There’s one question I get asked at least once a week, both from riders I coach in person and those I help online. Somehow, I’ve never answered it on the podcast until now!

“Should I have lessons? And if so, what kind; private or group?”

Some riders even ask if they can skip lessons altogether and just ride solo.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the pros and cons of private lessons, group lessons, and going it alone, plus when each one makes the biggest difference in your riding journey.

💡 Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why private lessons are essential for beginners and riders rebuilding confidence

• The power of watching lessons and how they fast-track your understanding

• When to move into group lessons (and why they can transform your learning)

• How “happy hackers” can use a blended approach to keep growing

• The hidden danger of riding solo for too long, and how to avoid it

• Why the best riders in the world still take lessons

Whether you’re new to riding, finding your way back, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you choose the lesson style that fits you, right now.

🐎 Inside Connection

If you love the idea of learning alongside like-minded riders, Connection is where it all comes together. Each month, we host live virtual group lessons, where riders from all over the world join in real time. Some ride along; others watch, learn, and take notes. Everyone walks away with fresh insight and renewed motivation.

Join Connection today and start finding your rhythm in the saddle  👉 https://www.stridesforsuccess.com/join

🎯 Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching

If you’re craving focused, one-to-one feedback on your riding, with online private lessons tailored to your specific goals, you’ll love Restart & Reschool Private Coaching. Together, we’ll identify what’s holding you back, create a clear plan, and get you moving forward with confidence.

Learn more here → 👉 https://www.stridesforsuccess.com/rr

💬 Join the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community

Continue the conversation inside the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook; it’s free! Share your takeaways, connect with riders from around the world, and get inspired to keep showing up for your horse and your riding goals.

Join us here → 👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/DailyStridesPodcast

🌟 Subscribe, Rate, Review & Share

If this episode helped you rethink how private lessons (or group ones) can work for you, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the show on your favourite podcast app. It really helps other riders discover the podcast, and it means the world to me!

And if you know a fellow rider who’s been wondering what type of lessons they should be doing… ➡️ Share this episode with them!

How excited are you to tack up and ride right now... Honestly? This week’s episode of Sunday Strides dives into the often-overlooked truth that motivation is fuelled by joy. If you’re feeling a little “meh” about your riding, it’s probably not your schedule; it’s your spark that’s missing.

After rediscovering excitement by building (very rustic!) jumps at the new farm, I’m reflecting on how tiny changes can shift everything. From making trails to jumping sticks in the arena, I’ve learned that reigniting your passion is often one small experiment away.

And it’s not just about fun, it’s about creating momentum, connection, and a rhythm that keeps you showing up week after week.

🎯 What You’ll Take Away:

• A simple mindset shift to raise your enthusiasm each week

• How joy and motivation are deeply connected in riding

• Why fun is a non-negotiable ingredient in long-term consistency

• How to find your own version of “building jumps” this week

• A challenge to raise your riding excitement, one point at a time

🎧 Mentioned in This Episode:

• 💥 Your Signature Ride Challenge (Free): Explore a fun, creative way to bring intention back into your rides. Ride your name using only your seat and legs! ➡️ https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride

• 💡 How to Turn Your Phone Into an Instructor (Free Video Training): Practical steps to use your phone for feedback, progress, and confidence. ➡️ https://stridesforsuccess.com/video

• 💪 Restart & Reschool Private Coaching: 1-to-1 coaching for riders ready to break old habits and finally move forward with their horse. ➡️ https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

• 🌱 Connection Membership: Your consistent, supportive, and structured riding journey—built around YOUR lifestyle. ➡️ https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

• 👯‍♀️ The Daily Strides Podcast Online Community (Facebook Group): Join the conversation and let us know how you're adding fun to your riding this week! ➡️ https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

• 🍷 Equine’n’Wine Podcast: Want to hear more about the “jump building” story (and a few good laughs)? ➡️ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/equinenwine/id1832643897

🧠 Final Thought

If you’re not looking forward to riding, you won’t ride!  Joy isn’t optional, it’s essential.  This week, challenge yourself to make just one change that nudges your excitement a little higher.

