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  • 5 Ways to Improve Your Riding When You’re Working Alone

    5 Ways to Improve Your Riding When You’re Working Alone

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    Whether you’re riding in your back paddock, a quiet arena, or a field with a view, riding alone can feel both empowering and… well, a tad overwhelming!  Without an instructor or trainer on the ground beside you, having a goal to improve your riding can seem light years away. And second-guessing yourself can become the default way of training! That or noticing all too late that you’ve fallen back into old habits…

    But, you know what? You can improve your riding when you’re working alone. And sometimes, those breakthroughs come faster than you think when you learn to trust yourself, observe more, and ride with intention.

    In this post, I’m sharing 5 simple but powerful strategies to help you improve your riding even when you don’t have someone guiding you from the ground.  These are tools I’ve used myself, and ones that I have encouraged riders I train online inside of Connection to do regularly.  In fact, I’ve watched hundreds of riders transform their progress when they begin including just a few of these shifts to their regular riding…

    1. Ride with a Plan

    One of the biggest traps that you can fall into as a rider working alone to improve your riding is to consistently just get on and “see what happens.”  The wandering warm-up blurs into random transitions. Your track, if we could get it on paper, looks like a random bowl of spaghetti as you noodle around the arena aimlessly!  Yeah sure, every now and then you will ride an intentional circle or two (which end up looking like the plate on your ‘map’… And then, when you feel you’ve wandered enough, you halt, dismount, and feel very unsure of whether anything actually improved! Sound familiar?

    A riding session without a plan often turns into wasted time. Even a simple 5-minute plan can create structure, direction, and progress.  The key here is to work on something that leads you to your ‘bigger’, longer term goal. 

    Here’s how to keep it simple. Pick one focus for the ride: rhythm, responsiveness, straightness, accuracy, relaxation… Make sure that this focus is in alignment with what you actually want to make happen in the longer term with your horse.  Then choose 1 or 2 specific exercises you can use to develop that focus – and bring you and your horse ‘back on track’ if you find yourself wandering.

    If you tend to lose track in the middle of the ride, often jotting it down on your phone or a post-it note before you ride will help you remain committed and keep it front of mind.  Then working on this in smaller chunks throughout the ride. Small, quality pieces of work to get you and your horse moving forward is the goal here :)

    Even a five-minute plan can change how present and effective you are in the saddle. Quality over quantity is the key to making this work.  It’s the repeated focused intention that will allow you to begin seeing the results you want. 

    Having a clear riding plan is one of the fastest ways to improve your riding, especially when you’re training without an instructor.

    2. Talk Yourself Through the Ride

    Being able to relax and just let your mind wander when you ride is lovely, as a treat. Trust me, the novelty of this approach soon begins to wear off for most riders! And yet, if you’re working alone, you might find that you’ve developed a bit of a habit of ‘zoning out’.  You know, going through the motions without much mental engagement.  But there is a REALLY simple way to begin changing this…

    Talk to yourself. Out loud or in your head.  Give yourself the same verbal reminders an instructor, trainer (or I) might if I were there with you in the arena.

    For example:  “Inside leg to outside rein.”, “Prepare the transition.”, or “Half halt… rebalance… and move forward again.”.   This internal (or spoken) dialogue keeps your focus sharp. It anchors you in the moment. And it makes you more aware of what’s really happening.  Not just what you hope is happening!

    So many riders who listen to this podcast, or are a part of Connection, say that they can ‘hear’ me in their head when they ride. Audio horse riding lessons work great like that ;) 

    However, if you don’t have anyone to imagine or ‘listen’ to, record a short voice memo before you ride. Then, as you’re walking into the arena (or tacking up) play it to yourself so that you can mentally prepare and ‘see’ the ride and how you want it to play out.

    3. Use Visual Markers in the Arena

    This is a BIG one that I am constantly harping on about to riders! If you don’t have anything to help you stay on track, literally, you WILL wander! And, let’s be honest, when you’re working alone, it’s easy to cut corners; literally and figuratively!  That’s where a) marking out an arena of sorts for yourself and b) setting up a couple of arena markers come in.

    Place cones, poles, buckets, or even old feed bags around your riding space to help you measure things like how accurate your circles REALLY are, or if you really made the centre line, or were just wandering randomly! They will also help to develop straightness, keep you aligned, prevent you ‘drifting’… And they are amazing for holding yourself accountable when it comes to timing and responsiveness.

    You don’t need an Olympic-sized arena to do this. Create a smaller ‘enclosed space’ in a paddock and get going with your training today. This can absolutely change the game for riders and horses; trust me!  

    Visual feedback keeps you honest. You either did or you didn’t. It’s an amazing way to improve your riding and your horse’s training when you’re working alone.  Simply (and so often inexpensively) adding a bit of structure to your riding space will help you add structure to your ride as well.

    4. Record Yourself Riding (Even Once a Week)

    Okay, this one is so powerful, but it can feel a lot intimidating, especially at the beginning. There’s something about watching yourself doing something with the sole purpose of being ‘critical’ that can do that to a person!  But if you’re serious about wanting to improve your riding, video is one of the best tools you can use.

