Charly Press BHS Accredited Professional Coach

27/04/2026

After the success of last summer’s lecture demos, I’m really excited to be hosting another at St Teresa’s Equestrian this May

This will be a relaxed, friendly session focused on building happy, confident horses, sharing some of the exercises, foundations and approaches I use in my training.

Open to all riders, whatever your level, discipline or goals 🤍

All the details are on the poster above!

Payment can be made via the payment link or QR code on the poster, then just message me to confirm your place
Payment Link:  https://monzo.com/pay/r/georgie-wood-equestrian-s_Dg43HPGy8BC6si

📩 Feel free to message me if you have any questions

20/04/2026

Fantastic pole clinic last week with and the Sunray clan! horses behaved really well and so lovely to see them all enjoying themselves! Thank you .firth for riding Lorri and Martha for me so they could join in!

13/04/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞’𝐬

Lately, something’s been sitting heavy with me and it hit even harder after spending more time helping out at the local pony club and now starting to source horses/ ponies for kids. There’s a shift happening in the equestrian world that’s hard to ignore, and honestly, it’s starting to feel like we’re losing sight of what this sport is really about.

Everywhere you turn, you see kids turning up on high-priced horses €/£/$20,000+ for a youngster with all the bloodlines and breeding, destined to jump no more than 80 or 90cm in their life. These are lovely animals, don’t get me wrong. But at the grassroots level, the horse doesn’t need to be bred for Grand Prix. It just needs to be safe and suitable.

What I’m not seeing anymore? The scruffy ponies. The odd shaped ones. The old semi retired hunter that’s taught half the kids in the county how to sit a buck. The Plain Janes of the horse world. Where have they gone?

When did we stop letting our kids learn the hard way?

It’s not just about the money (though, yes the cost of horses in 2025 is mind blowing). It’s about what we’re expecting from these kids, and how we think a good horse will shortcut them into being a great rider. Spoiler, it won’t!!!!!!!!

Because before you can make a good rider, you’ve got to make a problem solver. And problem solvers aren’t made on perfect horses. They’re made on ponies that stop at the gate. That duck out. That need a soft hand one day and a strong leg the next. They’re made in moments of frustration and tiny breakthroughs. They’re made in muck and chaos and trying again and again.

The pressure to have the right horse is everywhere. But the truth is, the right horse might be the one with a few quirks, not the one with a five figure price tag.

We’ve created this illusion that a child’s success in riding depends on the flashiest setup the horse, the truck, the gear. But the best riders I’ve known? They learned on what was available. They fell off more than they stayed on. They learned to adjust, to listen, to think, and to feel. And none of that came from being bought the perfect ride.

So here’s a gentle plea to parents, trainers, and riders alike……,

Let’s normalise kids riding average horses again.

Let them ride the hairy cob. The semi retired showjumper with a dodgy change. The pony that came from the riding school, or off a farm, or doesn’t have a passport full of fancy breeding. Let them earn their feel, their seat, their instinct not buy it.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not the horse that makes the rider. It’s the hard lessons, the dirty boots, and the thousands of tiny moments when they choose to keep going, even when it’s tough.

So if your kid has a safe pony, a helmet, and a dream? That’s enough.

And if you want to teach them to win start by letting them lose. Start by letting them learn.

That’s what makes a rider. Not a receipt.

Myself and The School Master of Gurteen 2013.

07/01/2026

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas!!!! The obligatory AI Christmas poster! 🎅🏻🎄🥕🐾

23/12/2025

Christmas fun at 🎄

31/08/2025

Couldn’t agree more 👏

This isn’t aimed at anyone in particular and is more for the novice and nervous riders out there, and it’s genuinely meant in the nicest way 🩷. It’s just something that’s been heavily on my mind for a while, because I’ve seen the impact it can have on young horses when riders aren’t fully prepared. 😓

When you send a young horse away for backing, the hope is always that they’ll come home well-started, happy, and ready to begin their ridden career… that’s our priority and the goal with every horse here! 🥰

But, what happens next when they go home is equally important… and sometimes, this is where problems begin!

There’s been a huge rise in people buying youngsters because it’s a lot cheaper than buying an older more experienced horse, but unfortunately not everyone is at the standard of riding needed to bring these young horses on.
A common misconception that I am starting to see more often is: “I rode when I was younger, so I’ll be fine.” But a 10, 15, or 20 year gap away from riding means your balance, reactions, and muscle memory aren’t where they used to be. Riding your friends super safe plod or a well-schooled riding school horse in a lesson is VERY different from sitting on a green youngster who is still learning the ropes and what a rider even is.

Another mistake I see is people thinking: “we’ll learn together.” It sounds romantic, but in reality, green on green makes black and blue, and it’s almost always the horse who pays the price or gets blamed. Young horses don’t need a rider who is also figuring things out. They need someone consistent, confident, and kind, who gives them clear signals and helps them learn how to carry a rider with ease.

Here’s why it matters:
- A young horse’s back is still developing. Landing heavily in the saddle, bouncing, or riding out of balance can cause long-term discomfort and even physical damage.
- Green horses are like sponges. They quickly absorb habits, both good and bad. If you ride with unsteady hands and sock them in the mouth when you lose your balance, they can learn to fear or resent the contact. If your aids are unclear, they can become confused, anxious, or resistant.
- Horses don’t understand “but I thought I asked correctly”… they only know how they felt in that moment. If what you asked didn’t make sense, their trust in you decreases… and it really doesn’t take much for a young horse to lose confidence. I’ve seen it happen in 10 minutes!

I always suggest riders watch themselves on video, it’s such a great tool that we all have these days!! What feels correct to you in the saddle often looks very different from the ground. That canter transition you thought you were sat up and asked calmly and clearly, might actually show that you tipped forward, kicked, and flapped like a lemon so your horse ran off in trot. The horse didn’t ignore you, they simply couldn’t make sense of what was being asked.

So, before you buy a young horse, please PLEASE ask yourself honestly:
- Am I balanced, fit, and confident enough to ride one consistently?
- If my horse spooks, am I confident enough to ride them forward up to the thing they’re spooking at and show them it’s not actually going to eat them? (I make them touch everything with their nose 😆)
- Do I have the support of a good trainer who can help me if I get stuck?
If you answered ‘No’ to any of the above, it’s hard and frustrating, but you might want to ask yourself the question below and really weigh up the options;
- Would an older, more experienced horse suit me better right now? Even if I don’t have the budget needed at the moment, would it be best to wait a little, save up and get it right?

Backing and producing young horses is one of the most rewarding parts of riding and I’m very lucky and honoured that I get to start them on their journey ♥️ but it also comes with huge responsibility. They only get one first experience under saddle, and that will shape them for life.

If you genuinely care about your horse’s welfare, the best gift you can give them is being totally honest about your own ability. I know that’s going to be a hard pill for some people to swallow 😓 but sometimes the kindest decision is to wait until you’re truly ready, or to spend that time and money investing in your own lessons and coaching first. Then, when the right time comes, you’ll be prepared to give that youngster the confident, supportive start they deserve, and you’ll both be able to enjoy the journey safely and successfully! 😉

04/08/2025

Taking on new clients 🐎
Pm me for more details!