Come Ride With Me

Most horse-and-rider problems don’t begin in the arena — they begin the moment we overlook the subtle ways our horses are already communicating with us. In this episode, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened introduces  The Thinking Horse & Rider Podcast  and explores how small shifts in awareness can transform your partnership. We’ll also talk about why boundaries matter, how to avoid both extremes (...

In this season finale of  Come Ride With Me , host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened answers a powerful listener question:  “Did my horse actually do evil on purpose?” This episode is a must-listen for perfectionist riders who feel stuck, frustrated, or disconnected from their horse. Anna breaks down the truth behind so-called “bad” horse behavior using insights from equine neuroscience, nervous syste...

Have you ever caught yourself grabbing the reins when you feel off balance? Maybe it’s not even conscious—you just realize later that your horse’s mouth became your safety net. Here’s the truth: if you’re balancing on your reins, you’re not riding with your seat. Ditch the reins for 5 minutes a day and improve your riding! Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at  www.equusenlightened.com Find me...

Feeling unbalanced in the saddle? You might be relying on your hands instead of your seat—and your horse can feel it. In this episode of  Come Ride With Me , host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened busts common riding position myths like “heels down” and “shoulders back,” explains why gripping the reins destroys feel, and shares simple, proven exercises to improve your balance, coordination, and rhythm...

Why Your Horse Won’t Try Anymore In this episode of  Come Ride With Me , we’re flipping the script on rider perfectionism and taking a hard look at how our need to control every moment — in and out of the saddle — can shut down our horse’s ability to think, learn, and self-regulate. From micromanagement to mistake-shaming, we explore why so many domestic horses struggle with emotional resilience a...

Obedience might get a response—but real partnership comes from dialogue. In this episode, we explore what it truly means to have a conversation with your horse. Anna shares the origin story of her “3 Questions That Build Partnership”—softness, responsiveness, and alignment—and how they can transform the way you ride, train, and connect. You’ll hear a personal story about Gus, the amazing horse who...

In this episode of  Come Ride With Me , I combine two powerful experiments—“Find the Rhythm” and “Make It Messy”—to show how letting go of control actually  creates  more clarity in the saddle. You’ll ride along with me and Namastee as we explore how to feel what’s happening, respond without overcorrecting, and use messy moments to build better communication. If you’ve ever felt stuck between want...

 Why Force Fails and Feel Wins Control might feel like safety, but in the saddle, it’s often one of the little things holding you—and your horse—back. In this episode of  Come Ride With Me , Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened unpacks the sneaky ways force shows up in riding (hint: it’s not just harsh bits or whips). We’ll explore how perfectionism drives us to override instead of  ride with , and why f...

In this episode of  Come Ride With Me , we’re throwing perfectionism out of the saddle and riding straight into the messy, beautiful truth: your horse doesn’t want you to be perfect—they want you to be  present . Host Anna Fox explores how horses, in their natural state, model emotional regulation, alignment, and presence without judgment or pressure. We dive into why so much of the traditional ho...

Why forcing the perfect response from your horse might be the very thing holding you both back. Ever feel like the harder you try to ride  correctly , the more your horse resists—or delays their response altogether? In this episode of  Come Ride With Me , we’re digging into the learning science behind  latency —that hidden gap between cue and response—and how perfectionism in the saddle can actual...

What do McDonald's and Smartphones have in common? Speed! Why does that matter? Speed is important in the learning process and as a perfectionist, your speed might be hurting you and your horse's learning curve. Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at  www.equusenlightened.com Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Traini...

This is a follow-up to the weekly experiment in episode one. You can also watch the video on YouTube. Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at  www.equusenlightened.com Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at  www.patreon.com/equusen...

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at  www.equusenlightened.com Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at  www.patreon.com/equusenlightened . You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My ch...

For those of you interested in videos of the podcast, there are some up on YouTube. My channel is Equus Enlightened. Find out more about Equus Enlightened at  www.equusenlightened.com  or on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at  www.patreon.c...

Join Anna Fox as she navigates the complex world of horse training, focusing on building harmonious equine partnerships through curiosity and awareness. This episode pivots from a planned topic to address a recent scandal involving Olympic equestrian Charlotte Dujardin. Anna emphasizes the value of understanding horse psychology and human emotional responses, advocating for a more thoughtful, less...

In this episode I play with a young horse working to build confidence around trailer loading. We often hear the phrase "it isn't about the trailer". While this is very true, trailer loading is often a tangible goal that fits the human mindset. I use highlight techniques that build confidence and trust, but the most important lesson is to remain perceptive and mindful. I talk about so...

Anna guides listeners through harmonizing with their equine partners by being present and understanding their needs. This episode delves into Anna’s interactive approach, focusing on gathering non-judgmental information and adjusting training based on the horse's responses. Through real-time examples, Anna emphasizes relaxation, straightness, and adapting to the horse's mindset. Perfect fo...

This week, I team up with Ibo to explore the critical relationship of balance, relaxation, and energy for both horse and rider. I'll jump into how to improve the qualities of relaxation energy, and balance separately; before you start to combine them. Helping you and your horse have a better understanding of what is expected. In these episodes, I delve into techniques for maintaining physical...

In this episode, I explore the concept of engagement in horsemanship. I discusses how engagement goes beyond simply increasing energy and impulsion, and instead focuses on creating involvement, participation, and a conversational attitude between horse and rider. I share tips for creating engagement, including working on relaxation, energy, and balance, and emphasize the importance of being presen...

In this episode of "Come Ride with Me," host Anna Fox celebrates Mother's Day by honoring all the moms out there, including horse moms. She gives a shoutout to her own supportive mom and acknowledges the challenges of being a mom while also pursuing a passion for horses. Anna emphasizes the importance of maintaining a playful mindset and encourages listeners to approach their interac...

Join host Anna Fox on the "Come Ride with Me" podcast as she explores movements from third-level dressage. Through playful experimentation, Anna gauges Namastee's progress and identifies areas for improvement in their training. From stretching and collection exercises to shoulder mobility and half-passes, Anna focuses on building strength and harmony with her horse. Tune in to discov...

In this episode of "Come Ride with Me," host Anna Fox discusses the importance of incorporating play into horse training. She explains that horses and humans learn best in a state of play, and that playfulness is one of the top drives for horses. Anna emphasizes the need to reward effort and to stop and reward both the horse and the rider even for a really good try. She also encourages r...

This week, I record a lesson that I gave one of my students. You'll notice that there isn't a lot of talk about specific aids or movements. I try to guide my student through what she wants to FEEL. I want students to be able to trust their feel and empower them to teach their horses how to carry them in the best way possible. Thanks to Meredith for helping me out with this one! For those o...

This episode is all about my story, my horsemanship journey, what got me to where I am today. Why I wanted to start a podcast, and how I love helping horses and people. Sometimes I feel like the experiences I've had don't always go together well, but as it turns out all of my life experience is meshing into a fantastic journey of learning and helping. Do you think about how your outside ex...

Do you ever feel the need to longe your horse before a ride? I've got a few quick checks that I like to make with my horses on the ground before I ride. This can take the place of a longe session meant to expend some of your horse's energy. Sometimes we just need to get in tune with what our horse's are thinking and give them a chance to get in tune with us. For those of you interested...