BHS Link for CPD Feedback form
For more information, take a look at The Psychology of Horsemanship book by Claire Lilley.
The Psychology of Horsemanship Webinar with Claire Lilley
Claire and Perdido at the GBPRE Show Hartpury 2025
Perdido and I had a lovely time at the GBPRE Show at Hartpury this July. We gained a lot of confidence from competing here last year, so my goal was to improve on last time. This is a short summary or our experience.
My top tips would be:
- Practice feeling relaxed all the time – handling, riding, to give you horse confidence in you.
- Train for everything- dressage tests, loading, in-hand work, and get running. Sadly my running skills were not up to keeping up with Perdido, so I did let him down.
- Get used to your wearing your Spanish gear- tack and clothes. Including appropriate underwear. (Thank goodness for M&S ‘hold it all in pants!)
- practice getting your chaps done up (I knocked my time down to about 10 minutes from half an hour!)
- Practice plaiting. By the last day of the show, my skills were quit passable.
- Pack your grooming kit with everything you need to hand (including mints.
- Drink water. All the prep-mucking out, running around with your trolley-is very thirsty work, so stay hydrated. Mind you, make sure you go to the loo before donning said control pants- I sympathise with the corset wearers of olden days who fainted a lot!)
- Get a festival trolley to cart everything around (last year I had a squeaky wheelbarrow which drove everyone mad!)
Upgrading the horse lorry two weeks before the show added a bit of logistical stress, with putting everything in the right place for grabbing at the right moment.With wine stashed in the wardrobe, and food rammed into the tiny fridge, all angles were covered. The cutlery draw was just the right size for phones, keys and polos!
The planning paid off, ensuring calm transitions between events, with time for a sit down and a beer (kept under the sink) with my ever-patient husband in between, filming our progress.
Perdido is now an old hand at these away-shows, and was totally chilled throughout. Although I looked so serious in all the photos, I did actually enjoy it all! It was so lovely meeting up with old friends and enjoying showing our lovely horses.
After a long drive home, it was lovely getting back to recover: to the peace and quiet, and enjoying a hack around the fields. It took a couple of days to unpack the lorry again!
Book Reviews The Psychology of Horsemanship by Claire Lilley
I am thrilled to have such lovely reviews this month from both Equestrian Trade News and Therapy Today. It is so exciting that this book appeals to both the horse world and the mental health profession! I learned so much more writing it: a real learning curve which has given me a greater understanding of my horses, and myself as a human being, horse owner and rider.
The Rider’s Hands
The Rider’s hands
Our hands are so important when we ride. Your hands are a direct link to your horse’s mouth Paying attention to the feel of the horse’s mouth in our fingers is key to understanding him.
What do our hands tell us?
- Feel through your fingers if he is relaxed, or tense.
- Notice if he calmly mouthing the bit or resisting.
- Resistence in his mouth indicstes tension in his body. A tense horse will not relax his back and work through to the bit.
- If your horse is unsettled to the contact, firstly check your hand position is steady with supple wrists.
Check for tension in your hands
- Are your fingers relaxed, and able to hoild the reins without gripping.
- Tension in your hands can also transfer to your forearms and shoulders.
- Maintaining a steady, elastic contact is very dependent on your hand position, and awareness of each finger.
Hand stretches to do before you ride
- With your hands in riding position, clench your fists, and release again. As you do this, you may feel your shoulders and forearms tighten. Release the tension in your hands and feel your shoulders and arms relax.
- Circle your wrists in both directions. Notice if you have one wrist more stiff than the other. Repeat a few times.
Press the palms of your the hands together, and then your fingers, giving them a good stretch. Peel your hands away again. Repeat a few times.- Clench your fists tightly with your fingers pressed together. Then open your hand and spread your fingers wide apart to give them a really good stretch.
- To finish, stand in riding position with your hands correctly placed in front of you with your elbows by your sides.
Finally, breath calmly, and imagne the feel that you want to give to the horse, and how your horse would ideally feel in your hands.
Then take this feeling with you on to your horse.
For further details on looking closely at the rider’s position and aids, go to:
Stop, Go, Turn Book and Training Programme DVD by Claire Lilley
On-Line Horse and Rider Training
On-line Horse and Rider Training
Schedule a live session with me on Zoom.
Book a coaching session (no horse required) to talk through training issues. If you have a film of you and your horse in action (15 mins max), please send it to me beforehand and we can plan your future progress.
Book a ridden lesson via Zoom. I will send you a link so I can teach you live with your horse. You will need to film your lesson via your phone/iPad. (You will require a clear internet signal.)
Contact me to arrange your training session.