[Encore] Strides Revisited: Creating a Program for Your OTTB or Ex-Racehorse (Originally Ep #1111)
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
Release Date: 07/10/2025
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
So often, riders practice their riding without ever realising what they’re actually reinforcing. And more often than not, it’s the exact habits or tension patterns that are holding them back... In this episode of Sunday Strides, we’re talking about the unconscious patterns that sneak into your riding. Whether it’s physical (like tension in your left side) or mental (like self-doubt or over-analysis), these patterns become the default if we don’t intentionally interrupt them. You’ll hear a real-life example of a rider who changed everything with just one tweak in her lesson, and how...
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Have you ever felt like you and your horse just aren’t meeting the jump together? You see the fence, you’ve chosen your line… and yet, right at the last stride, things fall apart. More often than not, the issue isn’t your horse... It’s your timing. In this replay of Episode 1031: Learning to Wait for the Jump, we dive into one of the most common challenges riders face: jumping ahead of their horse. When you tip forward too soon, your horse can feel dropped, lose confidence, and start refusing or ducking out. The good news? A simple shift in your position and timing can completely...
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Lunging is one of the most underestimated training tools riders have at their disposal. Yet so many riders miss the key ingredient that makes lunging truly effective; your position! In this Strides Revisited episode, you’ll discover how where you stand in relation to your horse can make the difference between “going nowhere slowly” on the circle and having a clear, forward, focused training session. This conversation ties directly into what we’ve been talking about this week on the podcast. That, often, one small perspective shift can unlock a massive breakthrough in your riding...
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Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the “right things” in the saddle, and yet your horse still doesn’t seem to get the memo? Maybe they won’t go forward, maybe they cut in on the circle, or maybe they just find clever ways to avoid what you’re asking. In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast, I’m sharing why the problem often isn’t the exercise you’re doing… but the perspective you’re coming from. Sometimes a small perspective shift can be the key to your next riding breakthrough. I’ll walk you through real-life examples from riders I’ve worked with in...
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Most riders think of the halt as simply… stopping. Pull the reins, horse stops - job done. But what if I told you that each halt you ride could be one of the most powerful training tools you have? That, with a little intention, your halts could improve your balance, posture, communication... And your horse’s focus, engagement, and responsiveness? In this Strides Revisited episode, we’re heading back to a favourite from August 2021 to help you see the halt in a whole new light. We’ll explore: Why the halt should be treated like a movement, not a full stop The difference between a...
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Ever feel like if you didn’t get it right the first time, it must not be for you? This week's Sunday Strides is your reminder that confidence isn't born from perfection; it’s built through repetition. So many riders get discouraged when things don’t go well on the first try. But what if showing up again (and again) is exactly what’s required? In this short pep talk, I’m sharing why the real breakthroughs happen after the first awkward, messy attempts, and how committing to repeat with intention is the secret to true progress with your horse. Whether you're learning a new skill,...
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Have you recently welcomed an OTTB (Off-the-Track Thoroughbred) into your life, only to feel overwhelmed by where to even begin? This episode is all about helping you build a solid foundation for your ex-racehorse. Whether your Thoroughbred just left the track or has been with you for a while, this episode will guide you through how to create a clear, step-by-step plan to move forward confidently in your training. Ex-racehorses are incredibly athletic, intelligent, and versatile, but those same qualities can make retraining feel confusing or frustrating if you don’t have a system in place....
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Are you stuck in that cycle of wanting to ride… But not actually riding the way you want? Or maybe you’re not riding at all right now, even though the tack, the horse, and the arena are all sitting there, waiting for you?! In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians, we’re getting honest about the real reason so many riders stall out in their progress. (Spoiler alert: it’s not motivation.) I’m walking you through a simple 4-step process to get back into the saddle, or back into the right kind of saddle time... This week. Yes, this week! This process works...
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In this episode of Sunday Strides, we're exploring a common, but quietly damaging, belief many riders hold: “If I was truly capable, I wouldn’t need help.” Whether you’ve just begun leasing, you’re training solo, or you’ve always dreamed of being an independent rider, today’s message is for you. I share why needing support doesn’t make you any less capable… In fact, it often means you’re getting closer to your next breakthrough. And I gently redefine what guidance really is: not control or correction, but structure, perspective, and encouragement, especially when you’re...
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Have you ever tried something during a lesson and nailed it. Only to fall flat the next time you rode on your own?! In this episode, we’re revisiting a powerful conversation around confidence, communication, and the three essential elements of becoming a better rider: emotional, mental, and physical development. Confidence isn’t something you magically have or don’t. It’s something you can build, and sometimes even borrow. Whether you're retraining an OTTB, restarting after time out of the saddle, or simply trying to improve on your own, this episode will help you take...
info_outlineHave you recently welcomed an OTTB (Off-the-Track Thoroughbred) into your life, only to feel overwhelmed by where to even begin?
This episode is all about helping you build a solid foundation for your ex-racehorse. Whether your Thoroughbred just left the track or has been with you for a while, this episode will guide you through how to create a clear, step-by-step plan to move forward confidently in your training.
Ex-racehorses are incredibly athletic, intelligent, and versatile, but those same qualities can make retraining feel confusing or frustrating if you don’t have a system in place. This episode will show you how to simplify the process, communicate clearly, and set both you and your OTTB up for long-term success.
🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
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Why your OTTB needs an adjustment period (and not necessarily months in a field)
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How to help your horse learn a completely new language of riding and handling
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The difference between fitness and strength development, and why it matters
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Why clarity and intentionality are essential in every ride you take
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How to work with your horse’s intelligence and sensitivity, not against it
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Why hopping from method to method creates confusion and gaps in training
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The power of sticking to a progressive, adaptable plan
📣 Need a Clear Path Forward with Your OTTB?
Join Restart & Reschool – Your Personalized Private Coaching Program
If you’ve been starting over again and again…
If your OTTB seems talented but progress feels frustratingly slow…
If you're tired of second-guessing yourself every ride…
The Restart & Reschool private coaching program is here to help you break the cycle.
Inside this 13-week journey, I’ll help you:
✔ Identify & fill the gaps in your OTTB’s training
✔ Develop a rhythm in your riding that leads to consistent results
✔ Regain confidence and clarity in your own approach
Click here to learn more - Let’s get you and your ex-racehorse moving forward again.
💬 Be Part of the Conversation – Join Our Free Facebook Community
Are you retraining an OTTB? Or maybe just looking to ride more intentionally with your horse?
👉 Come join other like-minded riders inside the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook.
It’s where we share insights, ideas, challenges, and wins—all designed to support your riding journey, especially if you're doing it without a regular trainer.
🌀 Looking for Ongoing Support, Lessons & Structure?
Step Into Connection – Formerly Daily Strides Premium
If you loved this episode and want ongoing guidance, Connection is the place for you.
💡 Inside Connection, you'll get:
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Weekly live group virtual riding lessons
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Themed collections like Groundwork, Confidence, Re-Schooling, and more
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Monthly challenges, goal-setting calls, and mindset sessions
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Private podcast access with guided in-saddle audio lessons
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A community of riders who get it
Connection is designed to help you build a rhythm and ride with intention, week after week.
🎧 Join Connection here https://stridesforsuccess.com/join
🔁 Listen Again or Share This Episode
If you know another rider with an OTTB or ex-racehorse, share this episode with them—it could be the clarity they’re craving.