Feeling stretched thin this month? You’re not alone… There are always times and seasons of our lives that make us feel like we’re being pulled in a million different directions! Family, kids, work, weather, holidays… And before you know it, your riding time is sliding right down your priorities list! It feels frustrating because you want to ride… But you just can’t seem to find the space for a “proper” training session.
But what if it’s just your mindset that needs a tweaking, so that you begin to see the power in shorter, more intentional work with your horse? 10 minutes instead of 45…
This episode is all about giving you a simple, powerful riding plan you can use whenever you find yourself with too much to do and not enough time! It will help you to keep momentum, stay consistent, and actually feel like you’re still achieving things with your riding and your training.
Find a Smaller Space
Okay, before we go any further with the plan, I do think that there are 2 things you can do to set you up for success. The first one is to commit to a smaller space to work in. If you have only 10 minutes, a full-sized arena is too big! You’ll end up wandering around, becoming distracted, and not get half as much done as you wanted in your small, dedicated chunk of time.
When you ride in a smaller, enclosed space it creates focus, reduces overwhelm, keeps both of you mentally engaged, and acts like a little ‘connection bubble’ for you and your horse.
A 20m x 20m space is perfect, like a lunging ring. Alternatively, if you do have a bigger space, try placing poles on the ground, marking out a temporary, smaller space. I do suggest having a physical boundary. It really does help this shorter, focused work.
Riding = Groundwork, Lunging, Riding, etc.
My second point to clear up quickly is the fact that I am using the word ride or riding. But this plan is not just limited to riding. Take riding to mean any intentional interaction you can have with your horse. Lunging, long-lining, groundwork, etc.
Switching between different training methods will give you a fresh perspective, more information about your horse and yourself, and better clarity on what needs attention when you do find yourself with the luxury of more time.
What’s the 10 Minute Riding Plan?
It’s a short, focused session designed to connect your body, your mind, and your horse’s attention, without pressure. And it’s a plan you can take and plug your own specific intentions or goals into so that it works exactly for you and your horse wherever you are right now in your riding.
This riding plan works because it removes overwhelm, eliminates decision fatigue, and stops you from wandering around an arena trying to “fit something in.”
The basic outline for this reset or riding plan includes:-
-
-
-
- 1–2 minutes of Mindful Walking – Breathing, connecting your seat, syncing with your horse
- 1–2 minutes of Rhythm Setting – Finding, keeping, and maintaining a consistent tempo
- 2–3 minutes of Simple Patterns – Circles, figures of eight, changes of rein, serpentines, nothing fancy
- 2–3 minutes of One Clear Focus – Transitions, your seat, straightness, bend, connection, half halt…
-
-
It’s deliberately uncomplicated, because complicated rides don’t work when life is chaotic! This is the exact time you need to find what’s doable and just enough to keep you moving in your riding and training.
What This Riding Plan Is Not For
I think that for you to make the most of this riding plan, you need to realise that this is for when you don’t have the luxury of time or a consistent schedule. This is important. There are things that I feel need to be worked on when you do have those things. Things like explaining something new to your horse, or trying difficult new movements! Or anything that requires you to warm up for quite a bit of time. Don’t try to squash a full 40-minute training session into 10 minutes!
If you only have 10 minutes, go into it with that mindset. Don’t try to cram and rush things. So often it’s the tension we bring by trying to do too much in a short period of time that negates all of the goodness of the short, intentional training sessions!
Why a 10 Minute Riding Plan Works
When you go into this with the full intention of it being exactly what it is, a short intentional ride, you’ll get positive results. You can use the time to reinforce or practice positive habits while maintaining or even strengthening your partnership with your horse.
And instead of allowing all past progress to slide due to a busy period, you get to come out the other side still moving forward with momentum!
And keep in mind that your horse doesn’t know the ride is only 10 minutes long! He will rather feel your presence, your intention, and if you plan well, benefit from the whole experience!
Making This Work for 4 to 6 Weeks
How long you will have to ride in this way will depend on your specific situation and circumstances. But it really can help you come out the other side of a busy period still connected and working with your horse if you commit to being consistent, doing the planning work, and showing up!
1. Choose a Time Window
Okay, so let’s say you’re looking at this coming week. Instead of saying I’ll ride Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I want you to get more specific. Not a specific time exactly, but rather a specific window of time in which you will ride. So, for example, I will ride:-
-
-
-
- Sometime between 7am and 9am on Wednesday.
- Before evening feeding time on Thursday
- During my lunch on Monday
-
-
2. Choose a Weekly Focus
Then, rather than just showing up on the day and wandering aimlessly around for 10 minutes, choose a theme for the week. This way, even if you only get 2 riding sessions in, you are building consistency and momentum to keep you both ‘ticking over’ when life feels hectic! I think that the theme will depend on where you both are in your training, but a few potential ones you could explore are:-
-
-
-
- Rhythm
- Transitions
- Weight aids
- Bending and flexion
- Straightness
- The half halt
-
-
3. Track & Review the Work!
I’ve been preaching this for years, and it is still the missing piece for so many riders! They are just not tracking and reviewing their rides! You will begin creating and building momentum when you develop consistency.
-
-
-
- Take the time to review each ride immediately after it happens
- Look for and notice patterns
- Allow what you learn to guide the next week’s theme
-
-
Inside Connection, I have created training to help you use AI to make tracking and reviewing easier and more effective. The recordings are available there right now for you to dive into
And, if you’re looking for looking for short, structured riding plans, Connection is packed with 12 minute audio horse riding lessons you can use every time you’re in the saddle.
Whatever you decide, don’t allow a busy period of life to derail you and your riding plans. I have a full workbook filled with 15-minute or less ideas you can use to get inspired. It’s packed with quick ideas for groundwork, lunging, and riding, and it’s 100% free over at https://stridesforsuccess.com/15
Happy Riding
Lorna
Explore Connection
Connection is full of short, structured 12-minute audio horse riding lessons, perfect for December or other busy periods! We’re also deep-diving into the half halt this quarter, with live trainings and replays available inside.
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 more, you can let me know a little more about you HERE. 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:-
-
-
-
- Connect in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast
- Connect with Lorna on Instagram @lornaleeson or @stridesforsuccess
-
-
