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[Encore] Strides Revisited: Half Halt on the Ground (Originally Ep #1150)

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Release Date: 10/02/2025

You Can't Control Your Horse - But You Can Influence show art You Can't Control Your Horse - But You Can Influence

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Have you ever felt like if you stopped managing every little detail in the saddle, the whole ride would fall apart? Maybe your horse gets a little quick in trot. Maybe they lose balance, rush, lean, or wobble. And before you know it, you are shortening the reins, squeezing more, holding more, and trying to fix every stride. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. In this episode, we’re diving into a big truth many riders need to hear; you cannot control your horse, but you can absolutely influence them! This episode is all about the difference between control and influence in your riding...

info_outline Why Self-Carriage Matters More Than Most Riders Realise show art Why Self-Carriage Matters More Than Most Riders Realise

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

A lot of riders think they need a better outline, smoother transitions, or a horse who feels more “together”… But underneath all of that is a deeper question:- Can your horse maintain their own body without you micromanaging every stride? In this episode of the Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians, we’re diving into why self-carriage matters so much more than most riders realise, and why it has very little to do with head position, 'frames', or how your horse looks on the outside. Because, let's face it; if you are constantly having to hold everything together, balance every stride,...

info_outline Sunday Strides:- Mental Suppleness; The Identity Shift That Unlocks Better Riding show art Sunday Strides:- Mental Suppleness; The Identity Shift That Unlocks Better Riding

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Letting go is hard. Especially when what you’re letting go of feels like who you are. In this episode of Sunday Strides, Lorna explores the idea of mental suppleness as a rider; and why it’s just as important as physical suppleness in the saddle. Because sometimes the very thing holding you back isn’t your horse, your skill, or your circumstances… It’s the identity you’re clinging to! Connection Membership Join a growing community of riders from around the world who are building consistent progress in the saddle, often without riding more. Inside Connection, you'll get access to...

info_outline Letting Go to Level Up - The Messy Middle in Horse Riding show art Letting Go to Level Up - The Messy Middle in Horse Riding

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Have you ever started working toward something new in your riding where you intially felt excited, motivated, and ready to do the work...  Only to realise halfway through that you might have bitten off more than you can chew?!  If so, welcome to the messy middle! In this episode, we’re diving into the phase of growth that most riders experience, but many allow to keep them stuck - and even turn back!  It’s the point where: Things feel worse before they feel better Your horse doesn’t look as “pretty” as before Your aids feel awkward Communication gets a little...

info_outline Sunday Strides:- A Challenge for the Week with Your Horse show art Sunday Strides:- A Challenge for the Week with Your Horse

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

One Pole = Endless Possibilities. Why do we overcomplicate our riding, when often the biggest breakthroughs come from doing less?! In this episode of Sunday Strides, Lorna challenges you to strip things right back. No fancy setups. No complicated grids. No elaborate plans. Just one pole, placed on the ground, and a willingness to get creative. Back to Basics to Move Forward Inside this quarter, the theme is ground poles. But instead of building complex exercises, Lorna suggests starting with the simplest possible version: a single pole. Because when you remove the overwhelm, you create space...

info_outline Are You Bracing when Working with Your Horse? show art Are You Bracing when Working with Your Horse?

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

What happens when you expect the worst in your riding? More often than not, you brace! And when you brace, your horse feels it. In this episode, I’m diving into what bracing when working with your horse really looks like (physically, mentally, and emotionally), why it quietly blocks connection and suppleness, and how it can accidentally teach your horse to anticipate tension before anything has even happened. If you’ve ever: Gripped before asking for canter Tightened your reins when another horse whinnied Held your breath during transitions Expected things to go wrong before they...

info_outline A 10-Minute Riding Plan to Keep You Riding When Life Gets Busy show art A 10-Minute Riding Plan to Keep You Riding When Life Gets Busy

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Life doesn’t always leave space for long, luxurious rides, but that doesn’t mean your riding has to slide backwards. In this episode, Lorna shares a simple, intentional 10-minute riding plan that keeps you connected, consistent, and moving forward with your horse… Even when everything else feels chaotic. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t have time for a proper ride,” this episode will show you how to make the most of the time you do have, and why short, focused riding sessions often create more progress than long, unfocused ones. In This Episode, You’ll Learn…...

info_outline Going Slow to Speed Up – Your Riding Questions Answered show art Going Slow to Speed Up – Your Riding Questions Answered

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Slowing down in your riding can feel frustrating, especially when you’re eager to move forward or feel like you “should” be doing more. In this episode, I’m answering the most common questions riders sent in after last week’s conversation and showing you how slow, steady work creates real, lasting progress for both you and your horse. We’ll cover: Where to begin when slowing things down (and why groundwork is the missing step for most riders) How to tell the difference between thinking forward and rushing so you know what’s actually improving Why your first attempt at slow work...

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

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

If you’ve ever felt like things in the saddle are either happening at 100km/h with you just hanging on, or your horse feels like the handbrake will not release no matter how you ask... This episode is for you! Today, we’re diving into the uncomfortable truth that keeps so many riders stuck: not being willing to slow down in order to go faster later. We’re stripping everything back to the foundational communication between you and your horse, the mindset of forwardness, and rebuilding from the beginning in a way that actually works. Whether your horse feels like a rocket with a mind of...

info_outline Sunday Strides:- The Quiet Power of Simply Being With Your Horse show art Sunday Strides:- The Quiet Power of Simply Being With Your Horse

Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

Your Energy Begins the Conversation From the moment your horse becomes aware of you, before any halter, tack, or aids, the conversation has already started. In this episode, we explore how your energy sets the tone for the entire interaction. Whether it's calm, chaotic, focused, or distracted, your energy speaks louder than your words or actions. Suggested Reflection: Pause before you approach your horse. Ask yourself: What energy am I bringing into this space? Intentional Stillness as a Training Tool Doing “nothing” might be the most impactful thing you do this week. We often think...

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More Episodes

Sprinkled through every ride, and every interaction on the ground, the half halt is one of the most powerful communication tools you’ll ever use.
But most riders only ever think of it in the saddle.

In this Strides Revisited episode, we’re rewinding to a listener-favorite that explores how the half halt begins long before you put your foot in the stirrup. You’ll discover how groundwork can clarify your timing, refine your aids, and completely transform the quality of your conversations with your horse.

We’ll talk about…

  • Why your thoughts are your most important aid, on the ground and in the saddle

  • How to use body language, voice, and position to create light, responsive communication

  • The subtle difference between a halt and a half halt (and why it matters everywhere)

  • How to take your daily handling off autopilot and rebuild real feel and connection

If you’ve ever struggled to “feel” when to use a half halt or what it should actually do, this episode will give you simple, practical ways to start improving today, even without riding.

💡 This Month in Connection

Inside Connection, we’re spending the next three months deep-diving into Half Halts. The timing, balance, and feel, both on the ground and in the saddle. Each week brings a fresh live session, audio horse ridign lessons, Q&A, and a private-podcast replay to help you put it all into action.
👉 Join us inside Connection at https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

🐴 Ready to Restart & Reschool?

If your rides have hit a wall or your horse feels “stuck,” Restart & Reschool Private Coaching will help you move from confusion to clarity, one step at a time.
Learn more at https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

👥 Join the Conversation

Come share your biggest takeaway or ah-ha moment inside the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook; a free group for riders who train alone and want to make every ride count. https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

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