Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- Understand why a good transition means a better canter all round Begin working on better timing of the 'ask' Realise how gripping with your legs is negatively impacting the transition Ride smoother, more responsive trot to canter transitions Cantering; maybe one of the most enjoyable things to do on a horse. However, for many riders the transition from trot to canter is one that rarely goes smoothly!. more... Happy Riding, Lorna

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- Understand why groundwork is essential when working with your horse Begin thinking about the importance of your position when on the ground Realise that your horse might not know what you are asking or saying Start becoming more mindful of your aids on the ground Here's a question for you... Where do all of your conversations with your horse begin and end? And where do you spend most time interacting with your horse on a daily basis? The answer to both of these questions is 'on the ground'. more... Happy Riding, Lorna

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 something, and therefore take action from that place or that perspective.  The place where the thing they want won’t work.  This versus riders who believe they can do something.  They will take action based on their beliefs, and usually prove themselves right. Your Beliefs = Your Results What we believe is crucial to the results we get in our riding.  This, of course, is not just limited to riding.  It can be applied to any area of our lives.  I personally believe (there is that word, again!) that this is due to how we ‘show up’.   Read More...   Resources to help you with this topic:- Equestrian Fitness Challenge Daily Strides Podcast Free group for equestrians focusing on mindset and fitness Lunging for Riding Digital Course

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- What this episode is all about and how it can help you:- Realise what true balance is when riding See that both you and your horse are responsible for balance Begin working on establishing balance See how maintaining balance is a long term goal It is a pretty important element of riding; if only from a 'staying on' point of view. However, as you well know, balance is so much more than keeping the horse between yourself and the ground. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/

As I was creating my notes for this episode, it struck me that there is a strong probability that this sounds a lot like Goldilocks!  Too much, too little and ‘just right’ will come up repeatedly as I begin talking about your hands when you are riding.  Obviously, we are aiming to achieve ‘Goldilocks’ hands; just right!   But seriously, the reason I recorded this episode is due to so many riders struggling with their hands.  They are trying to improve contact and connection.  However, they are actually missing some of the basics of the hand aids.   And I think that making sure your hands are being useful, rather than confusing, is a really important basic that many riders are missing.   So, that all being said, let's dive into the 4 things that you may be doing with your hands while riding that is negatively influencing your conversation with your horse.   Read More... The Returning to Riding Program Understanding the Balance of Aids Controlling Your Hands While Riding Your Independent Seat is a Result of Your Independent Aids Why 'Forward' is Essential for Contact Subscribe to the free Daily Strides Podcast The Free Strides for Success Online Community

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 different types of riders as being either:- 1. Passengers 2. Influencers You see it all comes down to your focus when you’re in the saddle. You can easily figure out which of the above you are by noticing where you are focusing your attention in the saddle for the majority of each ride. Is the focus on you or is it on your horse? Read More... Other episodes & resources to help you with your riding:- Free Map for Progress in Your Riding Equestrian Fitness Challenge Daily Strides Podcast Free group for equestrians focusing on mindset and fitness Lunging for Riding Digital Course

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- Understand why your voice works, regardless of discipline Begin using tone to help convey your message Use your voice to reward your horse Understand how to 'wean' your horse off of your voice Imagine if you could use your voice as an effective, accurate aid when communicating to your horse from the saddle... I'm going to assume that you, just like most other riders in the world, talk to your horse regularly. Actual words. And that is great... But there is a big difference between just babbling on and your voice becoming an actual effective aid in your riding communication. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/

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 thing is vital to developing as a rider. I say ‘seemingly’ because more... Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- Understand why you need to remain relaxed Make sure you have a plan before you begin Refrain from the one thing most riders do which actually makes things worse...! Consider why 'out' is often better than 'in' where energy is concerned If you ride horses for long enough and you will, without fail, experience 'that' feeling. The one where you're in the saddle and you just know there is an inevitable explosion building underneath you! The energy levels are high. However, usually, your enthusiasm for that same energy is not quite as high at all. There are all sorts of reasons your horse may be fresh. The weather can often play a big part. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- Recognise what a 'stuck' walk looks and feels like Understand why the walk can so easily deteriorate in horses See the benefit of using lateral work to begin improving the walk Start to become more aware of how you are asking questions of your horse Funny how, sometimes, it is the more basic things that cause us to become 'stuck'. The walk is a good example of this! It is probably the first thing most of us do on a horse, and yet, it often becomes a real 'sticking point' for horse and rider. Here is how lateral work can help get you and your horse unstuck. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/