    You don’t need fancy equipment. A smartphone on a fence post. Or, if you want to up it a notch, a tripod with a basic tracking app.  You can use a tool like Pivo (which I’ll be diving into next week on the podcast!)

    The key is this: Your mindset going into your ‘review’ will determine your results and what you get out of it… Don’t aim for perfection. Don’t pick apart every flaw. Watch with curiosity. Leave the emotion out of the picture! 

    Ask yourself, ‘What do I see here?’, ‘Can this be improved?’, ‘What’s working?’, ‘What looks a little too wobbly or inconsistent?’. Video gives you honest, immediate feedback. That is something you’re missing when you’re riding alone. And, with a focus on making small improvements, rather than being ‘perfect’, it will 100% work.

    A great question to ask yourself is  “What did I think I was doing vs. what’s actually happening?” So often, how we ‘feel’ things are going when we ride is actually very different from what’s actually going on!  Video will help with that. 

    In next week’s episode, I’ll share how to use video without feeling awkward or overwhelmed, and why it’s one of the most powerful ways to improve your riding long-term. Especially useful if you’re working regularly without an instructor or trainer.

    5. Reflect After Every Ride

    This is one that almost ALL riders are missing out on. It’s so simple to do. After all,  you’re already doing the work. Let’s make it count. Get some way you can consistently keep track of each of your sessions, so you can quickly recap when doing your weekly or fortnightly riding reviews (another thing we are PASSIONATE about inside of Connection ;) )

    After each ride, take just 3 minutes to answer these questions: What worked today? What didn’t work as well?What will I focus on next time?

    You can journal it, type it into your notes app, or use Evernote.  If you’re not a writer or into writing, you can speak it into your phone and record it as a voice note. You can even message a riding buddy with your recap. I love Telegram or Voxer for both of the above, as you can have your own ‘personal’ channel or a private chat with friends…

    The point is, by recapping as soon as possible after you dismount, you are now turning each ride into a training session. And creating a feedback loop for yourself, just like if you were working with an instructor or trainer in the arena. 

    Reflection reinforces your progress. It helps you remember wins. It also lets you spot patterns. Maybe your horse always stiffens in one direction, or you tend to lose energy halfway through your ride.  All of this counts.  This isn’t just “woo.” It’s training awareness. And it’s how riders who work alone start making consistent, meaningful progress.

    So, just like you would when you finish a ‘real’ lesson or training, begin incorporating this into your own ‘solo’ rides as well. Reflecting after your ride is a proven method to improve your riding and develop greater self-awareness as a rider.

    You Can Improve Your Riding Without an Instructor or Trainer

    I get it. We have been conditioned from a young age that we need a teacher or a guide to show us the ropes. And, I absolutely 100% believe that if this is possible, do this. BUT, I am also very aware that so many riders don’t have this luxury due to circumstances or limitations.

    And while your progress might not be as fast when working alone, progress is possible – if you set things up to work in your favour…

    You can make massive progress when you ride with:

          1. Clarity (a focus, intention, or plan)
          2. Presence (mental narration – either someone else or your own)
          3. Accuracy (an enclosed space & markers)
          4. Feedback (record yourself and review it regularly)
          5. Reflection (a few minutes post-ride, so you can begin seeing patterns)

    And here’s the secret; working alone actually helps you build your sense of responsibility. You stop outsourcing your progress and start owning it.  And when you do that? You don’t just improve your riding, you become a better horseperson.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Want More Help?

    Connection is here for riders facing this exact situation. Audio horse riding lessons to use with your horse, weekly LIVE virtual group horse riding lessons, fortnightly Review and Planning co-working sessions, Live Q&A’s and all the support you need to make every ride great.  You can get all the details and get on a lesson TODAY over HERE

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  • Finding the 1 Domino in Your Riding that Changes Everything

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    There’s a moment in every rider’s journey, whether you’ve just started learning to ride, or you’re returning after a break, when you suddenly become very aware of everything that’s not quite right…  Maybe your leg moves too much.  Or you bounce in the saddle.  Perhaps you struggle with consistency with your reins – they’re either too long or too tight. Maybe your transitions feel unpredictable at best!

    It’s like your brain has opened a spreadsheet of faults and hit “highlight all.”  And while it’s good to know what needs work, unfortunately, that’s often when the overwhelm sets in!

    Whether you’re a fairly newish rider or a novice coming back to it after a break, trying to fix everything at once doesn’t lead to progress. It leads to frustration.  The key is to figure out what needs work first. What is the ‘domino’ you need to knock to create that positive ripple effect on everything else… And because what you focus on grows, this becomes your starting point.

    You don’t need to fix everything. You just need to find the domino. The one piece that, when it shifts, starts to positively shift everything else, too

    The Problem with “Everything”

    When you’re learning something new or re-learning something old, it’s natural to feel like you need to improve all of it. Every aid, transition, the whole thing. And so often, our natural enthusiasm to improve can trick us into thinking that this is possible. It is  – but not by tackling everything at once!

