Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Your Riding Plan - Part 4:- 1 Exercise - Multiple Ways to Use it in Your Riding [Surprise Inside]

January 25, 2021 16:47 - 16 minutes - 13.9 MB

Have you been feeling a little overwhelmed when it comes to finding exercises to ride with your horse in the arena? Have you found yourself creating more and more complex grids, and then struggling to make them work for you and your horse? If so, here is a simple exercise you can use this month to help minimize the overwhelm and get you in the saddle and making progress. All you need are 3 or 5 ground poles and a fairly flat piece of land to ride on if you don’t have access to an arena. Th...

What to Do in the Saddle Today? Planning Your Rides - Part 3: Developing or Training

January 18, 2021 19:00 - 14 minutes - 12.6 MB

Is every 30-minute ride starting to look and feel the same for you? Even the ones that you painstakingly chose exercises to work on? Annoying, isn’t it? Especially because actually ‘moving forward' in your riding is the reason you are riding! If this is the case, firstly, take heart that you’re not alone! Remaining focused throughout the day to day riding can really begin to wear on most well-intentioned riders after a while. And can even cause riding to begin dropping off your list of pri...

What to Do in the Saddle Today? Planning Your Rides - Part 2: Partnership

January 11, 2021 10:32 - 16 minutes - 13.8 MB

How many days will you ride this week? What will you do on each of those days? Are all of these things moving you and your horse closer to your goals? Big questions… And ones that I think not enough riders are taking responsibility for in their riding. This is part 2 of a 3 part series to help you really become intentional about your riding plan. Each part is an important element that, I believe, is absolutely essential for you in your riding. It is when you combine these three elements...

What Will I Do When In the Saddle Today? Planning Your Rides - Part 1: Fun

January 05, 2021 04:11 - 16 minutes - 13.5 MB

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy… Or so the saying goes. I tend to believe this is true. Especially when it comes to riders and their horses. Yes, ‘working’ is important. But, if you are only riding to ride… Well, maybe that is what is actually holding you back in your riding? I think that in order to really get the most from your riding plan to help you reach your goals, there are 3 key components. Not just work! Fun is just as important. And if you have been riding for any leng...

Stop Wasting & Start Investing Your Time with Your Horse

December 01, 2020 04:11 - 13 minutes - 11.8 MB

We are all guilty of wasting time at some point or another in our day to day lives. However, I want to challenge you for 1 month to NOT waste any more of your time with your horse. Riding for the sake of saying you rode is a waste of time. Clocking in the hours is not the same as being productive with those hours. And if you have stopped riding or you’re not riding as much as you ‘want’… Could it be that the riding you were doing was ‘wasting time’ rather than working towards something that...

Reacting Versus Responding in Your Riding

November 23, 2020 16:47 - 15 minutes - 12.6 MB

How do some riders seem to simply handle ‘speed wobbles’ when they are riding? It seems as though nothing phases them. They simply effectively and efficiently get things back on track with minimum effort and drama… Their secret? They have swapped reacting versus responding when they ride. If you are the sort of rider who gets ‘triggered’ by certain things in your riding, you have possibly looked at those ‘other’ riders with a mixture of awe and jealously! Today I want to tell you exactly...

Your Aids to Ride the Half Halt

November 16, 2020 16:47 - 12 minutes - 10.7 MB

Sprinkled, like confetti. This is how I think the half halt should be applied to your ride. Little ones that are really everywhere. None of them too big. Or ‘stand out’. Yet all of them working together to give the desired effect or result. For many riders, the half halt, rather than being like confetti, becomes more like broadsheet newspapers scattered randomly around the arena. Not too many, some altogether. And not really having any use other than to make things look messy and unorganiz...

3 Ways to Use the Your Half Halt in Your Riding

November 09, 2020 16:47 - 12 minutes - 10.4 MB

Can you put into words what the half halt is? Let’s say you are speaking with your friend, who is not a horsey person, and you’re telling her all about the half halt. What would you say? This week I had two eye-opening conversations. One with a rider and one with my sister… I drew a similar conclusion from both conversations. My conclusion? There are a whole lot of riders out there who don’t really know what the half halt is, or why everyone goes on and on about it… So, back to you and you...

