Strides for Success

Tag: rider aids

  • What You’re Not Willing to Do in Order to Improve Your Riding

    What You’re Not Willing to Do in Order to Improve Your Riding

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    Have you ever found yourself stuck in the same loop with your horse? Experiencing the same behaviour, the same frustration and, because of those, the same feeling like you’re going nowhere – slowly!?  Over the past week, I received two different messages from two different riders. Both with very different questions and issues. But also, both using the same word to help describe their issue… That word was ‘handbrake’. And it got me thinking…

    If you’ve been stuck in your riding or training for any length of time, I can almost guarantee that it’s because there is something you are not willing to do.

    And nine times out of ten, it’s this; you’re not willing to go slow in your training! And I mean really slow! And not forever, just to get the correct basics working – that will allow you to speed up later.  That uncomfortable reality is what we’re diving into today. So, put your honesty jodhs on… This one might rub a little ;)

    Handbrake Riders of the World…

    Let’s begin with this idea of the handbrake. Some riders are obsessed with it. Either because they feel that can’t find it – think galloping flat out, white knuckles pulling, wide eyes… Or because they feel that they can’t get it off! It’s like the whole ride is happening with the handbrake activated and working really well!

    So, the messages I received were from two riders, with really the same problem, but from complete opposite ends of the scale.

    My first thought was how, for them, they’re stuck with the same mindset – that riding with a handbrake is even a thing. It’s not! Let’s think like car drivers for a second. How often do you use the handbrake when actually driving forward? NEVER. The handbrake is for when the car is stationary. A bit like ground-tying your horse or tying your horse up.  If you reach for the handbrake while your car is moving, you’re either about to stop VERY suddenly, or lose control and veer wildly off course!  Neither of those are what you’re looking for.

    When you’re driving and want to slow down, you don’t grab the handbrake! You use a combination of the brake pedal, the accelerator and your gears. So let’s retire the handbrake metaphor from riding! 

    What You’re Avoiding

    For both of these riders, my suggestion is the same. Go back to basics first and start on the ground working on the concept of ‘forward’. Forwardness, when it comes to horses, is a combination of a desire to move, responsiveness to aids, flowing energy, and horse and rider working together. Forwardness is not“going faster”, riding the handbrake, having to egg your horse on every second stride, or just accepting that you have to do all of the work!

    And, in my opinion, in order to achieve true forwardness, the work needs to begin long before you ever mount up in the saddle.  

    And, here’s where I think riders get stuck; they want to fix the symptom, the ‘energy level’, before fixing the root problem. For both of my above mentioned riders, the root issue comes down to basic communication.  Unfortunately, this is also the point where I often get push back from riders. Things like, “I don’t want to go back to beginner stuff.” or “It’s too boring.”. Even the “I’ll lose fitness and the training we already have.”

    The reality is that you are not going backwards. You’re simply choosing to steady up a little, so that you can create and strengthen a foundational piece that’s been missing. No fast-tracks, shortcuts, quick fixes, or gadgets.

    Forward Is a Mindset First

    As a rider, and especially if you’re working alone without a regular coach or trainer, you MUST invest time in the basics if you ever want to unlock that next level.  Here is how I suggest you get started with this today and turn it into a 12 week project with your horse.

    Step 1: Forward Thinking on the Ground

    Before you ask your horse to go forward under saddle, test this simple exercise. Lead your horse and pay attention to the following things:-

          • Who is initiating the first ‘forward’ step?
          • Who is responsible for maintaining forward in the walk?
          • Where are you in relation to your horse (beside the shoulder, the head, or in front)?
          • Is your horse waiting for you to drag, beg, or bribe them or are they dragging you along?
          • Or are they engaged and ready to move together with you?

    I was shocked when I first began asking riders to do this because most riders are not walking ‘with’ their horse. They are literally either dragging their horse along, or waterskiing tying to pull their horse back.

    Here’s the truth; if your horse won’t willingly walk beside you, as a willing partner, why on earth would they suddenly become forward-thinking once you’re on their back?

