Episodit
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Do you think your horse needs to be tired to be good?
A lot of riders have been taught that a tired horse is a relaxed horse. So we lunge them first, ride them down, or keep them moving until they âsettle.â But exhaustion is not relaxation â and in the long run, it often creates fitter, more frustrated horses instead of calmer ones.
In this episode, Anna dives into the concepts of Reflex to Relax and Rhythmic Relaxation, exploring how rhythm, nervous system regulation, and emotional safety affect your horseâs ability to learn, trust, and stay mentally present.
Youâll learn:
⢠Why tiredness decreases learning and mental clarity
⢠The difference between coping and true relaxation
⢠How horses read rhythm and energy
⢠Why rhythm signals safety to mammals
⢠How nervous systems synchronize with each other
⢠Why relaxation and rhythm are the true foundation of training
⢠How riders accidentally create tension by over-asking
⢠A simple exercise to begin teaching your horse a Reflex to RelaxThis episode also explores how many âlazy,â anxious, or resistant horses may actually be struggling with nervous system dysregulation rather than disobedience â and how teaching relaxation can change your entire relationship with your horse.
Whether you ride dressage, trail ride, compete, or simply want a deeper connection with your horse, this conversation will help you rethink relaxation, training, and what horses truly need from us.
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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What if the missing piece in horse training isnât more pressure, more control, or better technique⌠but relaxation?
In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider Podcast, Iâm sharing why I created the Happy Horse (and Human) Experience at Shining River Ranch and the deeper philosophy behind it.
Most riders learn mechanics, positions, corrections, and patterns in riding lessons. But very few of us are taught:
- how horses actually learn
- how nervous systems affect training
- how humans unintentionally create tension
- how to regulate energy instead of suppressing behavior
- how to create connection instead of compliance
Weâll talk about:
- why so many equestrians feel tense, disconnected, and over-responsible
- how that pressure transfers to horses
- the importance of awareness, emotional clarity, and timing
- why relaxation is essential for BOTH horse and rider
- the groundwork and riding exercises weâll explore at camp
Including:
- passive leading
- touch-it
- moving massage
- energy ladder exercises
- passive riding
- breathing for transitions
- hindquarter yield variations
This episode is rooted in the principles of Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart and the â7 things we donât learn in riding lessons.â
If youâve been craving a softer, more connected way of learning with your horse, this conversation is for you.
If you want to join us in-person: https://equusenlightened.com/happy-horse-camp-north-carolina
If Louisburg, NC is not convenient to you, reach out to me about booking an experience near you.
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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Puuttuva jakso?
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How many times have you heard the phrase âinside leg to outside reinâ⌠but still secretly had no idea what it was supposed to FEEL like?
In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, Iâm breaking down 3 simple exercises that help riders finally understand the connection between the inside hind leg, outside shoulder, and outside aids â not just intellectually, but physically.
Using everything from hindquarter yields to figure 8 patterns (plus a surprising Gravitron carnival ride analogy đ¤Ł), we explore how to create true connection, balance, bend, better half halts, and smoother turns without micromanaging your horse with the reins.
If youâve ever struggled with:
⢠horses falling in or out through the shoulder
⢠weak turns or wobbly circles
⢠overusing the outside rein
⢠understanding âinside leg to outside reinâ
⢠creating real self-carriage and connection
âŚthis episode is for you.
Plus, Iâll walk you through:
đ´ The hindquarter yield that builds nearly everything
đ´ How to ride from your inside aids
đ´ Why transitions improve feel
đ´ A simple setup for teaching half halts
đ´ How to stop âholdingâ your horse together
Because once you FEEL it⌠everything changes.
Watch the video examples on YouTube for the full visual breakdown and try this weekâs 10 Minute Experiment with your horse.
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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In this bonus Ten Minute Tuesday episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, Anna shares two simple horse training experiments designed to improve self-carriage, confidence, autonomy, and connection between horse and rider.
