Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Latest Episodes:

Suppleness; Focus Your Horses Training on More than Simply Bending - The Training Scale Sep 03, 2021

Show notes

What if I was to say that suppleness is less about being 'bendy' and more about how energy flows in you and your horse... Would that challenge you a little? Or is this something which, if you think of yoga, makes sense?

If you sometimes struggle to maintain that lovely 'loosey gooseyness' in your horse, is it possible that you have been making it more about the bend, and less about the flow? Let's have this conversation...

In The Beginning, There Was Relaxation...

True relaxation is present when the body is able to work exactly as it should at that moment. This applies to both horse and rider. The body is without any excess tension, which will 'block' or hold things back. True suppleness is when the body can move with the energy in a way that is fluid.

I think flowing water is one of the easiest ways to imagine suppleness. Imagine water flowing somewhere, it is fluid. It simply moves, moulds to, and fills up whatever is available for it to flow into.

Free Training - Finding the Gaps in Your Horse's Training

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Have You Developed 'Good' Rhythm with Your Horse? - The Training Scale Sep 01, 2021

Show notes

Rhythm is often a funny thing when riding. The reason for this is that rhythm, in the true sense of the word, is any beat that is on repeat... And, most horses tend to have a beat or two that they repeat. This leads many riders to struggle with rhythm. Their question is "if there already is a rhythm, why is it something to work and develop?". And that is a mighty fine question...

All rhythm is not made equal when it comes to horses, riding, and a general way of going. As riders, we need to find the correct rhythm that we want to repeat; and then make that happen regardless of what questions we ask...

Free Audio Training - Find the Gaps in Your Horses Training

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Putting All the Training Pieces Together for Your Horse - The Training Scale Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

It can feel really overwhelming when we begin looking at all the different things you need to include when training your horse, right? All these 'steps' and 'principles' are big pieces of a puzzle in their own right; they also have to work together in order to get the full picture!

The training scale is a proven way for you to take these pieces and make them work, regardless of horse, discipline, schooling, or past experience.

And yet, if you just read 'training scale' and instantly decided that this is not the way for you where training your horse is concerned; hear me out. It is not just for dressage...

The training scale is as beneficial for trail horses as it is for dressage horses. For showjumpers, to riding school ponies. It is truly a system that helps all horses really harness their natural abilities and develop them.

Find the Gaps in Your Horse's Training - Free Training

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1203. When Halt Becomes More than Just Stopping Your Horse Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

When does a halt become more than just stopping? When a rider begins to get intentional about it... I would love to help you begin to see the halt in a completely different light when working with your horse. You see, I believe that if you become a little more intentional and focused on this movement that you complete every single day you are with your horse, it truly can begin to change everything for you in your riding...

So many riders have fallen into the trap of seeing the halt as being just that; a stop. It is so much more; it is a movement that, when worked on with your horse, has the power to really move the conversation forward.

This is true whether you are on the ground, perhaps leading to and from the field, or leading your horse to the mounting block. It is also true if you are doing the real actual, and intentional, groundwork. And, I am also a little in love with the halt and how it can help your lunging... Both of which set the course for a good quality halt when riding.

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1202 5 Ways to Have Fun with Your Horse This Month Jul 05, 2021

Show notes

Fun can mean lots of different things to lots of different riders. And your idea of what is really fun can change as you develop and grow as a rider. I always encourage my riders to be intentional about including fun stuff in their plan or schedule with their horses.

So, as you plan out your weekly riding, see where you can include one or two activities that you are including with the simple intention of having fun and enjoying the time with your horse.

Now, again, notice how what may have been fun when you rode horses as a teenager, might not be as much fun anymore. Pay attention to your day-to-day activities with your horse. Anywhere you notice you are really just 'having fun', go deeper and see where it takes you.

Let's Work Together:-

Connect with Lorna

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Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
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Join the 2021 Equestrian Fitness Challenge:-

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1 . Groundwork
2 . Natural Horsemanship
- - - Combining Natural Horsemanship with Your Riding
3 . Grooming
- - - Communicate with Your Horse Through Groundwork; Part 1 Touch
    - Stop Wasting and Start Investing Time with Your Horse
4 . Relaxing together
- - - Relaxation; Building it Before You Get into the Saddle with Your Horse
    - Confidence; Building it From the Ground Up
5 . Trails or Hacking
- - - Schooling on the Trail
    - Socialising Your Horse to Riding in a Group

1201. Putting One Thing onto Autopilot in Your Riding This Month Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

Have you ever wondered how some riders seem to effortlessly connect with their horse when riding? It genuinely seems like they are doing nothing in particular, and there is clearly an ongoing conversation, or magic, happening.

The secret to seemingly effortless riding is to begin, one by one putting a basic on autopilot - and then revisiting and upgrading them regularly

The basics in riding are all the seemingly small, but vitally important, things that are essential to developing as a rider. They are like the foundations.

Choosing a 'Basic on Autopilot' This Month

I think that there are a few key areas that you can begin looking at putting onto autopilot in your riding. Now, obviously, each of these topics is pretty sizeable and has many different facets to them; there are no 'quick wins' and 'one solution fit all' here.