    This is where you need to begin to redefine your communication and your aids. Your voice, posture, position, pressure-and-release. It is by doing this, that you will begin to change the mindset to ‘thinking forward’.  And build trust in your leadership. Forward begins here.

    Step 2: Walking and Halting in the Saddle

    Once you’ve begun to encourage a little active participation from your horse on the ground, let’s move up to mounted work. And, let’s also go with the basics and keep it simple! Walk, then halt, then walk again. This is some of the most transformative work you will ever do with your horse. And, again unfortunately, the vast majority of riders dismiss it as being “too basic”! It’s not – it’s the foundation for everything else.

    Rinse and refine until you can begin to feel the understanding that you initiated on the ground, start to shine through in the saddle. 

    Spending time doing this work will have a hugely positive effect on everything. This is because during those walk–halt–walk transitions:-

          • You clarify what your aids mean and set expectations around them
          • You redefine responsiveness
          • You establish balance and rhythm
          • You begin to shift some of the responsibility to your horse
          • You set expectations for the trot and canter later

    This isn’t beginner work! This is the foundation of everything else you’ll do in the saddle. And this is why I think it’s well worth 2, 3, or more weeks focusing here. The changes you experience here will ripple through to everything else in your riding and training.

    Step 3: Trot (no handbrakes involved or necessary!)

    So without doing the earlier work in walk, many riders think they should just focusing on slowing down the trot – and this will solve all of their issues. Nope! Slowing down leads to excess tension, frustration (horse and rider), lack of energy to actually ‘do’ anything, and just a flat ride!

    We’re not looking for slow. We are looking for forward, connected, balanced, and rhythmic. We want the energy to ‘FLOW’, not go slow! That is not trotting…

    You can only really hope to develop a good quality trot when your horse is both thinking and moving forward and is responsive to your aids. And, again, I believe this all starts on the ground and is reinforced in walk.  If you try to skip ahead and jump any of these steps in your training, you will find yourself smack back where you stared! Invest the time doing this work.

    Step 4: Canter = The Result

    Finally, there is a temptation for riders on either end of this issue to start working on it from the canter itself. However, if you’re starting from the canter trying to solve your ‘handbrake’ issue, you’re just setting yourself up for frustration.

    Your canter will improve when both you and your horse have learned a new way of applying and understanding the aids. When the ‘terms’ of the aids have been renegotiated and agreed on. No sooner!

    And this work is always best done in the walk initially! You want a walk that has a sense of purpose, a halt that can ‘hold’ the energy, a trot that is working forward and connected. And only then can the canter become another gear that you can easily move in and out of.  Canter is graduation day, not lesson one.

    So… What Are You Willing to Do?

    This is the part where many riders take a deep breath, sit back, and admit, “I haven’t been willing to slow down” or “I thought I knew the basics already”. And that’s okay – we all think that we’re doing the right thing at some point only to figure out that we could be doing something very different!

    I would love for today to be the day that you choose to do things differently. Your horse doesn’t need you to push harder or hold tighter. He needs clarity, consistency, and leadership.

    What If You Gave Yourself 12 Weeks?

    Imagine dedicating the next three months to building new associations with your aids… Creating a mindset of forward-thinking in both you and your horse. Improving responsiveness and rhythm, along with developing more balance and emotional control.

    Summed up, what would happen if you invested 12 weeks to fixing the ACTUAL foundation of your riding

    Where would you and your horse be in just 3 months from now? I’m going to bet that it’s somewhere very different to where you are now. And all you have to do is make a decision, commit, and show up consistently for the two of you. Go slow now, so that you can go fast later!

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Want Support While You Do This?

    October, November, and December 2025 inside Connection, are dedicated to working on the Half Halt, the key to refining all the basics we just talked about.  It’s exactly where your progress begins again.

    If this episode made you squirm a little, and wonder “…is she talking about me…?”, then Connection is exactly where you need to be!  Join us for the Half Halt Training at:- 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 fornightly 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:-

  • Using Half Halts on the Lunge to Build Balance

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    Have you ever been lunging your horse and find yourself saying “Whoa there Tonto” a little too often?!
    That moment when your horse seems to go from cool and calm to tripping over themselves as the speed quickens! I can 100% hand over heart say that, from experience, this has the potential to make even the calmest of riders stress a little!

