Have you ever noticed how the principles we use to train our horses almost always apply to us as riders, too?
I’m a big believer in that — the idea that if something’s important for your horse, it’s probably important for you as well.
Lately, we’ve been diving deep into half halts. These little moments can completely change the feel and flow of a ride. And how much time you spend ‘reestablishing’ rather than ‘maintaining’ the good work you’re doing! So what if you could take the concept of a half halt and apply it to your own learning and mindset as a rider?
Today, I want to show you how you can do just that, and how bringing A.I. into your horse riding can help you pause, reflect, and make more progress than ever before.
Half Halt for Horse & Rider
Imagine this… You’re riding your horse through a corner. Maybe you’re in the arena, maybe you’re out on the trail. Everything feels fine, and then suddenly there’s a little speed wobble. You feel your horse tip forward, lose rhythm, and start to feel a little off balance. Now, what do you do in that moment? You could just push on, right? Add leg, ride through it, and hope everything settles. Sometimes it does, but often it doesn’t. What usually happens is that your horse gets heavier on the forehand, loses more balance, and you spend the next few minutes trying to get things back on track.
But if you feel that wobble and respond with a well timed and put-together half-halt instead… A quick, intentional pause to rebalance and redirect energy, chances are you will catch the ‘wobble’ before it becomes a problem!
You stay connected. You and your horse realign. The half halt saves what’s already good, without having to start all over again. Now, what if you could do that for yourself? For your mindset as a rider and trainer.
Half Halt for Your Mind
A half halt is like a “whoa, steady up” moment. It’s a pause, but not a stop. It’s a second to reconnect, re-engage, and move forward with intention again. As riders, we need to learn how to apply that same principle mentally. Because just like our horses, we have our own speed wobbles. Those moments where we lose focus, get frustrated, or push on without really thinking about why. And that’s when things start to unravel.
Instead of rushing through, the mental half halt is your moment to pause, to assess, not judge. To say, “Hold on, what’s really happening here?” That’s how you stay balanced as a rider, no matter what’s happening underneath you.
Review Your Rides
I’ve said it for years (since 2013, in fact): intentionally reviewing your rides is one of the single most important things you can do to improve your riding. If you want to improve your skills and your partnership with your horse, you have to know what’s actually happening. Not just guess! You can’t change what you’re not aware of.
But here’s the thing… Reviewing your rides takes time. Writing or typing notes after every session can feel like another task on a long list. And most riders, understandably, stop doing it. That’s where A.I. in your horse riding becomes a total game-changer.
How A.I. Can Help You “Half Halt”
Now, before you switch off at the word “A.I.,” hear me out. I’m not talking about robots replacing riders or trainers. I’m talking about using A.I. as a simple reflection tool. Something that can help you notice things more clearly and quickly, so you can redirect and rebalance your training just like a half halt does in the saddle.
Think of it as your digital accountability partner. Let’s say after your ride, you open an app and record a short voice note:
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- What worked today?
- What didn’t feel quite right?
- What do I want to focus on next time?
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I’ve found that by speaking freely with no filters or structure, I give more details and feelings. And this is where the gold happens. Because, even if you feel that it will take ages to make heads or tails of what you just said, A.I. can do this in seconds.
Simply ask your A.I. tool (like ChatGPT, etc.): “Can you summarize what I said and help me identify any patterns or key takeaways?”
It doesn’t tell you what to do. It simply packages what you’ve already said in a clear, structured way, like a tidy, ready-to-use reflection note. It’s your personal lesson review assistant!
Over time, it begins to spot the subtle things you might miss. It highlights trends in your training, your focus, even your mindset. And, from my own personal experience, that’s where the magic happens!
Why A.I. Works So Well for Equestrians
A.I. is designed to spot patterns. That’s literally how it functions, by noticing connections and recurring details in what you feed it. When you apply this to your horse riding, it becomes an incredible awareness tool. It might show you that:
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- You mention “rushed transitions” in three separate sessions
- You keep describing a left bend issue in canter
- You only talk about rhythm when you’re on one specific horse
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Those are the kinds of patterns we often miss because we’re too close to the work. And once you see them, you can half halt your own habits, redirect your focus, rebalance your energy, and progress with purpose.
A.I. Won’t Replace Feel – It Refines
It’s worth saying again, this isn’t about letting A.I. tell you what to do! It’s about letting it help you see what’s already there. Because when you can clearly see your own patterns, you can make better choices. You can set goals that are realistic and motivating. You can train with focus instead of frustration.
That’s the real half halt in your riding development and training; learning to pause and rebalance or refocus if necessary, before pushing forward.
Using A.I. in Your Horse Riding
Let me give you a final example… Let’s say your current goal is to ride a track of fences in a balanced canter. However, you’ve noticed that every time you approach a fence from the left rein, the chances of rubbing or knocking a pole are higher! When you start reviewing your rides consistently, you start to see what’s happening. It’s not hte jump – its the turn on the left rein BEFORE the jump that’s the issue!
The same way a well-timed half halt through the corner sets you up for a balanced jump, a mental half halt — through regular reviews — helps you steady your thoughts, refocus, and decide what really needs your attention next.
And when you bring A.I. into your horse riding, you multiply that effect. You make it easier to pause, easier to notice, easier to learn.
Learning A.I. in Your Horse Riding.
Inside Connection, we’re spending October, November, and December diving into exactly this; how to use A.I. in your horse riding to review, reflect, and plan better. Each month, riders get live “Review and Planning” calls and for the final quarter, I will be delivering new training to riders on how to get the best results with A.I. as their riding journal. Riders will be getting prompts to test out for themselves, and my feedback if they need it as well.
It’s all about learning to use modern tools to enhance traditional equestrian training, not replace it.
If this idea of half halts, reflection, and using A.I. in your horse riding resonates with you, I’d love for you to join us inside Connection. It’s a completely new experience, rebuilt from the ground up, to help everyday riders (especially those working without a regular trainer) make steady, measurable progress. Join Connection here: www.stridesforsuccess.com/join
Happy Riding
Lorna
Online Training & Coaching
Connect with Lorna online:-
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- Connect in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast
- Connect with Lorna on Instagram @lornaleeson or @stridesforsuccess
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