Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

• Sunday Strides: Know What's "Normal" for Your Horse

  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 (morning + evening) ✅ Count their resting breath rate ✅ Check the colour of the mucus membranes (gums or inner eyelids) ✅ Test capillary refill time ✅ Record the digital pulse in the lower leg (for all 4 legs) ✅ Run your hands down their legs and feet for lumps, swelling, and heat Do this four times this week, ideally morning and evening for 4 days, and then commit to making this part of your regular routine twice a week going forward. It takes just a few minutes, but could save you hours (or worse) later. Mentioned in the Episode 🔁 Strides Revisited (Thursday Episode) Want to saddle up with more clarity this week? Thursday's Strides Revisited episode is a riding-based lesson that complements what we covered today. It helps you take what you're learning from your daily groundwork and body checks—and apply it to the time you spend in the saddle. Listen in to keep your momentum going. ➡️ Listen here → 💬 Join the Free DSPodcast Online Community The conversation continues in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook. It's a welcoming space to share your wins, ask questions, and get support as you build a stronger connection with your horse. This week, post a photo of you doing one of your daily checks—or share what surprised you most! ➡️ Join the free group → 🎯 Connection Membership If you're enjoying this and want more structure, support, and rhythm in your riding and training, Connection is where it all comes together. Inside, we follow a clear 90-day cycle of Groundwork, Basics, and Training. Members receive ride plans, live lessons, and monthly challenges that turn awareness (like today's topic!) into consistent progress. ➡️ Explore Connection → 🧭 Connection VIP Private Coaching Sometimes you don't need more information; you need the right eyes on your riding. The Connection VIP Private Coaching is a private coaching experience where we identify the gaps, create a plan, and move you from stuck to certain. If you feel like you're spinning your wheels, this is for you. ➡️ Learn about private coaching → 🏇 Your Signature Ride Challenge A fun and free challenge designed to get you thinking (and riding!) in new ways. You'll track your ride using GPS and 'write' your name in the arena using only seat and leg aids. A great way to practice intentional riding, and maybe even win 3 months of Connection! ➡️ Join the Challenge →

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• [Encore] Strides Revisited: Applying the Click Your Fingers Rule to Your Riding (Originally Ep #1085)

  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.  But when YOU take responsibility for your position, you immediately become clearer, more stable, and more influential in the saddle. In this episode, you'll learn: What the Click-Your-Fingers rule actually means in practice Why head–shoulder–hip–heel alignment still matters (and where most riders go wrong) How your seat affects EVERYTHING, including your horse's back Why relying on the horse for balance blocks progress How to apply this rule in transitions, jumping, AND hacking This rule holds up anywhere; walk, trot, canter, transitions, hills, jumps. If you'd land on your feet, you're in business. If not, you've just found your next training focus ;) Ready to go deeper? Inside Connection, we take this concept off the page and into your actual riding, helping you build an independent seat that works with your horse, not against them. For the coming 3 months inside of our online membership, we're dedicating our work to developing a reliable, effective half-halts, 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 likeminded riders. Join here → https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast ✅ If You Loved This Episode… Please: Share it with a riding friend Subscribe / Follow so you never miss an episode 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

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• Why Your Horse Is Hollow and How to Start Fixing It

  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 Why half-halts often don't work on a hollow horse, and how to change that What You'll Learn How to feel and identify when your horse is hollow Why chasing your horse's head and neck only worsens the problem Why rider balance is often the secret contributing factor The importance of mental + physical forwardness How rhythm helps your horse organize his body A simple walk–halt exercise to start rebuilding communication 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: Share it with a riding friend Subscribe / Follow so you never miss an episode 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

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• Sunday Strides: It's Okay to Change the Plan Sometimes!

  "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 comfort zone" for your horse What makes training feel productive, even without the arena The permission slip every rider needs: It's okay to change the plan Want More Support for Rides Like This? 🐎 Inside Connection, you'll find weekly riding plans that build progress—without rigid rules. Each session is designed with flexibility in mind, so you can meet your horse where they are on the day. Join us and ride with rhythm, clarity, and confidence. 👉 Learn more about Connection here Join the Conversation What did your last "change the plan" moment look like? Share your story inside the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community on Facebook. We're chatting about episodes like this every week, and we'd love to hear from you! 👉 Join the free community here 🎙️ Subscribe, Rate & Review If this episode made you breathe easier or rethink your ride… Please share it with a fellow equestrian! And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on your favorite podcast app. It helps other riders find us, and helps you never miss a Sunday boost!

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

  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.

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