Strides for Success

Tag: Daily Strides Premium

  • Beneficial Exercises when Riding in a Smaller Space

    Beneficial Exercises when Riding in a Smaller Space

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    If there is one place where the ‘endless circle’ reigns supreme, it is in the small arena… Or any smaller space riders find themselves having to make use of for prolonged periods.  In fact, this was the very reason I began the Daily Strides Podcast way back when!

    Saying a lasting, even final, ‘Goodbye’ to the endless circle should be a goal that all riders want to achieve… Especially if riding in a smaller space!

    However, having a smaller area is not as limiting as many riders think it will be. In fact, riding in a smaller space can often help both you and your horse to become more focused and accurate.  And these are always useful and helpful when you finally do move out and begin riding in a larger space.

    This month I want to challenge you to look at those same ‘limitations’ as opportunities for you to develop and build your conversation with your horse instead.

    Exercises for a Smaller Space

    This week’s episode of the Daily Strides Podcast is the ‘Monday Lesson’ of a week of audio horse riding lessons from Daily Strides Premium.  In this group of lessons, we work on 4 different exercises that you can ride to develop and train your horse when in a smaller space.

    Episode 1 – A Good Quality Halt

    When you can begin to see the halt as being another movement to work on, develop, and practice, you will open up so many new doors for you and your horse in your training and work together.  Preparing, getting into, ‘holding’, and then moving out of a good quality halt is not easy.  However, working on developing this move has the potential to improve so much more in your riding and your horse’s training.

    Episode 2 – Developing Flexion and Bend

    Suppleness is a key element when riding and training.  And a smaller space seems like the perfect opportunity to work on developing this for you and your horse.  In this exercise, you will work on flexion first.  And not only the flexion but the ‘channel’ you create using your aids that allow the energy to flow.

    From there, you will begin to introduce bend.  Correct bend is not as easy as it might initially seem, especially when you are doing so with the intention of maintaining forwardness while in a smaller space.  However, it will supple you and your horse both mentally and physically while you work on developing it.

    Episode 3 – The Square

    Once you understand and can put into practice the bend and flexion, the next challenge will be moving in and out of them.  This exercise will require you to consistently move from ‘straight’ to ‘bend’ and back again.  And with the focus on maintaining the channel and the forwardness, it will require both you and your horse to increase your focus and your accuracy as you work together.

    Episode 4 – Circles (yes, plural)

    Finally, rather than simply riding a circle to ride a circle, the final exercise will use circles as a tool to really put all of the above principles into practice for you and your horse.  Like halt, bending, flexion, and straightness, the circle is not as easy as it initially seems.  Especially if you are committed to riding it correctly and in a way that moves your training forward. This exercise will help you do both of those things in your smaller space.

    Get All of the Exercises

    There are different basic principles for each of the exercises, giving both you and your horse ‘wiggle room’ when it comes to adding variations and making them work for you. If you would like to get the rest of this week of lessons, check out https://stridesforsuccess.com/dsp for all the details.

    Happy Riding!
    Lorna

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  • Warming Up Decisions for Your Unique Situation with Your Horse

    Warming Up Decisions for Your Unique Situation with Your Horse

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    How could becoming more intentional and creative with your warming up transform your riding? After all, it is something that you do every time you ride, right?!

    If you were to do one thing this month that has the potential to ripple into all the months hereafter where your riding is concerned; becoming intentional about your warming up might just be the thing. 

    This episode of the Daily Strides Podcast has been plucked from a week of lessons from Daily Strides Premium called “Increasing Suppleness with Your Warm-Up & Cool Down”. The full week of lessons are available right now when you join Connection

    Creating a Routine

    One of the great things about becoming intentional with your warm-ups is how much you learn about yourself and your horse. You will begin to see patterns regarding what works and what does not.

    You will also begin to instinctively know what to do when things are not going to plan in order to settle and refocus you and your horse. 

    This is particularly useful if you are traveling to a different barn, show grounds, an overnight trail, or competition. By knowing what works to produce a specific outcome, you can begin using your warm-ups to produce better results throughout the ride itself.

    Your warming up routine can help you and your horse get into the ‘zone’ for where you want to go. It helps align your mindsets…

    Decide on How Long it Will Be

    Many riders are surprised when they realize that there are no ‘rules’ regarding how long they must warm up.  I think that the idea of having a specific amount of minutes is reassuring and makes the ‘doing’ a little easier!

    Being rigid with the amount of time you spend warming up tends to diminish the positive effects of the warm-up! When you’re focused on the clock, you’re not focused on the quality and relevance of what you are doing…

    Instead, I recommend using the desired outcome for the schooling session as a whole to help you decide what will best help to prepare you and your horse.  The more intentional you become about your warming up supporting the work, the better your warm-ups will become.

    What Gait Will Help You Both

    When we learn to ride, we do things in succession.  The gaits in the warm-up are one of these things.  Walk, then trot, and on the canter. No deviation from that path!  However, as you become more experienced, I think that it’s okay to ‘stray’ a little…

    There are no rules that say you must walk for a certain period of time.  Followed by trotting for a similar time.  And only then can you canter! 

    There are horses out there who do better if canter is introduced before the trot.  Not a huge amount of canter.  And after quite a bit of walking where different questions have been asked.  It is a possibility. The important part is to be responsible and think of what’s best for your horse and his physical health and well-being.

    When it comes to creating a warm-up that works for you and your horse, be open to trying new things. And doing things a little differently. 

    Tailoring It for Your Horse

    Many riders will try to ‘force’ relaxation while riding the initial warm-up.  Obviously, you cannot force relaxation! I mention this because, for many horses, stretching and suppleness are something they must work on throughout the ride.

    For some horses, expecting ‘long and low’, or ‘stretching down’ in the first 20 minutes of the ride is asking too big of a question. 

    This can be due to past training, old habits, or conformation – a high head carriage.  There, of course, are other reasons as well.  What I want to encourage you to do is to find what works for your horse, and start there. Drop all other expectations.

    Warming Up Yourself

    Finally, it is important to consider yourself in the bigger picture.  Horse riding is a team sport after all – you and your horse.  Jumping on and then slouching around in the saddle for 15 minutes is not exactly a warm-up!

    Begin seeing your grooming and tacking up as part of your warming up routine – for you and your horse. 

    Use this time to set the rhythm and tone for the upcoming conversation in the saddle.  Get your blood pumping and flowing by really being intentional with your actions, your movement, and your breathwork.

    Your team – you and your horse – must work together and what leads up to you mounting up can make all the difference.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Increasing Suppleness with Your Warm-Up & Cool Down

    This episode is the first of 5 guided audio horse riding lessons that are available for you to use while riding with your horse.  The other 4 lessons, the guided riding lessons, are available inside of the Connection Member’s Area.

    Join Connection today to get these lessons and so many others to help you make the most of your riding.

    Guided audio horse riding lessons, weekly bonus live training, personal accountability, monthly challenges, and so much more… And all of your training is available on a private podcast feed so you can listen while you are with your horse :)

    Find out all the details and join today HERE

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