Wise Women Ride

08/11/2026

Fine afternoon to work on the 4 pillars of strength that are the homework I’ve been set from my recent clinic. My back has flared up badly so I’ve been a bit restricted as to what I can do in the saddle. Feeling better today so making the most of it.
Crap photos but happy with so many things today. I can now put steady leg pressure on without Gala having a total hissy fit. It’s going to be a long process but I’m feeling the changes.

06/11/2026

TGIF!
Open the gate and kick up your heels!

03/11/2026

Here’s a neat little experiment for you to try if you have a horse that struggles with anxious thoughts.
Saddle up then let them loose in the area you’re going to train in.
See where they go naturally.
Then interrupt their thoughts gently with a flag or a cluck and see if they can leave their safe space and explore the arena with curiosity.
When I did this with Gala a few days after we got home from the clinic near Myrtleford, she struggled to leave the corner nearest where the gate and other horses are. You can see the patterns in the sand in the still photo, which I’ll put in the comments because Facebook won’t let me post a video and photo at the same time for some reason.

The point of this exercise is to gather information. It is not to force the horse to go away from the area where it feels most safe, where it’s going to protect itself from a perceived feeling that something bad is going to happen in the rest of the arena. 
Never force or chase your horse.

It’s an experiment. It shows you how your horse is really feeling when it has the freedom to go where its thoughts take it.
It tells you what you’re battling against when you’re riding in the environment when your horse is feeling like that. It also tells you how malleable your horses thoughts are. Can they easily let go of the destinating thought when you interrupt it?

The very next day, I did the same thing after saddling up, and blow me down if she didn’t just confidently walk away from me right up to the other end of the arena to check things out- you’ll see that in the video.
Although she did stay largely on the side of the arena that’s close to the paddock with the other horses in it, she had a more curious approach to her environment and was less drawn to the other horses for security and safety, which is really encouraging. 

What this also tells me is that the work I did under saddle the previous day had the net effect of making her feel better in that environment and she had a reduced need to escape the stress she feels having a rider on her back and being asked to do things. It’s one step at a time with this tricky mare. 

01/11/2026

Some might find this helpful 💝

28/10/2026

I’m proud of me.
9 hour journey to get home from northern Vic with Gala today from a very excellent clinic at Mark Langleys property, Skylark, east of Myrtleford.
We had 2 stops.
One at Longwood and again at Healesville Amateur Racing Club.
The latter was an unplanned stop. I was getting tired, saw a racetrack with the gate ajar, so drove in.
I bumped into 3 groundsmen having smoko in a shed and asked their permission to unload and rest a while which they generously agreed to. They offered us water and said Gala could graze wherever I liked.
It was such a lovely place to visit. They have a race meeting this weekend, and the place looked immaculate.
As we were leaving I stopped to thank them and they were asking me lots of questions about Gala and our journey. Noticing something amiss on my float, they helped me fix it then waved me on my way. Made my heart glad.
7 hours of driving. 2 hours of rest. No problem loading or traveling. I’m proud of us. And buggered 😝

26/10/2026

Good progress with Gala today.
More willingness to travel in a relaxed way and more understanding of my legs.
I was able to trot her around the arena on a loose rein without her wanting to go upside down and crooked. Lots of other small improvements too.
We stayed in the arena for the next lesson too as support horse for another anxious horse.
She fell asleep. Pooped. Both of us. 😂

Last day tomorrow then the big trek back down south on Wednesday.
What a week it’s been. 💖🥳😎

24/10/2026

Day off today.
Gala got to hang out in a grassy paddock with a gorgeous spotty horse called Bo. I ventured up Mt Buffalo for a look at the old Mt Buffalo Chalet. The kiosk reopened today after nearly 20 years and I happened to be there.

23/10/2026

23/10/2026

Funny how quickly one day can start blending into another when you’re deeply immersed in an experience.
Loving my time away near Myrtleford in the aptly named Happy Valley, getting help with my pretty dysfunctional mare Gala. Mark is gradually peeling back the layers that make this horse difficult to ride and train. I’m beginning to understand why my progress with her has been so slow over the past 2 years I’ve owned her and why her previous owner gave up on her. After a rest day tomorrow, there’s 3 more days of opportunity to make positive improvements and come up with a game plan for when I get home.
I’m incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity for a wonderful skilled horseman to train Gala, and help fill the big gaps in her foundational training whilst undoing some chronic behavioral issues where possible. For almost half the time I’ve had Gala she’s had health issues which have clouded the picture and hindered progress. She’s a lovely horse but very troubled under saddle. Looking forward to our rest day tomorrow. Going sightseeing!

21/10/2026

Great first day at the Mark Langley intensive. Mark wasted no time in tackling the recalcitrant issues that I have not been able to fix with my knowledge, skill set and coaches. Specifically he worked on her inability to tolerate leg pressure and helping me to work out what is pain, memory of pain or lack of good fundamental education. It’s been a complicated picture for the last 2 years. Not sure we have all the answers yet but I’ll let you know. I know I’m in the right place to get the help we need.