    Yes, eventually, you will work on each of the pieces and improve them. But often these skills won’t develop simultaneously. They stack and layer over time. Strengthening each other as you grow… 

    And so often, they all tie back to one foundational weakness that’s quietly knocking everything else off balance.  Just like a single domino at the start of a row, identifying that one point can bring ease, flow, and stability to everything else.

    Your Job? Find That Domino

    If you’ve been feeling a little frustrated that things are not happening fast enough for you in the saddle, this is probably what’s happening. You’re trying to do too much! Maybe you’re working on your posture, your position, your hands, your leg, your transitions, your turns… and the list keeps growing.

    Instead of piling more on and ‘trying harder’, what if you worked on finding that ‘first domino’?

    Often, that first domino is something simple, but powerful:

          • Your posture or position
          • Your breath and tension
          • The timing of your aids
          • The consistency of your seat
          • Whether you’re even mentally present for the ride

    ‘Fixing’, changing or improving any one of those things can cause a chain reaction that improves everything else.

    Riding with Intention, Not Overwhelm

    Imagine mounting up and having one clear focus. Maybe it’s “Today I am going to work on maintaining my position and posture in halt, walk, and trot”. That’s it. Forget about all of the other things. Your goal is to maintain, as best you can, your ‘lines’ when working with your horse.

    As you ride, you start to notice that your seat naturally begins to follow the horse more smoothly. Your hands soften without you trying. Your transitions feel more prepared, and your horse responds better.

    That’s the domino effect. You didn’t “try harder.”  Instead, you maintained your focus on something worth your time, attention, and energy. You were more strategic with your time in the saddle.

    The Basics Are Not Just for Beginners

    I know I say this a lot, but it’s always worth repeating. I see so many novice riders fall into the trap of thinking that they are somehow ‘less than’ because they are working on ‘basic stuff’.   “I should be past this already.” or “I learned this years ago.”. I even hear the odd “This is beginner stuff.”

    But here’s the thing…  The basics are never behind you.  They are beneath everything you’re doing. They are the foundation of everything else in your riding – so it stands to reason that they are worth the investment of your time and energy

    Posture, balance, timing, effective aids, and all of the other basics are not just box-ticking skills from a checklist. They’re the structure that allows you to build progress ride after ride.  It’s when they are weak, shaky, or even missing that problems tend to crop up.

    Riding with Focus Is Riding with Power

    When you ride intentionally, with curiosity and focus, you begin to shift the entire tone of your riding journey. You stop feeling ‘behind’. You become curious about why things are the way that they are, and what you can do to change them.

    And, maybe most importantly of all, you stop chasing that elusive ‘perfect ride’.  Instead, you give yourself the opportunity to become grounded. Aware. Calmly effective.

    Both you and your horse will feel it. And that is the domino effect at work for you in your riding.  Keep It Simple. To help you get started, here’s your invitation:

          1. Before your next ride, choose your focus domino.
          2. Ride with that one intention in mind.
          3. Reflect afterward—what shifted because of that focus?

    One Focused Ride Can Change Everything

    If there’s one thing to take away from all of this, let it be this:  Real progress in your riding doesn’t come from trying to do more, or fixing everything at once.  It comes from learning how to see what actually matters — and then focusing on that, with calm intention.

    It’s in those quiet, focused moments — when you notice your breath matching your horse’s rhythm… or your seat starting to follow more fluidly… or your aids landing with clarity — that the real transformation happens. Because that’s when you stop being a passenger. And you start truly riding.

    Want Help Finding Your Riding Domino?

    If you’re ready to get unstuck and finally start seeing real, consistent progress in the saddle, I’d love to invite you to join me for a free live webinar next week: From Passenger to Rider: 3 Shifts to Fix Your Position, Your Aids & Your Confidence (Without Riding More, Starting Over, or Turning Your Rides Into Boring Drills)

    Whether you’re new to riding or finding your feet again after time away, this class will give you the exact framework to identify what really needs your focus right now — and how to build on it without overwhelm. And there’s a special bonus for those who join me live — and I promise, it’s worth it.

    Save your spot here: https://returningtoriding.com

    Let this be the ride where it all starts to come together. You don’t need to do more. You just need to do the right thing,  at the right time, in the right way.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • Rising Trot – Learning How to Post a ‘Better’ Way

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    There is always a look of pure satisfaction on a rider’s face when they finally ‘get’ the rising trot! You know, they stop bouncing about and can actually work with the horse, in rhythm. And that is an important stepping stone for all riders. More than likely, when you were first learning how to ride the trot, your instructor taught you to do the “up downs.”

    And at the time, ‘up down’ was the easiest way to both explain and help you ‘get’ the rising trot. The rhythm, the basic movement… Those first few trots when you managed to stay in sync with your horse felt like a win.