Developing & Celebrating Your Unique Style as a Rider

November 02, 2020 16:47 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MB

What would happen to you and your riding if you began embracing your unique style as a rider? If instead of trying to ride like someone else, you began to really understand and know what it is to ride like you? I think that many riders are trying to ride like or act like someone else in their riding. Maybe it’s the rider at the barn who has been at this a few years longer than you. Or the rider who is 10, 20, or 30 years younger than you. It could be the rider who has never had their own h...

Create a Plan for 7 Days in Your Riding

October 26, 2020 15:11 - 12 minutes - 17 MB

What will you be doing with your horse this week? Seem’s like an innocent enough question… ‘Ah, a bit of this and a dash of that’... And there is the problem. If you committed to actually planning out the answer to this question for the coming 4 weeks in your riding, you can, potentially, change everything. The Same Thing = The Same Result So many riders are doing the same thing, day in and day out, and then feeling frustrated by the lack of results. They go out there, day after day. C...

Learning to Handle Your Lunge Line to Avoid Tangles & Enhance Contact

October 19, 2020 11:31 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MB

How many times have you been working with your horse on the lunge, only to have your line end up a tangled mess? Or perhaps your horse did something unexpected. Maybe he turned in or went from 0 to 60 in .5 of a second, and you couldn’t respond quickly enough because of a loopy, knotted, or twisted lunge line? Your lunge line is an important artificial aid that you can use to actively encourage contact and connection with your horse. However, that is pretty much impossible if it is a tang...

4 Actions to Maintain 'Forward' in Your Riding

October 12, 2020 18:31 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MB

Have you ever considered that, if something is not ‘working’ in your riding, the reason might just be a lack of forward? We spend a lot of our focus on making sure we have established relaxation and rhythm. Yet, working forward is actually essential for either of those two to be present and working for you in your riding. Here are 4 simple actions you can take every time you ride to help you begin to both establish and maintain forward in your riding. What Is Forward? Forward is when y...

Developing Contact on the Lunge Using Your Lunge Line

October 05, 2020 11:05 - 11 minutes - 15.9 MB

Your lunge line is not there to keep your horse on the circle while lunging. I would love for you to take a moment just to consider this statement. Is it at all possible that you have been using your lunge line, in some shape way or form to do this for you? If lunging is not enjoyable, a tug of war, or just too darn difficult, this could be why. Have you been using your lunge line to keep your horse on the circle, rather than to develop contact and connection with your horse? Here is my s...

Are You Blocking with Your Seat While Riding? Part 2

September 28, 2020 12:10 - 18 minutes - 26.1 MB

Are you guilty of saying one thing to your horse, when you actually mean another? You're not alone! This is the second part of a 2 part series all about blocking with your seat, and how to stop doing it! Part 1 is HERE Before we dive into the actual riding exercises you can do to discover if you have been blocking. And then, using those same exercises to actually begin allowing. Let's get clear on what we mean when we say 'blocking'. Blocking is when you mean to say ‘carry on’, but in...

Are You Blocking with Your Seat While Riding? Part 1

September 21, 2020 20:55 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MB

So you say go. But immediately follow it up with whoa. And all because you’re blocking with your seat. It’s like trying to drive a car with the handbrake on! And you continue to blame the car for not going forward… For many riders, the even more frustrating part of it is that it can be hard to notice. If you are blocking with your seat, you probably don’t even realize you’re doing it. I have 2 exercises for you to ride that will help you feel if you are indeed blocking with your seat or n...

Leg Yielding to Refine Your Asking Aids in the Saddle

September 14, 2020 12:23 - 11 minutes - 15.3 MB

Have you ever considered that, when riding, you have been thinking about things all wrong? You have been trying to move your horse; rather than asking your horse to move. One of the areas I see riders trying to move their horse is when working laterally. Leg yielding is a great example. Riders will try to push and shove their horse across the arena. You don’t move the horse. You ask your horse to move. If you began to actually implement this in your riding, it has the power to change everyt...

