Planning.  I love making plans.  They are always so exciting to create, but often fail to deliver the necessary results when we try to act on them. This is usually because we are not planning correctly when it comes to our rides.

This is a system you can use to help you plan your months in your riding that will help you move things along…

This episode of the Daily Strides Podcast has been plucked from a week of lessons from Daily Strides Premium called “Planning for Progress in Your Riding”. The full week of lessons are available right now when you join Connection

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There are hundreds, even thousands, of different exercises we can ride when schooling our horses. Often riders think that they have to get more and more complicated with their exercises in order to make progress in their riding.  However, I personally believe that, for the most part, simple works better.

In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, I want to show you how to work on the same exercise, using two different filters

This episode of the Daily Strides Podcast has been plucked from a week of lessons from Daily Strides Premium called “Examples of Different Filters to Vary Your Exercises”. The full week of lessons are available right now when you join Connection

The exercise we are going to work on for this example with be a simple three looped serpentine.  I want to show you how you can use this exercise in lots of different ways.

Keeping your riding interesting doesn’t need to be complicated; a single exercise can have so many uses

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How could becoming more intentional and creative with your warming up transform your riding? After all, it is something that you do every time you ride, right?!

If you were to do one thing this month that has the potential to ripple into all the months hereafter where your riding is concerned; becoming intentional about your warming up might just be the thing. 

This episode of the Daily Strides Podcast has been plucked from a week of lessons from Daily Strides Premium called “Increasing Suppleness with Your Warm-Up & Cool Down”. The full week of lessons are available right now when you join Connection

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Circles; for something that we spend so much time 'doing' with our horses, many riders are more than a little confused when it comes to how to ride a circle.  And while the basic 'riding a circle' is fairly simple and most all riders can manage, the issue of riding a well-balanced, good quality, well-maintained, circle is what leaves many riders feeling more than a little stumped.

How to ride a circle may seem like one of the easier things to do while on a horse. However, riding a well-shaped circle while maintaining or improving the quality of the work you're doing; is a whole other ball game!

For many riders falling in, or falling out are common occurrences.  Losing rhythm or relaxation.  Maintaining bend and flexion also can be a challenge.  And this is all assuming that you are actually riding a real circle at all.  As opposed to a funny, non-descript shape with random straight lines, corners, and pointy bits!

So, the shape of the circle is a given.  A ring with equal diameter, regardless of where measured, all the way around. And yet, as simple as this seems, riding one well can be a whole other story!  For many riders keeping their horse on the track, they planned in their head seems close to impossible.

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It is probably the most ridden shape for most riders, the trusty circle.  And yet, a lot of circles are uninteresting, uninspiring, and (if we're being completely honest here) a total waste of time for you and your horse.   When ridden with a little intention and purpose, the trusty circle can become one of the greatest ways to develop your horse and improve your skills.   Here are 3 exercises you can ride next time you're in the arena to help you make the most of your circles with your horse.   Read More...   Get the Free Months Plan for Your Rides:-

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What does your average ride or training session with your horse look like?  Do you have a riding routine that you follow? If yours is leaning towards, or if it already is, a little too predictable; maybe it's time for a change?  While riding the same sequence often can sometimes be beneficial to your riding and training (more on that later), for the most part, it will only help habits to creep in.  And usually not the greatest of habits.

Doing anything the same way, on repeat, almost always has the same effect.  Your body (and your horse) will look for the easiest, most efficient way of doing it; which probably won't truly serve you!

This is because, usually, the 'easiest' or 'most energy saving' way is not the best way; particularly when we are focused on developing and training.  So, why do we fall into the trap of riding 7 circles, 5 Serpentines, 4 figures of eight (or whatever your 'go to' routine?  And why do we continue to repeat it over and over again?

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What goes up, must come down.  For every upward transition you ride with your horse, you will follow it, at some point, with a downward transition.  For many riders, these can prove a little more complex to balance.

Having to prepare and then guide both yourself and your horse 'downwards', while continuing to maintain forwardness, tension, and energy... It can feel more like falling into, rather than stepping into, the new gait!

However, as with all things riding-related, there are things you can do to really begin improving each downward transition that you ride.  Implementing these changes can begin today, with the very next downward transition you ride with your horse.

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How well do you ride upward transitions?  For many riders, it can feel a little frustrating and ironic how many of them are anything but 'upward' as far as energy and lightness go!  In fact, sometimes they can feel quite the opposite, flat.

Upward transitions are part and parcel of every single ride you do with your horse.  From the 'halt to walk' one immediately after mounting up, to all of the others throughout the ride.

The quality of each upward transition you ride will directly impact where you find yourself with your horse immediately after the transition. 

Meaning, if the transition from walk to the trot was not that well prepared and then performed, chances are that you will have to work at improving the trot itself once you get there.  So, with all of this in mind, it makes sense to prepare and ride the best quality transitions you possibly can, in order to improve the whole ride.

Here are the 6 essential steps to begin riding better quality and more consistent upward transitions with your horse.

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Many riders have a desire to school and develop their own horse. Yet, a lot of these riders don't actually know what horse riding skills they need in order to make this a reality.  The fact of the matter is that you are always training your horse. Every single interaction.

Through your actions, intentional or not, you are always communicating to your horse.  Telling him about what is allowed and what is not.  What is 'acceptable' and what needs to change. 

However, if your horse riding skills are not consistently improving and developing, it stands to reason that this will eventually impact your horse.  Riders are often the cause of the plateau many horses reach in their training. Their own lack of development becomes their horse's glass ceiling.

So, in order to maintain the horse riding skills necessary to help your horse develop, you must revisit, upgrade, and develop certain skills regularly. 

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What would happen to your riding if you began to put a little more effort and intention into each warm up?  Many riders are literally setting a timer for each warm up.  5 minutes of walking, followed by some trotting and maybe a canter or three...

Your warm up is a way to set the tone of the whole conversation with your horse.  Whether that is a groundwork session, a lunging session, a ride in the arena, or a ride on the trail.  

By setting an intention and then tweaking your actions based on the results, you can literally change the whole ride.  Here is how I suggest getting started with creating a better warm-up in your riding.

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Let's Work Together:-

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• Connect in the Virtual Stable Lounge Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499737810323191

Additional Resources:-

• Keeping a Horse Riding Journal
• Why You Need to Start Your Horse Riding Journal Today