Back between the boards: our return to dressage with Rebel

It felt good to be back between the boards with Rebel. After a break from competing, even getting to the warm-up felt like a milestone.

Getting out the yard gate

Competition days start a long time before you ride down the centre line. There are plaits to put in, boots to zip up and a horse to get off the trailer.

Rebel had spent part of the summer with my trainer, Imogen. Watching her ride him had given me a different view of a horse I normally see from between his ears. This time I was the one getting on, gathering up the reins and heading into the warm-up.

Back between the boards

There’s a moment before a test when all the jobs you’ve been thinking about fall away and you can just ride. That was the part I’d missed. Once I was in the arena with Rebel, I could settle into the test and enjoy being out with him again.

The spare pair in my bag

I packed a spare pair of socks in my competition bag. It’s a small thing, but if the pair I’m wearing gets damp or muddy before I ride, I’ve got a dry pair ready to go under my boots.

With my long boots, I like a finer knit through the leg so the fabric sits smoothly under the zip. That’s one of the things we think about with our competition socks. How much room you have inside your boots makes a difference, especially if you’re changing between breeches of different weights. You can find our competition range in the riding sock shop.