Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Have you ever felt that feeling?  The feeling you get when you're trotting and you ask for the canter.  Rather than your horse simply striking cleanly from the trot to the canter, you experience this extremely uncomfortable and unbalanced trot.  A trot that gets faster and faster until finally you almost fall into a canter. Not a great feeling, eh?!   Or perhaps, your experience of getting into ca...

So, are you still on track?  As I write this we're officially one month into the new year, the new decade, and I am wondering if you are still on track with any goals you set for yourself four or five weeks ago.  If you are, give yourself a pat on the back!  I'm impressed.   However, if you're not, don't panic.  Firstly you're not alone and secondly, my goal is to inspire you to take some action i...

Quick question… If you were to guess, how many times did you halt throughout your last ride on your horse? Was it a 'one time only' event? Or perhaps you halted two or three times throughout the ride? Or was it into the double digits?  Once you have that number, here's another question.  How many of those halts was the actual 'end' of the ride?   So many riders treat all halts the same.  They see...

Are you open to having a little fun together today in your riding?  If so, I have created this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast for you to listen to as you ride your horse.  I have also linked to other past episodes that will help you with your trot and trotting over HERE Happy riding and enjoy!

You've decided to refocus your attention on your riding.  You're back in the saddle and rearing to go (well, maybe not quite rearing!).  But knowing what to do and where to focus your attention can seem a little daunting.  In fact, maybe it's feeling like there is just too much to do and too little time to do it in…   If we were working together, either online or in-person, there are a few essenti...

Have you ever had a horse step on your heel while you were leading them?  Or maybe it was your toe while tacking up or grooming?  These are pretty memorable experiences due to the amount of pain they cause!   Horses are great at being really transparent around the consequences of doing something, or not doing something.  And if you have experienced some version of the above, it is due to 'not' doi...

Can we sit down and have a quick and honest conversation? If you're game, let's go!   As I write this, we are on the brink of a new year and a new decade.  The timing seems ripe for making some serious changes in your riding and your approach to riding.   I would love you to be honest with yourself here…  I know that you know the answers to these questions.  Being honest will truly be the key to m...

Have you ever considered all the different ways you communicate with your horse, every day?  All of the aids you have at your disposal to ask your horse to do things the way you want him to do things.  Imagine if you could become a little more mindful about what you are doing and how you are doing it…   When you are with your horse, there are so many different aids you can use, such as:- Thoughts...

I am fascinated by how our minds work.  I love seeing the co-relation between our beliefs and thoughts play out in our physical day to day lives.  Meeting and chatting with riders for the first time is one of my favorite things to do.  I pay close attention.  I love listening to the stories they tell me about themselves and their riding.   So many riders have themselves convinced they cannot do so...

Weight aids are often overlooked and underused by many riders.  I want to help you begin to see how powerful your weight aids have the potential to be in your riding.  I also want to use your weight aids to see demonstrate how power intention and focus have on your goals as well. Less is more where your weight aids are concerned.  Unfortunately, many riders seem to throw everything they have behin...

Have you ever considered how much you are either helping or hindering your horse when you're riding?  Do you wonder what you could do, today, to begin improving your influence in the saddle?  Well, I am going to give you something fun to do in the saddle that will improve your riding - and put a smile on your face as well.   I want you to begin figuring out how independent you are in the saddle wh...

I believe that every rider or equestrian can be put into one of two categories. I know, a pretty big generalization!  However, from working with thousands of riders, I have yet to meet someone who does not fall into one or the other. Knowing which category you fall into will help you to get clear on what your 'next step' is when it comes to developing your skills as a rider.  I have named the two...

Learning is great. As a rider or equestrian, there is a never-ending stream of knowledge out there just waiting for you to dive into and begin exploring. However, learning can sometimes be the very thing that holds riders back from making progress in their riding. You see, learning is only really useful if you go and then implement what you learn. And it is the implementation that riders fall shor...

It is inevitable. All riders find themselves there at some point in their riding journey. The point where progress stalls and the comfort of the plateau is no longer what they are looking for. Recognizing that you are feeling a little stuck is the key to making the necessary changes to 'unsticking' yourself. The key to starting working towards progress again. Before we dive into this topic, I just...

Having a map often simplifies the journey.  It helps plan a clear route from A to B.  Riding is a journey.  And so many riders want a map or a plan to follow for progress in their riding.   Well, hold your horses!  What if I was to tell you that there is a map available for equestrians.  Oh yes, and it is loosely called the training scale or the traditional training scale.  So many riders discount...

As I write this, it is that time of the year. The clocks have just gone back here in Ireland. It is dark by 5:30 pm each evening. It is still dark at 7:45 am each morning… And we have close to two months left until the official shortest day of the year. Meaning things are only going to get darker between now and then. In the top half of the world, Winter has come! And with it, a complete lack of d...

Lunging is one of those rare things to do with horses that has a pretty low 'barrier to entry'. Getting started is pretty easy and 'do-able' for most riders. All that is needed is a few essentials and most riders can get started and off to the races with their horse. This is fantastic news because lunging, in my opinion, is something most horse and rider combinations can only benefit from includin...

So how do you know if your horse is really engaged? For many riders, we know that it is important, however, we struggle to make it happen consistently. When your horse's core is engaged, it means that energy is able to flow through your horse's body. Through the container that is you and your horse when you are riding. Your horse's core strength will determine how much energy can flow through the...

Setting goals and making plans can feel like a waste of time when your horse is continuously tossing or throwing his head about. If you have a horse who reacts this way when being ridden, you will agree with me. It seems that no matter what you do, this issue is going to taint everything else in your riding. And it will. Horse riding his about the conversation between horse and rider. A big part o...

Does your horse go from 0 to 120 in half a stride whenever he sets his sights on a jump?  If so, you will probably agree with me that jumping is definitely not the thing you find most enjoyable to do with your horse!  In fact, very often it can feel terrifying! And I agree. Jumping with a horse who is rushing at the fences is not just scary, but also dangerous and frustrating more... Happy Riding,...

So how do you become a 'better' rider?  What should you be focusing on in order to make progress regarding your communication skills in the saddle? I believe there are three specific areas that, if you work on, you can really begin to see a difference in your riding. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/

The conversations with your horse begin with the conversation going on in your head. Your conversation with yourself. So many riders create stories to explain why things are the way they are. We do this with all the elements of our lives. The unfortunate fact is that a lot of these conversations can be really limiting. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://...

It is possibly one of the first things you heard when you initially took up the reins. Yet, it is one of the most enduring struggles riders have in the saddle. And even when it is mastered on the flat, it seems to crop back up again when a jump is required! Heels down is one of the most important things to 'do' when riding a horse. There are a lot of reasons why mastering this seemingly simple thi...

Where should I start? Have you ever found yourself wondering about this with your horse? The beginning is the obvious answer. However, sometimes the beginning is not as simple to pin-point. This is especially true with it comes to your ex-racehorse or OTTB. Your retired racehorses beginning when he gets to you is not the same as the beginning with other horses. They have already 'begun'. However,...

Do you have an OTTB or ex-racehorse that has just made the transition from the racetrack? Or maybe your thoroughbred has been with you for a while, but you're just struggling to make progress and move forwards in your training together… Ex-racehorses or thoroughbreds are wonderful horses. They are so versatile, intelligent and sensitive. They can literally turn their hooves to almost anything eque...