Confident Rider

06/01/2026

Put a field of young horses in front of you and the maths is brutal.

Some won’t survive long enough to matter, injury, mismanagement, bad luck, bad decisions. Finished before they’ve even begun.

Some will be bought and rushed by people who haven’t a clue. Others by people who absolutely do and cut corners anyway. Some will be sat on by riders with tempers shorter than the horse’s education, riding fear, ego and impatience instead of balance or timing.

A very small number will ever land in the hands of someone with the skill, patience and emotional control to let a young horse develop without being frightened, punished or forced through confusion.

The truth is uncomfortable but simple, there are far more potentially good young horses in the world than there are humans capable of producing them well.

And the worst part? It’s usually the horse that gets blamed for the mistakes humans make.

And the most dangerous people of all?
The ones who don’t know they’re out of their depth and don’t have the self awareness to listen when it’s pointed out. And that? That’s a real problem.

That’s not bad luck.
That’s a system problem.

05/01/2026

In the deep mid-winter,
when the ground is iron hard,
Water buckets freeze solid,
and the dark comes far too fast.

Steam rises from warm nostrils,
rugged backs beneath the stars,
Hands numb through soggy gloves,
mud somehow everywhere — not just the yard.

The arena is a mirror,
the lanes a test of nerve,
You question all your life choices
as you trudge out “just to check” (again).

The horses stand unmoved by it all.
Unbothered.
Fed.
Watching you like this is perfectly normal behaviour.

They do not mark the days.
They only know:

hay arrives

water matters

you came back

In the deep mid-winter,
there are no rosettes,
summer dreams that feel very far away,
no pressure to progress.

Just care.
Consistency.
Showing up when it’s cold and thankless and quiet.

And somehow —
this is where the bond deepens.

In frozen mornings and last checks at night.
In shared breath in the dark.
In choosing them, again and again,
when no one is watching.

This is not the glamorous season.
This is the faithful one.

In the deep mid-winter,
love looks like hay,
and warmth,
and turning the lights off knowing
they are safe.

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas everyone 🎄🎉

A big festive cheer to everyone who has been mucking out as usual, despite it being Christmas day! Make time for a lovely lunch... before evening stables calls!!!🙈🎅🍾

02/12/2025

Such a sad day [for Dressage] and Horse lovers everywhere.Our thoughts go out to all concerned 🙏

Sleep well Blueberry and Uti, two of the greatest horses of our generation.

It is with immense sadness that we have said goodbye to Valegro and Uthopia and without question, this is a loss that just feels hard to comprehend.

Trying to write a tribute to these two horses feels harder than I imagined. The yard just doesn’t feel the same without them, there’s an emptiness in the air.

Valegro and Uthopia did more than win medals and write history, they gave our sport a golden era. They both showed that greatness can be gentle, sensitive and harmonious and they made a nation proud and inspired so many.

Being part of their journey will always remain one of my proudest achievements and the whole team and myself are deeply grateful for the joy they gave to us at home but also to their fans around the world.

Their entire lives ran in parallel; they travelled to the shows side by side, lived in neighbouring stables, grazed in the same fields and retired together. Their bond and companionship were absolute.

As life as old boys advanced, so too did the health challenges, so allowing them to leave this world together was the final act of loyalty and dignity I felt I could give them, honouring a partnership that had never been separated in life.

They leave behind a huge void, and the yard has changed forever and so have we. They were our family and I will love and miss them always. The impact they had will remain but sadly, we don’t get to keep horses forever.
We only get to carry what they leave inside us. And these two left us so much.

Carl x

Photo credit: Rose Lewis

23/11/2025

Wise words!
Keep riding your dreams.

📷 Michelle Art

06/11/2025

We talk about vehicle drivers the whole time, but some of my biggest spooks have been from cyclists! Im sure they don’t mean to scare a horse but the fast one whizz out of nowhere and the slow ones just creep up on you!!

Please share!!

04/11/2025

Tuesday thoughts...

27/10/2025

💥With November almost upon us, its time to educate people about the harmful effects of fireworks on lives, pets and horses. ‼️

If you are on a local village or town page, make sure you raise awareness to people who might not consider the ramifications of their back garden display. Most people wouldn't want to distress animals but just don't think it through!

Our local village put a simple post up last week, it just asked that anyone planning fireworks put a post up a few days before. This gives owners chance to plan for the event and move animals, be at the yard. leave a radio on etc.

Its not necessarily about stopping people enjoying themselves, more about asking them to consider others.

Stay safe this bonfire night 🙏

21/10/2025

Just a thought for a Tuesday afternoon...

20/10/2025

Some true words on this wet dreary Monday!

If you like our Page, feel free to pop over to our Confident Rider Group and chat with like minded equestrian people 🐎✨️

Horse riders: nervous/anxious/lost confidence

01/10/2025

🎃👻 *Beat Your Spooks!* 👻🎃

Are you a nervous horse rider feeling spooked in and out of the saddle?
This Halloween, it's time to face your fears and ride with confidence!

Join our group for nervous horse riders and become part of a supportive community. Whether it's jump scares in the arena or ghostly jitters on hacks, we're here to help you beat those spooky feelings with support and plenty of encouragement.

💀 **What you'll find:**
- **Fear-busting tips* from our members who are going through the same thing
- **Supportive discussions** for anxious moments
- **Fun Halloween challenges** to conquer your riding fears and give you motivation
- A safe place to share your experiences and progress

No tricks, just treats! 🎃👻

Join now and ride your way through the scariest season with confidence!

Horse riders: nervous/anxious/lost confidence

Confident Rider

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0892B9BRR/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_N2A951Q6GQYAKA28R6AB

13/09/2025

Can a saddle help with Confidence??

The simple answer, "yes"!

A correctly fitted saddle that not only fits your horse, but fits you is paramount. No slipping, sliding or "natural rock" , (long story).

Confident Rider are pleased to showcase an excellent saddle for those riders needing more security in the saddle or just wanting to feel more "held in place".

Based on a stock saddle but built in their own UK workshop on an English tree, those clever folks at The Saddle Exchange may have the perfect saddle for you.

As with all their saddles, they are adjustable and professionally fitted to your horse.

Our very own H U Owen discusses the benefits of this model.

For details please contact The Saddle Exchange, quoting Confident Rider.

https://youtu.be/GHXdneauHjk?si=055zzlsiuYNgXEqx

Discover expertly designed, well fitting saddles for all breeds and disciplines with Saddle Exchange, offering personalized solutions and a 14-day trial. Saddle fitting Nationwide