    Most riders see rushing on the lunge as a disobedience problem; their horse is being naughty, ignoring them, or just full of vuma! But what if that’s not what is always going on?

    What if your horse’s rushing while on the lunge is really a balance problem, not a speed problem?

    Rushing v’s Speed

    When a horse loses balance, the natural instinct is to speed up to try to catch themselves. You’ve probably experienced this yourself, either while walking, running, or cycling. Just like when you run on a few steps, or pedal faster to stop yourself from falling over, your horse often does the same.

    If they feel unbalanced, they often run on a little – in an attempt to remain upright!

    Now, I get that some horses will 100% rush and race ‘just because’.  However, that is not what I’m chatting about today. Today, I want to talk about how, for many horses, suddenly speeding up can indicate a lack of balance. And how lunging gives you the perfect opportunity to see this clearly.

    So, if your horse is usually pretty relaxed and ‘rhythmic’ – until he’s not. This might indeed be what’s going on. And I think that lunging can help your horse to develop so that this happens less and less often. You see,

    Because without your weight or mixed signals from the saddle, your horse can figure out how to carry themselves and begin to develop self-balance while developing strength

    Of course, that won’t happen overnight. Building balance takes strength, coordination, and consistency. But lunging — when done correctly — gives your horse space to experiment, to learn, and to begin developing rhythm. And rhythm is where it all starts.

    Rhythm & Relaxation: The Foundations

    No matter what discipline you ride, or what age or stage your horse is at, the first two building blocks of training are relaxation and rhythm.  When they feel that both of these pieces are in place, the energy can flow, and this increases confidence for everyone, horse and rider.

    So, it makes sense to begin at the start with relaxation & rhythm, and one of the best tools for introducing and establishing both of these is to use the half halt while on the lunge.

    Half Halts on the Lunge

    When most riders hear the words ‘half halt’, they immediately think about their hands. Specifically about using the reins. But the half halt is not just a rein aid. It’s a conversation. A pause. A moment of rebalancing that comes from your whole body and your intention, not just your hands.

    When you’re lunging, just like when you’re riding, your lunge line can be ‘part’ of the question or aid… Not the whole aid! You have to learn to communicate using it AND everything else. Your voice, your energy, your body position, your weight, your body language, and even the timing of your breathing.

    When you ask for a half halt on the lunge, you’re really saying,“Hey, come back to me for a moment. Find your balance again.” It can be an invitation, a request, or a correction. 

    And what’s really special about lunging is that, because of your position to your horse, you can see it happen. You can actually watch your horse process the request. And you can see the results. Maybe it’s the moment they soften through the contact, or when they slightly shift the weight off the forehand. It could just be the reestablishing of the rhythm that was in danger of being lost!

    That visual feedback you get from lunging is gold. It helps you begin to understand what a good half halt looks like before you try to feel it in the saddle.

    Reward the Intention

    When you begin introducing half halts on the lunge, I’m going to bet that your horse might not know what you’re asking for yet! Especially if this is not something you’ve been working on regularly before.  So it’s really important to reward every ‘try’. Every subtle thought in the right direction.

    Meaning that even if your horse just thinks about slowing down or steadying, that’s your chance to acknowledge it. If you miss that window, your horse gets confused. The message becomes muddy.

    So, ask for the half halt, then wait. If you see even a hint of balance returning, mark that moment. Praise. Use your voice to tell them, “Yes! That’s what I wanted.”  Clarity and timing are everything.  Every aid you use to ask should also be echoed when you reward. That’s how you build trust and confidence, and understanding. It’s also how your horse will begin to develop strength.

    Transitions, Rhythm & Flow

    Now, if you’ve been guilty of using the lunge line like a steering wheel or a brake (so pulling to keep your horse on the circle or yanking to slow them down), that HAS to stop!  The lunge line isn’t there to control the horse. It’s simply the connection between you.

