Stable Riding with Solange

Solange dives into how larger chests affect rider balance, hand position, and upper body stability, and offers concrete, body-aware strategies to ride with your anatomy instead of against it. She’s joined by longtime student and assistant Aurora, who shares how being full-chested has shaped her own position, confidence, and coaching. Solange then answers a listener question about staying on when a horse spins, breaking down the mechanics behind those sudden “salad spinner” moments and giving riders targeted homework to build spin-proof stability through better turning, torso position, and seat use.

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode 15:

• Host: Solange of Stable Riding
• Sponsor: Stable Riding
• Guest: Aurora

Time Stamps:

10:15 - Aurora

35:20 - Rider Tip

To celebrate one year of Stable Riding with Solange we have a listener question episode! So kick back, relax and listen to Solange get interviewed for a change. Big thank you to all the listeners who made this last year possible.

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode 14:

• Host: Solange of Stable Riding
• Sponsor: Stable Riding
• Guest: Ngozi

Time Stamps:

• 00:31 - Solange’s journey to coach & host
• 04:30 - Meet Ngozi, listener Q&A begins
• 07:14 - Pancake Pony’s “job”
• 08:21 - George Washington & US vs. EU riding
• 10:54 - Favorite horse movie & ape riders
• 12:53 - How rider intensives work
• 14:51 - Riding steep hills on trail
• 16:48 - Key Equisizer exercises
• 18:39 - Sitting trot on bouncy horses
• 22:30 - Staying stable in upward transitions
• 25:39 - What is a hunter pace & prep
• 28:39 - Biggest mistakes and lessons learned
• 34:32 - Common rider mistakes & easy fix
• 37:56 - Ngozi’s riding journey & closing

To continue our Rider Body Theme, John joins the episode to discuss learning to ride with a serious ankle injury as well as riding through procedures for it. Then Solange breaks down a basic but vital skill : Kicking!

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode 13:

• Host: Solange of Stable Riding
• Sponsor: Stable Riding
• Guest: John

Time Stamps:

• 00:29 - Solange intro & disclaimer
• 01:10 - “Stable riding” concept
• 04:59 - Rider adaptations & injuries
• 11:04 - Meet John
• 12:00 - John starts riding
• 13:27 - Ankle injury story
• 17:24 - Fox hunting & first field
• 19:44 - Ireland hunt story
• 28:31 - Lab intensive & safety
• 31:28 - Ankle fusion rehab
• 36:48 - New mare Bookie
• 38:27 - Advice to injured riders
• 40:23 - Leg aid/kicking lesson

Did you know that riders under 5 feet 4 inches tall have to ride differently than their taller counterparts? Solange talks all things Tiny Ladies. For the rider tip she breaks down arm pulling VS back pulling and gives you an exercise to try!

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode 12:

• Host: Solange of Stable Riding
• Sponsor: Stable Riding
• Guest: Jocelyn and Tara

Time Stamps:

• 00:31 - Solange intro & fan story
• 04:59 - Why body type matters in riding
• 09:25 - Defining “tiny ladies” & their needs
• 12:26 - Meet Tara & Jocelyn
• 17:20 - Queen Waffles & rider–horse match
• 19:36 - “Taco Tara” fall & hands breakthrough
• 23:52 - Jocelyn’s hunt story & stage‑five clinger
• 26:34 - Equisizer lab & returning after breaks
• 31:30 - Jocelyn’s 3 a.m. canter eureka
• 35:35 - Advice for petite adult riders
• 39:24 - Turning lesson: arm‑pulling vs back‑pulling
• 47:12 - Neck reining tips for short‑armed riders

Solange has the good fortune of speaking with Frankie Lovato the creator of the Equicizer! Her Equicizers are the stars of the show in her Stable Riding LAB. Next up Solange’s rider tip and homework focus on posting, an often overlooked but critical motion for riders.

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode 11:

• Host: Solange of Stable Riding
• Sponsor: Stable Riding
• Guest: Frankie Lovato with Equicizer

Time Stamps:

• 00:56 - What is an Equicizer
• 08:24 - Why Solange uses the lab
• 11:52 - Meet Frankie, creator
• 16:41 - Rehab on wooden horse
• 20:04 - Other jockeys want one
• 23:27 - Founding Wooden Horse Corp
• 26:02 - Seabiscuit & movie work
• 30:23 - Global reach of Equicizer
• 35:16 - Therapeutic riding story
• 39:18 - Engineers can’t “improve” it
• 41:50 - Where to find Frankie online
• 45:52 - Solange’s Equicizer herd
• 49:37 - Posting trot fundamentals

The hunt field is the definition of Real World Riding! Solange speaks on her love of the field and how it truly is a place for All Riders…and All Horses! Next we have an interview with a long time Foxhunter who shares her riding story. Spring is here and Solange thinks that this makes it the perfect time for us all to practice our halt transitions!