Why Enforcing Your Boundaries on the Ground will Improve Your Riding

September 07, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MB

Are you a pushover? So many riders describe themselves this way. And this is unfortunate because what’s happening between you and your horse on the ground, is a good reflection of whats going on in the saddle. Groundwork is so important. Every single conversation you have with your horse starts and ends on the ground. Failing to pay attention to what is happening there is simply setting you both up for frustration and maybe even anxiety. What Are Boundaries Boundaries are the rule book...

Practicing a Square Halt on the Ground with Your Horse - Groundwork for Equestrians

August 31, 2020 15:00 - 12 minutes - 17.6 MB

Think about the last time you were with your horse. How many times did you ask him to halt while working with him on the ground? Before you mounted up? Was it 4? Maybe 10? And what about after you dismounted? When interacting and working with our horses, so much of it happens on the ground. Beside your horse. Here is how you can begin using this in a way that will help you when you do mount up in the saddle. All conversations with your horse start and end on the ground. Before you mount u...

Turn on the Forehand; A Basic to Revisit This Week

August 24, 2020 15:00 - 14 minutes - 19.8 MB

Forward and sideways. And yet, without leaving the spot you’re in… It can feel so contradictory and, maybe even asking for the impossible! But no, It is all possible. And pretty simple to get started with. You’re simply beginning to really work on turn on the forehand with your horse. So many riders fail to include the ‘forward’ part of the equation when working on this basic movement. And the power really does lie in the ‘forward’ aspect of this, especially when you take the time to revisi...

What's Your Number in Riding?

August 17, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.2 MB

I recommend 16 to most of my riders. However, maybe your’s is 12. Or 20… The number is not really that important. What is important is that you choose one and then stick to it. And what does this number represent? Your number is the number of interactions you are committing to this month with your horse. Riding, lunging, groundwork or anything else in between! Your number must work with your current schedule and lifestyle in order for you to really use this method. So if you can only manag...

Combining Natural Horsemanship with Your Riding

August 10, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MB

Have you ever tried natural horsemanship? The name is a bit of a misnomer; is anything natural about horses and humans interacting and becoming partners? It’s debatable. However, misleading name aside, natural horsemanship can really help to build your partnership with your horse. If - and this is a REALLY giant-sized if - it is done correctly and complements what you are trying to achieve in the saddle. I personally use natural horsemanship in some shape way or form each and every day whe...

Why You Need to Start Your Riding Journal Today

August 03, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MB

I have a little ‘test’ for you… Can you describe, in full detail, each interaction you had with your horse 4 weeks ago? Yes, go back 4 weeks and each of the lunging or riding sessions you had with your horse, describe what happened. How was your mood? What did you focus on and how did that go? Now, I’m going to bet that you can probably give some information about those rides. However, can you see how all of the rides begin blending together with the passing of time? Specific details becom...

Retraining Your Horse Versus Training Your Horse

July 27, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MB

You have a unique language as a rider. A unique way that you do things when you are with your horse, both on the ground and in the saddle. In fact, every single other rider in the world also has their own unique language. Which is great; special snowflakes and all that. The trouble starts when your horse learns someone’s unique language; someone other than you… Once a horse has learned to do something or to associate a specific action with a specific response, it requires consistent dilige...

Plan Your Ride with These Simple Steps

July 20, 2020 15:00 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MB

How often do you dismount and honestly have no clue what you just spent the previous 30 minutes working on? If this is happening more often than you want to admit, you’re not alone. The good news is that planning can help completely change this. The conversation between you and your horse begins with the conversation already ongoing in your head. Your conversation with yourself. Tapping into that conversation - and maybe guiding it in a different direction - can help you transform your rid...