    Just like how your reins work in riding to ‘gather’ and channel energy, your lunge line will do the same when lunging. 

    I really do think that the only way to begin to truly replace this habit is to create boundaries in the area you are lunging. Let them ‘keep the horse on the circle’ so that you can begin cultivating the contact through the lunge line. I’ve a whole post on this HERE.

    Refining Half Halts on the Lunge

    And once you are using your line correctly, then you can look to improving everything by getting started with basic transitions. Walk to trot. Trot to walk. Halt on the track. Back to walk, etc. etc., etc. Think smooth, not sharp.
    If your horse takes three full circles to make the change or the transition, no worries! That’s your starting point. You’re working on understanding, not obedience.

    Your half halts will be the preparation for every single one of the transitions your horse performs while on the lunge. They set things up so that the transition can be as good as it can be. 

    After a few days or weeks of practicing this, you’ll notice that your horse will become more ‘tuned in’ with regard to your aids and overall communication. That’s when you can begin playing with transitions within the gait. Covering more ground and then covering less ground within the same gait.  The goal is to keep the rhythm steady, no matter the speed.

    Lunging as a Mirror

    Lunging, done well, trains you almost as much as it teaches your horse. It becomes a mirror for your communication. You see, in real time, how every little change you make, your tone, your energy, your posture, affects your horse’s response.

    And the better you get at reading and influencing your horse from the ground, the easier everything feels once you’re in the saddle.

    And remember, lunging isn’t just for young or green horses. It’s for every partnership that wants to improve communication, rhythm, and balance.  It’s also not just for ‘hot horses’ or for when time is short. I am REALLY encouraging you to begin crafting time for lunging starting today.

    Bringing It All Together

    So next time you clip on that lunge line, shift your focus. Instead of thinking, “I need to slow you down,” think, “How can I help you find your rhythm and then maintain it for longer. How can we work together to achieve more balance and lightness?”

    Notice where any of the ‘whoopsies’ appear in your horse’s way of going, when it feels like he’s starting to rush. Pay attention to what led up to that point that may be causing the loss of balance. Then, use your body, voice, and energy to help your horse rebalance, to come back to you. That’s your half halt.

    You’ll be amazed at how your horse starts listening, not just to the sound of your voice, but to the feel of your intention.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

     Half Halting on the Lunge

    I’ve got 3 resources to help you improve and refine your half halts.

          1. Inside Connection we are working on how to use half halts on the lunge to develop rhythm, relaxation, and self-carriage. Step-by-step audio lessons, a live group lesson, and so much more to really help you understand and put this principle into practice.
          2. Join me for the Half Halts Made Simple Webinar on October 28th. We’ll take everything you’ve learned from the ground and bring it into your riding work.
          3. Sign up for the FREE Your Signature Ride Challenge. It’s a fun, on-horse experience that ties beautifully into everything we’re doing this month.

    Online Training & Coaching

    Connect with Lorna online:-

  • Reviewing Your Riding Videos Part 1 – You the Rider…

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    When you’re working alone without a regular trainer or instructor, you must begin to create ways for self-review. Video is, hands down, the best way to do this, especially if your camera follows you. Automated motion tracking software makes this an affordable possibility for many riders now. But even if you don’t have this technology, you can still simply use your phone, hit record, and ride.

    By creating regular riding videos where you are asking similar questions, riding similar movements, and reviewing them consistently, you create your own feedback. Similar to what a trainer or instructor would do in the arena. 

    However, the key to making this technique work for you is to figure out what to look for. Just watching the videos is not enough.  Many riders get caught up in simply looking at the video passively. Imagine if your instructor did that in the arena when working together?! I doubt that you would learn a whole lot, improve, or be very happy with the outcome! If you’re reviewing your own riding videos, you need to act like your instructor or trainer.

