Strides for Success

Author: Lorna Leeson

  • Opening Up as a Rider – Practicing Expansion

    Opening Up as a Rider – Practicing Expansion

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    Have you ever considered how different it could all be if you could open up more as a rider? Specifically around how, physically in the saddle, if you could expand yourself a little bit more, the difference it could have on your riding. And your mindset. Even your horse’s way of going… Over the past few months, I have been running an in-person program on my farm South Africa based on Connection and Groundwork.  It has been such an amazing experience working with all these different riders

    We focused specifically on energy work, and becoming more aware of how we can intentionally use this to connect with our horses. 

    It was so much fun.  And, it got me thinking about riding and how so many riders are blocking the kind of flow with the energy in their riding, especially with their physical body.   So, in this week’s episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, I would love to walk you through a few simple exercises you can do, from the saddle, to begin to identify where you are, potentially, contracting as a rider.

    Noticing What You’re Doing…

    So, you will probably agree with me that, as a rider, once you notice something that you’re doing in the saddle, you can’t ‘unnotice’ it. I mean, you can try to ignore it… However, once it’s out in the open, it’s out in the open!  So today, I would love to help you begin to notice where, potentially, you are contracting through your body, rather than expanding. Where you are blocking rather than allowing ease and flow to happen inside of your conversation with your horse.

    When you are contracting, you are shutting down; making things smaller.  This will usually have a detrimental effect on your riding because it affects your position and posture.

    It will also negatively impact what your horse is doing, especially how well he is working and understanding your communication. And, of course, it impacts the trust and the partnership element of the combination as well. Sometimes, you may begin to notice the tension or contraction because there will be other symptoms or ‘clues’ that show up.  The key is to notice them, and then begin to take steps to dissipate, change, or replace the ‘contraction’ with openness and expansiveness through your body.

    Starting In Walk

    I suggest starting this work while in the walk in the arena with your horse. Now, as I mentioned, we were initially doing this work on the ground.  However, I successfully crossed this over to being ‘in the saddle’ inside of Connection this month, so that is what I want to do today for you. So, as your horse is walking, begin to assess your body and notice where you may be holding any excessive tension.

    Keep in mind that there are the more obvious places, such as lower back or elbows.  And there are also those less obvious places in your body that can hold excessive tension.  Your jaw for example.

    I used to hold a lot of tension in my jaw and I clenched my teeth.  As I’ve mentioned, once I became aware of this unconscious tension, it became something I could consciously begin to ‘undo’ in my riding.  You may notice ‘tightness or ‘squeezing closed’ through your knees. This is a common one, and most riders don’t realize it is happening until it’s pointed out.

    The key is to really bring your awareness down into your own body and feel how it feels to be in the saddle, Notice what your body is telling you… 

    Triggering Words or Thoughts

    So, after a while of simply walking and being aware of your body, you can begin to ask bigger questions.  What I found really interesting when working with riders was the response to the word ‘prepare’. Especially when it was used before any changes or transitions.  As soon as I would tell riders to ‘prepare’ for something ‘new’, a lot of riders began to physically ‘contract’.

    So my second exercise for you to begin working on is to ‘prepare’ to introduce and ride a circle.  Notice how your body changes as you ‘prepare’ to go from straight to circle…

    Maybe it’s a tendency to unnecessarily fiddle with or gather up the reins. It could be a tendency to grip up with the inside leg.  Do you tilt your body? Or shift weight your weight around in the saddle, maybe to the inside? Perhaps your inside shoulder ‘ducks’ or lowers slightly…  The key thing to look out for is where the ‘ease and flow’ gets lost or blocked due to excessive tension and ‘contraction’ becoming a part of your physical body.

    If you can notice or catch yourself making big changes to your body to accommodate or ‘prepare’ the circle, begin to question why… Is it necessary? Or is this a learned habit?

