It can feel frustrating when you realise that you have to steady up a little in your rush to get somewhere! And, when riding, going slow to speed up is often what’s required to really allow the concept to sink in; mentally and physically. Last week’s episode about what riders are often not willing to do seems to have hit a nerve for many riders!
Riders reached out with questions, worries, queries about resistance that had shown up, and a healthy dose of “But do I really have to go that slow?”.
So in this episode I answer a lot of the questions I received. I chose the ones that I feel, for the majority of riders, might crop up when working on this topic! And look, let’s be honest here. Intentionally slowing things down usually doesn’t feel great – especially when you’ve a bee in your bonnet to get somewhere else! But you can’t argue with the proof that it’s the riders who invest in the slow, steady, correct work, that make the long term progress in their riding and training. So, on that note, let’s crack on ;)
Q1. Where do I begin? And doing what?
“I don’t know where to start. In the episode, you say to begin on the ground, but I don’t know what to do there”
This was, in one form or another, hands-down the most common question! Many riders hear “start on the ground,” and instantly freeze. They’re wondering about what they should do on the ground. And how long should they do it. And what happens if their horse doesn’t understand?…
Here’s the simple version; start with leading your horse in a deliberate, connected way. Then take this opportunity to begin weaving your voice into the mix and allowing it to become a powerful aid.
If your horse doesn’t understand your voice aids yet, don’t worry. Horses learn through association. So pair your existing aid (usually pressure through the halter or reins) with the new voice cue. Over time, the new cue becomes clear enough that you can gradually reduce the old aid.
It’s like building a bridge; your old aid, paired with new aid, which overtime allows the new aid to become clearer and more understood. And then you can begin to phase the old aid out.
And yes, this works with your voice to seat and weight aids too. The order doesn’t matter nearly as much as consistency does. Use your voice in the arena, in the field, at the gate, and even walking up the driveway. The more consistent you are, the faster the association forms. But, take my advice here and start on the ground first :)
Q2. Thinking Forward v’s Rushing?”
These two can look similar at first glance, especially if your horse is a bit ‘hot’, ‘goey’, or easily distracted. But the feeling is completely different. A horse who is thinking forward moves with a ‘sense of purpose’. They seem to have an intention and enough energy (and tension) to do the work they’re doing – without it spilling over! The level of tension they have is right for the movement or work they are doing at that exact moment.
This contrasts completely with the horse who is rushing… This horse will often seem to carry a little too much tension in their bodies. They may be experiencing anxiety or unable to focus, so constantly distracted or unbalanced…
Thinking forward does not mean rushing. It means working with a sense of purpose – which is both mental and physical. And it’s a great indicator that your ‘slowing down’ is beginning to produce great results!
Relaxation is a really misunderstood concept when it comes to training and working with horses. It doesn’t mean floppy, sleepy, slow, or dragging themselves (or you) along. It simply means the tension present through both the horse and rider is appropriate for the job at hand.
When thinking forward, both you and your horse’s body and mind are focusing themselves toward the work; not away from it!
Q3. It Didn’t Work!
“I tried the walk to halt to walk work today and it was awful. When can I trot again?”
Okay, my first response to this is for the rider to just breathe for a second, step away from the fast-forward button and be realistic about the situation; you tried it once! Instant-gratification really has no place when it comes to riding or training horses! However, unfortunately, that is the world we live in right now.
So, if your first attempt felt messy, stiff, or downright awful, it often points to one of two things… You skipped the groundwork. Or your position might be blocking what you’re asking for.
Regarding the groundwork, it is common to believe that because you work with your horse every day, you can skip this bit. But reinforcing the thing that is holding you back will only result in you both staying stuck. And, skipping the groundwork, as so many riders do, is where so many issues stem from. Regarding your position potentially blocking the energy; alignment matters so much when you’re going back to the basics. When you’re doing going slow to later speed up.
My suggestion is to whip out your phone and video yourself. Watch your posture and alignment. Practice curiosity – not judgement. Self-assessment is one of the quickest ways to speed up when you don’t have a trainer on the ground.
And no, you won’t be stuck either on the ground or in walk forever! A few dedicated sessions on the basics, plus a commitment to revisiting them in warm-ups and cool-downs, is usually enough to transform things…
Q4. My Horse Is Bored with ‘Slow’!
“My horse is bored doing this slow work. What else can I do?”
When I read this, the first thought that popped into my head was “Is your horse bored; or are you bored?!”. And this is all said with love – because 98% of the time, it’s the rider who’s ‘bored’! I’ll admit, there was a time when I believed this as well. However, a great trainer I had the opportunity to work with thought me to think differently about it.
