Libsyn Directory

[Encore] Strides Revisited: Dealing with a Horse who Spooks & Spins (Originally Ep #856)

Release Date: 10/31/2025

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…...

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...

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...

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...

[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...

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...

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...

[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. ...

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 ...

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...

More Episodes

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 for triggers (location, objects, rider tension, herd separation).
Build confidence slowly with groundwork, desensitisation, and positive experiences.
An experienced rider may help in the early stages.

What You’ll Learn

Why horses spook & spin
How to interrupt the spin calmly
Ways to prevent it from starting
Confidence-building strategies

Free Resource

👉 Get the 15 Minutes or Less Workbook
Short, simple sessions to strengthen trust + communication.

https://stridesforsuccess.com/15

Go Deeper Inside Connection

There’s a full week of training on this inside Connection, in the Reschooling Collection

Join us to get the step-by-step lessons and support.

https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

👋 Continue the Conversation

Share your experience in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook.

https://facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, review, and share the podcast.

2025 Note from Lorna:
This episode was first recorded in 2017. I explain things a little more firmly than I would today; you live and learn 😉
The heart of the message remains: spooky horses need clarity, confidence, and trust to feel safe.

Key Takeaways

What You’ll Learn

Free Resource

Go Deeper Inside Connection

👋 Continue the Conversation

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