    I suggest continuing to work on this for a day or two.  Stay here until you can feel that your ‘preparation’ is not as contracted as it was before and one movement can simply flow into the next…  Another idea worth mentioning here is how once we notice and begin to shift the ‘blockage’ or contraction in one area of our body, it just might show up again somewhere else!  So spend time practicing…

    Stepping Up a Gear…

    Now, from here, I want you to begin thinking about stepping up a gear into the trot.  Both the trot itself and your transitions in and out of it as well.  With the trot, you might find that all is good when you and your horse are slowly sauntering along.  You will feel open and expansive in your riding.  However, as soon as the energy levels increase a little, the contraction begins…

    Often, as soon as you are aware of ‘more’ in the trot riders can begin to ‘crumple up’ in the saddle. They round their backs, bring their hands closer together, change their lower leg, and tip forwards onto their fork.

    None of these things are very ‘expansive’ and they 100% have the potential to block the ‘ease and flow’ we spoke about for the walk.  Another unfortunate side effect of ‘crumpling’ is that your aids can often agitate or even frighten your horse, which compounds the tension!

    Just like in the walk, begin to notice where you are creating or holding onto any excess tension in your body when trotting.  Start in rising trot, and later work in sitting trot.  Also, use your transitions in and out of the trot as a way to examine this in your riding.  Any place where your body feels ‘smaller’ or tighter, is worth looking at a little more carefully…

    Expansion in the Canter

    When we think of ‘expansion’ and ‘canter’, our minds can (and often do) jump to the conclusion of ‘explosion’! This is, obviously, not what I am referring to here!  One of the most common areas I see the ‘contraction’ coming into the rider’s body when it comes to canter, is the transition to get to canter!  Instead of the rider being in ‘self-carriage’ and allowing the horse the space to canter, a lot of riders ‘collapse and ‘chase’ the horse into the canter… Nope and nope!

    And with the canter, because there is more energy involved, it can often highlight any areas of the body where excessive tension and contraction are showing up for the rider…

    The canter, by its very nature, is ‘upward’ in its trajectory. Therefore it is so important that you remain open, in self-carriage, and ready to allow the ‘ease and flow’ through your body. As you ask for and then ride the canter, allow your awareness to scan your body for excessive tension. What are your hands doing? Are your elbows straight?

    Once you begin to open up you will then find it easier to move your body in a way that feels good and that also allows the energy to flow.

    Applying This When Jumping

    Finally, this concept is not just for flatwork or dressage.  I think that working on creating a consistent state of expansion in your body is important for all disciplines and activities with horses.  When the energy is flowing, there is a good chance that communication is also flowing between you and your horse.

    When jumping, the ‘contraction’ begins around three strides before the jump. It’s important to focus on training yourself to remain ‘open’ all the way to the jump, especially through your chest, shoulders, and upper body. 

    Curling up into a ball and doing your best hamster impression, whether before, over, or after the jump stops you from balancing yourself.  This, in turn, prevents your horse from using himself to the best of his ability over the jump as well.  Start over poles on the ground and work through your body from there.

    Allowing & Letting Go

    Very often, the reason we begin to ‘contract’ or tighten our bodies is due to a response to something.  This can be something that happens in the moment (such as our horse spooking), or it can be something that we have learned to do… A memory or a repeating pattern.

    The key to changing this in your riding is to notice it, and then simply choose to let it go.  Practice opening up and feeling your energy grow

    This expansion is how you can begin to connect with your horse in a whole new way and on a whole new level in your riding. I have linked to similar posts on this topic below.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Similar Posts to Support You:-

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  • Beneficial Exercises when Riding in a Smaller Space

    Beneficial Exercises when Riding in a Smaller Space

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    If there is one place where the ‘endless circle’ reigns supreme, it is in the small arena… Or any smaller space riders find themselves having to make use of for prolonged periods.  In fact, this was the very reason I began the Daily Strides Podcast way back when!

