It’s been such an amazing experience finally achieving a goal with my horse that I set out upon over two years ago. It’s a wonderful feeling, as our journey towards this point has been far from a straight line, indeed at times it seemed a very long way off and yet here we are! Riding Bronson on the Quantocks has been a dream come true! You might wonder, what’s the fuss? You can ride on the Quantocks any time, just go to the trekking centre. But this is not that. Pippsway is something completely different. Every word Pip says on her website is true, every promise she makes she delivers upon, this truly is being as one with your horse. Many years ago I read that the bit was there so that the r

I was really pleased with how our first ride on the Quantocks had gone and was smiling for days at the sheer joy of it all! My Husband was so happy for me, as he knows all the effort that has gone into getting Bronson and me to this point and I couldn’t wait to go again. I had been reflecting on the fact that Bronson had been wanting to go in front of Jazz at times during the ride and Pip’s observation that me being relaxed wasn’t quite the right energy, instead I should be calm, assertive. We arrived at the car park on the Quantocks, tacked up and headed out for our second ride there and this time I was sure to be calm assertive! Well what a difference! This time Bronson was perfectly happy

Upon returning from our hack yesterday, Pip said “Would you like to go to the Quantocks tomorrow?”.......”YES!” was my resounding response! When I arrived at Pippsway, two and a half years ago, expressing my wish to learn to ride properly, riding on the Quantocks was but a distant dream! You may wonder why has it taken so long for us to be ready? The answer is, there is a long list of reasons! Not in any particular order here are a few of them, Bronson wouldn’t load after a bad experience in his previous home, when he first came to Pippsway he was too weak for me to ride him and when he was finally strong enough to be ridden he was bucking and rearing when he felt under the slightest pressur

I learned the principle, that how we breathe around our horses is very important, as soon as I came to Pippsway. But it’s only more recently that I’m really beginning to master being aware of how I am breathing, controlling that and then being absolutely awe struck by the results! It probably seems like I’m having a fit of stating the obvious when I say that how we breathe is fundamental to our state, it’s also true to say that our state has an impact on our breathing. But it’s important to mention, because our autonomic nervous system looks after our breathing and so it is something that just goes on in the background, unless we bring it into our awareness. For our horsemanship, bringing ou

This has been such an amazing time in my journey of horsemanship. My partnership with Bronson has gone from strength to strength and things that I used to dream of, like hacking out on our own and cantering around the massive 20 acre canter field, on a loose rein and in complete control, are now my reality! To have come from where we did, with Bronson being a fruit and nut and me being a mentally and physically lazy beginner, to where we are today is extraordinary! It hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to work hard on my physical and mental fitness (and of course horsemanship), thankfully not at a gym but with my horse, hurrah! What has been consistent throughout though has been Pip’s belief in us.

Today was one of those days where the power of Pippsway became really apparent. Achieving what you want with your horse in a good situation is great, but being able to do it regardless of conditions is Pippsway! Pip and I had arranged to go out for a hack and as I drove to the yard I passed the hunt. I was surprised Pip had said about going out on a hunting day but I trust her completely and know that her approach is always to do things enjoyably and safely. She knows my horse better than I do, so if she thinks it’s ok then I trust that. I headed up to the field to bring Bronson in only to find the herd cantering around the 12 acre field in a state of high excitement. In the past I wouldn’t

My Husband laughed at me today when I said I’d just got back from the best hack ever. “The best hack ever, again?” he said, to which my answer was a resounding “Yes!”. This is because each time we go out, Pip builds upon what I have already learned and so my partnership with Bronson is going from strength to strength. I’m loving how much happier and more relaxed he is with me, thanks to my horsemanship improving and becoming more consistent. Riding around the lanes, on a loose rein, with complete confidence, on such a fabulous horse is a dream come true! When I first met Bronson he was way too much horse for me. I’d come back to riding after a 20 year break and the only benefits of my past e

It’s been the most extraordinary month! I’ve been away on my hypnotherapy training course, off to seminars and conventions and it’s been busy. I was determined that, having made up ground in my partnership with Bronson, we would not be going backwards regardless! I am totally committed to our relationship and seeing to it that I make the time to be with him. Boy oh boy have I reaped the rewards! Our last hack was a real turning point. Realising that my positive energy and a slack rein are prerequisites for a successful session and making sure that whatever is happening I am constantly checking in with myself to ensure that I am not holding tension or putting pressure on the rein has made the

I’d had a busy weekend studying and was feeling mentally tired, so when I saw that Pip was taking Louise and her horse Beau out for a hack I asked if I might join them, as that seemed a far more appealing prospect than the menage. Pip was leading on her bike and I was at the back on Bronson. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day, but things were not going quite to plan. Pip has taught me that I must always keep a horse’s length between Bronson and the horse in front. Not because she is worried about the horses in front kicking out, but rather because the horse behind can damage the tendons of the horse in front! When you consider how far forward a horse reaches his legs, especially

I’ve been reading a book for my hypnotherapy course and in it was a tip about how to reduce mind chatter. As being present with my horse is a big part of making our communication possible, I thought I’d try this little tip to quieten my mind whilst I was with Bronson. It simply involves putting your tongue into the roof of your mouth. Simple! Apparently this works because the areas of the brain linked to speech and language are also linked to the areas that control your lips, jaw and tongue. So there I was with my tongue in the roof of my mouth getting Bronson tacked up ready for our hack when he started swishing his tail violently, threw his head up in the air and was lifting his back legs.