    But here’s the truth; that early version of the rising trot, the up downs, was just the beginning.  And if you’re still posting to the trot the same way… That could well be what has caused you to hit a wall where progress and improvement are concerned.  It could also be the reason your horse’s training has stalled as well.

    Because the fact is that while ‘up down’ works initially, it is essential that your rising trot gets lots of upgrades along the way to becoming a better rider. 

    In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, you will learn to begin evolving and refining your rising trot so that you can unlock a whole new level of riding, connection, and communication with your horse.

    “Up Downs” Are Just a First Step

    When you were learning to ride, you probably heard your coach calling out “up, down, up, down!” like a metronome. It’s how most of us were taught to post.  It’s what I say to beginner riders even now in the arena. Why? Because it’s simple, easy to understand. And if I can use another ride to demonstrate, the ‘new’ rider can easily follow the words, up down, and match it to what the rider they are looking at is doing in the saddle.

    But here’s the catch:  “Up downs” are mechanical. They focus on your body’s movement. Not your horses.. They teach rhythm and balance, yes – but they rarely encourage (and often block) true feel or connection.

    Eventually, if you don’t move beyond that, they become a ceiling.  You think that because you’ve stopped being bounced about, you’re moving with your horse. And, yes, when you are riding ‘up downs’ you are at least going in the same rhythm as your horse. But, up downs alone won’t allow you to really work ‘with’ your horse.

    Rising Trot is Team Work

    The rising trot isn’t about going straight up and straight down.  In fact doing this, often leads to a lot more problems! So instead of ‘up down’, a better way to think about this is forward and back. It’s a diagonally upward forward, using your belly button as the part of your body that leads the way.

    A practiced and balanced moment of suspension, not a forced push or pull (depending on your body and what feels easier for you to do).

    Riders who stay stuck in “up downs” often:

        • Stand too vertically out of the saddle (6 to 8 inches of daylight between their bum and the saddle)
        • Brace against the stirrups (lower leg shoots forward towards the horses shoulder or elbow)
        • Collapse back into the saddle (they use the horses energy, not their own body, to move them)
        • Fall behind or ahead of the rhythm (and become very unbalanced if the horse’s rhythm changes)

    All of these habits interrupt the natural flow of the horse’s movement and create excessive tension through the horse. Sometimes it can even be physically uncomfortable for the horse. Whic his why working on refining your rising trot is so important.

    Lack of Refinement = No Independence of Aids

    As riders we all want ‘independent aids’. Meaning that each of your aids can work effectively without inadvertently negatively influencing the other aids. And yes, obviously they all do influence each other, but when your aids are ‘independent’, you can create more positive influence. Rather than just allowing negative influence to happen.

    Your seat, legs, weight aids, and hands can all become more independent of each other, allowing for greater control when used together.  But if you’re bouncing or bracing through each post, each ‘up’, your body becomes a single unit.

    There’s no clear separation or intention between one aid and the next.  And there’s also no control over your aids. You are at the mercy of your horse’s rhythm and energy. The ‘up downs’. 

    This means:

          • Your legs can’t give subtle instructions
          • Your seat can’t follow or influence movement
          • Your hands can’t maintain a steady, consistent contact

    Instead, everything is reactive and clunky. Your horse may feel confused, frustrated, or even dull to your aids.

    How Rising Trot Promotes Energy & Connection

    A good well-balanced and supported rising trot allows the energy from the hindquarters to flow through and connect to the front end of the horse. This is how, eventually, true contact is created. It allows your horses back to ‘connect’ and engage the flow of energy.

    A poor rising trot – or just ‘up downs’, unfortunately, often does the opposite.

          • It interrupts the energy mid-back, causing hollowness rather than engagement
          • It blocks the swing through the ribcage, causing stiffness and ‘front wheel drive’
          • It prevents true contact and throughness from developing

    Your horse can’t move well if you’re banging up and down on his back. And so often, riders are using the horse’s energy to get them ‘up’ – and allowing gravity to get them back ‘down’! No and no! 

    Rising Trot is a Tool – Not a Habit

    So, yes, let ‘up down’ get you going on your journey in trot. But then remember, as you progress, your rising trot should become something more. A way to positively influence your horse to develop and work in a better way.
    When you truly learn how to post or rise to the trot, you can then help your horse. You can support, ask for adjustments, and help your horse to balance. Especially when the rhythm or tempo goes a little off track! It can even help improve your horse’s straightness and engagement.  But only if you ride it with intention, feel, and refinement.

    You must learn to accept responsibility for your own movement in the saddle (not just rely on your horse’s energy) and then consider the basics as you are doing it – position, posture, self carriage, etc. 

    Rethinking Your Rising Trot

    If you’re serious about progressing as a rider and helping your horse develop correctly, taking an honest look at what you are doing while trotting is a great place to begin. “Up downs,” got you going initially in the trot. They made you feel more comfortable and built your confidence. But, they are also one of the ‘basics’ that need attention and refinement. Especially if you’ve felt stuck at the same level for some time in your riding.