    Look for specific things, for both you and your horse. And do this without judgment or criticism. In fact, you want to actually ‘find’ areas to improve, change, or clean up. Just like an instructor or trainer would… 

    1. Assessing Yourself – The Rider

    Start with what you can truly change or establish more control over; yourself and your own body! When you are reviewing, begin by looking at these key areas in your riding and taking notes on how well you did.

    a) Position & Posture

    So often, when things are not going to plan or do not happen as smoothly or effortlessly as we would like, the issue lies in our posture and position. Assess your lines. There’s the ‘head, shoulder, hip, heel’ line. And also the ‘elbow, wrist, thumb, rein, bit’ line. Are they aligned throughout the ride?

    Or are you:-

        • Tipping (hips, shoulders, or hands usually)
        • Swinging (lower leg & heel)
        • Crunching up (chest and upper body)
        • Gathering up (thighs and knees)
        • Gripping (knees)

    Pay attention to where the alignment is not as good as you would like and notice patterns. This is where you can begin your work the next time you ride. You can find a past episode of the podcast on this topic HERE

    b) Self-Carriage (esp. through Transitions)

    This also falls in under posture, but it is such a chronic issue for so many riders, that I want to give it a point of its own!  Collapsing before, during, or after transitions is a big issue. It is something that will affect both the gait before the transition, the transition itself, and how well your horse works in the ‘new’ gait as well.

    Focus on maintaining your alignment as you prepare the transition, ride the transition, and then allow into the new gait or after the transition. Your job is to set it up and then get out of your horses way to actually do what you’ve asked him to do… 

    There is a past episode of the podcast on this topic HERE

    c) Weight Distribution

    This one sounds a little odd, however, it is VITALLY important to both notice and tweak if and when necessary. Start by looking at what your seat (your bum) is doing when you ride through corners, bends, and turns. Is there a shift to one side or the other? Often you will see your seat ‘slide’ a little to the outside of the saddle… And, because of this, you’ll then usually see that one shoulder is dipping lower than the other to compensate!

    Imagine there is a line from the middle of the cantle to the middle of the pommel of your seat. Ideally, your seatbones should remain fairly consistent in being an equal distance from that line. If one gets closer or further, you’ve shifted your weight…

    You can find a past episode on this topic HERE

    d) Consistency of Legs, Shoulders, and Hands

    Now, this one is a little confusing – simply because it will sound like I’m contradicting myself in the next point. But hold on a moment… Consistent does not mean ‘stiff’ or ‘stationary’. It simply means that those parts are not waving about, high-fiving every passing tree, upright, or post!  And with regards to your hands; keep in mind that. you’re riding – not directing air traffic…

    Another thing to look at when it comes to consistency through your reins is how often you lengthen and shorten your reins… Are you guilty of ‘fiddling’? Consistency is essential for contact – no piano fingers ;) 

    You can find a previous episode on this topic HERE

    e) Moving with the Horse; Seat & Hands

    And just as parts of your body perform better when ‘consistent’, other parts must move with your horse to enable you both to move forward freely and in flow. Your seat and hands must remain supple and follow the lead of your horse. And, yes, I have said that your hands must be consistent. To be consistent and to follow may seem to contradict each other.

    However, all I mean is that you are not conducting an orchestra with hands flying all over the place – instead rather following your horses movement through steady consistent contact. 

    There is a previous episode on this topic HERE

    Reviewing Your Riding Videos

    Paying attention to all of these little things individually at the beginning will allow you to start having a good feel for what you can begin working on changing in the longer term. I do suggest doing regular reviews in order to really get the most out of this. However, even a once-off review will bring up a lot of different points to work on.

        • Learn how to set your videos up for the best results HERE
        • And learn how to assess your horse in your riding videos HERE

    And if you would like to get my eyes on your riding, lunging, or groundwork videos, all the details for a single private virtual lesson (including a video review) are HERE.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Episodes to Help with this Topic

    Online Training to Help Your Riding

    Connect with Lorna online:-

  • Identifying Why You’re Struggling with Coordination as a Rider

    Identifying Why You’re Struggling with Coordination as a Rider

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    Horse riding is essentially about how we can communicate with our horses – while riding our horses. However, as riders, in order to be effective we need to first master some basic coordination. And therein lies the challenge! It is often this part of communication, the one between our brains and our bodies, that can cause the greatest issues when it comes to our effectiveness when in the saddle.

