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Equestrian Reality There are things they don't tell you in stable management books! www.equestrianreality.com

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My aim in life is to be happy. What makes me happy? Horses, writing, photography and chocolate. Welcome to my world.

I always think the thing about good customer service is it’s not about things not going wrong, it’s about what happens w...
23/06/2025

I always think the thing about good customer service is it’s not about things not going wrong, it’s about what happens when something goes wrong and what you do about it! ☺️

Recently, I ordered a stable guard with embroidery off - I’ve always wanted one and love green so got it for our trip. I’d explained it was for the trip and planned to collect it last Tuesday.

As it turned out, due to a delay with a third party, it wouldn’t be ready until the next day. They were completely honest about this delay and apologised - while I was disappointed it’s a compete first world problem so I said it’s ok I’ll get it after the trip as I wouldn’t be there the next day.

Immediately Rebecca said oh no problem, I’ll get that over to the venue for you so that it’s there for you when you arrive. It actually got there before me! 😮

What fantastic customer service and a great example of fixing an issue by thinking outside the 📦 box!

Thanks Rebecca 💚 Sammy and I love it 😍

I bought my stable guard off the Tailored Equestrian website (or you can pop into the shop in Johnstown) they also do the curtains in several colours and you can get both embroidered.

My only issue is Oisin is looking jealous so I might need to get him his own for his next adventures 😅

Earlier this season was like you know how you love freestyle and you did music for and earlier this year - do you wa...
23/06/2025

Earlier this season was like you know how you love freestyle and you did music for and earlier this year - do you want to come to one of the shows? Eh YES 🙌🏻 😂

So we went to for the 3 day dressage festival. Gorgeous venue with the most incredibly helpful team in charge!

Sammy was a superstar to travel and we rode 6 tests over 3 days which was a big ask especially in some varied weather! ☀️ ☔️ I try and keep him pretty fit so I figured this was a good test of how physically and mentally fit he is. Riding the same tests a few times was massively beneficial. . I won’t lie I managed to c**k the music up the first day which is my own fault as I’m so careful when it’s someone else’s and need to give myself the same consideration - I did after!

Sammy gave 100%, got on with the other horses, walked in hand and rode with manners. Best of all he seemed happy and relaxed.

It was our first time doing so that was exciting! The aim was to try and get decent scores - I’m shocked to say we qualified for area festivals at medium and medium freestyle! I think the company wore off on me - we had a very successful little crew! Georgia and Jupiter smashed it on Saturday they won both their elementary tests 🥇 🥇 then took second 🥈and 🥉 yesterday! So that’s them qualified too. Barbara and Scout danced their way to qualification too in the advanced medium freestyle with big scores! 🎶

As for - I’m not sure what to say. 😮I watched this woman drive a lorry through the night, coach every one of us through every single test all day the next day and then bang out a winning Grand Prix test that evening with 67%. 👌Then, she went and did the same thing again the next day two days with another win and a second both over 65%! 🙌🏻🥇🥈

I’m at home now enjoying a day off and Sammy is chilling in the field. Thanks so much Jo, Barbara, Lynn and Georgia for a fabulous week!!

Last week, Sammy and I went on an adventure to the UK with friends ⛴️ 🐴.Thing is, we almost didn’t! 😱Sammy travelled to ...
23/06/2025

Last week, Sammy and I went on an adventure to the UK with friends ⛴️ 🐴.

Thing is, we almost didn’t! 😱

Sammy travelled to the UK last year but my vets explained some rules had since changed. So we made sure he was stamped out of the food chain on his passport and I did the same after via the agency who issued his passport.

I then hit a bizarre situation. The agency who issued his passport are in the Uk and closed their Irish branch years ago and can’t access the system the Irish department / vets / transporters use but as they gave him an Irish not UK chip, nor could HSI!