    Start by taking the movement out of the trot completely. Yes – begin at halt. This allows you to really focus on what you’re doing, without your horse’s movement getting in the way.

    The movement should come from your core and your seat, not your shoulders or arms. Think about lifting your belly button diagonally forward and up, not just straight up. Almost like someone in front of you is gently tugging your belt buckle forward with a string. And when you come back down? Do it like a feather. No flopping. No collapsing. Imagine you’re in an aerobics class – you control the up, and you control the down. Both directions count.

    Posting to the Trot

    Once you’ve got that ‘feel’ sorted at halt, move into walk and try the same thing. Begin rising in rhythm with the walk stride, always focusing on that diagonal lift. And your lower leg? It stays under you. The ‘Click Your Fingers Rule’ is a good one to apply here… If at any point, you could make your horse vanish, would you land on your feet?

    Keep your posture aligned, your aids quiet, and stay intentional. When you’re able to rise and come back down without relying on your horse’s energy (or gravity!), then you can start experimenting in trot again.  Bring all of that body awareness and control with you.

    Over time, you will have to think about this more refined way of working with your horse in trot less and less. You will have to revisit it every now and then, to make sure no unhelpful habits have crept in. Or to perhaps refine even more as your riding develops.

    But by taking responsibility for your own movement and actions I the trot, you create the space for. your horse to work ‘with’ you. Not against each other.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • Developing Steady Hands as You Ride Your Horse

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    Do your hands sometimes seem like they develop a mind of their own when you’re riding?  You tell them to stay quiet, steady, and soft…  But they just seem committed to waving about. In fact, they feel miles away from being the ‘steady hands’ that you want as a rider!

    Trust me, you’re not alone! Steady hands are a sore spot for so many riders, with the added frustration of as soon as you recognise it as a problem, it can often get worse before it gets better!  Today we’re going to unpack how to begin developing steady hands that are more consistent and will improve communication with your horse.

    Why Steady Hands Matter

    Having steady hands isn’t about your hands being ‘fixed’ or ‘rigid’. Far from it actually. Steady hands is all about creating a consistent, gentle connection between you and your horse. It improves your horse’s trust in your contact and makes your aids clearer – and kinder.

    Ironically, the harder we try to force our hands to stay still, the more exaggerated their movements often become. It’s like being aware of them makes them become even more animated! 

    So let’s dive into practical ways to address this issue once and for all…

    What’s Really Happening?

    Before fixing a problem, you need to know exactly what’s causing it. There are generally two big reasons your hands may move too much. The first is that you’re actually moving your hands! I know, you might think ‘No Way!’, but it’s true! Especially if you’re always fiddling with and shortening/lengthening your reins.

    If your reins keep slipping so that you have to keep shortening them, you’re probably holding your reins wrong. Get that issue sorted first… Then move on from there :)

    The other way your hands can be moving about is far more unintentional.  It often comes down to you relying far too much on your hands for balance or support. This really shows up in trot, canter, turns, and bends. It can also show up as you post to the trot.

    Get Clear on Your Hands First

    Grab a whip or stick and hold your reins normally, thumbs on top. Lift your thumbs slightly and lay the whip horizontally across your fingers, then gently clamp your thumbs back down to hold it in place. As you ride, glance down occasionally to check if your whip remains ‘still’ or is it moving about all over the place! You will also be able to quickly see if you’re tilting or dropping one hand using this method as well.

    The other way to assess what your hands are doing is to film yourself riding with this setup. Bonus points if you wear bright white gloves! This makes your hand movements glaringly obvious, helping you clearly see what’s going on.

    Identifying the Root Cause

    So, if you’ve looked back over the videos and seen your hands merrily dancing all over the place, you need to find out why that is happening! Ask yourself: Is this simply a habit? Or is something deeper affecting your balance and stability?

    Often, unsteady hands signal balance and position problems. For example, riders frequently use their hands to balance, similar to how you’d extend your arms if you were walking on a narrow plank.

    Another thing to keep in mind is how incorrect posting to the trot can also be causing your issues. If you’re pulling yourself up, instead of using your core to rise ‘forward’, you will see hard, moving hands. If you see this as an issue, keep in mind that you were probably told to go ‘up-down’ when you initially learned to post.

    Also keep in mind that improving your core strength, along with correct posting techniques, will often help resolve this issue. 

    Practical Solutions to Steady Hands

    1. Relax and Check Your Elbows

    Believe it or not, your elbows play a huge role in hand stability. Some riders lock their elbows straight, causing their hands to bounce. If you see from your video that you’re doing that, rather gently let your elbows drape softly by your side.  Naturally bent and relaxed as though you were carrying two cups of tea.

    And just like if you were carrying cups of tea while walking, your elbows gently absorb the horse’s movement while riding. This helps to keep create steady hands that are soft and connected. 

    2. Strengthen Your Core

    Core strength is crucial for horse riding and creating steady hands!  If your core is weak, you will be far more likely to rely on your hands for balance. You probably know if this is an issue for you… You know, those ‘wobbly’ feelings that come up when you trot without stirrups, bend or circle in trot or canter, etc.