    Resulting in our lack of effective coordination creating havoc with our communication when riding our horse! 

    The lack of coordination really has a knock-on effect on all of the other parts of riding a horse.  From our balance to our confidence.  How we ask questions of our horses. And how we can respond when they answer.  If any one of these elements is negatively impacted by poor coordination, it will cause challenges for both the rider – and their horse.

     1. Identify the Trigger

    This is a big part of beginning to successfully improve your coordination as a rider.  In my experience, most riders are pretty okay with their coordination up to a certain point.  And it is at that point (which is unique to every rider) that things tend to begin going a little (or a lot) off plan!

    A trigger, for you, could be something physical, mental, or emotional. Meaning it could be a certain gait (like canter itself), a certain thought (I have to ask for canter), or a certain feeling (the fear of cantering). 

    The physical trigger shows up when your horse reaches a certain point with how much energy they are creating and using. Maybe a slow trot is fine, and you can still coordinate your aids effectively.  However, as soon as there is more energy inside of that trot, oh the issues, they come knocking!

    The mental and emotional triggers are often a little more challenging to identify, as it requires self-awareness regarding thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. However, they are just as disruptive to the overall flow of communication between you and your horse.

     2. Notice What Coordination is Affected

    Now, saying ‘I struggle with coordination’ is a little like saying ‘I struggle with confidence’ (something I hear so often from riders). It is just too open-ended and broad for anyone to give any real specific advice on how to improve coordination.  By being more specific, you can start working on certain movements where you can practice and improve your skills.

    Poor coordination can be knowing what you want to do, but not being able to do it.  Or struggling to move one limb – without moving another. It can be shifting your weight to compensate for weak muscle tone or strength.  Or even struggling to apply one aid without unintentionally doing something with another.

    Just like the triggers, there are so many different types of a lack of coordination when it comes to your riding.  Get really clear on what exactly or when exactly you struggle and start there. 

     3. Exercises to Help Strengthen & Improve

    Once you know where the issue with your coordination lies, you can now easily begin to work on it.  I am a big believer in creating situations where you get to ‘test’ yourself and practice the outcome you want.  Think about this in your riding.  What school moments can you ride that will require you to do something that you find a little challenging coordination-wise?

    It’s also worth noting that physical strength, fitness, and stamina play a huge role in coordination.  Even when the triggers are mental or emotional.  

    I would definitely advise you to do exercises outside of riding that will help you when you are in the saddle.  I personally love hiking over rough terrain and yoga.  They are both great for suppleness, stamina, strength, and overall fitness.

    4. Revisit and Refine

    Unfortunately, most riding issues are not a ‘fix one-time’ event!  They will repeat themselves a lot.  This is especially true when we ask new or bigger questions about ourselves or our horses in our riding.  This is why, again, I really do believe setting these situations up for yourself intentionally is the most effective way of improving.

    By intentionally putting ourselves in situations where our coordination may be questionable, we get to practice and become more effective.  

    This will also mean that when you find yourself being ‘tested’ unintentionally, there is a better chance of your body doing what you want and your horse understanding.  This is exactly what we want in these situations. This can always be improved by revisiting and refining the basics of your riding.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Other Resources on This Topic:-

    Training For Riders:-

     

  • The 3 Undeniable Effects of Bad Posture when You Ride

    The 3 Undeniable Effects of Bad Posture when You Ride

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    Posture. It’s something that many people (equestrians or not) have memories of a parent or teacher correcting them on! And perhaps this is why many riders don’t want to hear about their posture when it comes to their riding.

    However, no matter what way you approach your riding, or what discipline you choose to work with your horse on, posture counts.

    I believe that bad posture in the saddle accounts for 3 big ‘sticking points’ for many riders in the saddle.

    1. Less Effective Aids

    How you carry yourself will decide a lot when it comes to how your horse hears your aids. From the placement of the aids to the pressure to the combination to the clarity of them. Your posture will decide what your horse hears when you ask a question.

