Your Riding Breakthrough Might Just Be One Perspective Shift Away

Your Riding Breakthrough Might Just Be One Perspective Shift Away

Confidence, Planning, Riding, Training Alone

Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the “right things” in the saddle, but your horse just doesn’t seem to get the memo? Maybe they won’t go forward. Maybe they cut in on the circle. Or maybe they find creative ways to avoid what you’re asking.  It’s frustrating, isn’t it?

Here’s the thing: so often the problem isn’t the exercise itself. It’s the perspective you’re coming from. And in many cases, a simple perspective shift can be the very thing that creates your next riding breakthrough.

Over the past few months of working with riders online via virtual live lessons, I’ve been reminded of this again and again. The smallest change in where you’re standing, how you’re sitting, or simply how you see yourself can open the door to completely different results with your horse.

Today, I want to share a few stories from real riders (all working with me online through virtual lessons) that show just how powerful perspective shifts can be.  And how you can start using a perspective shift in your own riding and training.

Things May Feel ‘Wrong’…

A few weeks ago, I was working with a rider in an online lesson, and she was lunging her horse. Let me paint the picture… Her horse was doing what I call “going nowhere slowly.” You could call it ‘the shuffle’!  There was absolutely no forwardness happening; thinking, or doing! And not only that, her horse seemed to be just waiting for an opportunity to turn into the middle of the circle and stop working! This was apparent in both the actual lunging and also in the downward transitions.  And forget about asking for a halt on the track! She’d swing in, straight to the middle!

The rider was frustrated. She was technically close to the “right” place for lunging, although sometimes getting a little ahead. And her horse had learned to take full advantage of that ‘little too ahead’ positioning!

So I asked her to do something that felt completely wrong. I had her step way back. Almost as if she was about to long line.  And, I could see by the rider’s reaction that this felt uncomfortable and strange. But she stuck with it until everything began to click.

From this different perspective, being further back, she could:

        • Send her horse forward more clearly – no more shuffle
        • Better keep her out on the track – less sneaky veering in!
        • Ask for downward transitions – mostly without her diving into the centre of the circle

The horse began responding differently almost immediately. And when my rider watched the recording back later, she could see exactly what I’d been pointing out during the lesson.

That new perspective cut out the wiggle room and made going forward the only option. It was a big training and riding breakthrough for this horse and rider.

Why Perspective Shifts Matter

Another rider I am working with online was struggling with her transitions into canter. Instead of her horse ‘stepping up’ into canter, her horse was just running faster and ‘falling’ into canter.  We had been on a few lessons together, and finally, we came to working on this. During this particular lesson, I kept telling her, “Sit up and wait. Your job is not to canter for the horse, it’s to ask and then allow.” But she couldn’t feel it.  In fact, I think she thought I was talking through my hat!

So I asked her to watch the recording afterwards. That’s when she had her lightbulb moment. She could see her shoulders tipping forward and her body “chasing” her horse into canter.

Once she realized this, the next lesson we had together, she was able to sit tall. She practiced ‘asking’ for the transition, and then allowing her horse to respond.  And, I’m going to be honest with you, the first few tries were messy because her horse was so used to being chased. But soon enough, I could see that her horse also had a ‘lightbulb’ moment. It was almost like there was a thought bubble above the horse’s head, “Oh, THAT’S what she’s asking for!”  Needless to say, the canter transitions became smoother, more balanced, and more relaxed after that :)

When you’ve been doing something the same way for a long time, it feels right. Even if it’s not! That’s why these shifts often feel uncomfortable at first.

But it’s also why they’re so powerful. They help to break old habits and give both you and your horse a chance to do things differently.

Helping Your Horse

Another rider I’m working with was struggling with balance and connection. Her horse felt heavy in front and uncomfortable underneath her.  On our live video lessons together, the problem was obvious to me: she was gripping with her knees. This perched her seat and ’tilted’ pelvis had left her clamped like a clothes peg!

