On Fire Performance Horses & Training

13/03/2026

Finding all the mud-free sidings for conditioning walkies!

12/03/2026

But how cute is Harry!? Boot camp is working!

11/03/2026

Harry thinks boot camp has been tough this month… really tough!

08/02/2026

Star and Harry started boot camp today! We all survived first rides back for 2026. Here’s hoping for a few rain-free days so we can keep rolling with some rides and a gradual increase in fitness. (Let’s be honest - mostly rider fitness!)

10/01/2026

We braved the weather earlier this week for a little adventure, despite the strong winds and warnings.

This old partnership reminds me why I love what I do — horses that teach you, test you, and then carry you anyway. Truckie will always feel like home, and will always be my favourite seat in the house.

04/01/2026

I escaped North Queensland for a few days “down south” at the annual PCQ State Seminar hosted by the Southport Pony & Hack Club… where it’s currently raining 🤣 feels like home! (Only considerably cooler and much less humid)

Ongoing professional development is important for coaches and riders of all levels. I am grateful for my regional coaching position, which offers me the opportunity each year to attend the seminar and soak in all the knowledge and experience.

04/01/2026

I’m working on the theory that 2026 (year of the Fire Horse!) is going to be our year! It’s all in the name!
A few exciting plans in the works - once it stops raining quite so much…

01/01/2026

Wise words from super-coach Danaë O'Keeffe ❤️
Happy New Year all!

🎯 There’s something energizing about a New Year, it’s like a getting to ride a freshly raked arena —new calendar, new season, new training plans, new possibilities. But before galloping head‑first into 2026, it’s worth taking a moment to set goals that actually support your growth rather than overwhelm it.
🐴 Start With Your Why
These are your goals. Every rider has a different reason for being in the saddle. Maybe you’re focused on FEI/Nationals/State, maybe you want to try a new level or build new skills, maybe you’re rebuilding confidence, or maybe you simply want more harmonious rides with your horse. Anchor your goals in what truly matters to you—not what everyone else is doing.
📌 Big goals are made from small building blocks. Find the pieces that can help you get to the bigger picture. Talk with your coach, get them to help you with the plan.
“Move up a level” or “jump higher” sounds great, but progress happens in the details. Instead of focusing only on the end result, try goals like:
Improve consistency in transitions
Build a more secure position
Strengthen my horse’s topline
Ride three focused schooling sessions each week
Go to some outings to build confidence. Keep breathing and remember where to go can be big wins!
Small wins compound into big breakthroughs.
🧠 Expect Progress to Be Non‑Linear
Horses aren’t machines, and neither are we. Some weeks you’ll feel unstoppable; others, you’ll wonder if you’ve forgotten how to rise trot, loose your eye for a distance or just misplace your mojo. That’s normal. Progress in equestrian sport is a winding trail, not a straight line. Give yourself—and your horse—grace (yes, I know this bit is hard, especially giving yourself grace, but trust me it’s much healthier if you do).
🐎 Celebrate the Invisible Work
I can’t stress this one enough. Not all victories come with ribbons. In fact, most of them don’t, they’re the quiet nearly unseen milestones.
A calmer warm‑up;
A softer canter depart;
A braver hack around the property;
A horse who meets you at the gate;
Being able to make time for riding throughout a busy week
These moments matter just as much as the big milestones. Take note of the small progress, when you look back, you might be surprised how far you’ve come with your riding, training and horsemanship.
🌟 Build Goals Around Partnership, Not Perfection or Based on Someone else’s opinion.
The best goals for 2026 are the ones that strengthen your connection with your horse. When your partnership grows, everything else—performance, confidence, enjoyment—naturally follows.
✨ Your 2026 Riding Year Starts Now
Take a breath, set your intentions, and step into the new year with clarity and compassion. Take note of the small wins, and you might surprise yourself where you end up! I can’t stress how valuable this is. It gives a measure of your progress even on the days you don’t see it (and those days are normal!). You and your horse are a team, and every step forward—no matter how small—is worth celebrating and enjoying.

Kelato Animal Health

22/12/2025

❤️🐎🏇

22/10/2025

Seeking "expressions of interest" on behalf of owner. Details in photo. Limited video available. No tyre kickers or photo collectors.

07/10/2025

I was lucky to have been offered the ride on recent QOTT retraining program graduate “Noey” when we went to Mackay for Bek lessons. It was a great opportunity to check his foundations remained established, and further his training, while his new owner was away competing at Nationals with her other horse. Always incredibly grateful to be able to stay alongside my OTTs on their journeys after leaving my paddocks ❤️

07/10/2025

We took advantage of being on holidays (working in a a school is great!), and headed off to MNPC for lessons with super coach Bek rebekkacraigequestrian. I thought Harry might’ve appreciated a bit more support and confidence from a more experienced rider, given that his last experience on this course was carrying his much less experienced (but no less confident) owner around. As you can see, I did a stellar job of that 🤣🤦‍♀️