    And what your horse hears, is what will determine the response you receive.  

    So many riders will school, and practice, and do the things over and over again.  Meanwhile, they are simply reinforcing the training they don’t want.  If your horse is not doing what you are asking him to do, is it possible that you might have crossed wires somewhere?

    Is it possible that what you ‘think’ you’re asking and what you’re really asking are two different things due to bad posture when you ride?

    2. Blocking or Diverting the Flow of Energy

    The second big repercussion of bad posture when you ride is that you simply stop your horse from doing what you have asked him to do.  Maybe your horse is a wonderful, patient schoolmaster.  He gets it that you’re not always spot on with your aids.  But because he is his wonderful self, he obliges you anyway.

    He does what you tried to ask him to do… Only to be blocked by your body being in the way!

    Here’s a simple way to think of this:- Imagine your horse’s back is a pipe.  And imagine the energy that we want to create and move through our horse as being water.  We want the water to flow through this pipe to get from the back to the front.  In one end of the pipe and out the other side.  Now, imagine you put a big heavy rock on that pipe.  What is it going to do?

    It might completely block the energy; which usually results in things ‘back firing’ spectacularly.  Or it can result in the flow of water not being quite what you want.  A dribble rather than a flow. 

    When we have bad posture as we ride, we become a little like the big rock.  A tonne of potatoes or a sack of coal.  Whatever works best for you ;).  We literally block the energy from flowing or we negatively impact the flow of the energy.  Your horse might just oblige you and do all of the things, but it won’t be close to what he could do if you stopped blocking him.

    What is important to remember is that the simple remedy for all of this is to begin engaging your core and carrying yourself.  

    3. Your Balance when You Ride

    The final point, which is just as important a point as the others, is that your posture affects your balance. If you have been struggling to maintain balance or rhythm when you ride, I am willing to bet that your posture is off.  When I first moved to South Africa, riding on the back of a ‘bakkie’ (a pick-up truck) was a real novelty.  Especially coming from the often wet and sometimes dreary Ireland!

    What I noticed when on the back of a moving bakkie was that if I focused on correct alignment, balancing was pretty easy.  As soon as any slips in concentration caused bad posture, things got a little hairy!  Horse riding is the same.  The more aligned you are, the more self-balanced you can be.  And, simply put, the less you will have to rely on your horse to keep you on board!

    An independent seat is only achievable when we work on actively aligning our bodies for optimum performance.

    Aligned posture contributes more than anything else to self balance for riders.  Trust me, from riding on the back of bakkies, to riding horses, to training thousands of riders, this is true!

    Work on Correcting Bad Posture

    So, now that we have covered why bad posture is so detrimental to your riding, what can you do about it.  The good news is that posture is usually a habit.  Meaning that you will have to simply train yourself to do something else.  Replace it.  I suggest setting aside a month of your riding time for this task.

    You want to put good posture onto autopilot in your riding so that you can replace your ‘doing you absolutely no favors’ bad posture!

    Set checkpoints in your riding area.  If you are on the trail use fencing poles, gates, electricity poles, or anything that shows up fairly frequently to remind yourself to ‘straighten things out’.  If you’re in the arena, use fencing poles, floodlights, corners, jump uprights, or other things to do the same.

    Then simply make it a rule that every time you pass your ‘checkpoint’, you’re going to carry yourself.

    By doing this, you will soon (within one month) dramatically improve any bad posture that has crept into your riding.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Links to Help You:-

  • Your Aids to Ride the Half Halt

    Your Aids to Ride the Half Halt

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/1174_Your_Aids_to_Ride_the_Half_Halt.mp3″ title=”Your Aids to Ride the Half Halt” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Here is exactly what to do to ride a successful half halt with your horse…” hashtag=”equestrian” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Sprinkled, like confetti. This is how I think the half halt should be applied to your ride. Little ones that are really everywhere. None of them too big. Or ‘stand out’. Yet all of them working together to give the desired effect or result.

    For many riders, the half halt, rather than being like confetti, becomes more like broadsheet newspapers scattered randomly around the arena. Not too many, some altogether. And not really having any use other than to make things look messy and unorganized.