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 channel or container at any given point more... Have you joined our free community yet?  Connect with other like minded equestrians and get some free trainings on mindset, riding and everything in between over at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge/ And, make sure you're kicking off the new decade the right way by joining us on the free 2020 Equestrian Fitness Challenge.  All the details are at https://equestrianfitnesschallenge.com Happy riding, Lorna

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 essentials that I would begin asking you to give your full attention to.  Now, obviously this would vary depending on your unique situation.  However, there is a foundation that you build in your riding which is centered on a few specific principles.  Today I want to share those with you… Read More... More Resources on this Topic:- The Returning to Riding Program - More Information Lunging for Riding -success in just 10 minutes or less each day Groundwork for Riding - Successfully Take the Conversation from the Ground into the Saddle The Daily Strides Podcast The Free Group filled with other like-minded riders 2020 Equestrian Fitness Challenge

Success has a rhythm. And, as an equestrian, I know that you know a fair bit about rhythm already. As riders, we spend a lot of our time, whether mindful or not, focusing on rhythm. It is one of the most basic principles when it comes to riding. The ‘up downs’ in trot. Or the ‘1.2.3. Roll' in canter. Rhythm while on the ground. And the rhythm when working through different movements. Yes, rhythm is something we literally ride by every time we are in the saddle. So it makes good sense to begin tapping into this same principle in order to develop your skills as a rider. To make progress in your training development when it comes to your horse. READ MORE... Additional resources to help with this topic:- Lunging for Riding  Groundwork for Riding My free online community  The Daily Strides Podcast

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/

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- Understand what inside and outside are when it comes to your aids Take the confusion out of applying your aids correctly Get started reframing how you think and apply your aids Think and ride with your horse... Do you often find yourself in the arena, ready for action... But without much of a plan for what that action will look like?! Don't worry, you're not alone. In fact, this is the single biggest challenge faced by equestrians - and one that many don't even realise they have to begin with. Riding for the sake of riding is great initially. However, as time went on, you will inevitably find yourself wanting 'more' from your time in the saddle. That 'more' can be achieved by developing your relationship, both ridden and on the ground, with your horse. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/

The canter can be confusing for many riders. Especially what to do with your seat in the canter. You’re told to ride the horse forward with your seat. But you’re then told to be ‘quiet’ with your seat… So which is it? And how can you begin to develop a more effective seat in the canter? I think that canter is the gait that separates ‘fit’ riders from ‘unfit’ riders. It is definitely more difficult to fake strength and suppleness in the canter, hence a lot of riders having trouble with their seat to begin with in the gait. In order to really begin developing your seat, you need to first take responsibility for carrying your own body. Read More HERE More resources to help on this topic:- The Returning to Riding Program – Getting the Basics on Autopilot in Your Riding Equestrian Fitness Challenge Subscribe to the Daily Strides Podcast Join the free Strides for Success Online Community

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 when riding. You are going to do this by riding the light seat or two-point seat.  Your bum out of the saddle as you ride.  Some lovely daylight between the arse of your trousers and the seat of your saddle.   I already know that many riders will have clicked away by now, but if you are still here; good on you!  This exercise is for ALL riders.  Improving your balance will always improve the overall conversation with your horse, regardless of the discipline that conversation occurs in. What Is the Light Seat? The light seat happens when you are riding.  It involves you actually ‘standing’ on your own two feet while working your horse.  It requires you to balance yourself.  This means no leaning, holding on or crouching down on your horse's neck, a neck strap or breastplate, or the pommel of the saddle.  Also, no holding onto the mane...   Read More...   Other resources for you to help with your conversation with your horse:- FREE Equestrian Fitness Challenge Daily Strides Podcast Free group for equestrians focusing on mindset and fitness Lunging for Riding Digital Course

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- Get clear on the actual size of your riding space Improve your accuracy when riding Realise why markers are so important when working within a limited space Use riding in a smaller space as a way to build and develop your training Do you find yourself regularly moaning about having to ride in a smaller space? Are you looking at this specific circumstance as a roadblock or challenge to your progress in the saddle? If this sounds like you, I want show you how simply changing your mindset about working in a smaller space can be enough to help you begin making that space really work for you and your horse. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/

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 of that conversation is the contact and the connection. Tossing or throwing of the head makes consistency in both of these things pretty impossible. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by join us here.

What this episode is all about & how it can help you:- What this episode is all about and how it can help you:- Get clear on what an independent aid isn't! Understand what an independent aid is... Get started developing your independent seat Realise that it will take time to achieve Your independent seat. Are you, like so many other riders around the world, trying to achieve yours right now? If so, understanding what is really required to develop it will make it much easier for you to successfully work towards it. more... Happy Riding, Lorna Improve your riding today by joinng us here http://stridesforsuccess/join/