    Saying a lasting, even final, ‘Goodbye’ to the endless circle should be a goal that all riders want to achieve… Especially if riding in a smaller space!

    However, having a smaller area is not as limiting as many riders think it will be. In fact, riding in a smaller space can often help both you and your horse to become more focused and accurate.  And these are always useful and helpful when you finally do move out and begin riding in a larger space.

    This month I want to challenge you to look at those same ‘limitations’ as opportunities for you to develop and build your conversation with your horse instead.

    Exercises for a Smaller Space

    This week’s episode of the Daily Strides Podcast is the ‘Monday Lesson’ of a week of audio horse riding lessons from Daily Strides Premium.  In this group of lessons, we work on 4 different exercises that you can ride to develop and train your horse when in a smaller space.

    Episode 1 – A Good Quality Halt

    When you can begin to see the halt as being another movement to work on, develop, and practice, you will open up so many new doors for you and your horse in your training and work together.  Preparing, getting into, ‘holding’, and then moving out of a good quality halt is not easy.  However, working on developing this move has the potential to improve so much more in your riding and your horse’s training.

    Episode 2 – Developing Flexion and Bend

    Suppleness is a key element when riding and training.  And a smaller space seems like the perfect opportunity to work on developing this for you and your horse.  In this exercise, you will work on flexion first.  And not only the flexion but the ‘channel’ you create using your aids that allow the energy to flow.

    From there, you will begin to introduce bend.  Correct bend is not as easy as it might initially seem, especially when you are doing so with the intention of maintaining forwardness while in a smaller space.  However, it will supple you and your horse both mentally and physically while you work on developing it.

    Episode 3 – The Square

    Once you understand and can put into practice the bend and flexion, the next challenge will be moving in and out of them.  This exercise will require you to consistently move from ‘straight’ to ‘bend’ and back again.  And with the focus on maintaining the channel and the forwardness, it will require both you and your horse to increase your focus and your accuracy as you work together.

    Episode 4 – Circles (yes, plural)

    Finally, rather than simply riding a circle to ride a circle, the final exercise will use circles as a tool to really put all of the above principles into practice for you and your horse.  Like halt, bending, flexion, and straightness, the circle is not as easy as it initially seems.  Especially if you are committed to riding it correctly and in a way that moves your training forward. This exercise will help you do both of those things in your smaller space.

    Get All of the Exercises

    There are different basic principles for each of the exercises, giving both you and your horse ‘wiggle room’ when it comes to adding variations and making them work for you. If you would like to get the rest of this week of lessons, check out https://stridesforsuccess.com/dsp for all the details.

    Happy Riding!
    Lorna

    Other Posts on This Topic

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    Get Going in Your Riding:-

    Daily Strides Premium is back! You can use the first and original audio horse riding lessons to improve your riding, train your horse, keep things interesting, and have fun… Even if you don’t have a trainer or coach

  • Self Assessment and Your Riding – Your Comeback to Riding

    Self Assessment and Your Riding – Your Comeback to Riding

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    So you’re back in the saddle. It feels amazing and you love how each ride is jam-packed with learning new things and rediscovering little things you’d forgotten. However, once the initial excitement begins to wear off, you’ll probably start thinking about how to improve your skills.

    Self-assessment is a skill all riders can practice and improve. And it is essential if you want to improve your riding – and your horse’s overall way of going.

    The challenge can be knowing what to look for.  Being able to identify the root cause of an issue from a symptom of something else. This takes practice. Here’s a few things to look out for in those initial rides to create a solid foundation for your comeback to riding.

    Your Posture and Position

    It all starts here. If you are sitting correctly in the saddle, the chances of everything else working as they should increase dramatically.  From allowing the horse to move, to remaining balanced through transitions.  From your aids and overall communication to being able to help your horse to use it’s body better.

