Have you ever found yourself stuck in the same loop with your horse? Experiencing the same behaviour, the same frustration and, because of those, the same feeling like you’re going nowhere – slowly!? Over the past week, I received two different messages from two different riders. Both with very different questions and issues. But also, both using the same word to help describe their issue… That word was ‘handbrake’. And it got me thinking…
If you’ve been stuck in your riding or training for any length of time, I can almost guarantee that it’s because there is something you are not willing to do.
And nine times out of ten, it’s this; you’re not willing to go slow in your training! And I mean really slow! And not forever, just to get the correct basics working – that will allow you to speed up later. That uncomfortable reality is what we’re diving into today. So, put your honesty jodhs on… This one might rub a little ;)
Handbrake Riders of the World…
Let’s begin with this idea of the handbrake. Some riders are obsessed with it. Either because they feel that can’t find it – think galloping flat out, white knuckles pulling, wide eyes… Or because they feel that they can’t get it off! It’s like the whole ride is happening with the handbrake activated and working really well!
So, the messages I received were from two riders, with really the same problem, but from complete opposite ends of the scale.
My first thought was how, for them, they’re stuck with the same mindset – that riding with a handbrake is even a thing. It’s not! Let’s think like car drivers for a second. How often do you use the handbrake when actually driving forward? NEVER. The handbrake is for when the car is stationary. A bit like ground-tying your horse or tying your horse up. If you reach for the handbrake while your car is moving, you’re either about to stop VERY suddenly, or lose control and veer wildly off course! Neither of those are what you’re looking for.
When you’re driving and want to slow down, you don’t grab the handbrake! You use a combination of the brake pedal, the accelerator and your gears. So let’s retire the handbrake metaphor from riding!
What You’re Avoiding
For both of these riders, my suggestion is the same. Go back to basics first and start on the ground working on the concept of ‘forward’. Forwardness, when it comes to horses, is a combination of a desire to move, responsiveness to aids, flowing energy, and horse and rider working together. Forwardness is not“going faster”, riding the handbrake, having to egg your horse on every second stride, or just accepting that you have to do all of the work!
And, in my opinion, in order to achieve true forwardness, the work needs to begin long before you ever mount up in the saddle.
And, here’s where I think riders get stuck; they want to fix the symptom, the ‘energy level’, before fixing the root problem. For both of my above mentioned riders, the root issue comes down to basic communication. Unfortunately, this is also the point where I often get push back from riders. Things like, “I don’t want to go back to beginner stuff.” or “It’s too boring.”. Even the “I’ll lose fitness and the training we already have.”
The reality is that you are not going backwards. You’re simply choosing to steady up a little, so that you can create and strengthen a foundational piece that’s been missing. No fast-tracks, shortcuts, quick fixes, or gadgets.
Forward Is a Mindset First
As a rider, and especially if you’re working alone without a regular coach or trainer, you MUST invest time in the basics if you ever want to unlock that next level. Here is how I suggest you get started with this today and turn it into a 12 week project with your horse.
Step 1: Forward Thinking on the Ground
Before you ask your horse to go forward under saddle, test this simple exercise. Lead your horse and pay attention to the following things:-
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- Who is initiating the first ‘forward’ step?
- Who is responsible for maintaining forward in the walk?
- Where are you in relation to your horse (beside the shoulder, the head, or in front)?
- Is your horse waiting for you to drag, beg, or bribe them or are they dragging you along?
- Or are they engaged and ready to move together with you?
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I was shocked when I first began asking riders to do this because most riders are not walking ‘with’ their horse. They are literally either dragging their horse along, or waterskiing tying to pull their horse back.
Here’s the truth; if your horse won’t willingly walk beside you, as a willing partner, why on earth would they suddenly become forward-thinking once you’re on their back?
This is where you need to begin to redefine your communication and your aids. Your voice, posture, position, pressure-and-release. It is by doing this, that you will begin to change the mindset to ‘thinking forward’. And build trust in your leadership. Forward begins here.
Step 2: Walking and Halting in the Saddle
Once you’ve begun to encourage a little active participation from your horse on the ground, let’s move up to mounted work. And, let’s also go with the basics and keep it simple! Walk, then halt, then walk again. This is some of the most transformative work you will ever do with your horse. And, again unfortunately, the vast majority of riders dismiss it as being “too basic”! It’s not – it’s the foundation for everything else.
Rinse and refine until you can begin to feel the understanding that you initiated on the ground, start to shine through in the saddle.
