YOUR HORSE’S BODY CLOCK

Why the overnight hours matter more than you think We spend a lot of time perfecting the concentrate feeds and worrying about what happens in the day when we're around the barn. For many of us, the ten or twelve hours in between, the overnight stretch, mostly look after themselves. However, new research suggests these…

BylizzieJune 24, 20260Comments

Horse and Rider

THE DSA CHALLENGE – NATIONAL DRESSAGE WITHOUT THE ROAD TRIP

For most South African dressage riders, 'competing nationally' has always come with a catch: the cost, the kilometres and the stress of loading a horse onto a truck and sending it across the country. The DSA Challenge was built to solve exactly that, and more than two decades on, it remains one of the quietly…

BylizzieJune 22, 20260Comments

Horse Health

ASKHQ: CURB ON THE HOCK

AskHQ: I’ve been told my horse has a curb on his hock. What does this mean? A: A curb on a horse’s hock is a form of soft tissue swelling or thickening that appears just below the point of the hock, at the back of the leg. It’s usually caused by strain or injury to the…

BylizzieMay 11, 20260Comments

A confirmational image of a chestnut quarter horse standing on a gravel road alert and fully tacked up in brown western tack

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: CONSIDERING QUITTING COMPETING

Q: I'm considering giving up competing because the anxiety isn't worth it. How do I decide if I should push through or quit? A: This is a deeply personal decision that only you can make. Some important questions to consider: Is competing something you genuinely want to do, or are you doing it because you feel…

BylizzieMarch 11, 20260Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: DOES SAYING I’M NERVOUS MAKE ME SEEM WEAK?

Q: Should I tell people I'm nervous, or will that make me look weak? A: Being nervous doesn't make you weak, it makes you human. In fact, vulnerability often connects people. When you admit 'I'm feeling really nervous,' you often discover others feel the same way but were also hiding it. Suddenly you're not alone;…

BylizzieMarch 8, 20260Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: MANAGING WARM UP ARENA NERVES

Q: What should I do in the warm-up arena to manage my nerves? I feel like everyone is watching me. A: First, the reassuring reality: almost no one is watching you. They're focused on their own horses, their own nerves, and their own warm-up. Everyone in that warm-up arena is managing their own anxiety; they're…

BylizzieMarch 6, 20260Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: HOW TO STOP COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHER RIDERS

Q: I watch other riders and think everyone else is so much better than me. How do I stop comparing myself and feeling inadequate? A: Comparison is called the 'thief of joy' for good reason. It's also remarkably unproductive. You're comparing your internal experience (all your doubts, mistakes, and struggles) with other people's external appearance…

BylizzieMarch 5, 20260Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: CAN YOU LEARN TO BE CONFIDENT?

Q: My trainer says I need to 'just be confident,' but I don't know how to make myself feel confident. Can confidence be learned? A: Absolutely, confidence can be developed systematically. While 'just be confident' isn't helpful advice, understanding that confidence comes from competence, preparation, and experience gives you a roadmap. Build competence: Genuine confidence comes…

BylizzieMarch 4, 20260Comments

Horse Channel

ASKHQ: ANXIOUS TO RETURN TO A SHOW AFTER A BAD EXPERIENCE

Q: I had a bad experience at a show, and now I'm terrified to go back. How do I rebuild confidence? A: Recovering from a negative experience requires patience and a graduated approach. Your brain has learned 'shows equal danger,' and you need to carefully teach it otherwise. Pushing too hard too fast can reinforce…

BylizzieMarch 3, 20260Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: MANAGING PHYSICAL ANXIETY AT A SHOW

Q: I get so nervous before my class that I feel sick. How do other riders manage this physical anxiety? A: Physical symptoms of anxiety - nausea, shaking, racing heart, sweating - are unpleasant but manageable. Understanding that these sensations are your body preparing for action, not signs of danger, helps you reframe them. Your…

BylizzieMarch 2, 20260Comments

HQ Newsletter