Daily Strides Podcast for Equestrians

So often when we are riding, relaxation for both ourselves and our horse is one of the goals for the ride.  This being so, you may have tried working him long and low, whether it be during warming up…

Think back to the last time you were cantering along on your horse and a change of rein was coming up.  You began the task of preparing to drop back a gear into a trot to change the canter lead.  "Be…

Do you find yourself becoming confused and frustrated about how you are supposed to be using your rein aids while riding?  Do terms such as soften your rein, fill up your rein, hold with the rein, li…

When we first learn to ride, turning is often explained to us as merely a 'tug' or pull on one rein or the other to turn our horse's head. There is a general consensus being that where his head turns…

Do you find that when asking your horse for canter, you tend to 'over do' some aspects of your aids?  

Perhaps you throw your reins at your horse, or you try to 'push' too much with your seat or uppe…

Do you find that when you ask your horse to perform haunches in or travers, the forward movement tends to get a little 'stuck'?  

It feels as though he is on his tippy toes, pottering along with no i…

Funny how, as riders, we put so much time and planning into building our horse's fitness correctly and to where he can perform best, but we completely neglect our own!  Riding is a team sport, so it …

Does the thoughts of riding shoulder in leave you feeling less than confident in your riding abilities.  Are you a little unsure about the angle, the bend, and the degree of collection required in or…

The half-halt is one of the most useful aids you have in your toolkit as a rider.  However, many riders are not utilizing this subtle yet powerful communication to its full potential.

The half-halt s…

Does your normally relaxed, sane, and rhythmic horse turn into his version of a racehorse each time he rounds a corner and spots anything that resembles a jump when you are riding?  Your quiet calm r…

Does the thought of any sort of prolonged periods of sitting trot fill both you, your bum, and your horse’s back with a sense of dread?!  Perhaps the find the more you try not to bounce; the higher y…

Feel...  A hugely important component of successful horsemanship and something that is often considered as a talent that you are either gifted at birth with or your not!

From years spent helping and …

Have you tried it? For many riders, the mention of riding bareback is enough to see them running to the tack room for a saddle!  However, for those that pluck up the courage - it can change so much..…

There's always a desire among riders to develop their seat in the saddle. Most riders understand that developing this one aid is a key part of improving as a rider. But what does it really mean? And …

Why is your horse falling in?  More importantly, how do you know if your horse is falling in?  

The quickest and easiest way I can explain this is to imagine you are riding a circle that you have pla…

Is there a more frustrating and exhausting experience when riding to match that of being on a horse that is not paying you a blind bit of notice?!  You are on board kicking and pumping away.  And all…

Have you ever sat down (no pun intended) and thought about how correct your rising or posting in trot actually is?

Rising or posting in trot is one of the first aspects we learn when starting out rid…

Walking… Does your horse do it with a sense of purpose, or is he rather resembling a slowly rolling ball of jelly; going nowhere slowly?  The problem many riders have is when we ask our horse to ‘wal…

I've often wondered what it is about the canter that makes riders almost seem to ignore it when schooling in the arena.  I see riders put so much time, care, and attention into the trot and to a less…