In the lesson, I had her work in a walk, making small adjustments in her seat and pelvis to release her knees. She immediately felt the difference. Her seat softened, her legs lengthened, and her horse started to move more freely.

Watching the recording confirmed it for her: she could see exactly how much lighter and more balanced everything looked once she shifted her position.

Again, this small change was the riding breakthrough she needed to unlock softness and balance.  Something as simple as how she was sitting, once pointed out and adjusted, had an instant positive influence on her horse’s way of going.

All the training, school movements, and exercises in the world would not have made that difference. And it just took a different perspective to identify and transform the problem. 

Is Your Horse Really ‘Acting Up’?

I want to include one more rider’s story, as I feel that many times, we can incorrectly begin with the horse in trying to ‘fix’ or change things. Her experience is the perfect example of that. Her horse had begun stopping at small fences and grids. She thought the horse was being cheeky or ‘naughty’.

Now, obviously, she had all of the things checked and had come to the conclusion that it was a training issue. She was right, it was… But the issue wasn’t with the team members she initially thought it was with! 

When we got on our virtual live lesson together, the challenge became very clear, very quickly. My rider was jumping ahead of the horse! Each time she threw herself ‘forward’ and far too early, I could actually see her horse having a ‘Oh sugar, what now’ moment! He was losing confidence, and that, in my opinion, was the reason he was stopping or ducking out.

We dropped the fences right down and began working on correcting her position (let’s ban the word ‘forward’ when it comes to jumping positions, shall we?!), and her being able to ‘wait’.  Adjusting both her position and her timing, at first, felt all wrong to her! She now thought that she was ‘left behind’! She wasn’t!

But the change was almost instant in her horse. He looked confident and committed. No more running out.  And when she watched the recording of our lesson later, she could see the transformation with her own eyes.

That’s what a riding breakthrough often looks like: small, sometimes uncomfortable tweaks that make a huge difference.

Create Your Own Perspective Shift

You can begin doing this work today. And, the best part? You don’t need any fancy or special equipment. All you need is your phone and a willingness to look.

Step 1: Record Yourself
Prop your phone up in the arena for just 5 minutes. No need to be fancy, this is for your eyes only.

Step 2: Watch Like a Coach, Trainer, or Instructor
      When you replay it, don’t just admire your horse. Watch yourself critically, imagine coaching another rider.

Step 3: Ask yourself a few critical questions
Where am I positioned?
Am I giving my horse the chance to say “no”?
What’s my body really doing when I ask for something?

Step 4: Make One Small Change
Pick just one thing to adjust in your next session. Then record again and compare. Use the video as feedback, not judgment.

Free Resource: Start Using Video Today

Recording yourself might feel daunting, but it’s the simplest way to identify your blind spots. That’s why I created a free step-by-step guide to help you get started with just your phone.  What if recording yourself for 5 minutes could change everything?  Get the guide to doing this easily and effectively HERE

I’ll walk you through exactly how to set up, what to focus on, and how to use the footage to improve your riding.

Restart & Reschool: The Fast Track to Change

Of course, sometimes it’s hard to see your own blind spots, even on video. That’s where having a coach makes all the difference.  Inside Restart & Reschool, I’ll work with you and your horse to help break out of frustration and into clarity. Get all the details HERE or at https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

You’ll not only get live virtual lessons (like the riders mentioned above) and exercises, but also real-time feedback that helps you spot the small tweaks that lead to big results.

Imagine stepping into 2026 with a horse who understands what you’re asking and the confidence that you’re on the right track.  That’s what Restart & Reschool is designed to do: deliver your next riding breakthrough.

Your Challenge This Week

Before your next ride, set up your phone and record for 5 minutes. Later, when you are reviewing your video, ask yourself:

        • What am I really doing here?
        • How is my horse responding to what I’m actually asking?
        • What one tweak could make this better?

Then, the next time you ride, make the tweak and try it again, applying what you’ve learned from your new perspective.  You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

Happy Riding
Lorna

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