Because when you feel good, your horse feels it too 💛

Have you ever caught yourself thinking “I’m just not a natural rider”… or “I’ll ruin my horse if I try that”?  If so, you’re not alone, and these thoughts might be quietly holding you back in your riding.

In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, we’re tackling four of the most common mindset myths that keep riders stuck in place, and how to break free from them starting today. Whether it’s doubting your natural ability, waiting for “feel” to magically arrive, thinking you need more equipment before starting, or fearing you’ll make mistakes with your horse, these myths are all fixable.

When you start replacing them with truth and awareness, everything changes; your confidence, your communication, and your results in the saddle.

🎧 Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why the idea of “natural talent” can keep you from reaching your potential as a rider

• How to actually develop feel in your riding (without waiting years)

• The truth about needing special tack, arenas, or ideal circumstances

• Why doing nothing often harms your horse’s progress more than making small mistakes

• Simple shifts to start rewriting your own rider story

💡 Free Resource:

Want to get started improving your feel and focus right away? Grab the free training “How to Use Your Phone as Your Riding Instructor”.  It’ll help you see what’s really happening in the saddle and start making confident corrections in real time. 👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/video

🌿 Inside Connection

If this episode resonates with you, you’ll love what we’re doing inside Connection. This is where riders learn how to use modern tools like A.I. in their horse riding to reflect, plan, and ride with purpose, all while keeping things simple and achievable.

Every month, members join me for live Review and Planning Calls, focused riding sessions, and guided prompts to help you see and feel progress in real time.

Join us today and start finding your rhythm in your riding: 👉 https://www.stridesforsuccess.com/join

💬 The Daily Strides Podcast Online Community

Want to chat about this week’s episode? Join the free Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook. It’s full of riders just like you who are working on their mindset, confidence, and connection with their horses.

You’ll find weekly discussions, bite-sized training ideas, and exclusive invites to live events.  https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

🐴 Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching

If you’re ready for more personalised help, explore Restart & Reschool Private Coaching, designed to help you go from stuck to certain in your riding and training.

Together, we’ll work 1:1 on your biggest challenges, refine your aids and communication, and create a custom plan that gets results in 13 weeks. This is perfect for riders working alone who want clarity, structure, and real feedback.

Apply or learn more here → https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

🎥 5-Lesson Virtual Coaching Package

Want my personal feedback, but prefer something flexible? The 5-Lesson Virtual Coaching Package is a great option for riders who want tailored lessons with ongoing support, without the need for travel or complicated tech.

All you need is your phone (and optionally a Pivo or simple tripod setup). You’ll receive personal feedback, exercises, and guidance between lessons.

Book your 5-lesson package today and start transforming your riding: 👉 https://training.stridesforsuccess.com/offers/jpuTon32/checkout

🧠 Episode Takeaway

The biggest myth of all is believing that you can’t change your riding because of what you don’t have, time, talent, tack, or confidence. Progress starts the moment you decide to begin, exactly where you are, with what you’ve got.  Your horse doesn’t need perfection, just your presence and a plan! 

Have you ever thought about how the same principles we use to train our horses can apply to us as riders?  Half halts help our horses rebalance before moving forward, but what if you could apply that same idea to your mindset and training process?

In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, we’ll explore how bringing A.I. into your horse riding can help you pause, reflect, and make more consistent progress in your training… even if you don’t have a regular coach.