Re-Training Your Horse Using Lunging

July 13, 2020 15:00 - 15 minutes - 21 MB

Did you know that almost anything you can do from the saddle, with your horse, you can do from the end of the lunge line? And the words lunge line there are important. I often chat with riders who believe in free lunging or loose lunging. They are not lunging! Lunging is when you are using your aids, both natural and artificial, to actively improve your conversation with your horse through your aids. And correct lunging is one of the best ways to begin re-training or re-schooling your horse...

Transforming The Next 12 Weeks in Your Riding; for You and Your Horse

July 06, 2020 15:00 - 15 minutes - 21 MB

There is an opportunity right now, as an equestrian, to choose again for you and your horse. To become really intentional about what you want your riding to look like and feel like for you both. Because everything has changed, you are at this unique place where you can change your riding. You can decide what is working for you and what is not, and then build out the coming 6 months to reflect this ‘new you’ as a rider. One of the positives of 2020 is that most people have greater clarity ab...

Simple Groundpole Exercise to Ride this Week with Your Horse

June 29, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MB

Do you have 5 or 6 poles that you can use in the arena? They don’t have to be the same length or width. In fact, the more variations you have, the better. If so, I am going to encourage you to ride this exercise a few times this week and begin noticing the differences. It is one of the most simple and effective ways to develop your skills as a rider. And it will help develop your horse as well… There are two ways to approach this. The first is to just place the poles randomly around th...

Improving Your Riding Coordination And Aids While Lunging

June 22, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.2 MB

As a rider, it can be easy to think that the only way you can improve your skills is to ride. And yes, riding is important; obviously! However, you can also use lunging as a way to develop your coordination and aids. And not just on the ground, but also to benefit you and your horse when you’re in the saddle as well. Lunging gives you a different perspective when you ride. And often, this one simple change can be enough to burst through limitations in your riding. You see, when you ...

Artificial Aids when Working With Horses

June 15, 2020 15:00 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MB

For some reason, many riders have a negative story around artificial aids. And yet, most riders use artificial ads on a daily basis, whether riding or on the ground with their hose. What is important to remember is that artificial aids are neither positive nor negative. They just are what they are. And you can use them to create a positive or negative reinforcement with your horse. And, let’s be honest here, you as well. So in light of all that, I want you to begin be...

What Does an Equestrian Look Like? Diversity in Our Sport

June 08, 2020 15:00 - 12 minutes - 17.5 MB

Both you and I have a voice. I think it is important to begin using our voice right now to help our sport diversify. To change the status quo of what an ‘equestrian’ looks like. As I write this, early June 2020, it has been a difficult few weeks. So much hurt has been and is being felt by so many people all over the world. It is still being felt right now. And, importantly, it was being felt before now for so many equestrians. It is just that now, it is being spoken about. This hurt has b...

Your Half Halt on the Ground with Your Horse

June 01, 2020 17:00 - 11 minutes - 16.2 MB

Sprinkled liberally all over the arena and every ride. That is how important the half halt is to your riding. However, it is also an important aid on the ground with your horse. And, it consciously practicing it on the ground can really help to clarify the aid for you, as a rider. So many riders think that the half halt is only for the saddle. It is an aid that exclusively happens when communication is coming from above with regards to their horse. However, I am a huge believer in groundwo...

Heels Down; The horse riding basic that many riders and equestrians misunderstand

May 25, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MB

It’s probably one of the first things you were told on your first ride. It is also, for many riders, a misunderstood concept. The truth of ‘heels down’ is that once you can correctly master it, it is an absolute game-changer for everything else in your riding. It is that important. How much your heel is down will depend on what you are doing at any given time. What doesn’t change is that the weight is dropped into the heel. Always. It is a pretty easy thing to do. Heels down. And it is als...

Connection in Your Riding; Seat and Leg Aids

May 18, 2020 15:00 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MB

Have you ever thought about what you can feel, in the saddle as you ride your horse? The physical connection points you have with your horse each time you’re in the saddle. Often we can become so caught up with our aids and what we ‘should’ be doing, that we forget to focus on the actual points of physical connection between you and your horse. And the impact these connection points are having on each ride. The first thing I am going to suggest is to actually mount up and simply allow yo...