    Start with checking your ‘lines’; ‘head shoulder hip heel’ and ‘elbow, wrist, thumb, rein, bit’. Pay special attention to your shoulders being above your hips – not in front of or behind. 

    From here, think about your posture. Are you modeling ‘self-carriage’ for your horse? Are you creating ‘space’ between your ribs and your hips?  Doing this will allow your seat to open up and more easily communicate with your horse.

    Weight Distribution

    Once you feel like you’re in a good space position wise, think about how you are distributing your weight while in the saddle.  Ideally, you want an equal amount of you on the left as on the right. And then, as you work with your horse, you can begin to notice how your weight might shift and change.

    A great exercise to help with this part of your self assessment is to make sure both of your seat bones are equal distance from an imaginary line from cantle to pommel on your saddle. 

    You will probably find that while this is pretty simple to achieve and maintain in walk, your weight might start shifting in trot and canter. Especially when riding through corners and bends. Spend time in each of your riding sessions working on this.  And then test yourself regularly with how long you can maintain the ‘balance’.

    You can also play with riding without stirrups and notice if this changes your position, posture, and how you distribute your weight…

    Tension and Gripping

    For many riders, there is something strange that often happens when trying to improve riding skills; excessive tension through the body.  This is especially true when a rider, after running through a quick self-assessment, begins trying to either try to ‘hold’ a better position or posture! Relaxation and suppleness are essential for both you and your horse!  This is why I recommend practicing in the walk first and then building slowly from there.

    Remember, if you need to use excessive tension or ‘gripping’ to keep things correct and aligned when riding your horse, those things are NOT correct to begin with! 

    One of the most basic foundational elements of training when it comes to horses is relaxation. In order for this principle to really be present, both horse and rider must embrace and work into it. Excessive tension, such as gripping, being rigid, holding on to the reins, and bracing through the body all work against true relaxation. And this will, over time begin to show up in your horse’s way of going as well.

    Responsiveness

    Finally, I would suggest working on improving the overall responsiveness between you and your horse. This is definitely a trained behaviour.  This means that if your horse is not as responsive as you would like, someone has probably trained him that way, either intentionally or not!

    When working on improving responsiveness, the key is to recognise and put into practice what your role is in the dynamic… You ‘ASK’ and then your horse “RESPONDS’.

    It is not. your job to move the horse or to make the horse move or do anything.  Your job is to make sure you are in the right place (your position), with the correct level of tension through your body (your posture and relaxation), so that when you apply your aids correctly, your horse can respond to those aids. That’s it.  Okay, and I realize this is easier said than done.

    Self Assessment by Asking Questions

    When you begin to ‘ask’ questions and then pay close attention to your horse’s response, you have a baseline that you can now begin working with.  You can now tell where you are both at in your riding so that you can start to identify what needs to stop happening, change, or improve.

    Often, your self assessment will show you that changes are needed for both yourself and your horse; my advice is to focus on what you can control first – YOU!

    Get your basics under more control.  Understand how what you are doing is impacting the overall conversation and how you can begin making those small changes that will create a huge transformation. The basics are essential.  Your position, posture, basic aids, and moving with the horse. When you can start improving these things, the whole ride will begin to improve – you and your horse.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Your Riding Comeback

    Your journey back to riding is as unique as you are. While you can draw inspiration from various plans and advice, remember to tailor them to fit your individual path and circumstances.

    If you’re seeking assistance with your riding comeback, consider our program ‘Returning to Riding.‘ In just 9 weeks, we’ll help you solidify your basics and transition from passenger to confident rider alongside your horse.

    With private 1 to 1 coaching, easy-to-follow audio lessons, and personalized weekly reviews, you’ll see yourself progress from feeling unbalanced to mastering clear communication and improving your horse’s performance.

    Through 9 weeks of private coaching sessions, we’ll provide the support you need via secure video, voice, and text. Plus, our proven program can be revisited with your horse anytime to refine both your skills.

