Why Your Horse Is Hollow and How to Start Fixing It
Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians
Release Date: 11/05/2025
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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…...
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineHave 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:
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What hollowness really is
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Why it happens (there are 3 big culprits)
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How to begin retraining your horse so the back engages again
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Why half-halts often don’t work on a hollow horse, and how to change that
What You’ll Learn
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How to feel and identify when your horse is hollow
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Why chasing your horse’s head and neck only worsens the problem
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Why rider balance is often the secret contributing factor
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The importance of mental + physical forwardness
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How rhythm helps your horse organize his body
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A simple walk–halt exercise to start rebuilding communication
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Where the half-halt really fits into improving your horse’s balance
⭐ Connection
Our online membership where we’re dedicating October–December 2025 to developing a reliable, effective half-halt, from the foundations upward.
Includes audio riding lessons, live group lessons, monthly planning + review sessions, and more.
Join here → https://stridesforsuccess.com/join
⭐ Restart & Reschool: Private Coaching
Get personalised guidance to retrain your horse or rebuild your own skills with confidence and clarity.
Details → https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr
⭐ Your Signature Ride Challenge
A fun, simple way to build awareness of your seat and leg aids, and start communicating more clearly with your horse.
Learn more + join → https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride
⭐ The Daily Strides Podcast Online Community
A free space to continue the conversation, ask questions, and share your riding progress with like-minded riders.
Join here → https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast
✅ If You Loved This Episode…
Please:
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Share it with a riding friend
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Subscribe / Follow so you never miss an episode
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Rate + Review the podcast to help other riders find it
Your support helps us reach and help more horses & riders around the world.
✅ Connect With Lorna
Website: https://stridesforsuccess.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@stridesforsuccess