After forgetting to include the weekly experiment in the previous episode on autonomy with Elizabeth Reicks, Anna returns with two practical exercises you can try with your horse this week:
⢠The âEcho My Energyâ exercise for building self-carriage without constant leg pressure or micromanagement
⢠The âLead From Behindâ exercise to encourage curiosity, confidence, and healthier leadership dynamicsThis episode explores horse behavior, rider awareness, nervous system regulation, and how giving horses more responsibility can create calmer, more connected partnerships.
If youâve ever felt like youâre constantly managing your horse every second of the ride, this episode will challenge you to notice more, control less, and start building true communication and flow with your horse.
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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What if your horse isnât inconsistentâŚ
but just hasnât been allowed to think for themselves?In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, we dive into horse autonomyâwhat it really means, why it matters, and how it can completely change your riding experience.
Iâm joined by Elizabeth Reicks, founder of Hatha Equus, to explore how giving horses more choice, responsibility, and freedom within boundaries leads to safer, more confident, and more responsive partners.
Whether you ride dressage, trail ride, or are just getting started with horses, this conversation will help you rethink traditional training and start building a more connected partnership.
đ§ In this episode, we cover:
What autonomy in horse training actually meansWhy control doesnât create safety (and what does)The difference between obedience and true partnershipHow autonomy improves balance, self-carriage, and behaviorWhy you donât need to ride bridleless to startSimple exercises to build autonomy in your horseđ Featured Concepts:
Horse training ⢠Horse behavior ⢠Dressage training ⢠Natural horsemanship ⢠Horse psychology ⢠Rider balance ⢠Self-carriage ⢠Pressure and release ⢠Building trust with your horse ⢠Liberty and bridleless riding
đ§ Listen / Follow:
Subscribe for weekly episodes on horse training, rider mindset, and building a better partnership with your horse.
đż Work With Me:
Explore courses, clinics, and resources:
đ https://www.equusenlightened.comGet the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
đ Keywords:
horse autonomy, horse training, horse behavior, dressage training, natural horsemanship, horse riding tips, rider confidence, horse psychology, how to train a horse, horse partnership, self carriage horse, bridleless riding, liberty training horses
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Is your horse lazyâor just confused? In this episode, we explore how to motivate your horse using the Energy Ladder, helping you create clearer communication, better forward energy, and true self-carriage. Learn why more pressure isnât the answer, how inconsistent energy creates dull or reactive horses, and how to develop a responsive, willing partner through timing, feel, and release.
Want help applying this with your own horse? Join us inside The Happy Horse & Rider Lab on Skool for deeper guidance, training support, and a like-minded community. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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When most riders hear âplayfulnessâ in horse training, they picture liberty work, toys, or something that feels⌠optional.
But what if play isnât extra at all?
What if itâs actually one of the most effective ways to prepare your horseâs body, mind, and nervous system for riding?
In this episode, I sit down with Giorgia Ghizzoni, co-founder of Hatha Equus, to explore what playfulness really meansâand why it has such a powerful impact on learning, performance, and connection.
We talk about:
The difference between playfulness and chaos
Intrinsic motivation vs. compliance (and why it matters)
How play improves coordination, confidence, and self-carriage
Why some horses resistâand what they might actually be telling you
How to start shifting from control to curiosity in your everyday work
This conversation goes far beyond toys and tricks. Itâs about helping your horse want to participate, not just tolerate what youâre asking.
If youâve ever felt like something is missing in your trainingâor like there has to be a better way than pushing throughâthis episode will give you a new lens to look through.
đ§ Stay until the end for this weekâs Ten Minute Tuesday experiment to start applying this immediately.
Find Giorgia at https://hathaequusinternational.com
or on social media as Giorgia Ghizzoni and Hatha Equus
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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Ever feel like everything just falls apart when you ride?
One moment you feel capableâŚ
and the next youâre thinking,
âI have no idea what Iâm doing right now.â
You didnât forget how to ride.