    Begin incorporating simple exercises into your daily routine, like planks, balance ball workouts, and the Equestrian Fitness Challenge (FREE HERE). These off-horse exercises help build core strength and stability, which will result in steadier hands for you in the saddle.

    3. Connect Your Seat to Your Hands

    Your seat and hands should work together seamlessly, with your hands following the subtle movements of your seat – not the other way around. Unfortunately, a lot of riders depend too much on their hands, so they end up leading the seat!

    If you are a little too ‘handy’ when riding, consider lunge lessons where someone else lunges you on your horse. They can direct your horse, which will allow you to focus on you :)

    If lunging with a helper isn’t possible, create a small, safe area to practice riding without reins at walk and trot, helping you strengthen your seat and core without relying on your hands for balance.

    4. Off-Horse Exercises for Better Stability

    There’s so much you can do out of the saddle to improve your riding. Get yourself a large exercise or Pilates ball and use it to improve your balance and hand steadiness.  Plus, it’s so much fun as well! Sit on the ball, create makeshift reins (or use your own reins fixed to something sturdy), and practice posting, sitting trot, and even canter motions.

    This type of exercise and practice will help your body develop muscle memory, enabling better coordination between your seat and hands when you’re back on your horse.

    Important Reminders as You Improve

    When you begin down the path to create steady hands in the saddle, be prepared for it sometimes getting worse before it gets better! It can feel that initially focusing intensely on your hands can cause tension, making your movements temporarily stiffer and more exaggerated. Don’t worry – this is completely normal! The key is to remain patient and consistent. Steady improvement will follow.

    Instead of aiming for absolute stillness (which isn’t realistic or helpful), aim for “steady” hands. Hands that softly and smoothly follow your horse’s movements, maintaining gentle contact without rigidity.

    Take Regular Videos

    Make video analysis a regular part of your practice. The visual feedback helps you notice subtle improvements and identify lingering issues. Wearing white gloves or using the whip technique periodically is also a great way to gauge your progress.

    Bringing it All Together

    At the end of the day, creating steady hands is not an overnight thing. It will require a combination of awareness, targeted practice, patience, and consistency, both in and out of the saddle. Strengthening your core, stabilizing your seat, and keeping relaxed, flexible elbows will lead you toward more stable, soft hands that genuinely improve communication with your horse.

    Remember, because your hands are at the ends of your arms (like your feet at the end of your legs) they often are a telltale sign of movement and tension happening in other areas of your body. 

    Want extra support? Join me over at ReturningtoRiding.com. Get on the waitlist to start mastering the basics and build your riding confidence.

    Happy riding
    Lorna

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  • Securing Your Swinging Lower Leg in Trot and Canter

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    Have you ever glanced down mid-trot or canter and seen your lower leg doing a full-on windscreen wiper impression? You’re not alone. I see this all the time. Novice riders trying to figure out how to stop that swinging lower leg from distracting their horse (and them!).

    The issue is that so often, trying to ‘fix’ your lower leg won’t work. This is because your lower leg is not the issue… It’s just the most visible side effect of something else that’s going on in your riding… 

    Whether you ride with a sensitive horse who thinks you’re asking for more speed. Or a fairly laid-back horse who simply tunes you out, this issue can quickly throw a spanner in the works. So today, let’s get right to the root of it, and more importantly, figure out how to fix it in a way that works long term.

    What Is a Swinging Lower Leg

    First off, let’s be clear on what we’re talking about here. A swinging lower leg is when your leg below the knee moves excessively while you ride. It often swings or flaps forward and back like a pendulum. Or a windscreen wiper! It usually shows up during trot (especially rising/posting) or canter.

    It might look like:

        • Your leg shooting forward when you rise, then swinging back as you sit.

        • Your lower leg losing all contact during canter and flapping uselessly.

        • Your aids becoming inconsistent—or even unintentionally sending the wrong signals.

    And while it’s easy to focus only on that swinging lower leg, the truth is this: the lower leg is rarely the actual problem. It’s a symptom of something else going on in your riding.

    The Real Reason Your Leg is Swinging

    Here’s the hard truth that most riders miss; your lower leg is swinging because something else is out of sync. It’s not about gripping harder or squeezing your leg tighter. In fact, doing that will very often make things worse.

    Instead, think of your body like a kinetic chain. When one link (your seat, your core, your shoulders) is unstable or misaligned, the result often shows up in your lower leg. So rather than treating the symptom, we’re going to dig deeper and fix the actual cause.

    To do this, first you have to figure out when your leg is swinging…

    Step 1: When Does It Happen?

    Get curious about when this is happening for you in your riding. Become a bit of a detective! If you ride alone, the only way to really know for sure is to capture your riding on video.

    First, check what happens in the trot. Particularly the rising trot. For many riders, the swinging lower leg pops up when they are posting. You’ll see that your lower leg (below the knee) shoots forward every time you rise. Instead of being underneath you (as in the Click Your Fingers Rule), it will be somewhere up at your horse’s shoulder or elbow. Then, as you sit back in the saddle, it will swing back under you again.

