Heads up, heels down.
Horse riding is often seen as a sport for only the middle class with the assumption that all horse owners have a lot of money. Some riders may just have a horse for a hobby, whilst other’s see it as their job. Within the sport itself, there are rivalry’s of disciplines with each rider defending their discipline. Behind the scenes of one of the middle class sports is a reality of alarms set before sunrise, frozen fingers, messy hair and mud that gets absolutely everywhere. The reality of owning a horse is just like any other sport, with a dedicated rider comes great success. Throughout this book are three different disciplines; dressage, racing and show jumping. The images are documenting just a small part of the riders daily routine. The reality of the horse lifestyle is highlighted in the reality of a sweating horse, muddy boots and messy yards as opposed to the spotless sport we once may have thought.
Horse riding for many is a lifestyle, when choosing horses holidays, nights out and much of a social life outside of horses is sacrificed as you have to be committed fully to the horses. They require a lot of care, hours of mucking out, grooming, feeding. Every day, even Christmas Day. The sport brings so much happiness and thrill to the riders. The joy of seeing an improvement of a youngster, the confidence in yourself growing and the friendships formed over failure and success. The blood, the sweat, the tears all being worth it when you finally crack the problems you have been having makes it all worth it. There’s nothing quite like having the view between a horses ears, for myself it’s the only place I can really shut off from the world and relax. It’s the place where I get great inspiration and the place where I feel like myself. I couldn’t imagine a life without horses now. - Sammie Palmer
Hartpury 19.10.2020
“There is no secret so close as that between a rider and her horse� - Robert Smith
“Somewhere behind the athlete that you have become and the hours of practise and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the sport and never looked back� - Mia Ham
Hartpury 27.10.2020
Hartpury 13.12.2020
“A barn is a sanctuary in a unsettled world, a sheltered place where life’s true priorities are clear. When you take a step back, it’s not just about horses. It’s about love, life and learning. When I am at the barn nothing else matters.” - Uknown
Winchcombe 23.10.2020
“You’ve got three choices in life: Give up, give in or give it all you’ve got” - Uknown
“Sometimes it’s worth getting up early”
Leominster 03.11.2020
“There is no better place to heal a broken heart than on the back of a horse�
- Missy Lyons
“What if I fall? But oh my darling, what if you fly?�
- Erin Hanson
“Some horses will test you, some will teach you and some will bring out the best in you.�
Soft hands, steady legs, strong mind.
“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in a saddle� - Wintson Churchill
Stroud 28.11.2020
“Behind every great athlete is a masterful coach that inspires the athlete to to evolve into the strongest performer they can become.� - Cathy Engelbert
“Behind every young child who believes in herself is a parent who believed first� - Matthew L Jacobson
“There is something about jumping a horse over a fence, something that makes you feel good. Perhaps it’s the risk, the gamble. In ay event it’s a thing I need.” - William Faulkner
Leominster 03.12.2020
“Be a stiletto in a room full of flats”
-Georgia Hunt