I was in forward seat, then my balance was all over the place. What a state to be in! Over the last year and a bit Pip has fo

The fruits of our labours...
Recently Bronson and I have been focusing on hacks at a walk and as it turns out, and much to my surprise, they have proved invaluable to my overall progress and set us up really well for my lesson today. Now when I say walking, this is walking Pippsway! Which means an extended walk with both horse and rider completely focused and going forwards with intention and a sense of purpose. Not having a mindless bimble! In fact nothing is done mindlessly at Pippsway and having learn

Going solo...
We did it! After several hacking lessons, where Pip came with me first on foot, and later with her scooter, Bronson and I had a successful hack on our own. This is no small thing! Only 5 months ago, when Bronson went into full training livery because I couldn’t ride, he was very nappy and when Pip took him out on his own or away from other horses, if they’d gone out together, he would rear and jump about. For Pip to have brought him on to a place where it is safe for a novice