Spending time doing this work will have a hugely positive effect on everything. This is because during those walk–halt–walk transitions:-
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- You clarify what your aids mean and set expectations around them
- You redefine responsiveness
- You establish balance and rhythm
- You begin to shift some of the responsibility to your horse
- You set expectations for the trot and canter later
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This isn’t beginner work! This is the foundation of everything else you’ll do in the saddle. And this is why I think it’s well worth 2, 3, or more weeks focusing here. The changes you experience here will ripple through to everything else in your riding and training.
Step 3: Trot (no handbrakes involved or necessary!)
So without doing the earlier work in walk, many riders think they should just focusing on slowing down the trot – and this will solve all of their issues. Nope! Slowing down leads to excess tension, frustration (horse and rider), lack of energy to actually ‘do’ anything, and just a flat ride!
We’re not looking for slow. We are looking for forward, connected, balanced, and rhythmic. We want the energy to ‘FLOW’, not go slow! That is not trotting…
You can only really hope to develop a good quality trot when your horse is both thinking and moving forward and is responsive to your aids. And, again, I believe this all starts on the ground and is reinforced in walk. If you try to skip ahead and jump any of these steps in your training, you will find yourself smack back where you stared! Invest the time doing this work.
Step 4: Canter = The Result
Finally, there is a temptation for riders on either end of this issue to start working on it from the canter itself. However, if you’re starting from the canter trying to solve your ‘handbrake’ issue, you’re just setting yourself up for frustration.
Your canter will improve when both you and your horse have learned a new way of applying and understanding the aids. When the ‘terms’ of the aids have been renegotiated and agreed on. No sooner!
And this work is always best done in the walk initially! You want a walk that has a sense of purpose, a halt that can ‘hold’ the energy, a trot that is working forward and connected. And only then can the canter become another gear that you can easily move in and out of. Canter is graduation day, not lesson one.
So… What Are You Willing to Do?
This is the part where many riders take a deep breath, sit back, and admit, “I haven’t been willing to slow down” or “I thought I knew the basics already”. And that’s okay – we all think that we’re doing the right thing at some point only to figure out that we could be doing something very different!
I would love for today to be the day that you choose to do things differently. Your horse doesn’t need you to push harder or hold tighter. He needs clarity, consistency, and leadership.
What If You Gave Yourself 12 Weeks?
Imagine dedicating the next three months to building new associations with your aids… Creating a mindset of forward-thinking in both you and your horse. Improving responsiveness and rhythm, along with developing more balance and emotional control.
Summed up, what would happen if you invested 12 weeks to fixing the ACTUAL foundation of your riding
Where would you and your horse be in just 3 months from now? I’m going to bet that it’s somewhere very different to where you are now. And all you have to do is make a decision, commit, and show up consistently for the two of you. Go slow now, so that you can go fast later!
Happy Riding
Lorna
Want Support While You Do This?
October, November, and December 2025 inside Connection, are dedicated to working on the Half Halt, the key to refining all the basics we just talked about. It’s exactly where your progress begins again.
If this episode made you squirm a little, and wonder “…is she talking about me…?”, then Connection is exactly where you need to be! Join us for the Half Halt Training at:- https://stridesforsuccess.com/join
Online Training & Coaching
The Your Signature Ride Challenge
Here’s the idea: you use only your seat and leg aids to “write” your name in the arena. Sounds simple, right? But what it really does is sharpen your awareness of timing and clarity. You’ll learn when your aids actually make a difference. And you’ll have fun doing it. All while creating a pattern that’s uniquely yours!
You can sign up by CLICKING HERE
It’s free to join, and every rider who participates gets access to a guided audio lesson to help them through the challenge. Plus, you’ll have a chance to win 3 months inside Connection (a $66 value)
Restart & Reschool
And if you would like a little more 1-to-1 coaching, explore Restart & Reschool Private Coaching. It is perfect if you’re starting your practice – or if you’re looking to turn your existing practice into something ‘real’ for you and your horse. I’ll guide you step by step on the way! You’ll not only get the full ‘OTTB; From Racetrack to Ready Program’, but also fornightly private lessons with me to move you forward in your riding.
We can work on anything you would like; from groundwork, to lunging, to riding, to jumping… With the virtual private lessons, we can do all of these things – and more. If you would like to find out me, you can let me know a little more about you HERE and I will then reach back out and we can chat!
This is the support, training, and accountability you’ve been missing to finally follow through and start seeing progress. No fluff. No overwhelm. And as flexible as you need for your lifestyle.
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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