Come Ride With Me

We spend so much time chasing outcomes in the horse world. We celebrate ribbons, scores, smooth rides, and milestones. But what if those aren’t the things that truly shape us—or our horses? In this episode of  The Thinking Horse & Rider , I explore why the process matters far more than the outcome. Your horse isn’t simply learning from you; they’re revealing who you already are. Every ride exp...

Is it too hot to ride your horse? The answer isn’t as simple as checking the thermometer. As a former collegiate athletic trainer, I learned that heat safety isn’t about comfort—it’s about physiology. In this episode, I compare modern sports medicine protocols used by the NCAA, NFL, Olympic athletes, and the military with the way we think about heat in the horse world. You’ll learn why temperature...

What does it really mean to be a leader for your horse? For decades, riders have been taught that safety depends on being the “boss”—that horses need a dominant leader who controls every situation. But is that how horses actually live? In this episode of  The Thinking Horse and Rider , I sit down with Kim Hallin of Unbridled LLC, author of  Horse Wisdom , to explore what horse ethology tells us ab...

We’re all traumatized. Now what? After a question at Happy Horse Camp about what “trauma lens” I work from, I found myself reflecting on my childhood, my years as a 911 dispatcher, and the many theories I’ve studied—from learning theory and neuroscience to polyvagal theory and psychology. What I’ve learned is that no single framework explains every horse or every human. In this episode, we explore...

One of the most common pieces of horse training advice is, "Don't let the horse win." But what if that mindset is creating more fear, more tension, and more problems than it solves? In this episode, Anna explores what really happens when riders get off after something goes wrong, why punishing a horse for being afraid often backfires, and how nervous system regulation impacts learnin...

Do you think your horse needs to be tired to be good? A lot of riders have been taught that a tired horse is a relaxed horse. So we lunge them first, ride them down, or keep them moving until they “settle.” But exhaustion is not relaxation — and in the long run, it often creates fitter, more frustrated horses instead of calmer ones. In this episode, Anna dives into the concepts of Reflex to Relax...

What if the missing piece in horse training isn’t more pressure, more control, or better technique… but relaxation? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider Podcast, I’m sharing why I created the Happy Horse (and Human) Experience at Shining River Ranch and the deeper philosophy behind it. Most riders learn mechanics, positions, corrections, and patterns in riding lessons. But very few of u...

How many times have you heard the phrase “inside leg to outside rein”… but still secretly had no idea what it was supposed to FEEL like? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, I’m breaking down 3 simple exercises that help riders finally understand the connection between the inside hind leg, outside shoulder, and outside aids — not just intellectually, but physically. Using everything fr...

In this bonus Ten Minute Tuesday episode of  The Thinking Horse and Rider , Anna shares two simple horse training experiments designed to improve self-carriage, confidence, autonomy, and connection between horse and rider. After forgetting to include the weekly experiment in the previous episode on autonomy with Elizabeth Reicks, Anna returns with two practical exercises you can try with your hors...

What if your horse isn’t inconsistent… but just hasn’t been allowed to think for themselves? In this episode of  The Thinking Horse and Rider , we dive into  horse autonomy —what it really means, why it matters, and how it can completely change your riding experience. I’m joined by Elizabeth Reicks, founder of Hatha Equus, to explore how giving horses more  choice, responsibility, and freedom with...

Is your horse lazy—or just confused? In this episode, we explore how to motivate your horse using the Energy Ladder, helping you create clearer communication, better forward energy, and true self-carriage. Learn why more pressure isn’t the answer, how inconsistent energy creates dull or reactive horses, and how to develop a responsive, willing partner through timing, feel, and release. Want help a...

When most riders hear “playfulness” in horse training, they picture liberty work, toys, or something that feels… optional. But what if play isn’t extra at all? What if it’s actually one of the most effective ways to prepare your horse’s body, mind, and nervous system for riding? In this episode, I sit down with Giorgia Ghizzoni, co-founder of Hatha Equus, to explore what playfulness really means—a...