Getting Back to Regular Riding After a Break? Listen to this first...

May 11, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MB

So, you’ve been out of the saddle? And now - you’re ready to get back on the horse. Firstly, congratulations! Whether your time on the ground was due to the pandemic or due to some other life circumstance, returning to riding is a great feeling and time in your life. I personally felt a buzz of anticipation when I got back into the saddle after both of my boys were born. I made the decision not to ride during each pregnancy, so finally getting back felt great. But there were a few cha...

Your Canter to Trot Transition

May 04, 2020 15:00 - 12 minutes - 17 MB

The canter to trot transition is the one transition that so many riders don’t ever think about until they are in the midst of it. So much focus and attention are put into getting into the canter, and yet the ‘getting out of the canter’ is just left to chance. Today I want to give you a few ideas to work on, in the saddle, before you get into the canter that will help you begin riding a smoother and more ‘put together’ canter to trot transition. For so many riders, the canter to trot ...

5 Essentials When You Become Trainer for You and Your Horse

April 20, 2020 15:00 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MB

The ‘New Normal’. I feel as though we have reached a point where we must begin looking at how we can settle into this period in our lives, rather than wishing for the way things were. You may have to become the trainer for you and your horse. I know that many riders are having to now begin, maybe for the first time, be the trainer, the instructor, the chief planner, as well as the rider. Progress doesn’t just happen. There are a few essentials that must be consistently visited in o...

Successfully Working with an Online Equestrian Coach or Trainer

April 13, 2020 15:00 - 11 minutes - 15.9 MB

As equestrians, we may be at the point where we need to face up an uncomfortable truth; ‘normal’ may not be returning for quite a while. Harsh, but true. Simply put, I feel that this means that this is as good a time as any to begin settling in and making yourself comfortable with this 'new normal'. For now, anyway. The lives of so many riders have changed dramatically over the course of the past 90 or so days. Things we took for granted have become coveted luxuries. Time in the sadd...

Building Confidence in Yourself as an Equestrian

April 06, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.1 MB

Confidence is trusting yourself and your abilities to handle the situation you find yourself in. Right now, we are all finding ourselves in a situation that we have never before found ourselves in. The COVID-19 outbreak has changed the landscape for most equestrians. Many riders are no longer able to ride. Many riders are having to go it alone. Some for the first time. All of this is leading to a lot of riders experiencing a crisis of confidence. However, you can do this. With ...

Horse Riding through Coronavirus (Covid-19)

March 30, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MB

This is probably the first time in history that all equestrians find themselves grappling with the same thing. Something has changed for just about everyone. Ironically it has nothing to do with horses and yet it is directly or indirectly impacting almost every rider... Lockdowns, socially isolating, quarantine and social distancing have become terms that we all not only understand, but most of us have experience of implementing over the past weeks. Today, I want to specifically addres...

Making Progress in Your Riding While Part Leasing a Horse

March 23, 2020 15:00 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MB

For many riders, part leasing, renting or sharing a horse is an affordable way to make horse riding possible. With the current turn of events around the globe, I think that many more riders will turn to this method of ‘horse ownership’ over the coming weeks and months. However, having two or more people sharing a horse has its challenges. This is amplified even more if the riders are at different levels, have different styles or just different goals. In this episode of the Daily Strides ...

Navigating these Unusual Times as an Equestrian

March 16, 2020 15:00 - 11 minutes - 16.6 MB

Things are moving fast. There is an energy that seems blended with so much of what is happening right now, and it is not beneficial energy. So, what can you, as an equestrian, do to get through this with grace and compassion? Quite a few things actually. Here are a few suggestions you can try over the coming weeks… Read More... Other resources to help in your riding:- Free Full Weeks Riding Plan The FREE 2020 Equestrian Fitness Challenge ALL the Equestrian Fitness Cha...

