Devine Equine

Thanks to Erin, Derek and everyone Stracomer Riding Club for a great day of hard work amongst the showers yesterday.

Best wishes to everyone traveling to the AIRC festival this weekend too.

Hope this morning goes very well for you and best wishes to the Omagh riders too.

Thanks to everyone at Inishowen Riding Club for the flat work sessions over the last four weeks.

Was great to see everyone and their lovely horses again and good luck for the upcoming National Festival and the rest of the year ahead too. 😎🐴

Really looking forward to the Area 6 Training Day on Sunday. 🐴

Thanks again to Strule Valley Riding Club and best wishes to everyone for a great summer ahead.

Thankyou Mary Devine Equine & well done everyone 👌

Next up is showjumping training with W***y Anderson in April, Wednesday's 1st, 15th & 22nd. British Riding Clubs members spaces available

A horse doesn’t know the height of the rails, the color of the ribbon, or the prestige of the arena. They don’t carry the weight of yesterday’s mistakes or the anxiety of tomorrow’s jump-off. To them, there is only the rhythm of the stride and the clarity of the connection. They are the ultimate masters of being present. In a world obsessed with winning and losing, maybe the most important thing we can learn from them is how to simply be in the moment. Listen more. Overthink less.

Anyone requiring assistance with their bar 1
Or bar 2 theory and assessment do get in touch.

📢 For anyone looking for accredited coaches for the Bar 2 Assessment 🐎

Please see the link below from Horse Sport Ireland with the list of currently active accredited coaches.

⚠️ Please remember it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure their coach holds adequate insurance and the required certifications.

🔗 Full details and the list of coaches are available in the link below.

https://www.horsesportireland.ie/coaching-education-training/accredited-coaches/ Accredited Coaches -

This makes us look closer and deeper at each test!

When we study for an exam, one of the first things we usually look at is where the questions are coming from. Not all topics carry the same weight, and that changes how we prepare.

A dressage test is really no different.

Most riders learn the movements. Far fewer look at where the marks actually come from. But the test isn’t weighted randomly. The way the marks are distributed tells us what the level truly values.

If we zoom out and simply look at marks per pace, a clearer picture starts to emerge.
Each pace carries a percentage of the total score, and that weighting quietly tells us what the judge is being asked to assess.

For example, in Medium 4.2, there are 370 marks available:

Walk — 60 marks (16%)
Trot — 120 marks (32%)
Canter — 130 marks (35%)
Collectives — 60 marks (16%)

Looking a little deeper again:
• Trot includes 3 coefficient movements
• Walk includes 2
• Canter includes 4

So it’s worth pausing and asking, as both a rider and a judge:
❓ Is the walk carrying fewer movements, but greater risk?
❓ Does the canter hold the highest-value questions in the test?

Because judges aren’t simply marking movements. They’re recognising the qualities of training those movements reveal.

When riders start to understand the weighting, it becomes clearer why:
⛑️ a pure, confident walk is so carefully protected
🧱 a balanced, harmonious trot underpins everything that follows
↗️ and a correct canter becomes the foundation for developing collection

It’s easy to think we’re being scored on how well we performed a movement. But really, the test is structured to assess the training appropriate to the level.

And when riders ride with that understanding, the test stops feeling like a list to get through, and starts becoming an opportunity to show the work.

Which ultimately helps judges do exactly what they’re there to do: recognise training, skill, and correctness, not just patterns in the arena.

The is the most amazing Project. We have had the privilege to meet and engage with the most wonderful, determined and strong participants who have grown and flourished with the support of the Uplift Project.

🤝 Collaboration Announcement: The Uplift Project x Devine Equine

The Uplift Project is proud to collaborate with Devine Equine, led by the incredibly talented Mary Devine, a fully qualified Therapeutic Horse Riding Coach dedicated to supporting emotional wellbeing through the healing power of horses.

At the heart of this partnership is a shared mission: creating safe, nurturing spaces for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual abuse, trauma, and other life-altering challenges.

🌿 Why Equine Therapy?

Working alongside horses offers a unique and powerful pathway to healing. Horses are highly intuitive and responsive animals. They mirror emotions, respond honestly, and provide non-judgmental presence — something that can be profoundly impactful for those rebuilding trust and safety.

Benefits of equine-based support include:
🌟Rebuilding trust and healthy boundaries
🌟Developing emotional regulation skills
🌟Reducing symptoms of trauma and PTSD
🌟Improving confidence and self-worth
🌟Encouraging mindfulness and grounding
🌟Strengthening communication skills

For women and children who may struggle to articulate their experiences, horses provide connection without pressure. Healing can happen without having to retell the story.

💛 Supporting Wider Needs 💛
Mary at Devine Equine, and of course the stars of the show Molly and Benny 🐴 provide compassionate support for adults and children experiencing:

✨Anxiety
✨Depression
✨Autism and additional needs
✨Emotional and behavioural challenges

Therapeutic Riding and Equine Assisted Activities are gentle, holistic, and tailored to each individual — meeting them exactly where they are.

Together, The Uplift Project and Devine Equine are committed to empowering women and children to rediscover safety, strength, and self-belief.

If you would like to learn more about this collaboration or refer someone who may benefit, please get in touch today.

✨ Healing happens in connection ✨