This week’s Q&A is all about helping your horse become more forward, light, and responsive to your aids. Nicole stepped in to cover this session and answers questions about horses that are behind the leg, slow to react, or difficult to keep in front of the aids.

In this she talks about:

• How to create a horse that is self-going instead of needing constant leg pressure
• Why "aid, reaction, release, repeat" is so important for training responsiveness
• The role of transitions in developing better reactions to your aids
• How groundwork can improve responsiveness before you even get in the saddle
• Creative exercises to motivate horses and make training more engaging

One of the biggest themes in this episode is learning how to use your aids more effectively by rewarding the horse the moment they respond. Nicole explains why constantly pushing can actually make horses duller to the leg and shares practical exercises to help horses become more sensitive, reactive, and easier to ride.

There is also a great discussion on using transitions within and between gaits, developing adjustability, troubleshooting horses that lose energy, and using other exercises to improve motivation and responsiveness. If your horse feels lazy, behind the leg, or difficult to keep in front of the aids, this Q&A is packed with practical exercises and simple strategies you can start using right away.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. Next week we'll be celebrating the Canter Challenge and announcing the winners of both the Canter Challenge and the Trotters Trophy, so be sure to join us live!

Last night’s Q&A was a fun little life update from Florida and everything happening with the horses lately. I did try to do the live from the barn, but the internet completely failed… and of course we had an interruption from Messi barking in the background too!

I shared about Kensington and how much I’ve been enjoying riding him out in the fields lately. We’ve been schooling pirouettes & flying changes out in the open, and I honestly think he enjoys the variety so much more. I love mixing things up and finding ways to make training more fun for both me and the horses.

There’s an update on Mik and how exciting it’s been to finally get his flying changes confirmed and start working on tempi's with him. It’s been such a rewarding process bringing him along over the past year.

I’ve been filming lots of new Strides content with Future for our upcoming biomechanics month, plus talking about Harvey’s journey and how special it’s been having him back in work and happily going in a hackamore.

One of my favorite parts of the week was our older rider webinar. Hearing everyone’s stories and perseverance was honestly so inspiring, and it reminded me how incredible our horse community really is.

I chat a little about the upcoming show webinar and some of the common mistakes I see riders making during show season, along with tips to help you feel more confident, prepared, and successful in the show ring. Will I see you the? Click here to RSVP as I’ll be sharing some of my best tips to help you improve your rides and your scores!

Happy Riding,

Amelia

This week’s Q&A is all about making progress toward your goals, even when the timeline changes, setbacks happen, or you feel like you’re on a plateau.

In this episode, Germán and I talk about:

• How to set realistic goals for yourself and your horse
• Why preparation matters before shows or new experiences
• How to regroup after injury, setbacks, or time off
• Tips for riders returning after breaks or navigating riding later in life

One of the biggest themes in this episode is learning to break big goals into smaller, more manageable pieces. Whether you’re preparing a young horse for their first outing, coming back after a break, or working through frustration when progress feels slow, I share practical reminders about patience, consistency, and celebrating the little wins along the way.

We also talk about the learning process, video reviews, the canter challenge, staying fit as a rider, knowing the difference between being hurt and being injured, and giving both yourself and your horse the time you need to build confidence.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

P.S. RSVP for my webinar happening this Tuesday, especially if you’re a slightly older rider looking to stay confident, strong, and inspired in the saddle!

This week’s Q&A is all about riding young and green horses, from building confidence and consistency to working through the inevitable bumps along the way. Nicole answers your questions about helping green horses feel more relaxed, rideable, and successful both at home and in new environments.

In this she talks about:

• How to help green horses stay confident at shows and in new environments
• Why groundwork and repetition are so important for young horses
• How to work through spooky behavior, tension, and threshold moments

One of the biggest themes in this episode is the importance of preparation and keeping horses under threshold so they can continue learning without becoming overwhelmed. She explains how groundwork, bending exercises, consistency, and thoughtful repetition can help horses feel safer and more confident while also giving riders better tools to handle challenging situations.

There is also a great discussion on introducing tack, building better transitions, teaching rein back, handling mounting block issues, improving contact and responsiveness to the aids, and deciding when horses are ready to progress to more difficult work. If you’re working with a young horse, restarting a horse, or helping a sensitive horse gain confidence, this Q&A is packed with practical exercises and helpful reminders.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS, don't forget to RSVP for my Free Training Scale Webinar.

This week's live Q&A was all about preparing for the canter and the 5 essential elements that set you and your horse up for success.