🎁 Free Resource for Riders Before we dive in, if you ever feel like you’re riding alone and not sure if you’re doing things right, grab your free guide here: 👉 www.stridesforsuccess.com/video

It’s a simple step-by-step resource showing you how to use your phone as your riding instructor. You’ll learn how to film your rides, review your position and aids, and actually see your progress in real time.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to take the concept of a half halt and apply it to yourself as a rider

• What a “mental half halt” is, and how it can help you regain focus during training

• Why reviewing your rides is one of the most important things you can do for consistent progress

• How using A.I. in your horse riding can help you notice patterns and see results faster

• Real-world ways to use A.I. tools (like ChatGPT) to summarise your ride notes or voice memos

• Why A.I. won’t replace your feel, it will refine it

• A simple way to combine awareness, reflection, and modern tools to become a more balanced rider

Inside Connection

If this episode resonates with you, you’ll love what we’re doing inside Connection. This is where riders learn how to use modern tools like A.I. in their horse riding to reflect, plan, and ride with purpose, all while keeping things simple and achievable.

Every month, members join me for live Review and Planning Calls, focused riding sessions, and guided prompts to help you see and feel progress in real time.

Join us today and start finding your rhythm in your riding: 👉 www.stridesforsuccess.com/join

The Daily Strides Podcast Online Community

Want to chat about this week’s episode? Join the free Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook.  It’s full of riders just like you who are working on their mindset, confidence, and connection with their horses.

You’ll find weekly discussions, bite-sized training ideas, and exclusive invites to live events https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching

If you’re ready for more personalised help, explore Restart & Reschool Private Coaching. It's designed to help you go from stuck to certain in your riding and training.

Together, we’ll work 1:1 on your biggest challenges, refine your aids and communication, and create a custom plan that gets results in 13 weeks. This is perfect for riders working alone who want clarity, structure, and real feedback.

Apply or learn more here → https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

5-Lesson Virtual Coaching Package

Want my personal feedback, but prefer something flexible? The 5-Lesson Virtual Coaching Package is a great option for riders who want tailored lessons with ongoing support — without the need for travel or complicated tech.

All you need is your phone (and optionally a Pivo or simple tripod setup). You’ll receive personal feedback, exercises, and guidance between lessons.

Book your 5-lesson package today and start transforming your riding: 👉 https://training.stridesforsuccess.com/offers/jpuTon32/checkout

Episode Takeaway

Just like a half halt helps your horse rebalance before moving forward, using A.I. in your horse riding helps you pause, refocus, and progress with purpose.

It’s the pause that creates progress, both in the saddle and in your mindset as a rider.

You know those little supports that help keep things upright while you find your balance? In riding, we have them too, let's call them 'training wheels' ;).

And while they’re brilliant for getting started, there comes a time when they’re no longer helping… They’re holding you back.

In this short and powerful episode, Lorna shines a light on the invisible aids and supports riders often lean on for far too long. From boundary fences to artificial aids, and the well-worn track around the outside of the arena... It’s time to ask: What training wheels have outlived their usefulness in your riding?

“What got you here, won’t get you there. Let go of what’s holding you in place, one finger at a time if you must!”

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What “training wheels” look like in horse riding (and how to spot yours)

• Why some aids and tools help at first but hinder long-term

• How to know when it’s time to let go and move on

• The difference between relying on boundaries vs. creating your own channel of communication

• How small shifts in mindset and awareness unlock big progress in the saddle

🌿 Ready to Ride Without Training Wheels?

If you’re stuck in the same riding loop and wondering why you're not progressing, Connection will help you step forward confidently.

💫 Join Connection: https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

Inside our signature membership, you’ll find structure, support, and smart lessons that guide your next step, whether that’s letting go of the arena fence, a training gadget, or your own doubts.

🧭 Learn more and join here https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

🚀 Want More Personal Guidance?

Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching is for riders who are ready to upgrade everything, seat, aids, mindset, and training structure. You don’t need more hours in the saddle. You need to make the ones you do have count.

🪶 Learn more or apply here  https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

🤝 Come Ride With Us…

Join our free Facebook group for more conversations like this one. Ask questions, connect with other riders, and join the next fun challenge to shake things up in your riding routine.

🎉 Join the DSPodcast Online Community

💡 This Week’s Riding Prompt:

What are you holding on to that helped you, but is now holding you back? Pick one "training wheel" and start letting go.

