Accuracy can seem like a dull and boring concept when riding horses. Sure, if you are going to compete in dressage or show jumping, accuracy can become really important. But what about if you are simply a rider, working alone with your horse, trying to improve your overall skills? Is accuracy still as important?

I'm going to say yes, accuracy is important. And it is an excellent way of actually establishing and building engagement with your horse.

Now, granted, accuracy and engagement might seem like they have nothing to do with each other initially. How could do something at a specific point in the arena or in the conversation help with engagement? And the answer is "more than you can even begin to realize".

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More on this Topic:-

• No Arena; No Problem - Riding in Open Spaces
• How to Use Your Arena Rail to Improve Your Riding
• Making the Most of Riding in a Smaller Space
• Free Planner & Exercises for Riders
• Join Connection

Join Our Online Communities for Equestrians

• Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians
• Virtual Stable Lounge for Riders Working Alone or with OTTBs

It's probably safe to assume that you want to improve as a rider, right? That, if becoming a better rider in 90 days was guaranteed, you'd probably follow the plan and do the work? Well, the good news is that, regardless of where you are in your riding right now, you can indeed improve over the coming 90 days (or 3 months). However, it will involve a little planning, preparation, and commitment in order to make it all happen.

Using the previous 90 days in your riding to create a plan to improve over the coming 90 days is a fantastic way to continue to make progress as a rider.

However, it will require a little work upfront in both reviewing and planning. Looking back at what happened and then using that information to make better decisions and take better actions going forward is where it all begins. So that being said… Let's dive into your past 90 days and see what you can learn that will kickstart the coming 90 and help you become a better rider.

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• Connection; The Online Membership for Equestrians
• Lunging for Riding
• Groundwork For Riding

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Here's a confession; for years I used to think of cantering while on the lunge as just something I did to 'finish the session'. It was like something that I could check off a list. There was no intention behind it (only to get it done),

And with any cantering happening while on the lunge, there was definitely no thought put into using the time or gait to develop the horse.

Which, now, seems so bizarre! Why would I have even bothered with it when there was no set focus or intention?! It really does seem like madness; except for one thing…

Every week, I see so many riders making the same mistake. Cantering endless circles while on the lunge – without a single thought about why and what it might achieve or work towards…

Transitioning Into the Canter

Let's start at the beginning with this one. I love thinking about the similarities between what happens when riding and what happens when lunging. Meaning, if you were to ride a 'good' transition from trot to canter, what would you consider before 'asking'?

The transition into canter will only be as good as the quality of the trot asking for it – and the quality of the preparations for the 'ask'.

Meaning that the trot must be moving forwards, not running. And the rider (the lunger) must invest a little time, energy, and focus in preparation for the transition itself.

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Let's Work Together:-

• Free 'Getting Started with Lunging' Training
• Lunging for Riding
• Groundwork For Riding

Join Our Online Communities for Equestrians

• Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
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It can seem like something that only novice or beginner riders would worry themselves with; revisiting the basics. After all, surely there's a point where, as riders, we can 'set and forget' a couple of things in our riding? Basics like position and the aids. Or trotting and cantering...

And I think a lot of this stems from the fact that we see the basics as being, somehow, for beginners. For riders who are only just getting started on their journey. Surely not riders who have been hard at work for 5, 10, 40 years... Or riders who are competing at high levels.

And yet, if riders could begin to swap out the word 'basics' and replace it with the 'essential foundations for the current level of work or development', revisiting those old places, from this 'new level', wouldn't seem so bad after all, would it?

Read More... More on this Topic:-

• Join Connection today and transform your riding journey
• Putting 1 Basic on Autopilot This Month in Your Riding
• Returning to Riding - Focusing on the Basics
• What are the Basics when it Comes to Riding
• The Importance of Correcting and Perfecting the Basics in Your Riding
• Start with the Basics in Order to Build Confidence
• Returning to Riding (Basics on Autopilot) Program
• Online community for equestrians working on their mindset & fitness
• Online Community for equestrians focusing on re-schooling horses (and ex-racehorse

If you have even been at the other end of a lunge line to a horse who is adamant to show you exactly how fast he can go on a circle… You will know all about 'that' feeling! The one where every fiber of your being is screaming at you to 'stop the horse'. And yet, it feels like there is absolutely nothing you can do! Intentionally mixing cantering and lunging together is not for the faint of heart! It often requires nerves of steel – especially at the beginning of the journey… The good news is that, for those who persist and persevere, the reward is being able to truly use lunging as a tool to develop the canter. And being able to do so from this wonderful, and unique, vantage point of 'trainer'. Read More... More on this Topic:-

• FREE TRAINING:- 3 Days to Successfully Getting Started on the Lunge
• 4 Essentials for Getting Started with Lunging for Riding
• Handling Your Lunge Line to Avoid Tangles and Enhance Contact
• 4 Things You're Doing Wrong when Lunging
• Improving Your Riding Coordination and Aids While Lunging
• Join Connection today and transform your riding journey
• Lunging for Riding – 4-week step by step program to transform your lunging experience
• Online community for equestrians working on their mindset & fitness
• Online Community for equestrians focusing on re-schooling horses (and ex-racehorse

Do you have days where, after you get home, sit down, and think over the day's events, you think to yourself "Why did I react like that?!"? I know I do, even now. I find that if I allow my emotions to run things, the chances of everything turning out exactly as I would have two chances. Slim and none! This is why I began, a few years ago now, creating planned responses in my riding.