Now at this stage I told the others to crack on without me as it was a minefield but wouldn’t hear of it, rescheduled the ferry and said do what you can 😅 now, I’m hardly going to the Olympics but I had to get the passport issue sorted either way to be able to apply for Home Nations. Thanks Cill Dara Sporthorses and and EquiTrace for all the advice and help in contacting the right people.

Huge thanks to the team at who did absolutely everything to help. I know some people have had delays and issues in the past but personally I couldn’t have been treated better. I was on to them all day, they contacted the department for me, got me to send on all evidence and rang me back several times to update me when I kept getting cut off up back roads with no signal to avoid traffic to collect my passport from Wicklow and get it to them. They managed to re register him on the system for me, update his passport, update the department and vets and even made me a cup of tea as I was stressed 😅 ☕️

For anyone travelling abroad, be aware that the rules have changed and If like me your passport was via UK passport agency (who were also v helpful just don’t have access to our systems), give yourself time to contact HSI in advance and get sorted!

Use this link to check your UELN - regardless of what’s on the physical passport or issuing agency systems it needs to match here

https://equine-chipcheck.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/

One of my other horses is stamped out on his green Irish book for example since 2016 but when my vet checked he is still not marked out on the link above - I queried this via HSI who explained it’s because the new rules mean the stamping has to be on the medications page (stamps on the other page won’t suffice, his is on the marking page for example from years ago), and must signed by the vet. If in doubt, check the link and then your vet. Thanks Bramhams of Buckingham and EquiVET Ireland for being on the ball and giving me a heads up on this in the first place!


Dressage Ireland

20/06/2025

How fab are the newest Equieire launch “The Belt”.

3 interchangeable buckles(rose gold, gold and silver), 1 belt, endless opportunities to style ✨

Available on our website .com

OMFG Some self gifting will be happening!!!I had this doll as a child - She-Ra was epic 😍 I still have a She-Ra mug. She...
15/06/2025

OMFG

Some self gifting will be happening!!!

I had this doll as a child - She-Ra was epic 😍 I still have a She-Ra mug.

She was just the full package
✅ Swishy hair
✅ A sword
✅ A HORSE
✅ A horse that turned into a horse with wings!!!
✅ Proper back story
✅ Good friends
✅ Great enemies

I remember my granny asking me what my She-Ra doll “did”. I mean, saves the frickin universe weekly for a start?!

My day job is nothing to do with horses or social media or marketing. It’s technically operations management but mainly ...
15/06/2025

My day job is nothing to do with horses or social media or marketing.

It’s technically operations management but mainly data investigation - trawling through technical issues, spotting patterns, fixing problems, predicting behaviours.

Basically, im a nerd and I like it 😂 honestly, systems are easier to understand than humans, as are animals.

ADHD people have great pattern recognition- If your stuck with one of us as a friend or partner you will already know this as we will wreck your head predicting what someone will do next or guessing the plot of a movie or tv show. I remember saying to my brother once - “you know when your in a situation and your mentally mapping out their possible next moves like a chess game and predicting which is most probable and the counter move” and he was like “no, your just a weirdo” 😂🤦‍♀️ anyway, I’ve capitalised on my brain and it lets me afford horses so win win.

A colleague who works on a project did ask me the other day “what the f*** is a four non blonde error”??

I explained it’s when you see something weird that you can’t figure out and you hope it’s a one off but then you find more and you still can’t work out and you just want to scream “what’s going on?!?!” 😂😂😂

Unexpected item in jumping area!! Pumpkin 🎃 decided that I needed an assistant today and appointed herself 😂 ...
15/06/2025

Unexpected item in jumping area!!

Pumpkin 🎃 decided that I needed an assistant today and appointed herself 😂

Massive congratulations to from winning the emerging business award Watching Equieire grow from a concept into a powe...
15/06/2025

Massive congratulations to from winning the emerging business award

Watching Equieire grow from a concept into a powerful business has been amazing. Many people won’t realise that Emma IS Equieire - she’s the heart and soul and she never stops innovating and aspiring.

I’ve loved being involved in this brand as I believe in what it stands for. Equieire aims to bring products designed for riders to riders using recycled fabrics.

