Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Your Energy Begins the Conversation

From the moment your horse becomes aware of you, before any halter, tack, or aids, the conversation has already started. In this episode, we explore how your energy sets the tone for the entire interaction. Whether it's calm, chaotic, focused, or distracted, your energy speaks louder than your words or actions.

Suggested Reflection: Pause before you approach your horse. Ask yourself: What energy am I bringing into this space?

Intentional Stillness as a Training Tool

Doing "nothing" might be the most impactful thing you do this week. We often think connection comes through doing, but true partnership is often built through simply being with your horse. Still. Calm. Present.

Try This: Spend 5–10 minutes just being with your horse this week. Sit, stand, or walk quietly, no agenda. Just notice the shift.

The Power of Breath Awareness

Lorna reminds us that breath is one of the most underutilized tools in riding and groundwork. Shallow, erratic breath reflects stress. Deep, calm breathing brings safety and groundedness. Your horse will feel the difference.

Mini Exercise: Before interacting, take 3 slow, conscious breaths. Let each exhale settle you more deeply into the moment.

Partnership Starts on the Ground, Not in the Saddle

Many riders focus on improving their connection during rides, but often skip over the groundwork of connection that starts long before the ride. The first look, the first breath, the first touch. All shape your training outcomes.

Shift in Perspective: See every interaction, grooming, leading, even watching from the fence, as an opportunity to strengthen your partnership.

🎧 The Connection Partnership Program

This powerful program was originally created as a live in-person experience at the farm. It's now available as a self-paced audio training, designed to help you intentionally develop your presence, energy, and awareness to deepen your partnership from the ground up.

🟢 On special this weekend only! Access the full Connection Partnership Program at 👉 www.stridesforsuccess.com/cpp

You're in the arena. It's just you and your horse. No trainer. No instructor. Just the two of you - riding alone. This probably wasn't the plan, yet here you are. And if you're like most riders, it's not the riding alone that's the problem... It's what tends to creep in when you do:

• You lose motivation

• You skip the structure

• Progress stalls (or feels non-existent!)

• Boredom shows up

• You start questioning everything

• And before you know it, you're wondering if you're going backwards

This week's Strides Revisited episode goes back to the heart of riding alone, and how to actually keep moving forward when it's just you and your horse.

"Riding alone can work brilliantly if you know how to keep yourself inspired, accountable, and structured."

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The 5 sneaky roadblocks riders face when going solo

• How to create small wins that keep you showing up

• Why having markers in the arena can change everything

• How to start holding yourself accountable (even without a coach)

• The power of timing, tracking, and planning (yes, even as a solo rider!)

Listen in and rediscover how to take ownership of your riding, and do it in a way that actually feels fun again.

Download the 15 Minutes or Less Freebie

If you struggle to ride consistently because of time… this is for you.

The 15 Minutes or Less Riding Plan Guide includes:

• 10+ exercise ideas you can do with just 15 minutes

• Instant 'get in, get done' ride themes

• Goal-aligned prompts for every session

• Editable plan templates

🎁 Grab it now (free): https://stridesforsuccess.com/15

Join Connection

The structured monthly membership for riders who train alone

Inside Connection, you'll get audio horse riding lessons, live virtual group riding lessons, monthly themes for clear progression, bi-weekly Review & Planning Sessions, and something to work on every day your with your horse!

Riding alone doesn't have to mean guessing alone. Get the rhythm, structure, and set lessons you need to ride better, from wherever you are.

👉 Learn more at: https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching

Perfect for riders feeling 'stuck' or overwhelmed on their horse's training journey, especially if you're starting over, returning after a break, or working with a green or retraining horse.

You'll get:

• Private virtual lessons

• 1:1 feedback and video reviews

• Clear step-by-step guidance

• Support to rebuild confidence and structure

Get off the merry-go-round and into real progress.

📝 Get the Details here:- https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

Join the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community

A free group for riders like you, committed to riding better and building real momentum.

Inside, you'll find:

• Weekly discussion questions

• Bite-sized tips and prompts

• Accountability threads

• Community support

🟣 Come join us: https://stridesforsuccess.com/group

Whether you're training your own horse or simply trying to get back into the saddle more consistently, planning when riding alone can feel like a guessing game. In this episode, I'm breaking down how to use your own riding review to create focused, doable 1 to 2 week plans that actually move your riding and training forward.

We'll cover:

• What to include in your review (and why timing matters)

• The 3 planning traps most riders fall into (and how to avoid them)

• How to choose your one priority that will create the most progress

• Building in practice, progress, and pauses for lasting improvement

• How to make your next review easier by tracking smarter now

If you're riding without a regular coach or trainer, this is exactly what will help you feel less alone and more in control of your progress.

https://stridesforsuccess.com/episode1385-turning-your-reviews-into-a-plan-when-riding-alone/

Connection Membership

Join a growing community of riders from around the world who are building consistent progress in the saddle, often without riding more. Inside Connection, you'll get access to our fortnightly Review & Planning Calls, live virtual group lessons, Q&A sessions, and a full library of on-demand audio horse riding lessons. Start your two-week cycle with us today: 👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

🐴 Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching

Feeling stuck or uncertain in your riding and training? This 13-week 1-to-1 coaching program is designed to help you get unstuck and move forward with clarity and confidence. We'll work closely together to map out your next steps, troubleshoot your challenges, and get real results with your horse. 👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

⏱️ 15 Minutes or Less

Short on time? You don't need a full hour to make meaningful progress with your horse. This free resource gives you over 80 ideas for exercises, groundwork, mounted work, and mindset—all designed to help you move forward in your riding in 15 minutes or less. Perfect for busy riders or unpredictable days. 🎁 Grab it here: https://stridesforsuccess.com/15

💬 The Daily Strides Podcast Online Community

Want to join other riders who are working alone but not feeling alone? Come be part of our free Facebook group where we share inspiration, training ideas, behind-the-scenes updates, and mini-challenges like Your Signature Ride. We'd love to welcome you! 👥 Join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

🎧 Subscribe, Share, Rate & Review

If this episode helped you, please consider subscribing to the podcast so you never miss a new one. Share it with a riding friend who could use a little extra clarity and encouragement. And if you have a moment, rating and reviewing the show really helps us reach more riders around the world. Thank you for being part of the Strides for Success community!

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!