Simply put, I began thinking about what 'could' or 'might' happen… And how the 'best version' of me would respond in the moment to the situation.

Being able to think about what I would like any outcome to be and then plan, in advance, the best response to achieve this changed everything. It meant that I didn't have to necessarily change 'me', I can still have the same emotional response. However, I also know what actions I want to take in order to deal with the situation.

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More on this Topic:-

• Fit for Riding; Fit for Life 2022 Free Plan for Equestrians
• Reacting Versus Responding in Your Riding
• How Your Stories are Influencing Your Horse Riding
• 5 Actions to Your 'Better Person' in Your Riding
• Riding and Acting – The Relationship Between Them
• Your Mindset; What Do You Believe About Your Riding
• Connection; My Online Membership for Equestrians
• Online community for equestrians working on their mindset & fitness
• Online Community for equestrians focusing on re-schooling horses (and ex-racehorses

There are some things that many of us simply accept in life. Rainy days. Horsehair is everywhere in Spring. The rhythm in the canter. And yet, while we cannot change the weather (okay, debatable) and we definitely cannot get around the necessary loss of the winter coat…

The Rhythm in the canter is definitely something we can have a more positive influence over when we ride – rather than simply accepting what is.

And yet, it can seem daunting! Many riders find that when they attempt to begin doing this, they tend to lose the canter altogether. They quickly find themselves back in the trot. Or the canter has lost its 3 beat sequence – so it's technically no longer a canter!

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More Episodes on This Topic:-

• Fit for Riding; Fit for Life 2022 Free Plan for Equestrians
• Syncing Your Seat in the Canter with Your Horse
• Rhythm; Learning to Identify and Develop It In the Canter
• Developing Your Seat in the Canter
• Connection; My Online Membership for Equestrians
• Online community for equestrians working on their mindset & fitness
• Online Community for equestrians focusing on re-schooling horses (and ex-racehorses

Isn't it amazing how so many riders just seem to 'know' what will happen each time they ride? They have certain expectations that, almost magically, seem to always come true for them. Unfortunately, the keywords in that sentence are 'for them'.

I see time and again how riders, regardless of what is really happening, will define each ride based on their beliefs and expectations.

And, for most of these riders, these beliefs and expectations are simply untrue or unrealistic. Meaning that they are creating a cycle where they simply repeat the same ride, the same month, the same year, over and over again with their horse.

And all because they are unaware of how much their expectations are impacting their outcome.

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Additional Resources to Help Riders

• Fit for Riding; Fit for Life 2022 Free Plan
• 3 Things to Work on To Become a Better Rider
• Transforming the Next 12 Weeks in Your Riding
• Your Mindset; What Do You Believe About Your Riding
• Connection; My Online Membership for Equestrians
• Online community for equestrians working on their mindset & fitness
• Online Community for equestrians focusing on re-schooling horses (and ex-racehorses

All riders can be put into one of two categories when it comes to the canter… Those who can move their seat in the canter with their horse – and those who can't. This is a bitter pill to swallow for those on the 'can't' side of the fence. And yet, it is something that they would secretly love to be able to do.

Having the ability to control your seat in the canter completely changes how much influence you have in the gait – and it is a lot more comfortable.

So, if you've been stuck in the 'can't' camp for longer than you would like, this is how to finally move forwards into the 'can' camp…

It's All About Practice

And not just any old practice. I am talking perfect practice. Doing the same, middle-of-the-road things over and over again, hoping for a different result is madness. Rather spend less time, but more intention and focus in order to make your practice work for you.

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More Help on This Topic:-

• • • FREE Download:- 1 Exercise Multiple Ways
    • Fit for Riding; Fit for Life 2022 Free Plan
    • 4 Steps to a More Comfortable Canter
    • Developing Your Seat in the Canter
    • Timing Your Transition into Canter
    • Rhythm; Learning to Identify and Develop it in the Canter
    • Join Connection; The Online Membership for Equestrians
    • Online Community for Equestrian focusing on Planning and Mindset
    • Lunging for Riding

The canter and using groundpoles; as the song goes, these are a few of my favorite things! And I especially love how, with a few well-placed and simple groundpoles, the canter can begin to become more intentional, rhythmic, and balanced. The added bonus is that so does the rider… So, that being said, let's improve the canter for you and your horse…

Today, I want to give you a few simple, easy to follow tips so you can begin effectively using groundpoles in your training program with your horse to improve the canter

You see, once you and your horse are comfortable cantering together 'on the flat' (no poles involved), groundpoles can really begin to help you both to develop on from here.

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Additional Resources for Equestrians:-

• Improving Your Riding with Your Light Seat
• One Groundpole Layout; Multiple Ways to Ride It – Free Riding Plan Inside
• Fixing Your Position for Less 'Bump' When Riding Over Groundpoles
• 3 Most Common Mistakes when It Comes ot Groundpoles
• Improving Your Riding with Your Light Seat
• 1 Simple Groundpole Exercise to Ride This Week with Your Horse
• Connection; My Online Membership for Equestrians
• Online community for equestrians working on their mindset & fitness
• Online Community for equestrians focusing on re-schooling horses (and ex-racehorses