Your brain just got overwhelmed.
In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, we break down whatâs really happening when your brain âgoes offlineâ in the saddleâand how to find your way back.
Youâll learn:
Why stress and physical effort shut down your ability to think clearly
Why doing more actually makes things worse
How to pause, reset, and re-engage your thinking brain
How to break exercises into simple pieces your horse can understand
Why clarityânot pressureâis the key to better communication and training
If youâve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or like youâre not âgood enoughâ in the moment⌠this episode will help you understand whyâand what to do instead.
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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Do you ever feel like your horse just isnât listening⌠no matter how clearly you ask?
Most riders assume they have a training problem.
But more often than not, itâs actually a communication problem.
In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, we dive into whatâs really going on when your horse feels resistant, tense, or âuncooperativeââand why taking it personally might be the very thing shutting down your connection.
Youâll learn:
Why your horse isnât ignoring you (and what theyâre actually responding to)
How the habit of taking things personally affects your training
The hidden sense of entitlement and how it shows up in everyday riding
Why horses learn more like toddlers than machines
How simplifying your asks can completely change your results
A simple 10-minute experiment to start improving communication right away
If youâre ready to stop âfixingâ your horse and start having a real conversation⌠this episode will change the way you see everything.
Watch my fly mask experiment here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/yVeiMf4CD8U?feature=share
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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What kind of relationship would you want to be in if you were never allowed to say no?
Itâs a question that stops a lot of horse people in their tracks â and itâs exactly where this conversation begins.
In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider Podcast, Anna Fox continues exploring the foundations behind Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart with Seed 3: Relational Consistency.
Most riders think about their relationship with their horse only in terms of training or riding. But horses didnât evolve in training programs â they evolved in herds, where safety, learning, and emotional regulation are shaped by relationships.
What happens when we overlook that?
Anna is joined by Kim Hallin, founder of Unbridled LLC, a writer and horsewoman who advocates for a more thoughtful and compassionate approach to horses that recognizes them as intelligent, social beings. Together they explore:
⢠What consistency in relationships means to a horse
⢠Whether horses can form meaningful bonds with humans
⢠Why social stability affects trust, behavior, and cooperation
⢠The role of freedom, choice, and autonomy in healthy partnerships
⢠How relational environments may influence many problems we see under saddle
This conversation challenges some deeply ingrained ideas about control, leadership, and training â and invites us to consider a different possibility:
That the quality of our horsesâ relationships may matter just as much as the quality of our techniques.
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Find Kim Hallin at: https://www.kimhallin.com or on YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/@KimHallin
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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Many riders spend years trying to perfect their aids â better hands, better leg, better timing.
But thereâs one piece of the conversation with your horse that often gets missed.
Awareness.
Before your horse ever feels pressure or responds to a cue, they experience you â your posture, your breath, your emotional tone, and the energy you bring into the interaction.
In this episode, Iâm sharing a clip from my Awareness Workshop where we explore three subtle but powerful parts of horse-human communication:
⢠The energy you bring when you ask a question
⢠The timing of your release
⢠Why showing joy at the reward helps horses understand they got it right
Through a simple example â putting a fly mask on a horse â we look at how small shifts in awareness can completely change the conversation and create curiosity instead of resistance.
If this resonates with you, the full workshop (including the Q&A and additional âahaâ moments) is available inside my community The Happy Horse & Rider Lab.
Because sometimes the biggest breakthroughs with horses come from the smallest changes in how we show up.
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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What if your horse isnât being difficultâŚ
What if youâre just seeing the situation from the wrong point of view?
In this episode, I sit down with former competitive dressage rider turned animal communicator Angie Morin to talk about what it really means to see the world through your horseâs eyes.