Developing Your Seat in the Canter

March 09, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 19.3 MB

The canter can be confusing for many riders. Especially what to do with your seat in the canter. You’re told to ride the horse forward with your seat. But you’re then told to be ‘quiet’ with your seat… So which is it? And how can you begin to develop a more effective seat in the canter? I think that canter is the gait that separates ‘fit’ riders from ‘unfit’ riders. It is definitely more difficult to fake strength and suppleness in the canter, hence a lot of riders having trouble with thei...

Developing a Rhythm for Your Progress in the Saddle

March 02, 2020 16:00 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MB

Success has a rhythm. And, as an equestrian, I know that you know a fair bit about rhythm already. As riders, we spend a lot of our time, whether mindful or not, focusing on rhythm. It is one of the most basic principles when it comes to riding. The ‘up downs’ in trot. Or the ‘1.2.3. Roll' in canter. Rhythm while on the ground. And the rhythm when working through different movements. Yes, rhythm is something we literally ride by every time we are in the saddle. So it makes good sense to ...

1137 - 4 Ways Your Hands May Be Wrong While Riding

February 24, 2020 16:00 - 13 minutes - 19 MB

As I was creating my notes for this episode, it struck me that there is a strong probability that this sounds a lot like Goldilocks! Too much, too little and ‘just right’ will come up repeatedly as I begin talking about your hands when you are riding. Obviously, we are aiming to achieve ‘Goldilocks’ hands; just right! But seriously, the reason I recorded this episode is due to so many riders struggling with their hands. They are trying to improve contact and connection. However, th...

1136 The 'Messy Middle' in Horse Riding

February 17, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 17.5 MB

Have you ever begun sorting something out, a room or a wardrobe perhaps? Halfway through, you find yourself in the middle of a bigger mess than when you began the process. In fact, it is usually at this point that you begin asking yourself why, in the name of all that is good in the world, did you begin in the first place! Your riding is similar. Often, as riders, we need to actually realize that things are going to get messier, sometimes quite a bit messier before they begin turning int...

1135 - 3 Steps to Better Canter Transitions

February 10, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MB

Have you ever felt that feeling? The feeling you get when you're trotting and you ask for the canter. Rather than your horse simply striking cleanly from the trot to the canter, you experience this extremely uncomfortable and unbalanced trot. A trot that gets faster and faster until finally you almost fall into a canter. Not a great feeling, eh?! Or perhaps, your experience of getting into canter is a little different. Maybe you feel like you are getting thrown forward every time y...

1134 Out of Planning and Into Action

February 03, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 17.3 MB

So, are you still on track? As I write this we're officially one month into the new year, the new decade, and I am wondering if you are still on track with any goals you set for yourself four or five weeks ago. If you are, give yourself a pat on the back! I’m impressed. However, if you’re not, don’t panic. Firstly you’re not alone and secondly, my goal is to inspire you to take some action in the coming 48 hours that will get you moving where your riding journey is concerned. ...

1133 The Engaged Halt

January 27, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 18 MB

Quick question… If you were to guess, how many times did you halt throughout your last ride on your horse? Was it a ‘one time only’ event? Or perhaps you halted two or three times throughout the ride? Or was it into the double digits? Once you have that number, here’s another question. How many of those halts was the actual ‘end’ of the ride? So many riders treat all halts the same. They see the halt as being the end of a moment or a sequence of movements, however, it rarely is. In...

1132 Let's Work Together on Your Trot

January 20, 2020 16:00 - 17 minutes - 24.8 MB

Are you open to having a little fun together today in your riding? If so, I have created this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast for you to listen to as you ride your horse. I have also linked to other past episodes that will help you with your trot and trotting over HERE Happy riding and enjoy!

Returning to Riding - Focusing on the Basics

January 13, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 17.3 MB

You’ve decided to refocus your attention on your riding. You’re back in the saddle and rearing to go (well, maybe not quite rearing!). But knowing what to do and where to focus your attention can seem a little daunting. In fact, maybe it's feeling like there is just too much to do and too little time to do it in… If we were working together, either online or in-person, there are a few essentials that I would begin asking you to give your full attention to. Now, obviously this would...

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

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