After the clinic at the weekend, I was keen to keep up our momentum. We’ve had so many breaks over the last year between Bronson being lame, me having RSI and so on. Each time we’ve come back to each other it’s taken time to reset our relationship and for me to regain Bronson’s trust. That’s why this time when I couldn’t ride, because I’d put on weight, I made sure I still came up to the yard regularly to take Bronson out for walks in hand and so on. I’ve seen the progress that Pip’s other clients have made over the past year and there’s no question that one of her liveries in particular has come a really long way, in both her riding and her partnership with her horse. She comes to the yard

Bronson and I attended one of Pip’s Horse Connection Clinics this weekend. Having only ridden four times in the past 3 months, and having lost balance and fitness over that time, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get us back in the swing of things. But, I have to say, my expectations of us were pretty low; Bronson has a big movement and Pip’s menage undulates (purposefully so that you actually learn to ride properly! As she always says, the world isn’t flat!) so my lack of balance has really set us back. I arrived at the yard bright and early and the sky was blue, it was glorious! I was totally on it with my groundwork from the get go and everytime Bronson asked the “who is in

When Bronson first came back to Pippsway, he was out of the habit of doing things Pip’s way. So at first, Pip was only asking that he do all his groundwork with good manners and spent months building muscle on him so that he could be ridden. Then she began his canter work, which he loves and that serves him both physically and mentally. He wouldn’t load after a bad experience in the past, so Pip didn’t even go there with him. It was only when she started asking more of Bronson that she realised he was further "gone" than she thought. I came up to the yard and she explained that they had gone out on a hack and, due to a particular set of circumstances, ones in which she was happy I would neve

Having taken a big step backward in my riding, having not ridden for a couple of months and having let my fitness levels slide, I arrived at the yard today keen to make strides. As soon as Bronson began walking over to me in the field however, I could see he was a little lame. There was no obvious reason so we headed down to the yard. Pip checked him over for me and I popped him in his stable to have his breakfast. As he couldn’t do any work I spent some time grooming him in the sunshine, which was lovely, and then we headed back up to the field…This may all sound like rather a non event, and certainly wasn’t the day I had planned, however, these peaceful scenes are a far cry from the way we

As I’m the one writing this blog it is, inevitably, specifically about me and my horse, our journey together into Pippsway of Classical Natural Horsemanship and therefore documents only my personal experiences of learning how to ride properly. Being able to ride properly was the goal I outlined to Pip on my very first day at Pippsway and she immediately began the endeavour of teaching me exactly that. The reason I say this is because if you’re reading my blog and thinking “oh, I couldn’t be bothered with all that” then rest assured, you don’t have to be! Yes, Pip insists that people reach a certain level and that is the level where they are capable of riding safely and without harming their

As in any language, there are a plethora of ways that horses can communicate their emotions. The joy of Pippsway is that Pip teaches us how to understand what our horses are saying. It takes time to learn, as it would learning any new language, but the payoffs are huge! I’m pretty confident with interpreting my horses communications during groundwork these days and it’s been truly life changing! I don’t get it right all the time by any means, but even then I now know the signs that I’ve made a mistake and know how to correct that and reaffirm my leadership. This allows my horse to trust me and he’s so well trained now, thanks to Pip, that providing I remember to ask, ask with conviction and

After my mistake the other day, where I didn’t remember to ask Bronson to move across behind me when leading him past a car and then nearly knocking it’s wing mirror, I was delighted to find myself in exactly the same situation with a car today. I moved over to the side of the lane and remembered to ask Bronson to follow me, which of course he did. Marvellous! Even with a horse as well trained as Bronson now is, all thanks to Pip, I have to remember to ask! If I’m not giving him the correct instructions, how is he supposed to know what he is meant to do? In the menage today, Pip had asked me to hop off so she could adjust Bronson’s saddle. The menage gate was open and when I walked around Br

After my gaffes yesterday, I was keen to have a smooth day at the yard. When I walk up to the field to get Bronson by myself, I make a point of ensuring my headcollar and rope are such that they are not in a tangle and I can seamlessly put Bronson's headcollar on. Pip came up with me to bring Henry down and we were chatting as we walked across the field. I went to put Bronson’s head collar on and he was standing perfectly waiting for me. At that moment I realised that the leadrope was looped through the noseband and in pulling it out, I managed to smack him on the neck with it. Suffice to say he was not impressed, I don’t blame him, and he walked off. Given how he has been coming in so beaut

Today was a mixed bag. I suppose all days are to some degree but some days my cocks ups have bigger implications and today was one of those days. I’d brought Bronson in and was having a coffee and posting my blog on Pip’s website whilst he ate his breakfast. She had been schooling Henry, one of the horses that has recently come to Pippsway for backing, and was just untacking him. I wanted to check she was happy with the photo I had chosen and so walked up to them with my laptop open and facing them. This upset Henry who proceeded to step on Pip’s foot, I’ve never known any horse at Pippsway to step on Pip or anyone else actually! And then she had to spend a good couple of minutes sorting him

Well today was a big day for me! Back in the saddle for the first time in a couple of months as I’d gone over my maximum riding weight. I’m rather embarrassed that it’s taken me that long to get it off and keep it off, but instead of following some faddy diet that won’t last, I’ve formed new eating habits that are here to stay and now am well on my way to my goal weight, hurrah! Anyway, my delight at seeing the magic number on the scales could be heard by my neighbours and I immediately booked a lesson with Pip. Only fair to Bronson to have her watchful eye on us after such a long break. I had written a blog post recently about how even a made horse won’t stay that way if we aren’t doing all