Have you ever wondered how some riders seem to effortlessly connect with their horse when riding? It genuinely seems like they are doing nothing in particular, and there is clearly an ongoing conversation, or magic, happening. The secret to seemingly effortless riding is to begin, one by one putting a basic on autopilot – and then revisiting and upgrading them…
Instant gratification. It is a very real thing in the world we live in. People see the thing they want and, without doing a whole of anything, expect to have the same thing. Equestrians often suffer from this same issue. Instead of being on a path to better riding, they are guilty of taking shortcuts… And then wonder why, after…
Timing is something we all understand. When it is working for us, it feels good. If it’s a little off, things tend to feel rushed or stressed. I think our horses feel the same mixed bag of emotions and tension when the timing is off. In fact, bad timing often is the very thing that causes a ‘hop, skip, and…
A couple of weeks ago, I gave you an audio horse riding lesson on the Daily Strides Podcast. It was all about self-carriage and awareness in your body. Today’s episode is focused specifically on creating the space for better canter transitions with your horse. Getting into canter can be a challenge for many riders. Okay, let’s get a little more…
It seems pretty simple, navigating a corner or bend with your horse. And yet, for many riders, this becomes a complicated task really quickly. The issue is not the turn or the bend. No, the issue is that they are trying to turn their horse, rather than simply setting things up and allowing their horse to turn. As the rider,…
What are your plans for your riding this week? Specific plans… Not what you think you will do. Or what you ‘might’ do if you have time… One of the biggest things that hold riders back, particularly riders who are working alone, is the lack of a plan. And this does not have to be the case. Yes, I get…