1. Following & Allowing with Your Seat
2. Your Position & Posture
3. Your Basic Aids
4. Bending & Turning
5. Trotting (transitions and what you do while trotting)
6. Cantering (transitions and what you do while cantering)

If you look at any rider who is having a great, connected conversation with their horse, they are not worrying about any of these things... They are not continuously 'fixing' their position. Or trying to turn their horse. They are certainly not still trying to figure out basic trotting and canter.

Let's Work Together:-

Connect with Lorna

Connect on Instagram @stridesforsuccess https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess
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Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
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Join the 2021 Equestrian Fitness Challenge:-

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3 Shortcuts You NEED to Stop Taking in Your Riding! Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

Instant gratification. It is a very real thing in the world we live in. People see the thing they want and, without doing a whole of anything, expect to have the same thing. Equestrians often suffer from this same issue. Instead of being on a path to better riding, they are guilty of taking shortcuts... And then wonder why, after time goes by, they never really get anywhere.

The shortcuts are more like little circles. They feel like they're taking you forward initially, but then you will inevitably end up back in the same place all over again.

Following a tried and a trusted path takes time. Doing the work and putting in the effort also takes time. And yet, it is the riders who are willing to start slow and then, over time, speed up, that see the results.

What Shortcuts in Riding Look Like

There are things that take time to develop and strengthen. Suppleness, straightness, impulsion, contact... Now, I realize that these are all steps on the training scale, but many shortcuts are based on trying to short circuit the results when it comes to one of the above.

The reality is that, when you take a shortcut, you begin crumbling the foundations...

I believe that the foundations of all horses and riders are relaxation and rhythm. Take a shortcut, and look for one or both of the above to disappear. Excess tension, choppy steps, increase in speed, heaviness, and so many other things are the symptoms of lack of rhythm and relaxation.

Commit to doing the work and taking the time when it comes to improving yourself and your horse

Let's Work Together:-

Connect with Lorna

Connect on Instagram @stridesforsuccess https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess
Connect on Facebook https://facebook.com/stridessuccess

Join the Free Private Communities

Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
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Join the 2021 Equestrian Fitness Challenge:-

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Timing Your Transition into Canter Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

Timing is something we all understand. When it is working for us, it feels good. If it's a little off, things tend to feel rushed or stressed. I think our horses feel the same mixed bag of emotions and tension when the timing is off. In fact, bad timing often is the very thing that causes a 'hop, skip, and jump' into the canter.

So, if timing the ask of your canter transitions is so important, why can it often feel so hard?! And why, is it that what some people say is 'easy' to feel, seems like a mystery to most riders?

Excess Tension

The first suggestion I am going to give you when it comes to timing your canter aids is to give your physical body a quick scan. There is one reoccurring theme I see with novice riders, the world over when it comes to the canter. Really; this one issue really trips so many riders up!

When they begin to think about canter, they allow excess tension to creep into their body as they overthink the upcoming transition.

It can be subtle or it can be more obvious, depending on the situation and the rider. However, it is very often there and present. My suggestion for you when beginning to prepare your transition into the canter is to pay attention to your body.

Tension is neither good nor bad. It just is. And, in fact, it is essential to keep you upright on the horse! It is when there is too much tension present for the task at hand, that the challenges show up.

One way to tell if this is happening to you is when your horse seems to either understand English (so when someone tells you to canter, he changes what he's doing). Or if he seems to read your mind. It's probably neither. He's simply responding to you...

Let's Work Together:-

Connect with Lorna

Connect on Instagram @stridesforsuccess https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess
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Join the Free Private Communities

Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
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Join the 2021 Equestrian Fitness Challenge:-

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Creating Space for Better Canter Transitions Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

A couple of weeks ago, I gave you an audio horse riding lesson on the Daily Strides Podcast. It was all about self-carriage and awareness in your body. A lot of riders reached out and asked for more... So today's episode is focused specifically on creating the space for better canter transitions with your horse.

Getting into canter can be a challenge for many riders. Okay, let's get a little more specific; transitioning into a good quality canter is a challenge! This is why I want to specifically chat about how creating space for better canter transitions is so important. I am a firm believer in putting the basics' onto autopilot. And your posture and position as you transition into the canter are just some of those basics.

Let's Work Together:-

Connect with Lorna

Connect on Instagram @stridesforsuccess https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess
Connect on Facebook https://facebook.com/stridessuccess

Join the Free Private Communities

Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
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Join the 2021 Equestrian Fitness Challenge:-

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Turning Your Horse versus Asking Your Horse to Turn May 31, 2021

Show notes

It seems pretty simple, navigating a corner or bend with your horse. And yet, for many riders, this becomes a complicated task really quickly. The issue is not the turn or the bend. No, the issue is that they are trying to turn their horse, rather than simply setting things up and allowing their horse to turn.

As the rider, you do not bend or turn your horse. You simply set things up and ask your horse to bend or turn...

In this episode, I want to dig a little deeper into how you can begin to make the transition from being the rider who is trying to control everything to the rider who is setting things up and allowing things to unfold naturally.

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