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 even started

This episode is for you!

We'll explore:

• Why bracing becomes a habit

• How horses learn to anticipate our anticipation

• Why "just relax" isn't always the answer

• The real opposite of bracing (and how to practice it)

• Simple ways to shift from bracing to embracing in your next ride

Bracing When Working With Your Horse
https://stridesforsuccess.com/episode1389-guilty-of-bracing-when-working-with-your-horse

Download the 15 Minutes or Less Workbook
Simple, practical ideas to help you show up intentionally with your horse.
👉 https://www.stridesforsuccess.com/15

Inside Connection, we work on exactly this — building softness, clarity, and confidence in your riding (without overthinking everything).

Learn more here:
👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a fellow rider or leave a review; it helps more riders find the podcast.

Happy Riding and chat soon
Lorna

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.

• Why a 10-minute plan can save your riding during busy seasons

• How to set up a smaller space to improve focus and reduce overwhelm

• Why "riding" doesn't have to mean being in the saddle

• The exact structure of the 10-minute riding plan

• What not to do when you're short on time

• Why intentional short rides often lead to better results than rushed long ones

• How to create momentum over 4–6 busy weeks using time windows, weekly focuses, and tracking

https://stridesforsuccess.com/episode1388-a-10-minute-riding-plan-to-keep-you-riding-when-life-gets-busy/

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 our fortnightly Review & Planning Calls, live virtual group lessons, Q&A sessions, and a full library of on-demand audio horse riding lessons. Start your two-week cycle with us today:
👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

Feeling stuck or uncertain in your riding and training? This 13-week 1-to-1 coaching program is designed to help you get unstuck and move forward with clarity and confidence. We'll work closely together to map out your next steps, troubleshoot your challenges, and get real results with your horse.
👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

Short on time? You don't need a full hour to make meaningful progress with your horse. This free resource gives you over 80 ideas for exercises, groundwork, mounted work, and mindset, all designed to help you move forward in your riding in 15 minutes or less. Perfect for busy riders or unpredictable days.
🎁 Grab it here: https://stridesforsuccess.com/15

Want to join other riders who are working alone but not feeling alone? Come be part of our free Facebook group where we share inspiration, training ideas, behind-the-scenes updates, and mini-challenges like Your Signature Ride. We'd love to welcome you!
👥 Join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

If this episode helped you, please consider subscribing to the podcast so you never miss a new one. Share it with a riding friend who could use a little extra clarity and encouragement. And if you have a moment, rating and reviewing the show really helps us reach more riders around the world.
Thank you for being part of the Strides for Success community!

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 might feel awful, and what that really means about your basics
• How to keep your horse (and yourself!) engaged when the work feels simple or repetitive
• What to do if you've been helicopter-riding and your horse falls apart when you stop helping
• Whether going slow affects fitness — and the mindset shift that makes all the difference
• How to know if your slow work is working by watching for specific changes in rhythm, balance, and responsiveness

If you're a rider working alone without a regular coach or trainer, this episode will help you feel more confident, more prepared, and far less overwhelmed about what "going slow" really looks like in practice.

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 our fortnightly Review & Planning Calls, live virtual group lessons, Q&A sessions, and a full library of on-demand audio horse riding lessons. Start your two-week cycle with us today:
👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/join

Feeling stuck or uncertain in your riding and training? This 13-week 1-to-1 coaching program is designed to help you get unstuck and move forward with clarity and confidence. We'll work closely together to map out your next steps, troubleshoot your challenges, and get real results with your horse.
👉 https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr

Short on time? You don't need a full hour to make meaningful progress with your horse. This free resource gives you over 80 ideas for exercises, groundwork, mounted work, and mindset, all designed to help you move forward in your riding in 15 minutes or less. Perfect for busy riders or unpredictable days.
🎁 Grab it here: https://stridesforsuccess.com/15

Want to join other riders who are working alone but not feeling alone? Come be part of our free Facebook group where we share inspiration, training ideas, behind-the-scenes updates, and mini-challenges like Your Signature Ride. We'd love to welcome you!
👥 Join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast

If this episode helped you, please consider subscribing to the podcast so you never miss a new one. Share it with a riding friend who could use a little extra clarity and encouragement. And if you have a moment, rating and reviewing the show really helps us reach more riders around the world.
Thank you for being part of the Strides for Success community!