J Blakehill Equitation

02/06/2026

Had a super time teaching some lovely new people and their fabulous horses at Stretcholt Equestrian last weekend. A really welcoming group, thoughtful riding, and some great progress made throughout the day.

We’ve now added more 2026 clinic dates at Stretcholt Equestrian —

• 18th July
• 15th August
• 12th September

These clinics are suitable for riders interested in:
• Working Equitation
• Groundwork & in-hand work
• Improving communication and lateral responses
• Obstacle confidence
• Developing horse-centred training foundations

Very much looking forward to returning and continuing to build this lovely group. Please get in touch with me to book spaces.

01/06/2026

Working Equitation Exercises Series

As I have started teaching more Working Equitation, I’ve noticed that riders new to the sport — or just starting out — often run into the same challenges.

Rarely do we teach our horses to move laterally with precision.

And guess what?

Most WE obstacles require your horse to understand how to move in directions other than simply forwards.

Sideways.
Around the leg.
Moving the shoulders.
Moving the hips.
Backing up straight.
Adjusting balance and positioning.

These are all foundational skills in Working Equitation.

So, through teaching and chatting with clients, I’ve developed a few go-to exercises that help horses understand and respond more clearly to lateral aids — both from the ground and under saddle.

Over the next few weeks, leading up to the next clinic, I’ll be sharing step-by-step exercises designed to improve:
• lateral responses
• rider timing and coordination
• straightness and positioning
• obstacle preparation
• and overall communication

Exercises will include:
1. Using shoulder-out to develop sideways skills
2. Gate patterns without a gate
3. Improving straightness in the rein back

Each exercise can be adapted for:
• groundwork
• in-hand work
• ridden work
• young horses
• novice riders
• and horses new to WE

Follow this page for weekly posts and exercises.

22/04/2026

Calling all barefoot horse owners 👣🐴

If you’ve ever looked at your horse’s feet and thought
“I know something’s going on here… but I can’t quite read it” — this will help.

The Hoof Wear Pattern Manual breaks down how to actually understand what you’re seeing:
– What different wear patterns mean
– How movement and environment affect the hoof
– What’s normal vs something to question
– How to start making better decisions for your horse

It’s not theory-heavy or overcomplicated — it’s practical, visual, and based on real-world hoof care.

I’ve been working behind the scenes on putting this together, and it’s one of those resources that makes things click.

👉 Available as a printed manual or instant download PDF
👉 Easy to refer back to at the yard
👉 Useful whether you’re a professional or just trying to do right by your horse

You can take a look here:

https://wildpathdesignpublishing.co.uk/collections/all

⸻

If you’re already on a barefoot journey, I’d genuinely recommend having this in your toolkit — it gives you a much clearer way of seeing what’s happening, not just guessing.

Happy to answer questions if anyone’s curious 😊

Independent publishing studio offering book design, editing, and self-publishing support—helping authors turn manuscripts into finished books.

08/04/2026

2 spaces available – Ceffyn Stud (18th April)

I’ve had a fantastic response to the Ceffyn Stud clinics — thank you!

I now have 2 spaces available in the afternoon session on the 18th April

These clinics are ideal for:
• horses new to Working Equitation
• building confidence with obstacles
• developing a calm, responsive partnership

📍 Ceffyn Gwyn Stud (near Devizes)

I’m a BWE Approved Instructor, so sessions are suitable whether you’re just starting out or looking to progress.

Please message me ASAP to book — these last spaces are likely to go quickly 😊

01/04/2026

🌿Liberty Training Takeaway: Start with Touch

When I start teaching liberty — and that includes groundwork and in-hand as well as loose work — I always start in the same place:

Touch. 🤲

Not the kind of touch we use to get jobs done.
Not grooming, tacking up, or picking feet.

The touch I’m talking about is a conversation.

A two-way interaction where your horse is allowed to tell you how they feel. 🐴

Start in a calm, neutral space such as an arena or quiet yard.
Have a headcollar on, but keep the rope loose so your hands are free.

Then begin simply:

• allow your horse to touch you first
• use the flat of your hand
• move slowly and softly over the neck and body
• observe what they tell you

Do they:
• stand quietly or move away?
• soften, lick, chew or yawn?
• turn to look at you?
• tense, brace or switch off?

If they move away from an area, don’t force it.

That isn’t failure.
That’s feedback.