    I then suggest testing yourself in the canter. You might find that things are fine for you in the trot, but as soon as you transition into canter, that swinging lower leg makes itself known!  It’s like your leg develops a life and mind of its own! Doing its own thing! And, unfortunately, usually either causing your horse to increase speed or tension, or completely ignore you altogether!

    So grab your phone, whip out your Pivo, or get a friend to record you riding. Look closely. When exactly does the swing begin? Is it the trot? Or maybe it’s the canter for you…

    Fixing the Swing in Rising Trot

    Let’s start with trot. If you’ve got a swinging lower leg here, chances are your rising or posting technique needs to be revisited and updated. Most riders learn to post by being told “up-down, up-down.” Combine that with “heels down,” and what you get is standing up on your stirrups. That forward push causes your leg to swing because you’re using the wrong parts of your body to post.

    Instead, here’s a better way to think about it:

        • Imagine squeezing your glutes (your bum cheeks!)

        • Let your belly button travel forward and slightly upward towards your horse’s ears

        • Focus on moving diagonally with the horse, not up and down like a piston

    This subtle shift changes everything. Now, you’re not standing up on your stirrups, you’re moving with your horse’s motion. Your seat stays connected, and your lower leg stops swinging like it’s trying to escape. This also allows your lower leg to become an effective aid when you need it.

    Fixing the Swing in Canter

    Now, if you’ve got a swinging lower leg in the catner, there are a couple of different reasons this is happening.

    1. Are You Gripping with Your Knees?

    Gripping with your thighs or knees turns you into a human clothes peg! And not only does this cause your lower leg to swing, it can also cause your horse to feel uncomfortable.

    Instead, allow your thigh and knee to stay soft and open. Think of your legs ‘draping’ over the saddle. Let your seat move with your horse. And keep your lower leg gently against your horse’s side. No clamping, just resting against your horse’s side, ready for when you want to use your aid.

    2. What Are Your Shoulders Doing?

    This one surprises a lot of riders. But I’ll say it; your shoulders and your lower leg are very often just doing their own thing in the canter! And this is an issue, because it actually STOPS your seat from moving with your horse.

    If you’re doing any of the following in the canter:

        • Circling your shoulders

        • Rocking back and forth like you’re on a swing

        • Collapsing through your upper body

    …then guess what? That movement is disrupting your balance, and your lower leg is paying the price.

    Instead, keep your shoulders steady and aligned. Think tall, soft, and grounded. Let your seat follow your horse, and trust that you don’t need to ‘ride the canter’ with your shoulders. Let your seat do the talking.

    In the canter, your shoulders and lower leg remain ‘consistent’ while your seat and hands move with or follow your horse… 

    Why Holding Your Leg Still Won’t Work

    A quick reminder here: you can’t force your leg to be still by gripping harder or focusing solely on it.  That approach kills suppleness, flow, and the energy that needs to move through you and your horse.

    Instead, your goal is to create consistency through your upper and lower body, while allowing your seat to follow your horse’s movement.

    How to Train a Secure Lower Leg – Without Burning Out

    Like any new habit, improving your leg position takes time and consistency. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

    Here’s how to start smart:

        1. Break it into short, focused blocks. Choose two 8–10 minute sessions within your ride to specifically focus on your lower leg.

        2. Start in the walk. Then move to trot or canter – not both. If both gaits are an issue, focus on trot first until that improves.

        3. Use video. Every few rides, film yourself again. You’ll be amazed at the progress once you train your awareness and refine your feel.

    This is not about “riding better for the whole ride.” That will come. Riding now, if you have a swinging lower leg, you need deliberate, short bursts of effort. This will help you to rewire the habit. To upgrade this ‘basic’ in your riding so that it serves you as the rider you are now.

    It’s a simple (but not always easy) swap. Change the old basic that got you this far, and replace it with a more refined basic that takes you to the next level.

    If you’re dealing with a swinging lower leg, don’t just accept it as something you have to deal with forever. Your swinging lower leg is simply a signal that it’s time to upgrade some of the foundational skills that got you started – but aren’t serving you anymore.  The good news? This is fixable. And it starts with consistent, intentional focus during your rides.

    3 Action Steps for a Swinging Lower Leg

        1. Record yourself riding this week – identify exactly when and where the swinging leg appears

        2. Tweak your rising/posting in trot – aim diagonally forward with your seat, not straight up

        3. Check your shoulders in canter – be consistent with your shoulders and lower leg, and let your seat follow and move with your horse

    If you’re ready to take the next step and refine all those basics that are holding you back, pop over to www.returningtoriding.com and join the waitlist for my free training. I’ll help you make sense of it all so you can go from frustrated passenger to confident rider.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • Why Basics Aren’t Just for Beginners

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    Ever catch yourself thinking, “Seriously, we’re working on this again? I should be past this by now!” You’re definitely not alone. So many experienced and returning riders feel frustrated when asked to revisit the basics.