Ever feel like everything just falls apart when you ride? One moment you feel capable… and the next you’re thinking, “I have no idea what I’m doing right now.” You didn’t forget how to ride. Your brain just got overwhelmed. In this episode of  The Thinking Horse and Rider , we break down what’s really happening when your brain “goes offline” in the saddle—and how to find your way back. You’ll lear...

Do you ever feel like your horse just isn’t listening… no matter how clearly you ask? Most riders assume they have a training problem. But more often than not, it’s actually a communication problem. In this episode of  The Thinking Horse and Rider , we dive into what’s really going on when your horse feels resistant, tense, or “uncooperative”—and why taking it personally might be the very thing sh...

What kind of relationship would you want to be in if you were never allowed to say no? It’s a question that stops a lot of horse people in their tracks — and it’s exactly where this conversation begins. In this episode of  The Thinking Horse and Rider Podcast , Anna Fox continues exploring the foundations behind  Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart  with  Seed 3: Relational Consistency . Most...

Many riders spend years trying to perfect their aids — better hands, better leg, better timing. But there’s one piece of the conversation with your horse that often gets missed. Awareness. Before your horse ever feels pressure or responds to a cue, they experience  you  — your posture, your breath, your emotional tone, and the energy you bring into the interaction. In this episode, I’m sharing a c...

What if your horse isn’t being difficult… What if you’re just seeing the situation from the wrong point of view? In this episode, I sit down with former competitive dressage rider turned animal communicator Angie Morin to talk about what it really means to see the world through your horse’s eyes. We explore: • Why horses start with whispers — not “bad behavior” • The difference between correcting...

If your horse isn’t progressing, it might not be a training problem. In this episode, I’m joined by dressage trainer Elaine Hayes of Partnership Dressage to explore why true Awareness is the foundation of sustainable performance. We talk about what we’re actually taught in the horse world — and what we’re not — including how behavior can be a clue, how pain and discomfort are often misinterpreted,...

What are the most important horsemanship skills that riding lessons never teach you? In this powerful conversation, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened is joined by lifelong friend and former professional groom Ellen Peebles to explore the seven missing pieces in traditional riding instruction. From awareness and energy to relational consistency, autonomy, and leadership in flow, they unpack what truly...

Do horses understand competition—or is “don’t let them win” a human projection? In this episode of  The Thinking Horse and Rider , Anna explores  Leadership in Flow  and why dominance-based ideas about leadership don’t align with how horses actually think and learn. Drawing from equine behavior science and real-world riding examples, this conversation challenges the myth that horses are trying to...

What if autonomy is the very thing that makes horses  safer , more confident, and more capable of true self-carriage? In this episode, we dive into the concept of autonomy through both lived experience and research—specifically a study exploring the relationship between horse welfare, rider safety, and rider satisfaction. What surprised me most was discovering that what researchers often call “con...

In this episode, Anna sits down with biomechanics and adaptive riding instructor  Teresa Pilegaard  to explore how riders can move beyond the old obedience-based training model and build true partnership with their horses. Teresa shares insights on rider biomechanics, nervous system regulation, groundwork, and why so many riders get pushed past their experience level. Together, they break down how...

What if the simplest thing your horse can do—stand still—was actually the foundation of everything you’ll ever teach them? In this episode, Anna dives into how true self-carriage begins with the simplest asks and why the classical masters (and the best modern trainers) all agree: advanced work is just the basics, done better. You’ll learn why returning to fundamentals isn’t regression, it’s refine...

What if your horse doesn’t need a boss — but a calm, clear partner? In this episode, Anna explores  Seed Two: Empathic Discipline  and why real leadership isn’t about control. Drawing from her time as a 911 dispatcher and lessons inside her RRR cohort, she shares how to stay present with your horse without losing yourself in guilt, fear, or perfectionism. For riders ready to lead with clarity inst...

In this episode of  The Thinking Horse & Rider Podcast , Anna Fox of  Equus Enlightened  explores the deeper layers of rider awareness — beyond reading your horse’s body language and into recognizing how our own fears, habits, and control patterns shape every ride. We talk about the quiet “sins” of good riders: the ways we unintentionally limit our horses’ freedom, the contradiction between ou...