This exercise isn’t about making a horse tolerate touch.
It’s about asking, “Is this okay?” — and being willing to listen to the answer.

✨ This is often where real connection begins.

30/03/2026

Just because we can… doesn’t mean we should.

We’ve all seen (or been 🙈) this rider at some point.

In riding, we’re often taught that being “good” means:
• being brave
• getting on anyway
• dealing with whatever happens
• meeting impossible expectations

But sometimes the most skilled thing you can do…

Is slow down, check in, and set your horse up to succeed before you even get on.

Because real confidence isn’t about coping.

It’s about not needing to. And some days that might mean not getting in at all.

Protecting your confidence and your horse’s confidence is way more important than anything else.

28/03/2026

🌿 Why use a round pen? (and what it’s NOT for)

I’ve got the round pen set up for today’s clinic… and it got me thinking 👇

Round pens often get a bad reputation.

They’re sometimes associated with:
• chasing horses until they “submit”
• dominance-based training
• trapping a horse so it can’t escape

That’s not what I use them for.

When we start working at liberty, space matters.

A large arena can be great — but early on it’s very easy to lose connection.

And once that connection is gone, it can be difficult to re-establish without creating pressure.

This is where the round pen comes in.

A circular space means:
• no corners to get stuck in
• no feeling of being trapped
• the horse can keep moving and thinking

And importantly… they can always see you.

Size is key.

Too small → constant pressure, no release
Too big → you become irrelevant

I use a 15m pen, which is about the smallest I’d go.

Though it’s always a balance:
• smaller horses/ponies may find that plenty
• bigger horses often need more space

What are we actually aiming for?

✨ Quiet connection at close range

Not control.
Not exhaustion.
Not “making them stay”.

And when they disconnect?

They will — and that’s completely okay.

The training isn’t about stopping that from happening…

It’s about how you respond when it does.

There are plenty of ways to help a horse refocus without chasing or trapping them — and that’s what we work on.

Looking forward to today’s sessions 🐎

If you’re curious about liberty work or building this kind of connection with your horse, feel free to drop me a message 😊

23/03/2026

🌿 Control vs Understanding

Much of traditional British equitation, influenced by military training, places a strong emphasis on *control*.

“Shorten your reins.”
“Tell him who’s boss.”
“Kick on.”

We’re told these things will keep us safe.

But what if… they’re not the only way?

When I started exploring a more horse-centred approach, I realised something:

I was already quite comfortable riding on a longer rein, especially out hacking.

Not because I’m careless or “brave”…
But because my horses are well trained, and I’ve learned to read them.

I expect them to be:
• organised in their movement
• aware of their surroundings
• able to make good decisions

And in return, I stay present with them.

For many people, that idea feels uncomfortable — even unsafe. We’re taught that safety comes from holding on.

But often, tight reins create tight horses.

And a tight horse has nowhere to put energy…
So when something happens, it explodes.

Which then reinforces the need for more control.

And the cycle continues.

But when you start giving your horse space to think…

You often get:
• more relaxation
• better decisions
• and ultimately, more real control

One of the most powerful things you can do is practise riding without relying on the reins — in a safe environment like an arena.

It changes how you think.
And it changes how your horse responds.

It’s also why many riders are surprised at how quickly they adapt to things like one-handed work in Working Equitation.

Because true control doesn’t come from holding on…

It comes from understanding.

I’ve worked with a lot of riders who felt they needed tight reins to feel safe — especially with spooky or tense horses.

And with the right approach, they’ve been able to rebuild confidence, trust their horses again, and find a much more relaxed way of riding.

✨ If this resonates with you, or you feel like you’re stuck in that “tight rein cycle”, you’re not alone.

I run small, supportive sessions focused on building confidence, relaxation and genuine communication — both on the flat and over obstacles.

Feel free to drop me a message if you’d like to know more 😊

23/03/2026

“Wow… I wasn’t expecting that!”

A huge thank you to everyone who has booked onto clinics recently – I’ve had a mix of lovely returning clients and lots of new faces, which is so exciting 😊

It’s amazing to see so many people wanting to explore Working Equitation, whether that’s for confidence, something a bit different, or aiming towards competition.

April has the only a few spaces left, and May/June are filling faster than I expected.

If you’re on the fence about coming along, I’d really recommend getting in touch sooner rather than later – I keep sessions small so everyone gets plenty of time and support.

Can’t wait to get started with you all 🐎✨