We talked about why the canter feels so different from the walk and trot, shared some stories from riders who've been there (including a horse who went from bucking and head-tossing to round and soft in just 30 days), and covered some of the most common roadblocks like explosive transitions, wrong leads, and that moment where your brain just stops working the second you pick up the canter.

There are also some really helpful takeaways on groundwork, why your trot quality matters more than most people realize, how to close the energy gap between gaits so departures stop feeling like an event, and why visualization is one of the most underrated tools for riders.

We also talked about knowing when you're ready, and why it's always better to wait one more minute than to create a problem you didn't need to have.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. The 30 Day Canter Challenge starts today! If you're a Strides member, you are automatically enrolled. If you're not in Strides, you can check it out here!

This week’s Q&A is all about the canter seat and how to feel more secure, balanced, and confident in the canter.

We shared a few canter stories, talked about why the canter can feel so powerful, and broke down some of the most common rider position challenges, like leaning forward, holding your breath, gripping with your knees, locking your elbows, or trying too hard to “make” the motion happen.

There are also some really helpful takeaways on looking up through the transition, staying balanced on a circle, keeping tone without getting tight, and learning how to follow the canter without overdoing it.

We also talked about why preparation matters so much, especially for adult riders or anyone rebuilding confidence. The better you understand the steps, the aid, and what your body needs to do, the easier it is to set yourself and your horse up for success.

Happy Riding, Amelia

PS. The 30 Day Canter Challenge starts May 1, If you're a Strides member, you are automatically enrolled, if you're not in Strides, you can check it out here!

This week’s Q&A is a mini webinar all about overcoming canter anxiety and building confidence step by step. Nicole shares a really helpful perspective on why the canter can feel so intimidating, and how breaking it down into smaller, more manageable pieces can make it feel so much more doable.

In this mini-webinar, you’ll learn:

1. Why the canter feels so intimidating and what’s really happening
2. The foundation for confidence through position, balance, and preparation
3. Simple strategies to build confidence step by step

One of the biggest themes in this session is that confidence comes from preparation. She talks through the key foundations that make the canter feel safer and more rideable, from position and balance to the trot exercises that directly support better canter work. There is also a great discussion on how improving the basics can take away that feeling of surprise and give riders more control.

Nicole also shares a simple exercise, “bookending the canter” that is especially helpful for nervous riders, plus answers questions about rushing, unstable lower legs, horses that speed up instead of striking off, and how to rebuild confidence after setbacks. If the canter has ever felt overwhelming, this episode has a lot of encouragement and practical ideas to help you feel more secure.

Download the free canter checklist here.

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. The Canter Challenge is now open for enrollment, so if this is something you’re working on right now, it’s perfect timing to dive in a bit deeper. Check it out here. 

This is a sample ride-along podcast that goes along with my 30 Day Canter Challenge. Learn more about the challenge and more ride-along podcasts like this one here. The Challenge starts May 1st!

This week’s live looked a little different as we wrapped up 30 Days to Dressage and celebrated some of the amazing final projects from riders in the course.

We shared a look at the heart behind 30 Days to Dressage and why this program was created to give riders a simple, encouraging starting point with groundwork, rider position, aids, and exercises. One of the best parts of this episode is seeing how creative everyone got with their final projects, from written exams to art pieces, videos, and even songs.

A big theme in this episode is that dressage really is for everyone. Riders from all backgrounds and disciplines took part in this course and it helped them build confidence, create more structure in their rides, and better understand how the basics carry over into everything they do with their horses.

We also talked about how important it is to keep learning fun, to appreciate the partnership with your horse, and to recognize that steady, consistent work really does add up.

There are also a few exciting updates about World Cup in Fort Worth, I would love to see you there!

Happy Riding,

Amelia

PS. My Training Scale Webinar is coming up this Sunday, RSVP here if you have not signed up yet! 

This week’s Q&A was a fun mix of rider position, balance, and some great behind the scenes updates from Florida. I was also joined by Nicole from my team, it has been so great to have here for a few days!

I shared some great takeaways from my clinic with Sue Martin last weekend.

We shared a few exciting updates about wrapping up 30 Days to Dressage, upcoming World Cup plans, and some really encouraging progress with Mik. One of the big themes in this episode is how much consistent training adds up over time, even when it feels like progress is slow in the moment.

We also talked through some really helpful rider position ideas, and had a great discussion about posture, lower leg position, and how small rider habits can make a big difference in balance and communication.

Then we answered some Strides member questions about canter transitions, lower leg placement, tipping forward in the canter depart, and what to do when horses get inverted or motorbike through the turns.

Happy Riding, Amelia

PS. Are you joining us at World Cup? We would love to see you there! If you have not RSVP’d yet, here’s the link to save your spot.