    Explore Returning to Riding today for more details and start your journey back to the saddle!

    Get Going Again in Your Riding:-

    Daily Strides Premium is back! The first and original audio horse riding lessons you can use to improve your riding, train your horse, keep things interesting, have fun… Even if you don’t have a trainer or coach

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  • Your Riding Comeback – Creating Something You Love!

    Your Riding Comeback – Creating Something You Love!

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    In order to make your riding comeback a lasting one, you will have to begin spending more time in the saddle than you have been recently. It makes sense, right?!  And yet, while clocking up those minutes and hours in the saddle each week can initially ‘seem’ to be a win… They are likely working against you and your horse in the long run.
    This is because when we ride for the sake of just riding (clock-in riding), we tend to become a little too ‘lax’ about some of the things. The basic things that lay the foundation for everything else.
    And when you begin to allow the small things to slide, chances are the bigger things will follow suit pretty quickly. This usually holds true for you, the rider, and your horse, especially in your training and development.
    So, instead of just riding for the sake of riding, I’m challenging you to begin getting a little more strategic and intentional with each of your training sessions with your horse. Yes, not just ‘rides’, but training sessions.

    Training Sessions Versus ‘Rides’

    Often, this one simple shift in how we think and talk about what we are doing with our horses can be enough. When you approach a ride as a training session, your mind will immediately begin wondering about what you are actually ‘training’ on… What is the focus for that particular session together?
    And when each ride becomes an opportunity to train and develop, you can begin to set up a more strategic plan to string those rides together to create something more…
    Picture in your. mind a handmade bead necklace. If some thought and ‘intention’ went into the creation of that necklace, you will, usually, be able to identify a pattern of sorts regarding the beads, their placement, and how they all relate to each other. The beads can all vary in size, shape, and colour – but they will usually relate in some way to the one that came before and the one that comes after. They ‘follow through’ to each other. And the result is a well-crafted necklace that is balanced and aesthetically pleasing.

    “…Your training sessions are like those beads. Each one should ‘lead’ or ‘relate’ to both the one before and after… And if you can string them together, it will result in changes to your riding…”

    All Work and No Play?

    Let’s go back to talking about that necklace again… A well-designed one will, usually, have a little variety in it as well. And this is also essential when making your riding comeback. Again, it is all about being intentional. I believe that all riding and training plans need to include three separate types of ‘rides’ with your horse; fun, partnership, and training. The ratio of these to each other will depend on what your goals are. Both long and short-term.
    When we forget to include (or intentionally omit) any of these three elements, things can begin to feel repetitive and even boring in our riding.
    I have spoken about these on separate episodes of the Daily Strides Podcast which I will link to. Each post includes a list of activities you can use to help you spark ideas – and begin ‘stringing’ along to help you create an intentional riding plan.

    Being Flexible

    Once you have identified the basics for your rides over the next two weeks, it simply becomes about following your plan. And keep in mind that horses have a great way of teaching us to be supple and flexible in our approach to plans! I highly recommend building ‘wiggle room’ into your plan. And this applies to both yourself, your horse, and the training.  There will be days when your schedule won’t match up to your plan. Be flexible and see what you can change, shuffle, or adjust, either with the schedule or the training session.
    There will also be days when energy levels, attitudes, or moods won’t ‘line up’ with the session that’s planned.
    Rather than pushing through and potentially putting both of your training backward, maybe swap out a training session for a partnership or fun session.  The goal is to create something that works for you and your horse. And that keeps you both inspired and moving forward – rather than just riding for the sake of riding.