Walking work can be endlessly interesting if you show up as the trainer and create intention within the session. Add lateral work. Add poles. Change your focus. Look at your straightness, your bend, your rhythm, your timing.
I know for a fact that you can ride the exact same exercise, let’s say a three-looped serpentine, with a different focus every day and never run out of things to refine. Hence why this trusty ‘basic of basic’ school movements is one of my all time favourites.
Boredom is rarely a horse problem. It’s a rider creativity problem. And if you want to begin showing up as a trainer, it becomes your responsibility to think differently so that your work together remains interesting.
Q5. Help, I’m a Helicopter Rider!
“I’ve realised that I’m doing everything for my horse – but when I stop helping, it all falls apart!”
Ah, the club that no-one wants to find out that their a part of! Helicopter Riders (who are a lot like Helicopter Parents). What I mean here is that you are hovering around, simply waiting for something to go wrong so that you can swoop in and save the day! It’s micromanaging at it’s worst – and it’s absolutely exhausting!
When you’re micro-managing everything in your riding and training, you’re really trying to prevent any mistakes from happening… BUT, in doing so, you’re also preventing any learning from taking place!
Mistakes are not a sign that something is wrong; they’re the sign that the learning process has begun. You need to begin shifting how you see your role when working with your horse. Instead of ‘minding’ everything, your new ‘job’ is to set everything up as well as you can… Then get out of the way so that your horse can ‘do’ what you’ve asked. And when he inevitably hits a bit of a speed wobble, simply correct, set it up and try again.
A key part of moving away from ‘helicopter mode’ is to do all of this from neutral. No grudges! No matter how many times you feel you have to correct the same thing! Reset yourself and your horse – and then try again from neutral.
Q6. We’ll Lose Fitness!
“Won’t spending so much time ‘going slow’ cause my horse to lose fitness?”
Okay, let’s get honest here – it might. But usually, this is actually more of a mindset fear, not a reality! A horse with a solid fitness base doesn’t lose it overnight. And even if your horse does step down a level, fitness returns far more quickly in a horse who has been fit before than one who has never reached that stage, or has done so years before.
The important thing to consider here is that if your current training isn’t built on a solid foundation, then you will eventually hit a roadblock that will require you to ‘go back’. Rather do this now!
Fixing the foundation doesn’t take months of walking in circles. It takes intention and a few weeks of re-calibration. And this ‘slow work’ pays off for years afterwards.
Q7. How Long to Go Slow?!
“How long should I stay in each stage before moving on?”
Okay, there are so many questions to do with horses, riding, and training that I answer with “it depends” – and this is one of them! It will depend; on you, your horse, your consistency, and your willingness to let go of the aids you’ve been leaning on for years. Aids and training methods that may have got you to where you are right now, but are the very things that are blocking you from moving forward now.
Revising the basics should feel like a blend of the old with the new. You’re slowly and consistently reducing reliance on the outdated aid as the new one becomes clearer.
If you feel completely stuck at one stage, that’s a sign that something else, usually communication, understanding, or your position, needs attention. Forward momentum should feel fluid, not stalled. And this leads me to the next question I received…
Q8. How Will I Know If It’s Working?”
“I’m not sure what I should be on the look out for to know if my approach is working or not”
This is a great question. And I get it that when you’re starting out, it can be difficult to see progress – especially when you’re in the vacuum of just you and your horse! But, as the popular meme says.; “There will be signs”!
Progress will look like the basics showing up more consistently. Rhythm, relaxation, balance, responsiveness… And they will become more easy to maintain.
Also, you won’t just feel it, I strongly suggest you do something so that you can actually see it. And this is where trusty lunging is 100% the best approach you can take. You will actually be able to see the contrast between “before” and “after” you ask something or make an adjustment. And because horses don’t lie, this is often the most honest mirror you can give yourself.
This is exactly why inside Connection, we spent an entire month refining the half halt on the lunge. When you can see the transformation before you even get into the saddle, your confidence skyrockets and your communication becomes clearer.
It really and truly will pay you so much in the long run to take time now to slow down. Revisit, rework, and re-engage the basics – so that you can speed up in your progress and training later.
Happy Riding
Lorna
Get Your Riding Questions Answered…
So, hopefully I have answered the majority of questions I received regarding last week’s episode (you can listen to it HERE if you missed it). However, maybe you have encountered something different or you’re wondering about something I have not addressed here. This is where Connection really helps riders just like you.
If you’re feeling ready to walk the full A to B to C path with your horse, all of the details are HERE.
Also, if this work is speaking to you, or your foundations feel shaky! And, especially if you’re ready to turn “going slow” into “real progress,” then Connection is where we do all of this step-by-step, with coaching, structure, and community. You can find all the details here:- 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 fortnightly 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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