Title: The Rider’s Mind–Body Connection: Why Your Thoughts Affect Your Horse’s Performance

A busy mind creates tension in the body, and your horse feels it long before you do. In this episode, we explore how thoughts influence posture, breathing and micro-signals, and how these subtle changes shape your horse’s reactions. You’ll learn simple, practical tools to reset your nervous system, reconnect with your horse and create calm, clear communication before you even mount. These steps help you ride with more presence, softness and confidence — and help your horse feel safe, understood and ready to work with you.

• How your thoughts influence your body — and your horse • Why presence changes your horse’s behaviour instantly • A simple “arrival ritual” to leave the day behind • The double-inhale breathing technique for quick resets • A grounding hand-on-the-neck exercise before mounting • How to create a success plan for each ride • When to choose Plan B without guilt

Goal: Arrive mentally before you begin riding.

1. Choose a point on your way to the stable where you decide to become present.

2. Practise the double-inhale breath until your body softens.

3. Stand next to your horse with a hand on his neck and breathe until he mirrors your calm. Feel-checks: • Notice when your shoulders drop and your breath deepens for 3–4 cycles. • Feel your horse’s neck soften or his head lower for a few seconds. • Check that your contact feels lighter and your rhythm more steady.

“Your horse can only follow the version of you that shows up — so arrive fully.”

• Join the Happy Rider Healthy Horse Facebook community. • DM for 1:1 online coaching worldwide or Masterson Method sessions in Denmark. • If this helped you, please leave a 5-star written review.

Being mentally present can transform your horse’s relaxation, confidence and willingness in just minutes.

Episode 21: Fix Your Lateral Work: Improve Rhythm, Bend & Balance in Leg-Yield, Shoulder-In and Half-Pass

This episode explores why lateral work often falls apart — from rhythm loss and over-bending to mixed signals that make the horse pop into canter. We break down leg-yield, shoulder-in and half-pass into simple, kind steps you can use on your very next ride. You’ll learn how to keep rhythm, maintain correct bend, and guide your horse without tension. The goal is clarity, softness and true cooperation, so both you and your horse feel more balanced, confident and connected.

• How to set up leg-yield for rhythm, clarity and even contact • Why walk–trot transitions inside lateral work improve balance • Shoulder-in on three tracks: what to feel, what to avoid • How to slow down the tempo so the horse stays round and organised • Half-pass made simple through shoulder control, not pushing quarters • What to do when the quarters lead or the horse wants to canter • How to “melt” shoulder-in into half-pass for better self-carriage • The importance of simple, non-contradicting aids

Goal: Ride one lateral exercise with clearer aids and steady rhythm. Steps:

1. Choose one exercise: leg-yield, shoulder-in or half-pass.
2. Focus on one aid at a time — inside flexion, then rhythm, then direction.
3. Add a walk–trot transition only when the horse feels soft and balanced. Feel-checks: • Feel the rhythm stay identical before and after the sideways steps. • Feel the inside flexion stay soft without the neck collapsing. • Feel your own breathing stay calm through the entire line.

“Simple aids create clear conversations — and clear conversations create better lateral work.” — Sarah

• HRHH Facebook Community • 1:1 guidance or questions: [your email] • Dressage resources and free tools coming soon

Try 1–2 steps on your next ride and tell us what you felt. Questions or 1:1 coaching: [your email] Join the HRHH community on Facebook. If this helped, please leave a 5-star written review.

Lateral work explained in clear, simple steps to improve rhythm, bend and balance in leg-yield, shoulder-in and half-pass.

🎙 EP 16 // No 5/5 of the From Nerves to Flow series: Improving Horse Relaxation at Home: Training Exercises to Reduce Tension Before Competitions

In this final episode of the From Nerves to Flow series, we turn our focus to your horse’s relaxation — and how small, consistent exercises at home can lead to a calmer, more confident partner in the competition arena.

You’ll learn simple, showground-friendly exercises to reduce tension and improve connection — both from the ground and from the saddle. We’ll also explore how using treats and positive reinforcement can help your horse relax, not just mentally but physiologically, by activating their parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” system).

This episode ties everything together from the series — helping you and your horse find calm, confidence, and flow through mindful training habits that become second nature, even under competition pressure.

🐴 In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Why breathing (yes, again!) is your secret weapon for relaxation — and how we all tend to hold our breath when our horses get tense.
• Groundwork exercises to build trust and softness, like the Breathing & Stillness exercise and soft yield patterns.
• How to use clicker training and treats effectively to reward calm behavior and trigger natural relaxation through chewing and saliva production.
• Under-saddle relaxation tools, including the Mounting Stillness reward, Stretching Circle in Trot, and Smooth Transitions for softness and balance.
• How to bring these same tools to the showgrounds — to help your horse find familiarity and calm, even in new environments.
• Why practicing relaxation daily makes it easier to stay calm and connected when competition nerves or pressure start to build.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Relaxation begins with you — your breath, your energy, and your presence.
• Treats can be powerful tools for relaxation — they not only reward calmness but also activate your horse’s natural relaxation response.
• Consistency is key: the more you practice calm, connection-based work at home, the more automatic it becomes under pressure.
• Flow isn’t about perfection or control — it’s about trust, patience, and presence between you and your horse.

🧩 From Nerves to Flow – Series Recap:

1. Episode 1: Dealing with Competition Nerves – How to Stay Calm, Focused & Confident
2. Episode 2: How to Prepare for Your Next Dressage Competition – Visualization & Pre-Show Routines
3. Episode 3: The Power of Patience – How to Feel and Support Your Horse During Competitions
4. Episode 4: How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Riders and Focus on Your Own Journey
5. Episode 5: Improving Horse Relaxation at Home – Training Exercises to Reduce Tension Before Competitions

Together, these five episodes guide you from anxiety to awareness, from control to connection — helping both you and your horse find true flow in training and competition.

🧘‍♀️ Episode Quote:

“Flow doesn’t come from trying harder — it comes from being present, patient, and connected. Both you and your horse deserve to feel calm and confident, no matter where you ride.”

🐎 Resources & Mentions:

• Positive reinforcement and clicker training principles
• The Masterson Method (for physical relaxation support)
• Groundwork and breathing routines for daily calm
• Your previous From Nerves to Flow episodes

💬 Join the Conversation

What’s one small thing you can do this week to help your horse — and yourself — feel more relaxed and connected? Share your thoughts with me on [Instagram/Facebook handle] or via [your website]. I’d love to hear what’s been working for you!