    Patterns & Balance

    Finally, when you do find something that works well for you and your horse, use it. Let it be the thing that helps you create a pattern, or a rhythm throughout our rides. This could be a particular groundpole exercise, a certain trail ride, or a groundwork exercise. It could be a massage, a way of grooming, or a specific warm-up or cool-down routine.
    Whatever it is, if it works, use it to help you create a pattern – think of the beads in the necklace – for the coming two or three weeks.
    Over time, it will probably change again, and this is where you will have to dig into your suppleness. However, if something is working – use it.
    Your riding does not and should not be to simply clock in a certain number of hours in the saddle each week.
    While this might get you going in the short term, it is simply not sustainable – and your comeback will fizzle out before it ever really gets going for you and your horse.
    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Your Comeback to Riding

    You are unique as a rider. So it makes sense that your journey back to regular riding will be yours and yours alone.  Keep in mind that you can look to different plans and advice for inspiration. However, each should be then tweaked to suit your individual journey and circumstances.

    If you would like help with your comeback to riding, make sure you check out Returning to Riding. 9 weeks to get your basics onto autopilot so that you can make the transition from passenger to ‘rider’ for you and your horse. We will work together, using easy-to-follow audio horse riding lessons and weekly video reviews to help you transform your riding.

    Experience how you will go from feeling ‘floppy’, unbalanced, and lacking confidence in your abilities when in the saddle, to gaining control of your body and aids, practicing clear communication, and actually improving how your horse goes while being ridden. 

    With 9 weeks of private, 1 to 1 coaching with me over a secure video, voice, and text app, you will have all the support you need – and a proven program you can re-do with your horse time and again to polish both of your skills.

    Make sure you check out Returning to Riding today for all of the information.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Get Going Again in Your Riding:-

    Daily Strides Premium is back! The first and original audio horse riding lessons you can use to improve your riding, train your horse, keep things interesting, have fun… Even if you don’t have a trainer or coach

    Connect with Lorna online:-

  • Your Comeback to Riding; The First 4 Rides…

    Your Comeback to Riding; The First 4 Rides…

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    So you’ve committed to get back into regular riding again.  And, you’re taking it a step further this year by focusing on specific outcomes or goals to work towards in your riding and with your horse. But the ‘goal’ and the ‘first ride back’ are MILES apart!  In fact, very often the comeback to riding can feel a little overwhelming for many riders. How can you make those first 4 rides count for you and your horse – while still having fun, and feeling ‘able’; especially after a long break from riding?

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, I will lay out a 4 day plan for you to follow so that you can stop ‘pondering’ and start working again with your horse. 

    And, obviously, you will have to apply common sense to this and tweak it for you and your horse’s specific circumstances. Two of the most important factors when customizing your plan are why you stopped riding in the first place and how long have each of you been out of regular work.  Of course, there are a lot of other considerations, but these two tend to have the most impact on your overall decisions going forward.

    I have a blog post HERE about some of the factors to consider when bringing your horse back to work after a long break that might be helpful for you.

    Ride 1 – 20 Minutes in Walk

    Feeling Your Horse Underneath You

    Let’s start by being very honest about the current circumstances and situation… You are probably not going to feel as supple as you would like, as ‘comfortable’ as you used to be, or as ‘coordinated’ as you remembered during the first few days of riding.

    Instead of focusing on the differences between ‘then’ and ‘now’, invest your time in the saddle by ‘tuning into’ how things feel right now…

    The initial ride after a break is a great way to reconnect with your horse. Use this ride to drop down into your body and feel your horse underneath you. Pay attention to the subtle movements, the rhythm of their gait, and the energy they exude. Being able to ‘feel’ all of this will give you a ‘win’ for your first day back and lays the foundation for the next three rides.

    Ride 2 – 25 Minutes in Walk & Trot

    Practicing Your Alignment, Straightness, and Basic Position

    Once you have that initial ride over you, your focus can start shifting a little towards ‘training’ yourself again. And one of the first things you must consider and ‘correct’ where necessary is your basic riding position. If your position is working against you, especially now, you will develop habits that will hinder your communication when in the saddle.  It is vitally important to try and get it as good as you can – from the beginning.

    Again, the aim is not to expect things to be the same as they were before. But rather to make the most of how things are now. 