Most riders think the lunge line’s main job is to keep their horse on a circle… But what if that’s the exact reason lunging feels like a tug-of-war?

In this Strides Revisited episode, we go back to the foundations and look at how to use the lunge line correctly, not as a restraint, but as a powerful aid to develop true contact and connection with your horse.

You’ll learn how to:

• Rethink the purpose of your lunge line so it works with your horse, not against them

• Use arena boundaries as supportive artificial aids that clarify communication

• Combine your position, body language, voice, and the boundary to create forward energy

• Transform that energy into meaningful contact, just like you do with your reins under saddle

This approach turns lunging into a dynamic training tool that helps both you and your horse find softness, rhythm, and responsiveness; on the ground and when you ride.

🔑 Key Takeaway

Your lunge line isn’t there to hold your horse in place. It’s there to shape energy into connection. Once you shift how you use it, lunging becomes a powerful way to develop softness, straightness, and feel, from the ground up.

💡 Next Steps for Riders

Inside Connection, we’re spending the next few months mastering Half Halts, from the lunge to the saddle. This episode fits perfectly into that theme, helping you refine timing, feel, and contact in every stride.

👉 Join Connection at https://stridesforsuccess.com/join to follow along and begin improving your balance, communication, and results with your horse.

If you’re ready for more direct coaching and personalized feedback, explore Restart & Reschool Private Coaching. In there I will help you go from stuck to certain in your riding and training. https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

🫶 Stay Connected

Join the conversation with other riders who are training alone inside the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook, a free space to share wins, ask questions, and get inspired https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

And don’t forget to follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast so other riders can find it too!

Have you ever been lunging your horse and found yourself saying, “Whoa there, Tonto!” a few too many times? That moment when your horse suddenly goes from calm and focused to rushing around the circle, tripping over their own legs?

In this episode of The Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians, Lorna dives into why rushing on the lunge is rarely about disobedience, and almost always about balance.

You’ll learn how to use half halts on the lunge to help your horse build rhythm, relaxation, and self-carriage, while becoming more aware of how your own posture, tone, and timing shape every stride.

If you’re ready to create smoother, more connected rides, on the ground and in the saddle, this one’s for you.

💡 Next Steps for Riders

Inside Connection, we’re spending the next few months mastering Half Halts.  From the lunge to the saddle. This episode fits perfectly into that theme, helping you refine timing, feel, and contact in every stride.

👉 Join Connection at https://stridesforsuccess.com/join to follow along and begin improving your balance, communication, and results with your horse.

If you’re ready for more direct coaching and personalized feedback, explore Restart & Reschool Private Coaching; helping you go from stuck to certain in your riding and training https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

🫶 Stay Connected

Join the conversation with other riders who are training alone inside the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook, a free space to share wins, ask questions, and get inspired https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

And don’t forget to follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast so other riders can find it too!

You’re showing up, riding regularly, putting in the time…. But something still feels stuck.  In this short and powerful Sunday episode, Lorna delivers a reality check every rider needs:

What if the reason you're not progressing is because you're unknowingly reinforcing the wrong thing, over and over again?

If you’re riding with unbalanced aids, a crooked seat, or tension that goes unnoticed, those habits are becoming your new default. And that’s why you’re plateauing, even though you’re working hard.

Lorna explores how the smallest tweak (especially to your seat) can have a ripple effect through everything else, and why it takes more than one tweak to truly shift the pattern. The key is awareness and repetition of the right thing, not just any repetition.

“Your seat might not be wrong. It might just need an upgrade.”

🎯 In This Episode:

• The difference between riding consistently and practicing effectively

• Why riders confuse repetition with results

• How your seat might be the silent saboteur of your progress

• Why awareness is the first step, but not the only one

• Lorna’s top recommendation to see your blind spots (spoiler: it’s video)

• How to stop reinforcing mistakes and start building new muscle memory

🐴 Feeling Stuck? Let’s Fix That…

If you’re not sure what you’re actually practicing each ride, Lorna can help you figure it out, fast!