We explore:
⢠Why horses start with whispers â not âbad behaviorâ
⢠The difference between correcting and communicating
⢠How tension, spooking, and resistance may be missed signals
⢠Why animals communicate with love â even when setting boundaries
⢠And why âsofter and slowerâ might be the message your horse has been trying to send all along
If youâve ever felt stuck in cycles of correction, frustration, or confusion with your horse⌠this conversation might shift how you approach everything from daily chores to riding under saddle.
Because communication isnât mystical.
Itâs presence.
Itâs perspective.
And it starts by asking one simple question:
What does this look like from my horseâs point of view?
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Learn more about Angie at www.angiemorin.com
Email Angie at [email protected]
Check her out on Facebook @ Angie Morin, Animal Communicator
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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If your horse isnât progressing, it might not be a training problem.
In this episode, Iâm joined by dressage trainer Elaine Hayes of Partnership Dressage to explore why true Awareness is the foundation of sustainable performance. We talk about what weâre actually taught in the horse world â and what weâre not â including how behavior can be a clue, how pain and discomfort are often misinterpreted, and how domestic horse-keeping impacts training outcomes.
This conversation kicks off Seed 1: Awareness from Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart â because before you fix anything, you have to see clearly.
If youâve ever felt like something wasnât adding up in your riding, this episode is for you.
Find Elaine here:
https://partnershipdressage.com
Find the ECVM support group here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1aUFBfdUpK/
Get the FREE Awareness workshop www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join the Horse and Rider Lab on Skool. Itâs free!
https://www.skool.com/equus-enlightened-8966/about
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube under Come Ride with Me Riding Videos. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart
https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-horse-human-partnership
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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What are the most important horsemanship skills that riding lessons never teach you?
In this powerful conversation, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened is joined by lifelong friend and former professional groom Ellen Peebles to explore the seven missing pieces in traditional riding instruction. From awareness and energy to relational consistency, autonomy, and leadership in flow, they unpack what truly shapes horse behavior and partnershipâbeyond technique, ribbons, and perfect distances.
Ellen shares her experience working in high-level competition barns, internationally as an exercise rider, and behind the scenes as a groomâwhere she witnessed firsthand how pressure, ego, and performance culture impact horsesâ nervous systems. Together, they discuss horse communication, emotional regulation, energy awareness, and why slowing down can actually accelerate learning.
If youâve ever felt like something was missing in your riding lessons, or you want to build a deeper, more ethical partnership with your horse, this episode will open your eyes.
Plus: a simple experiment you can try this week to develop awareness and autonomy with your horse.
Perfect for riders interested in:
⢠Horse behavior and nervous system regulation
⢠Ethical horse training and horsemanship
⢠Improving riding through feel and energy awareness
⢠Developing true horseâhuman partnership
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened.
Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild
Find more about Tad Coffin's work at https://www.tadcoffinsaddles.com
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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Do horses understand competitionâor is âdonât let them winâ a human projection? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, Anna explores Leadership in Flow and why dominance-based ideas about leadership donât align with how horses actually think and learn.
Drawing from equine behavior science and real-world riding examples, this conversation challenges the myth that horses are trying to win or take control. Instead, horses respond to safety, comfort, clarity, and emotional steadinessânot power struggles.
Inspired by Seed 7 of Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart, this episode invites riders to rethink leadership as shared direction rather than control, and to explore what becomes possible when leadership feels like.
Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened. Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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What if autonomy is the very thing that makes horses safer, more confident, and more capable of true self-carriage?
In this episode, we dive into the concept of autonomy through both lived experience and researchâspecifically a study exploring the relationship between horse welfare, rider safety, and rider satisfaction. What surprised me most was discovering that what researchers often call âcontrolâ actually aligns closely with what I teach as supported autonomy: clarity, predictability, choice, and mutual influence.
Weâll unpack:
What autonomy really means for horses (and riders)
Why mammals thrive when they feel they have influence over their environment
How clear communication increases safety without domination
How to build autonomy step-by-step from the ground into the saddle
Why âadvancedâ movements are simply the basics, taught in thoughtful pieces and then brought together like a puzzle
If youâve ever felt stuck, over-controlling, or confused about how to progress without shutting your horse down, this episode offers a different lensâone rooted in understanding, empathy, and leadership as a flow state.
Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened. Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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In this episode, Anna sits down with biomechanics and adaptive riding instructor Teresa Pilegaard to explore how riders can move beyond the old obedience-based training model and build true partnership with their horses. Teresa shares insights on rider biomechanics, nervous system regulation, groundwork, and why so many riders get pushed past their experience level.
Together, they break down how to create safer, more confident, and more connected rides by focusing on awareness, observation, and communication â not force. If youâve ever struggled with fear, tension, or feeling âstuckâ in your riding, this conversation will help you rethink your approach and reconnect with your horse on a deeper level.
Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened. Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild
Find Teresa Pilegaard, Dorato Performance Horse, and North Star Stables NOVA
https://doratoperformancehorses.com/
Join the Everyday Equestrian https://doratoperformancehorses.com/everyday-equestrian
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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What if the simplest thing your horse can doâstand stillâwas actually the foundation of everything youâll ever teach them?
In this episode, Anna dives into how true self-carriage begins with the simplest asks and why the classical masters (and the best modern trainers) all agree: advanced work is just the basics, done better. Youâll learn why returning to fundamentals isnât regression, itâs refinementâand how every new level of dressage is just a deeper version of the same conversation.
Anna also introduces the next Seed of Partnership: Relational Consistencyâand how it bridges the gap between your horseâs physical balance and emotional trust.
Stay tuned to the end for this weekâs Ten Minute Tuesday experimentâyour invitation to rediscover precision, presence, and partnership in the simplest moments.
Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened. Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding
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What if your horse doesnât need a boss â but a calm, clear partner?
In this episode, Anna explores Seed Two: Empathic Discipline and why real leadership isnât about control. Drawing from her time as a 911 dispatcher and lessons inside her RRR cohort, she shares how to stay present with your horse without losing yourself in guilt, fear, or perfectionism.
For riders ready to lead with clarity instead of pressure â this oneâs for you.
Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened. Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild
Weekly challenge video: https://youtube.com/shorts/XcHtSc6VSig
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
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In this episode of The Thinking Horse & Rider Podcast, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened explores the deeper layers of rider awareness â beyond reading your horseâs body language and into recognizing how our own fears, habits, and control patterns shape every ride.
We talk about the quiet âsinsâ of good riders: the ways we unintentionally limit our horsesâ freedom, the contradiction between our love of liberty and our need for control, and how to release judgment so true connection can grow.
Youâll learn why awareness without judgment is the missing ingredient in modern horsemanship, how fear disguises itself as discipline, and why forgiveness â both for ourselves and our horses â is the foundation of trust.
If youâve ever felt like the joy that drew you to horses has been replaced by pressure or perfectionism, this conversation will remind you whatâs been missing â and how to find it again.
⨠Mentioned in this episode:
The psychology of control vs. freedom in riding
How fear quietly shapes horse-human relationships
Awareness as an act of love, not guilt
Why judgment blocks learning and limits connection
The Reconnect, Rebuild & Ride with Heart program â for riders ready to rediscover peace, presence, and partnership
đŤ Ready to rebuild your connection?
Join the next Reconnect, Rebuild & Ride with Heart cohort: https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild-ride
Take the Are You a Perfectionist Quiz? at www.equusenlightened.com
Find me on social media as @equusenlightened. Join our Facebook group titled Horse-First Dressage: Compassionate Training and Connection or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.
You can also view videos of the riding episodes or listen to all of them on YouTube. My channel is https://www.youtube.com/@equusenlightened
Read blogs or find more links @ https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened
Find out more about Reconnect, Rebuild, and Ride with Heart https://equusenlightened.com/reconnect-rebuild
Email me at [email protected]
Happy Riding!
- Näytä enemmän
