Pushy parents have a lot to answer for, says Carolyn Henderson
When a friend broke her ankle and asked me to help her seven-year-old daughter at a local show, I thought it would be a fun day out.
Children…ponies…friendly competition. All enjoyable, character-building stuff, right?
Wrong....
With a trailer full of immaculately clean horse, tack, crew kit and necessary human and horse accessories, we headed off to Royal Windsor arriving late morning after a swift and uneventful journey. Wonder crew Kiwi arrived from Holland and we were all set with a good friend, Spencer, doing the pre-r...
India and Atiya have had a busy few weeks competing abroad, starting with the youth show at Lampreschtausen, Austria from 18th to 21st May.
After an amazing performance from Atiya and Chesterfield Z at the European Viewing trials, which took place at Chepstow International at the end of Apr...
A horse is not a sofa, writes Carolyn Henderson
It’s a fact of life that a horse or pony may change homes several times during his lifetime. Often, it’s for understandable and unavoidable reasons – but sometimes, it isn’t.
We live in the age of disposable goods. It’s easy and simple to get r...
Think about the heroes who have shaped your horsey life. You might surprise yourself, says Carolyn Henderson
Can you remember your first hero of the horse world? I thought I’d found mine in 1968 - a 21-year-old showjumper called Marion Coakes.
She won an Olympic medal on a 14.2hh pony calle...
The flat turf season is now in full swing, and for once the weather is living up to racegoers expectations of summer dresses and champagne in the sun (admittedly, this is rather less the experience of those working behind the scenes in the stable yard, but it is a lovely thought!)
The blazing...
Early morning rides, farmers’ tans and beach rides where you remember not to ride on the promenade – it’s all part of summer as a horse owner, writes Carolyn Henderson.
Summer is just around the corner. In my circle, we’ve been saying that since May; it was mainly to encourage ourselves as water...
We are pleased to announce exciting new partnerships with International Grand Prix Dressage Riders, Nikki Barker (nee Crisp) and Olivia Oakeley. They have become Brand Ambassadors for Formulate!, a revolutionary new way to supplement, which allows you to create an all-in-one supplement, completely b...
Sharing a snapshot of your horse’s health can help boost equine welfare in the UK, says Carolyn Henderson
This week, you can make a vital contribution to equine health and welfare in the UK. It costs nothing, but the benefits are priceless, and it will take you five minutes.
All you have to ...
Things have moved on swiftly since my last blog with a much-needed improvement in the weather allowing training to motor ahead and the daily chores to become pleasurable again.
My training ground has both expanded and contracted. Whilst I can now use the cross country course again, although I ha...
“Winning isn’t everything. The way you do it is hugely important.”
Whatever your views on this year’s Badminton Horse Trials, we must turn the anger and controversy generated by Oliver Townend’s cross-country rounds into something positive, writes Carolyn Henderson.
The run-up to the event p...
Cobs have the fun factor, writes Carolyn Henderson. They can do it all with smiles on their faces – and are guaranteed to put one on yours.
Everything about cobs is special, even the word itself. No one seems to know where the name for this type of horse came from, although it’s shared with e...
