How well do you really know your horse? Not just how he feels under saddle, but how he is when you're not riding?

This week on Sunday Strides, I'm inviting you to do something simple, but powerful. You're going to spend a few minutes each day checking your horse's vitals. Why? Because when something feels "off," knowing what's normal helps you act fast, give your vet accurate information, and be the advocate your horse needs.

No riding required. No lunging. Just you, your horse, and a little extra attention.

Here's Your Challenge for the Week:

✅ Take your horse's temperature (morning + evening) ✅ Count their resting breath rate ✅ Check the colour of the mucus membranes (gums or inner eyelids) ✅ Test capillary refill time ✅ Record the digital pulse in the lower leg (for all 4 legs) ✅ Run your hands down their legs and feet for lumps, swelling, and heat

Do this four times this week, ideally morning and evening for 4 days, and then commit to making this part of your regular routine twice a week going forward.

It takes just a few minutes, but could save you hours (or worse) later.

Mentioned in the Episode 🔁 Strides Revisited (Thursday Episode)

Want to saddle up with more clarity this week? Thursday's Strides Revisited episode is a riding-based lesson that complements what we covered today. It helps you take what you're learning from your daily groundwork and body checks—and apply it to the time you spend in the saddle. Listen in to keep your momentum going.

➡️ Listen here →

💬 Join the Free DSPodcast Online Community

The conversation continues in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook. It's a welcoming space to share your wins, ask questions, and get support as you build a stronger connection with your horse. This week, post a photo of you doing one of your daily checks—or share what surprised you most!

➡️ Join the free group →

🎯 Connection Membership

If you're enjoying this and want more structure, support, and rhythm in your riding and training, Connection is where it all comes together. Inside, we follow a clear 90-day cycle of Groundwork, Basics, and Training. Members receive ride plans, live lessons, and monthly challenges that turn awareness (like today's topic!) into consistent progress.

➡️ Explore Connection →

🧭 Connection VIP Private Coaching

Sometimes you don't need more information; you need the right eyes on your riding. The Connection VIP Private Coaching is a private coaching experience where we identify the gaps, create a plan, and move you from stuck to certain. If you feel like you're spinning your wheels, this is for you.

➡️ Learn about private coaching →

🏇 Your Signature Ride Challenge

A fun and free challenge designed to get you thinking (and riding!) in new ways. You'll track your ride using GPS and 'write' your name in the arena using only seat and leg aids. A great way to practice intentional riding, and maybe even win 3 months of Connection!

➡️ Join the Challenge →

Most riders think they're balanced, until something unexpected happens! This episode brings you back to one simple, brutally honest test:

If your horse disappeared beneath you right now, would you land on your feet?

That's the Click-Your-Fingers Rule. It's the fastest way to check if you're actually carrying yourself, or letting your horse carry you. This matters because when you rely on your horse for balance, EVERYTHING gets harder. Your transitions are 'less than' great, leg position goes for a ball and the overall communicate between horse and rider breaks down.

But when YOU take responsibility for your position, you immediately become clearer, more stable, and more influential in the saddle.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What the Click-Your-Fingers rule actually means in practice

• Why head–shoulder–hip–heel alignment still matters (and where most riders go wrong)

• How your seat affects EVERYTHING, including your horse's back

• Why relying on the horse for balance blocks progress

• How to apply this rule in transitions, jumping, AND hacking

This rule holds up anywhere; walk, trot, canter, transitions, hills, jumps. If you'd land on your feet, you're in business. If not, you've just found your next training focus ;)

Ready to go deeper? Inside Connection, we take this concept off the page and into your actual riding, helping you build an independent seat that works with your horse, not against them.

For the coming 3 months inside of our online membership, we're dedicating our work to developing a reliable, effective half-halts, from the foundations upward. Includes audio riding lessons, live group lessons, monthly planning + review sessions, and more. Join here → https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

⭐ Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching

Get personalised guidance to retrain your horse or rebuild your own skills with confidence and clarity. Details → https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

⭐ Your Signature Ride Challenge

A fun, simple way to build awareness of your seat and leg aids — and start communicating more clearly with your horse. Learn more + join → https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride

⭐ The Daily Strides Podcast Online Community

A free space to continue the conversation, ask questions, and share your riding progress with likeminded riders. Join here → https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

✅ If You Loved This Episode…

Please:

• Share it with a riding friend

• Subscribe / Follow so you never miss an episode

• Rate + Review the podcast to help other riders find it

Your support helps us reach and help more horses & riders around the world.

✅ Connect With Lorna

Website: https://stridesforsuccess.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess YouTube: https://youtube.com/@stridesforsuccess

Have you ever felt your horse suddenly "drop out" from underneath you? It can feel like his back becomes a little shallow underneath you, his head and neck lift, energy is usually lost... And things become REALLY jarring and disconnected! If so, you've likely experienced your horse becoming hollow.

It's uncomfortable, frustrating, and honestly, it can feel like the whole arse has just fallen out of your ride!