    But here’s the thing: The basics aren’t something you master once and leave behind. They’re the building blocks of truly great riding. And the more you understand and refine them, the more they open up your riding potential.

    Basics Aren’t Just for Beginners

    I recently had a chat with a rider who was feeling frustrated about focusing on what she called “beginner stuff.” She felt like she should be further along in her riding journey. Maybe you’ve felt that way too?

    Here’s what I told her—and what I want to share with you today: the basics are not a sign of regression. In fact, the most skilled riders—those who ride professionally or compete at the top levels revisit the basics all the time. The difference is that each time they do, they do so with fresh perspective. They know that their new awareness is the key to refining their riding and ‘feel’ in the saddle.

    Mastering the basics doesn’t mean checking them off and moving on. It means using them as a foundation for better communication with your horse, better results in the saddle, and a more confident, connected ride.

    Understanding the True Basics

    When I say “basics,” I’m talking about things like your position, your posture, how you’re using your seat and legs. It’s how your hands communicate with your horse. It’s transitions, turns, bending, and balance.  These aren’t ‘small’ or ‘beginner’ things. They’re everything.

    And yet, somewhere along the line, many of us start believing that once we know the basics, we should only be focusing on “more advanced” things. The ‘fancy things that impress us when we see other riders flawlessly or effortlessly make them happen. We forget (or ignore) that the only way they can do those ‘fancy’ things, is by refining the basics. Over and over again…

    Your basics will evolve as you evolve. What felt simple when you first started riding may take on an entirely new meaning and depth once you revisit it with greater awareness and skill.

    Why Basics Are the Key to Getting Unstuck

    Feeling stuck in your riding is frustrating—and common. But often, what looks like a plateau is really an invitation to go deeper into the fundamentals. If things aren’t working the way they used to, or you’re not seeing progress, it’s not because you need to try something radically different. It’s often because the foundation needs to be tweaked, strengthened, or adjusted.

    And your basics are your foundation. How high you go or how much you achieve will depend on how strong your foundation is. 

    This is exactly why I created the Returning to Riding Program. It’s a step-by-step system designed to help experienced and returning riders get back in the saddle with clarity, confidence, and purpose. It’s not about starting over—it’s about creating a strong, unshakeable foundation. You’ll revisit the basics not as a beginner, but as a rider who’s ready to evolve.  Want to be the first to know when doors open again? Join the waitlist here »

    The Myth of Mastery

    A big misconception is that once you’ve been riding for a while, you’ve “ticked off” the basics and can move on. But have you ever considered how elite athletes never stop doing their warm-ups? Their training is ongoing. And usually made up of a lot of the basics. Over and over again. Do Olympic sprinters stop practicing their starts? Nope.

    Most top-level performers across all disciplines spend most of their training time on refining the fundamentals. They only do the ‘fancy’ stuff every now and again. The rest of their time is devoted to refining the basics. 

    Why? Because that’s where the magic happens. That’s where you build consistency, reliability, and the kind of connection with your horse that doesn’t crumble under pressure.

    The Role of Position & Feel

    Your position is one of the most powerful tools in your riding. If your alignment is off, even slightly, it can affect every aid you give and how your horse receives it.  When riders say their horse isn’t listening or that things feel “off,” I often find that going back to something as simple as the rider’s posture, leg position, or balance creates the biggest shift. That’s how powerful basics are.  This is true no matter your discipline.

    Whether you’re schooling dressage, hitting the trails, or jumping a course of fences, your ability to clearly and effectively communicate with your horse comes down to your mastery of the basics.

    Oversimplifying the Basics!

    Another challenge? We’ve oversimplified the basics when we teach them to beginners. And that’s fine at first—but later on, those same riders believe the basics are “easy,” when really, they’re anything but.

    Take turning, for example. Most riders start off thinking they just pull on the rein. But later they realize that turning involves their weight, their seat, their eyes, their core, and only then the rein!  That’s not ‘easy’ at all. That’s complex. And incredibly rewarding to master and refine with your horse over time.

    3 Action Steps for Today

    If you’ve been riding a while, or you’re getting back into the saddle after a break, I want to encourage you to treat the basics as your ally. They’re not a sign of starting over. They’re your launchpad to the next level.  Let’s turn this into momentum with a few simple, focused actions:

        1. Identify and work on one specific basic that needs improvement. This could be your transitions, your seat aids, your turning, or your balance. Pick one. Focus on it deliberately during your next three rides.
        2. Sign up for the Returning to Riding waitlist.  This is your next step if you’re serious about creating real, lasting improvement in your riding. You’ll be the first to know when the program opens. Add your name HERE »

    You’re Not Behind—You’re Right on Time

    So let’s leave behind the idea that going back to basics is a setback. Instead, let’s embrace it for what it really is; an opportunity to grow, refine, and reconnect with your horse in a powerful new way.  The basics are not just where you start. They’re where you grow. Again and again.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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