    So, as you settle back into the saddle, focus on refining your alignment and straightness. Work on maintaining a balanced seat, aligned shoulders, and a steady lower leg.  And, if it is safe to do so for you and your horse (assuming that your horse has been ‘working’ while you have been away), you can also try some transitions into a trot.  I would suggest rising trot.  Ask for the trot, see how well you can move with your horse for about 30 seconds, and then transition back to walk.  Do this a few times throughout the ride. Slow, steady, and simple.

    Day 3 – 25 Minutes in Walk and Trot

    The Half Halt and Halt

    Today is when you can begin to set an intention and focus for your riding.  As a rider, you are probably well aware of how important the half halt is for you and your horse.  And it can be practiced and improved on all the time, even during the early days of your comeback to riding.

    Mastering the half halt is a key component of effective riding. Let each corner, bend, turn, and transition be an opportunity for you to refine this key aid in your riding.

    Each half halt allows you to assess your basic position, how well you’re moving with your horse, and if your horse is listening and understanding your aids.  By trying to improve both the half-halt and the halt throughout each ride, you will start to notice subtle improvements in your abilities even this early on your journey back to regular riding.

    Day 4 – 30 Minutes in Walk and Trot

    Timing Your Aids to Your Horse’s Movements

    I suggest making Day 4 all about combining the previous two rides and starting to put things together for you and your horse. I say this because, as you begin to ‘feel’ what your horse is doing and then ask specific questions at specific times, you can begin to experiment with improving.  And when you build on yesterday’s theme of the half halt and halt, it lays a solid foundation for your comeback to riding.

    Instead of worrying about yourself, you can turn your attention to creating better communication and offering more support to your horse throughout the ride. 

    To do this, you must have an awareness of what is happening when underneath you. And how you can use your basic position, alignment, and aids to both ‘ask’ and support your horse. This is where the work starts when it comes to developing yourself and your abilities in the saddle again. And again, it’s worth mentioning that things won’t be the same as they were. You must develop your timing, coordination, riding fitness, and overall confidence in your abilities again. And all of this will take time…

    Your Comeback to Riding

    You are unique as a rider. So it makes sense that your journey back to regular riding will be yours and yours alone.  Keep in mind that you can look to different plans and advice for inspiration. However, each should be then tweaked to suit your individual journey and circumstances.

    If you would like help with your comeback to riding, make sure you check out Returning to Riding. 9 weeks to get your basics onto autopilot so that you can make the transition from passenger to ‘rider’ for you and your horse. We will work together, using easy-to-follow audio horse riding lessons and weekly video reviews to help you transform your riding.

    Experience how you will go from feeling ‘floppy’, unbalanced, and lacking confidence in your abilities when in the saddle, to gaining control of your body and aids, practicing clear communication, and actually improving how your horse goes while being ridden. 

    With 9 weeks of private, 1 to 1 coaching with me over a secure video, voice, and text app, you will have all the support you need – and a proven program you can re-do with your horse time and again to polish both of your skills.

    Make sure you check out Returning to Riding today for all of the information.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Get Going Again in Your Riding:-

    Daily Strides Premium is back! The first and original audio horse riding lessons you can use to improve your riding, train your horse, keep things interesting, have fun… Even if you don’t have a trainer or coach

    Connect with Lorna online:-

  • How to Make Horse Riding a Priority Again in Your Life

    How to Make Horse Riding a Priority Again in Your Life

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    If horse riding has fallen down the priorities ladder in your life, you may – like many riders – want to push it back up the list.  You know, get it back up somewhere near the top so that you can really feel like it is truly something that defines ‘you’ again…

    Unfortunately, making horse riding a priority again can be one of those ‘easier said than done’ things for many lapsed riders. Especially when you consider what your ‘mind’ is telling you! 