In this episode, we're unpacking:

• What hollowness really is

• Why it happens (there are 3 big culprits)

• How to begin retraining your horse so the back engages again

• Why half-halts often don't work on a hollow horse, and how to change that

What You'll Learn

• How to feel and identify when your horse is hollow

• Why chasing your horse's head and neck only worsens the problem

• Why rider balance is often the secret contributing factor

• The importance of mental + physical forwardness

• How rhythm helps your horse organize his body

• A simple walk–halt exercise to start rebuilding communication

• Where the half-halt really fits into improving your horse's balance

⭐ Connection

Our online membership where we're dedicating October–December 2025 to developing a reliable, effective half-halt, from the foundations upward. Includes audio riding lessons, live group lessons, monthly planning + review sessions, and more. Join here → https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

⭐ Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching

Get personalised guidance to retrain your horse or rebuild your own skills with confidence and clarity. Details → https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

⭐ Your Signature Ride Challenge

A fun, simple way to build awareness of your seat and leg aids, and start communicating more clearly with your horse. Learn more + join → https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride

⭐ The Daily Strides Podcast Online Community

A free space to continue the conversation, ask questions, and share your riding progress with like-minded riders. Join here → https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

✅ If You Loved This Episode…

Please:

• Share it with a riding friend

• Subscribe / Follow so you never miss an episode

• Rate + Review the podcast to help other riders find it

Your support helps us reach and help more horses & riders around the world.

✅ Connect With Lorna

Website: https://stridesforsuccess.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess YouTube: https://youtube.com/@stridesforsuccess

"Make the plan… but stay supple in your approach."

In this short and sweet Sunday episode, Lorna shares a real-life moment from the past week where sticking to the plan just wasn't going to work. What started as a flatwork session in the arena quickly turned into a very different kind of ride; one that ended up being even more impactful.

Because sometimes… The plan isn't wrong. But the timing is.

Here's What You'll Hear:

• Why tension can derail even the best-laid training plans

• How to tell when it's time to change your session on the fly

• A simple way to "reset the comfort zone" for your horse

• What makes training feel productive, even without the arena

• The permission slip every rider needs: It's okay to change the plan

Want More Support for Rides Like This? 🐎

Inside Connection, you'll find weekly riding plans that build progress—without rigid rules. Each session is designed with flexibility in mind, so you can meet your horse where they are on the day. Join us and ride with rhythm, clarity, and confidence.

👉 Learn more about Connection here

Join the Conversation

What did your last "change the plan" moment look like? Share your story inside the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook. We're chatting about episodes like this every week, and we'd love to hear from you!

👉 Join the free community here

🎙️ Subscribe, Rate & Review

If this episode made you breathe easier or rethink your ride… Please share it with a fellow equestrian! And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on your favorite podcast app. It helps other riders find us, and helps you never miss a Sunday boost!

Few things feel as unsettling as when your horse suddenly whips around and bolts. It can knock your confidence quickly, especially if it becomes a repeated habit.

This episode explores why it happens and practical ways to help your horse stay with you mentally and emotionally so you can both relax on your rides again.

Key Takeaways

• Spinning usually starts from fear, not "naughtiness."

• Your job is to help your horse feel safe & supported.

• Clear boundaries and calm leadership matter.

• If he begins to spin, gently interrupt the pattern and guide him back the way he came.

• Look for triggers (location, objects, rider tension, herd separation).

• Build confidence slowly with groundwork, desensitisation, and positive experiences.

• An experienced rider may help in the early stages.

What You'll Learn

• Why horses spook & spin

• How to interrupt the spin calmly

• Ways to prevent it from starting

• Confidence-building strategies

Free Resource

👉 Get the 15 Minutes or Less Workbook Short, simple sessions to strengthen trust + communication.

https://stridesforsuccess.com/15

Go Deeper Inside Connection

There's a full week of training on this inside Connection, in the Reschooling Collection

Join us to get the step-by-step lessons and support.

https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

👋 Continue the Conversation

Share your experience in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook.

https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, review, and share the podcast.

2025 Note from Lorna: This episode was first recorded in 2017. I explain things a little more firmly than I would today; you live and learn 😉 The heart of the message remains: spooky horses need clarity, confidence, and trust to feel safe.

If you've ever wondered why your half halt isn't working, you're not alone. The half halt is one of the most commonly referenced tools in riding, yet it's also one of the most misunderstood!

In this episode, we strip away the confusion and break down what the half halt actually is, what it isn't, how to tell if your half halt worked, and what to do when it doesn't deliver the rebalancing and clarity you were hoping for.

Whether you're a newer rider or you've been in the saddle for years, this conversation will help you simplify your approach and start getting more consistent results with your horse.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode

• What the half halt actually means (and why it's much simpler than you've been told)

• Why so many riders struggle to ride an effective half halt

• The real purpose of the half halt; hint: it's not just slowing down

• How to ride the half halt correctly

• Signs your half halt is working

• Why your half halt isn't working (and how to troubleshoot the most common issues)

• The role of timing, feel, and forward energy

• How to start practicing and refining your half halt today

If the half halt has ever felt mysterious, complicated, or just plain ineffective… you'll walk away from this episode with clarity and practical next steps.