So often it could have been quicker, cheaper and easier to choose other fabrics but that’s not the ethos of the business. Sustainability is key - it’s about quick thinking, not fast fashion.

The product testing process is one I and some others are involved in and it’s in depth and honest. Nothing is ordered until it meets the brief and the quality is just right. Emma has a vision and she holds herself accountable every time.

When you buy Equieire (Equieire.com), you are buying products from an Irish business made from sustainable, recycled fabrics designed with riders comfort in mind.

Im proud to say I am a brand ambassador - use code LK10 for ten percent off.

When the rain causes the show to be cancelled so you head to for breakfast instead 👌😍 heaven. Have been amazed at all...
15/06/2025

When the rain causes the show to be cancelled so you head to for breakfast instead 👌😍
heaven.

Have been amazed at all the insane videos of people showjumping in the monsoon - dressage riders would never 😂😱

My Oisin 😍Thanks so much for these amazing photos of him! We had an amazing test Saturday and finally broke 70% 🥰🙌🏻Sund...
13/06/2025

My Oisin 😍

Thanks so much for these amazing photos of him!

We had an amazing test Saturday and finally broke 70% 🥰🙌🏻

Sunday was not as good (some rider issues) but we still managed a decent score which is brilliant! 🤩

Oisin has been competing at elementary this season as I had an injury earlier in the year and couldn’t manage sitting trot on him. Well arguably I could but there’s nothing I hate to see more than someone reducing a horse’s ability to go forwards for their own comfort so I refuse to do it. I do sitting Trot on Sammy but let’s remember he is as comfortable as a couch and has the same level of cadence 😅

It was a silly injury (aren’t they always?) but I’ve learned I should have played rugby in my youth as by f**k can I shoulder the ground like a pro 😂

Im on the mend now thanks to plenty of time and help so hope to get back to medium now this summer.

Oisin finds elementary quite confusing as he is convinced it’s canter walk canter, or it’s canter trot canter on a circle (which it was last year in the home nations) he feels it’s definitely not canter trot canter change the rein mainly as I don’t always get the aids on quickly enough to persuade him differently when he anticipates 😂 he was so good all weekend in terms of his attitude and his work ethic is honestly always second to none, he always wants to show up and play ball.

Huge thanks to im a huge natural medicine fan and her lovely mam made me an incredible pain and muscle balm several times this year. I’ve used so many over the years and they are hit and miss but this stuff is unreal - it’s made tailored to each person and honestly If you suffer with muscle pain and stiffness I’d recommend to get in touch. I hate taking painkillers or anti inflammatories unless I have to so this was a game changer!

Huge thanks also to for coming to my rescue recently on the tack front for Oisin!

Competition Outfits 🤍
Olivia white breeches, Equieire belt, Ella show shirt
Antares helmet
bridle

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Our Story

My aim in life is to be happy. What makes me happy? Horses, dogs, writing, photography and chocolate. Welcome to my world - we’re all mad here.

I use my website and page to document the reality of life with horses - its often hard and frustrating but we equestrians all live for the days where it is rewarding and no matter what is thrown at us most of us wouldn’t change it for the world. Horses are such a passion that they bring together like minded people and my truest friendships were founded upon it. Sharing a laugh or a good day with like minded friends is the cure for many things.

I used to be a very anxious competitor especially over fences. Over the past few years I have really pushed myself as a rider and as a coach. I’ve realised it is never too late to learn or to improve and that there is a lot to be gained from helping others to do the same.

Being a ‘blogger’ often comes with negative connotations and people can be quick to judge or pass remarks. It’s something I’ve made a conscious effort to block out recently as negativity helps no one and someone who judges others has their own issues that you don’t need to be involved in. This is my own journey with horses and if it helps someone else or gives them a laugh then I am delighted. I try to see and bring out the best in my horses and to take every opportunity that comes my way as none of us ever know how many we will get so grab them all with both hands!