💬 Book a private virtual lesson Let’s find the hidden habit and fix it at the root https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

🎁 Free Download Turn your phone into your instructor. Learn how to record, reflect, and ride forward with more clarity.  https://stridesforsuccess.com/video

🤝 Join the Free Community The Daily Strides Podcast Online Community is full of riders like you https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

 

Sprinkled through every ride, and every interaction on the ground, the half halt is one of the most powerful communication tools you’ll ever use. But most riders only ever think of it in the saddle.

In this Strides Revisited episode, we’re rewinding to a listener-favorite that explores how the half halt begins long before you put your foot in the stirrup. You’ll discover how groundwork can clarify your timing, refine your aids, and completely transform the quality of your conversations with your horse.

We’ll talk about…

• Why your thoughts are your most important aid, on the ground and in the saddle

• How to use body language, voice, and position to create light, responsive communication

• The subtle difference between a halt and a half halt (and why it matters everywhere)

• How to take your daily handling off autopilot and rebuild real feel and connection

If you’ve ever struggled to “feel” when to use a half halt or what it should actually do, this episode will give you simple, practical ways to start improving today, even without riding.

💡 This Month in Connection

Inside Connection, we’re spending the next three months deep-diving into Half Halts. The timing, balance, and feel, both on the ground and in the saddle. Each week brings a fresh live session, audio horse ridign lessons, Q&A, and a private-podcast replay to help you put it all into action. 👉 Join us inside Connection at https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

🐴 Ready to Restart & Reschool?

If your rides have hit a wall or your horse feels “stuck,” Restart & Reschool Private Coaching will help you move from confusion to clarity, one step at a time. Learn more at https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

👥 Join the Conversation

Come share your biggest takeaway or ah-ha moment inside the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook; a free group for riders who train alone and want to make every ride count. https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

❤️ If You Enjoyed This Episode…

Please follow, subscribe, rate, review, and share the Daily Strides Podcast with your riding friends.  It helps more riders find us and start creating better conversations with their horses.

Have you ever asked for a half halt and felt, well, nothing? Or maybe your horse slammed on the brakes instead of rebalancing?

If so, you’re definitely not alone. Many riders either skip using half halts altogether or feel like they’re just not working. But here’s the truth; it’s rarely about your ability or your horse’s willingness to listen. It’s about timing.

In this episode, we’re breaking down why timing makes or breaks your half halts, and how you can start improving yours this week with a simple exercise.

💬 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why timing matters more than strength or frequency in your half halts

• The three biggest mistakes riders make (and how to fix them)

• Why lunging your horse can help you see timing clearly before you have to feel it in the saddle

• A simple way to start refining your timing, even if you’re riding alone

🐴 Key Takeaway:

Your half halt isn’t about “doing more.” It’s about doing the right thing at the right time.  When your timing improves, your horse understands you more easily, your communication feels lighter, and everything starts to flow.

🎧 Listen Now To Discover:

• How to stop “nagging” your horse with constant micro half halts

• The real reason your half halt feels too strong (hint: it’s often late)

• How lunging reveals the exact stride moment when your horse can rebalance

• Why great riders make half halts look invisible — and how you can too

⚡ This Week’s Challenge: The Your Signature Ride Challenge

If you’re ready to improve your timing in a fun, low-pressure way, join the Your Signature Ride Challenge.  You’ll use your seat and leg aids to “write” your name in the arena while developing clearer timing and connection.

It’s free to join, and you’ll get a guided audio lesson to help you through it, plus the chance to win 3 months of Connection (valued at $66)! 👉 Join here: https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride

🌿 Want to Go Deeper?

Inside Connection, we’re spending the next three months exploring half halts in depth.

• October: Half Halts on the Lunge

• November: Half Halts Under Saddle

• December: Refining the Feel

You’ll join live group lessons, guided audio sessions, and Q&As, all focused on helping you master this fundamental skill. 👉 Join Connection here https://stridesforsuccess.com/join