Connection - Deep Dive the Half Halt

Inside Connection, my online membership for equestrians working alone without a regular trainer or coach, we are dedicating October, November, and December 2025 to refining the half halt. We are working on the lunge, on the ground, and in the saddle.

Each month includes:

• Weekly live training sessions

• Audio riding lessons

• Clear step-by-step guidance

If you want to go beyond "knowing what the half halt is" and begin feeling it consistently, Connection is where we do that work together.

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

Your Signature Ride Challenge

Ready for something fun to add to your training? Join the Your Signature Ride Challenge, where you'll use seat and leg aids to "write your name" with your horse using a tracking app.

It's a playful way to improve accuracy, body awareness, and communication, while having a laugh at the same time.

You'll get:

• A guided audio lesson

• Direction and support

• The chance to win access to Connection

https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride

Join the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community

If you enjoy this episode, you'll love the free Daily Strides Podcast Online Community. Share your experiences, ask questions, learn from other riders, and stay inspired, especially if you're riding alone without a trainer.

Come join us here: https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

Subscribe, Rate & Review

If this episode helped you understand why your half halt isn't working - tell someone :) Please subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with a friend. It helps us reach more riders who are working alone and want reliable, supportive guidance.

Thank you for being here and for riding with us.

Ever find yourself clicking "add to cart" on another shiny new piece of tack or training tool, hoping this one will fix it all?

In this week's Sunday Strides episode, we're calling it like it is…

What are the last five things you bought for your horse… And are they actually helping you get where you want to go?

Lorna's walking you through a quick Sunday mindset reset that might just challenge how you approach your riding and training this week. Spoiler alert: it's not about gear, it's about getting back to the basics and using what you already have…

Your natural aids.

What if the very thing holding you back is all the stuff you thought would help?

Here's What You'll Learn:

• Why minimalism in training might be the secret to real progress

• What to strip away from your current setup to focus on true connection

• How to audit your tack and training gear with intention

• Why your natural aids are often neglected, but crucial

• A challenge to reset your ride this week (with zero purchases required)

Ready to Ride Smarter? 🏇

Join the free Your Signature Ride Challenge and learn how to use your seat and legs with purpose to literally ride your name in the arena 👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride

Grab the free training on how to Turn Your Phone into Your Riding Instructor here 👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/video

Want Help Figuring Out Your Basics?

If you feel like you're spinning your wheels and not improving, private support might be your missing piece. Learn more about 1:1 coaching inside Restart & Reschool 👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

Join the Community ✨

If this episode got you thinking, come share your reflections and progress in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

🐴 Prefer Weekly Structure & Support?

Connection is the membership for riders like you who train solo and want a simple, supportive system to keep progressing 👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

🍷 And for the Wine-Loving Horse Girls...

Don't miss Equine'n'Wine, the podcast where Lorna and her sister Emma-Jane dish out lighthearted horse chat, laughter, and stories you'll swear could be your own. Search for Equine'n'Wine wherever you get your podcasts!

Do You Dream of Relaxed, Happy Group Rides?

Most riders do! The image of cantering across open fields with friends is magical — until reality sets in. Will your horse stay calm? What if someone else's horse spooks?

This week on The Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians, we're revisiting how to socialise your horse for riding in a group, and how to prepare both of you for calm, confident trail rides.

Inside the episode, you'll learn:

• How to choose the right riding companions (horses and riders!)

• Why starting in an enclosed space builds confidence faster

• How to teach your horse to listen to you, not just follow the herd

• The best way to find your horse's 'happy place' in the group

• Why slow and steady rides build the foundation for future adventures

Whether you're preparing your OTTB for their first hack or getting your young horse ready for trail adventures, these steps will help you both enjoy the experience; without the drama!

Inside Connection: Train with Riders Who Get It

If you're ready to build confidence and calm both in and out of the arena, you'll love Connection, the membership that helps you create rhythm and progress in your riding.

Each month inside Connection, you'll join live virtual group riding lessons where we work through focused themes together. Things like rhythm, balance, and yes, group riding confidence! You'll get the replays, private podcast access, and real community support to keep your momentum going.

https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

Your Signature Ride Challenge

Want to test your focus and fun? Join the Signature Ride Challenge; a free, interactive mini-event where riders "write" their name using seat and leg aids alone. It's a playful way to improve coordination, clarity, and connection with your horse (and there's a prize up for grabs each quarter!).

https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride

Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching

If your rides are feeling stuck, scattered, or stressful, you don't need to start over; you just need a plan. Through Restart & Reschool Private Coaching, we'll work together 1-to-1 to rebuild your confidence and create a clear, tailored training path for you and your horse. This is ideal for riders bringing a horse back into work or retraining alone.

https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

Join the Conversation

I'd love to hear your experiences with riding in a group; what's worked, what hasn't, and what you're planning next! Share your thoughts and stories inside The Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians Online Community, our free, friendly Facebook group for riders all over the world.

Enjoying the Podcast?

If this episode helped you, please subscribe, rate, review, and share The Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians. Your support helps me reach more riders who are working alone with their horses and want to make every ride great.

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 💛