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode:

1. Host: Solange of Stable Riding
2. Sponsor: Stable Riding
3. Guest: Valerie

Time Stamps:

1. 00:32 - Solange on riding cliques and foxhunting
2. 02:46 - Discovering foxhunting at 17
3. 05:00 - Foxhunting basics and terminology
4. 06:21 - Hunt fields and field master roles
5. 07:41 - Community vibe and introducing Valerie
6. 09:11 - Wild hunt on bad pony Pickles
7. 10:17 - Valerie’s age and starting riding at 36
8. 12:36 - Anxiety around “large fauna” and value of groundwork
9. 16:05 - Why Valerie loves hunting and “church” on horseback
10. 20:00 - Meet Gorn, the OTTB gentle giant
11. 24:12 - Memorable joint meet and extended trot “sailing”
12. 29:34 - Stable Riding vs show ring position and key tweaks
13. 34:54 - Huge rear and “sit a little trouble” success story
14. 40:00 - Rex the standardbred and foxhunting’s inclusivity
15. 45:39 - Rider tip: practicing halt transitions

Stable Riding and Equine Affaire go together like chocolate and peanut butter! Listen to Solange tell the story of Equine Affaire from the Professionals point of view. Then we hear from Alex, long time Equine Affaire participant and a rider in one of Solange’s clinics at the event. The Rider tip and homework focuses on light seat with how to correctly stand in your stirrups.

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode:

1. Host: Solange of Stable Riding
2. Sponsor: Stable Riding
3. Guest: Alex

Time Stamps:

1. 01:40 - Preparing for first Columbus Equine Affaire
2. 03:58 - Best Booth award & first podcast interview
3. 05:04 - Equine Affaire becomes core of business
4. 05:26 - Heading to Massachusetts 2024 event
5. 06:28 - Meeting Alex through Rider Pro program
6. 10:01 - Alex’s lifelong riding & fairy-tale pony Sam
7. 11:48 - Why they love foxhunting
8. 14:52 - Alex’s history with Equine Affaire
9. 15:57 - Losing confidence after serious accidents & menopause link
10. 24:11 - Clinic experience and Solange’s teaching approach
11. 32:40 - Lab and mounting lessons
12. 40:47 - Standing in the stirrups rider tip & homework

Stable Riding is for All Riders. All body types…and all ages! Today we hear from Pam, who is happily riding well into her retirement. Next Solange will talk about how to put your feet back into your stirrups smoothly and on the first try. Listen in....

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode 3891:

1. Host: Solange of Stable Riding
2. Sponsor: Stable Riding
3. Guest: Pam

Time Stamps:

1. 00:31 - Solange on age, riding, and “Fabergé egg” riders
2. 07:35 - Introducing Pam, Solange’s 70-year-old student
3. 08:37 - Pam’s return to riding after 50 years
4. 14:10 - Pam’s career as an L&D nurse and retirement shift
5. 16:49 - Riding different horses, confidence, and first fall
6. 21:59 - The lab tools: Mighty Bucky, Home Horse, Equisizer
7. 24:40 - Neck pain, migraines, and benefits of riding & PT
8. 27:49 - Other movement practices: water aerobics & hiking
9. 33:56 - Older success stories + stirrup retrieval tip & homework

As riders we use our body every time we sit on our horse, but often our own fitness, motion and movement gets passed over. It’s easy to invest in our horses’s bodywork and ignore own own! This month Solange speaks with Ifa Simmonds, a professional fitness coach who specializes in equestrians. As the creator of EFA, the Equestrian Fitness Academy, Ifa is the perfect person to talk about all things rider bodies!

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode 3871:

1. Host: Solange of Stable Riding
2. Sponsor: Stable Riding
3. Guest: Ifa Simmonds from IfaFit

Time Stamps:

00:41 - Rider vs. Horse Wellness: Solange discusses the industry’s focus on horse soundness over rider fitness.

03:00 -Psychology of the Rider: Addressing why many female riders are dismissive or adversarial toward their own bodies.

06:50 - Interview with Ifa Simmons: Ifa shares his background in exercise science and his transition to training equestrians.

09:30 - The Ideal Body Type Myth: A discussion on "fence and dancer" body types and how traditional instruction can fail different frames.

12:20 - The Lab vs. The Arena: Solange explains the benefits of teaching rider mechanics on an "equisizer" rather than a live horse.

16:45 - The "Not-So-Secret" Secret: Ifa shares his frustration with riders who only want to talk about their horses during fitness assessments.

19:00- The Reality of Rider Injuries: A look at the high percentage of lower back injuries in the equestrian community.

23:15 - Virtual vs. Online Coaching: A breakdown of Ifa’s different training tiers (EFA Ultimate and EFA Elite).

27:10 - Rider Homework - The Dead Bug: Ifa provides a step-by-step guide to a core-stabilizing exercise designed specifically for riders.

31:00 - Final Encouragement: Solange reflects on the importance of being a "professional encourager" for both humans and horses.

All riders have bodies and some have Complex bodies. Our guest Stephanie shares her story of riding with Cerebral Palsy and how working with her body instead of against it she is able to meet her riding goals. We talk about different tack options as well as how having a positive outlook makes all the difference in the world! This month's rider’s tip and homework tackles crookedness and leaning on the horse's back. Let Solange help you tackle your “bad foot” once and for all! Listen in....

Horses in the Morning Stable Riding with Solange Episode 3846:

• Host: Solange of Stable Riding
• Sponsor: Stable Riding
• Guest: Stephanie C.

Time Stamps:

01:00 - Intro to topic

08:14 - Stephanie

31:15 - Joy and Judgement

32:29 - Rider Tip