The Thinking Horse and Rider: Helping Riders Understand Their Horses | Anna Fox

Do horses understand competition—or is “don’t let them win” a human projection? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, Anna explores Leadership in Flow and why dominance-based ideas about leadership don’t align with how horses actually think and learn.

Drawing from equine behavior science and real-world riding examples, this conversation challenges the myth that horses are trying to win or take control. Instead, horses respond to safety, comfort, clarity, and emotional steadiness—not power struggles.

Inspired by Seed 7 of Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart, this episode invites riders to rethink leadership as shared direction rather than control, and to explore what becomes possible when leadership feels like.

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!

What if autonomy is the very thing that makes horses safer, more confident, and more capable of true self-carriage?

In this episode, we dive into the concept of autonomy through both lived experience and research—specifically a study exploring the relationship between horse welfare, rider safety, and rider satisfaction. What surprised me most was discovering that what researchers often call “control” actually aligns closely with what I teach as supported autonomy: clarity, predictability, choice, and mutual influence.

We’ll unpack:

• What autonomy really means for horses (and riders)

• Why mammals thrive when they feel they have influence over their environment

• How clear communication increases safety without domination

• How to build autonomy step-by-step from the ground into the saddle

• Why “advanced” movements are simply the basics, taught in thoughtful pieces and then brought together like a puzzle

If you’ve ever felt stuck, over-controlling, or confused about how to progress without shutting your horse down, this episode offers a different lens—one rooted in understanding, empathy, and leadership as a flow state.

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!

In this episode, Anna sits down with biomechanics and adaptive riding instructor Teresa Pilegaard to explore how riders can move beyond the old obedience-based training model and build true partnership with their horses. Teresa shares insights on rider biomechanics, nervous system regulation, groundwork, and why so many riders get pushed past their experience level.

Together, they break down how to create safer, more confident, and more connected rides by focusing on awareness, observation, and communication — not force. If you’ve ever struggled with fear, tension, or feeling “stuck” in your riding, this conversation will help you rethink your approach and reconnect with your horse on a deeper level.

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild

Find Teresa Pilegaard, Dorato Performance Horse, and North Star Stables NOVA

https://doratoperformancehorses.com/

Join the Everyday Equestrian https://doratoperformancehorses.com/everyday-equestrian

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!

What if the simplest thing your horse can do—stand still—was actually the foundation of everything you’ll ever teach them?

In this episode, Anna dives into how true self-carriage begins with the simplest asks and why the classical masters (and the best modern trainers) all agree: advanced work is just the basics, done better. You’ll learn why returning to fundamentals isn’t regression, it’s refinement—and how every new level of dressage is just a deeper version of the same conversation.

Anna also introduces the next Seed of Partnership: Relational Consistency—and how it bridges the gap between your horse’s physical balance and emotional trust.

Stay tuned to the end for this week’s Ten Minute Tuesday experiment—your invitation to rediscover precision, presence, and partnership in the simplest moments.

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding

What if your horse doesn’t need a boss — but a calm, clear partner?

In this episode, Anna explores Seed Two: Empathic Discipline and why real leadership isn’t about control. Drawing from her time as a 911 dispatcher and lessons inside her RRR cohort, she shares how to stay present with your horse without losing yourself in guilt, fear, or perfectionism.

For riders ready to lead with clarity instead of pressure — this one’s for you.

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild

Weekly challenge video: https://youtube.com/shorts/XcHtSc6VSig

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!

In this episode of The Thinking Horse & Rider Podcast, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened explores the deeper layers of rider awareness — beyond reading your horse’s body language and into recognizing how our own fears, habits, and control patterns shape every ride.

We talk about the quiet “sins” of good riders: the ways we unintentionally limit our horses’ freedom, the contradiction between our love of liberty and our need for control, and how to release judgment so true connection can grow.

You’ll learn why awareness without judgment is the missing ingredient in modern horsemanship, how fear disguises itself as discipline, and why forgiveness — both for ourselves and our horses — is the foundation of trust.

If you’ve ever felt like the joy that drew you to horses has been replaced by pressure or perfectionism, this conversation will remind you what’s been missing — and how to find it again.

✨ Mentioned in this episode:

• The psychology of control vs. freedom in riding

• How fear quietly shapes horse-human relationships

• Awareness as an act of love, not guilt

• Why judgment blocks learning and limits connection

• The Reconnect, Rebuild & Ride with Heart program — for riders ready to rediscover peace, presence, and partnership

💫 Ready to rebuild your connection?

Join the next Reconnect, Rebuild & Ride with Heart cohort: https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-ride

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!

Most horse-and-rider problems don’t begin in the arena — they begin the moment we overlook the subtle ways our horses are already communicating with us. In this episode, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened introduces The Thinking Horse & Rider Podcast and explores how small shifts in awareness can transform your partnership.

We’ll also talk about why boundaries matter, how to avoid both extremes (too soft vs. too rigid), and why true partnership lives in the middle space of communication and clarity.

You’ll leave this episode with a simple awareness exercise you can try today — and an invitation to go deeper in the Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart cohort, where we’ll explore the 7 Seeds of Partnership together.

Because being a thinking rider isn’t about over-analyzing — it’s about noticing what’s real in the moment, and meeting your horse there.

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!

In this season finale of Come Ride With Me, host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened answers a powerful listener question: “Did my horse actually do evil on purpose?”

This episode is a must-listen for perfectionist riders who feel stuck, frustrated, or disconnected from their horse. Anna breaks down the truth behind so-called “bad” horse behavior using insights from equine neuroscience, nervous system responses, and the horse’s perspective—offering an empowering shift from blame to understanding.

She also reflects on key takeaways from the Letting Go of Perfectionism season, and shares how perfectionism blocks the connection we truly crave with our horses.

💡 Then, big news: Come Ride With Me is transforming into

🎙️ The Thinking Horse and Rider

—a new season and new name focused on strengthening the horse-human partnership through empathy, science, and lived experience.

Finally, Anna introduces her new course,

Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart,

a practical, heart-led guide for riders who want more connection, softness, and clarity with the horse they already have.

Whether you’ve ever questioned your horse’s behavior, your own reactions, or how to rebuild trust after disconnection—this episode is your bridge to a more compassionate, thinking approach to horsemanship.

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!

Have you ever caught yourself grabbing the reins when you feel off balance?

Maybe it’s not even conscious—you just realize later that your horse’s mouth became your safety net.

Here’s the truth: if you’re balancing on your reins, you’re not riding with your seat. Ditch the reins for 5 minutes a day and improve your riding!

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!

Feeling unbalanced in the saddle? You might be relying on your hands instead of your seat—and your horse can feel it. In this episode of Come Ride With Me, host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened busts common riding position myths like “heels down” and “shoulders back,” explains why gripping the reins destroys feel, and shares simple, proven exercises to improve your balance, coordination, and rhythm. Learn how to ride with a softer seat, even contact, and true harmony with your horse. Perfect for dressage riders, novice equestrians, and anyone ready to replace tension with feel.

Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com

Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened

Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at [email protected]

Happy Riding!