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...
info_outline![[Encore] Strides Revisited: Riding alone? Are you Making Progress in Your Riding? (Originally Ep #986) show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195495235?height=50&width=50)
[Encore] Strides Revisited: Riding alone? Are you Making Progress in Your Riding? (Originally Ep #986)
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
You’re in the arena. It’s just you and your horse. No trainer. No instructor. Just the two of you - riding alone. This probably wasn’t the plan, yet here you are. And if you’re like most riders, it’s not the riding alone that’s the problem... It’s what tends to creep in when you do: You lose motivation You skip the structure Progress stalls (or feels non-existent!) Boredom shows up You start questioning everything And before you know it, you’re wondering if you’re going backwards This week’s Strides Revisited episode goes back to the heart of riding...
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Turning Your Reviews into a Plan when Riding Alone
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
Whether you're training your own horse or simply trying to get back into the saddle more consistently, planning when riding alone can feel like a guessing game. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to use your own riding review to create focused, doable 1 to 2 week plans that actually move your riding and training forward. We’ll cover: What to include in your review (and why timing matters) The 3 planning traps most riders fall into (and how to avoid them) How to choose your one priority that will create the most progress Building in practice, progress, and pauses for lasting...
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Sunday Strides: Know What's "Normal" for Your Horse
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
How well do you really know your horse? Not just how he feels under saddle, but how he is when you're not riding? This week on Sunday Strides, I’m inviting you to do something simple, but powerful. You're going to spend a few minutes each day checking your horse’s vitals. Why? Because when something feels “off,” knowing what’s normal helps you act fast, give your vet accurate information, and be the advocate your horse needs. No riding required. No lunging. Just you, your horse, and a little extra attention. Here's Your Challenge for the Week: ✅ Take your horse’s temperature...
info_outline![[Encore] Strides Revisited: Applying the Click Your Fingers Rule to Your Riding (Originally Ep #1085) show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/195246570?height=50&width=50)
[Encore] Strides Revisited: Applying the Click Your Fingers Rule to Your Riding (Originally Ep #1085)
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
Most riders think they’re balanced, until something unexpected happens! This episode brings you back to one simple, brutally honest test: If your horse disappeared beneath you right now, would you land on your feet? That’s the Click-Your-Fingers Rule. It’s the fastest way to check if you’re actually carrying yourself, or letting your horse carry you. This matters because when you rely on your horse for balance, EVERYTHING gets harder. Your transitions are 'less than' great, leg position goes for a ball and the overall communicate between horse and rider breaks down. ...
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Why Your Horse Is Hollow and How to Start Fixing It
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
Have you ever felt your horse suddenly “drop out” from underneath you? It can feel like his back becomes a little shallow underneath you, his head and neck lift, energy is usually lost... And things become REALLY jarring and disconnected! If so, you've likely experienced your horse becoming hollow. It’s uncomfortable, frustrating, and honestly, it can feel like the whole arse has just fallen out of your ride! In this episode, we’re unpacking: What hollowness really is Why it happens (there are 3 big culprits) How to begin retraining your horse so the back engages again ...
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Sunday Strides: It's Okay to Change the Plan Sometimes!
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
“Make the plan… but stay supple in your approach.” In this short and sweet Sunday episode, Lorna shares a real-life moment from the past week where sticking to the plan just wasn’t going to work. What started as a flatwork session in the arena quickly turned into a very different kind of ride; one that ended up being even more impactful. Because sometimes… The plan isn’t wrong. But the timing is. Here’s What You’ll Hear: Why tension can derail even the best-laid training plans How to tell when it’s time to change your session on the fly A simple way to “reset the...
info_outline![[Encore] Strides Revisited: Dealing with a Horse who Spooks & Spins (Originally Ep #856) show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/194936700?height=50&width=50)
[Encore] Strides Revisited: Dealing with a Horse who Spooks & Spins (Originally Ep #856)
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
Few things feel as unsettling as when your horse suddenly whips around and bolts. It can knock your confidence quickly, especially if it becomes a repeated habit. This episode explores why it happens and practical ways to help your horse stay with you mentally and emotionally so you can both relax on your rides again. Key Takeaways Spinning usually starts from fear, not “naughtiness.” Your job is to help your horse feel safe & supported. Clear boundaries and calm leadership matter. If he begins to spin, gently interrupt the pattern and guide him back the way he came. Look...
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Why Your Half Halt Isn’t Working
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
If you’ve ever wondered why your half halt isn’t working, you’re not alone. The half halt is one of the most commonly referenced tools in riding, yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood! In this episode, we strip away the confusion and break down what the half halt actually is, what it isn’t, how to tell if your half halt worked, and what to do when it doesn’t deliver the rebalancing and clarity you were hoping for. Whether you’re a newer rider or you’ve been in the saddle for years, this conversation will help you simplify your approach and start getting more consistent...
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Sunday Strides: Stop Buying and Start Doing the Work!
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
Ever find yourself clicking "add to cart" on another shiny new piece of tack or training tool, hoping this one will fix it all? In this week’s Sunday Strides episode, we’re calling it like it is… What are the last five things you bought for your horse… And are they actually helping you get where you want to go? Lorna’s walking you through a quick Sunday mindset reset that might just challenge how you approach your riding and training this week. Spoiler alert: it's not about gear, it’s about getting back to the basics and using what you already have… Your natural aids. What...
info_outlineIf you’ve ever wondered why your half halt isn’t working, you’re not alone. The half halt is one of the most commonly referenced tools in riding, yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood!
In this episode, we strip away the confusion and break down what the half halt actually is, what it isn’t, how to tell if your half halt worked, and what to do when it doesn’t deliver the rebalancing and clarity you were hoping for.
Whether you’re a newer rider or you’ve been in the saddle for years, this conversation will help you simplify your approach and start getting more consistent results with your horse.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode
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What the half halt actually means (and why it’s much simpler than you’ve been told)
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Why so many riders struggle to ride an effective half halt
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The real purpose of the half halt; hint: it’s not just slowing down
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How to ride the half halt correctly
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Signs your half halt is working
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Why your half halt isn’t working (and how to troubleshoot the most common issues)
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The role of timing, feel, and forward energy
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How to start practicing and refining your half halt today
If the half halt has ever felt mysterious, complicated, or just plain ineffective… you’ll walk away from this episode with clarity and practical next steps.
Connection - Deep Dive the Half Halt
Inside Connection, my online membership for equestrians working alone without a regular trainer or coach, we are dedicating October, November, and December 2025 to refining the half halt. We are working on the lunge, on the ground, and in the saddle.
Each month includes:
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Weekly live training sessions
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Audio riding lessons
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Clear step-by-step guidance
If you want to go beyond “knowing what the half halt is” and begin feeling it consistently, Connection is where we do that work together.
Learn more here:
https://stridesforsuccess.com/join
Your Signature Ride Challenge
Ready for something fun to add to your training?
Join the Your Signature Ride Challenge, where you’ll use seat and leg aids to “write your name” with your horse using a tracking app.
It’s a playful way to improve accuracy, body awareness, and communication, while having a laugh at the same time.
You’ll get:
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A guided audio lesson
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Direction and support
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The chance to win access to Connection
https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride
Join the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community
If you enjoy this episode, you’ll love the free Daily Strides Podcast Online Community.
Share your experiences, ask questions, learn from other riders, and stay inspired, especially if you’re riding alone without a trainer.
Come join us here:
https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast
Subscribe, Rate & Review
If this episode helped you understand why your half halt isn’t working - tell someone :)
Please subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with a friend.
It helps us reach more riders who are working alone and want reliable, supportive guidance.
Thank you for being here and for riding with us.