    And, let’s face it, if it is not a real priority, it won’t last.  Sure, you might have enough willpower to push through for a week or two, maybe even a month or two.  But when the rubber hits the road and resistance begins to show up, you will continue to uphold the true priorities in your life.  And everything else will, eventually, fall by the wayside. Which is why it’s important to take the time and do this right.

    Do Affirmations Work?

    I’m going to be very honest with you and tell you that, in my experience, not very often.  And I think the reason for this is because the sentence that is being affirmed is just too big a jump from where that rider is right now in their unique set of circumstances.

    For example, if you keep telling yourself “I am a confident equestrian who rides 4 days a week” when, in reality, it’s been 3 years since you’ve sat in a saddle; your mind is NOT going to believe that – no matter how many times you say it! 

    I think the key when choosing to tell ourselves something different is to first of all notice how it physically feels in our bodies when we say the thing.  If your mind thinks that statement is a great big ‘porkie’, your body won’t feel good when you say it. Notice and pay attention to what your body is telling you.

    Choosing New Statements That Feel Good

    However, if you were to rather say something along the lines of “In the past, horse riding was a very important part of my life, and I am actively working each day to make that a reality again”… That will have a different feeling because it’s not an outright ‘lie’.  It is a statement that your mind can get behind. And this is important.

    I think that well-structured affirmations are a good way to begin building trust with yourself. Especially when you then follow through and take action on what you are telling yourself! 

    And this trust is important because if you want to make horse riding a priority again, it is this ‘trust’ that will help you begin to develop other things. Like resistance and perseverance.  Because, let’s be completely honest here, it won’t be sunshine and roses every day just because you chose to begin riding again.  Life will happen!

    Sharing the Journey

    From here, I am going to suggest finding another equestrian to share this journey with.  Whether or not you already know this person does not matter.  What matters is that you both commit to each other to ‘pick up the slack’ when ‘those days’ roll around.  You know the ones where the baby didn’t sleep for 3 nights in a row.  Or you were given extra responsibilities and a short deadline at work.  Maybe even the days when the weather has you seriously reconsidering your whole commitment to regular riding again!

    Until you have developed a lot of trust in yourself, you can use the support of someone else to help get you over the days when things are less than ideal. 

    And this person can help in a lot of ways.  It could just be a voice note check-in to say, “yes, I rode today”.  Maybe it’s some ‘cheerleader style’ revving you up to do the work.  Or a little tough love!  This person is also someone who you can share the ups and downs with.  Celebrate the good.  And review, laugh, or cry about the not so great!

    Making Horse Riding A Priority

    Remember, your goal here initially is that it is A priority.  Not necessarily YOUR priority initially.  It is only by building that trust with yourself, feeling and celebrating the good times, becoming excited about what’s to come, and getting out there and actually doing it that horse riding will become a priority for you again.

    If you would like some support, accountability, training, guidance, and a roadmap for your back to regular riding journey, make sure that you check out Returning to Riding. 

    In there, I will become ‘that person’ for you as you begin down the path of regular riding for you and your horse.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Returning to Riding

    9 weeks to get your basics onto autopilot so that you can make the transition from passenger to ‘rider’ for you and your horse. We will work together, using easy-to-follow audio horse riding lessons and weekly video reviews to help you transform your riding.

    Experience how you will go from feeling ‘floppy’, unbalanced, and lacking confidence in your abilities when in the saddle, to gaining control of your body and aids, practicing clear communication, and actually improving how your horse goes while being ridden. 

    With 9 weeks of private, 1 to 1 coaching with me over a secure video, voice, and text app, you will have all the support you need – and a proven program you can re-do with your horse time and again to polish both of your skills.

    Make sure you check out Returning to Riding today for all of the information.

    Get Going Again in Your Riding:-

    Daily Strides Premium is back! The first and original audio horse riding lessons you can use to improve your riding, train your horse, keep things interesting, have fun… Even if you don’t have a trainer or coach

    Connect with Lorna online:-