    Size Matters

    How do you get your broadsheet size half halts to resemble a piece of confetti? You refine. And refine… The energy that you are putting into that one ‘big’ half halt (your standard broadsheet), divided up and divided amongst a whole lot of smaller, more refined half halt (your ‘confetti’).

    Yes, I realize I am really oversimplifying something that so many riders struggle with, the trusty half halt. And yet, it really is that simple. It is riders ‘wanting’ to make it harder than it really is… That is the real struggle with the half halt. And they want to make it harder because, although it is simple, it is usually not that easy to grasp when actually riding.

    I have spoken about the half halt a lot… It really and truly is a sticking point for so many riders. I won’t get into too much of the what and why (you can read about that HERE and HERE and HERE if you’re interested). Instead, I want to give you some practical tips you can use while riding to help you work on turning your half halt from a broadsheet to a tiny piece of confetti.

    Light, lovely, and a feel-good sign for all who experience it.

    Standing, Not Sitting

    Do me a quick favor, will you? Wherever you are reading this right now, sit down if you can. Get comfy, settle in a little. Wiggle your seat bones. Distribute your weight… Notice your core. No, don’t change what you’re doing. Simply notice it. Not as ‘engaged’ as it could be, eh?! Unless you’re on a seat that requires a little more balance and focus.

    For the most part, riders sit in the saddle like they do in a comfortable chair. Hunkered in and ‘relaxed’.

    However, I want you to play with the feeling of ‘standing’ in the saddle, even though you are indeed sitting on your seat bones. So many riders will come with the excuse “I don’t have a strong core” or something similar. I use the word excuse there on purpose. If you can walk to the saddle to mount up, you are more than able to use your core while riding!

    The key to actively using your core is to feel as though you are standing, even when you are sitting in the saddle.

    Your Aids for the Half Halt

    Once you are indeed carrying yourself and engaging your core, your half halt simply becomes a matter of applying your aids. The aids themselves are rarely the challenge. The issue riders struggle with is balancing those aids so that they get the result they are after.

    There are three basic aids that, when applied in a balanced way, make up your half halt; your legs, your seat, and your hands

    Often riders start out trying to ‘use’ their hands to get the point across to their horse, when, in fact, the hands are really the ‘end’ aid. They come last in the ‘sequence’ that I recommend using when riding the half halt. To use them before the other aids defeat the purpose and will result in a loss of forwardness, lightness, and balance. All of the things that we want to encourage or maintain in our riding.

    The Sequence of Aids

    Before applying any aids, I strongly suggest making sure that your overall position is as close to correct as you can get it. This will help your aids be clearer and, therefore, more effective when applied.

    Correct position coupled with self-carriage (yes, from you the rider!), will allow you to make the best use of your aids.

    In the most basic of explanations, the aids for half halt are:- legs, seat, hands. In that order. Legs allow you to both engage and encourage ‘forward’ thinking and action. Your seat allows you to then resist or deepen the connection in order to influence the flow of energy. Followed by your hands which gather the energy and, if necessary, help to re-engage it.

    Timing Your Half Halt

    Being able to actually ride a successful half halt comes down to basic coordination and timing. While there is a sequence with your aids, they all happen in a split second. I know, it is a big ask for many riders. The coordination it takes to make this happen can be a challenge for most initially.

    Good practice is the key to begin smoothly and effortlessly using effective half halts in your ride.

    And timing is not just about coordinating your aids. It also matters when you apply them. You want to use your aids when your horse is in the best possible position to respond to them. Asking questions or even getting your horse’s attention when he is not able to respond or answer leads to frustration for all.

    I have created a free audio program for you to use when riding your horse in order to begin working on your half halt. You can get yours HERE

    Perfect Practice…

    Yep, it does make perfect. The half halt is an ever-changing and evolving aid in your riding. No two will ever be the same. However, it is also something that you can literally improve with 20 minutes of focused, correct, practice.

    So I’m going to challenge you to do just that and really help move your conversation forward.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources for Equestrians:-