Episode 11: Stop Blocking Your Horse: How to Carry Yourself So Your Horse Can Move Freely

Have you ever felt your horse heavy in your hands, stiff to one side, or just not moving as freely as you’d like? Before blaming your horse, it’s worth asking: Could it actually be me?

In this episode of The Happy Rider Healthy Horse Podcast, we’re exploring the rider’s position — how the way you sit, breathe, and carry yourself in the saddle can either free your horse’s movement… or unintentionally block it.

You’ll hear:

• Why your posture, balance, and breathing influence how your horse carries themselves.

• A simple at-home test to spot your own stiffness or asymmetry (and how it shows up in the saddle).

• Quick warm-up exercises you can do before riding to free your shoulders, open your chest, and create 30% more mobility.

• How to check your balance using bathroom scales (yes, really!).

• A fun in-hand exercise to reveal where your horse might be stiff — and how your own body position plays a role.

• Why “warming up the rider” can sometimes matter more than “warming up the horse.”

When you ride with balance and softness in your own body, you create the space for your horse to lift through the shoulders and back, use their core, and carry you with ease. Small adjustments in your seat and posture can make a big difference in how your horse moves and feels under you.

🎧 Tune in now and discover how to stop blocking your horse — so you can both enjoy more freedom, balance, and connection.

• Your horse already carries 60% of their body weight on the forehand — don’t add more with your posture.

• A blocked rider creates a blocked horse.

• Small warm-up rituals for yourself = big improvements for your horse.

• Balance and alignment aren’t about being perfect, but about being aware and fair.

• Join the conversation in the Happy Rider Healthy Horse Facebook Group.

• Watch the videos of rider balance tests mentioned in this episode (posted in the group).

• Learn more about the Masterson Method for releasing tension in your horse’s body.

• Interested in body alignment? Look up a certified DORN therapist in your area.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to:

• Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and a short written review.

• Share this episode in your Facebook story or send it to a friend who could use a reminder that position matters just as much as training.

• Let me know what happens when you try these little experiments with your horse — come share your wins (and challenges) in the Facebook group. You’re not alone on this journey.

Until next time, ride with balance, ride with kindness, and stay connected with your horse. 🐴💛

Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time in the day to ride? Between work, family, household chores, and life’s endless responsibilities, finding time to spend with your horse can feel impossible.

In this episode of The Happy Rider Healthy Horse Podcast, we dive deep into how busy riders can actually create quality time with their horses, without feeling overwhelmed or guilty.

We’ll explore:

• Why it’s often not really about time, but motivation, clarity, and decisiveness.
• Common excuses riders make and how to overcome them.
• How your mindset directly affects your riding and your horse’s comfort.
• Practical strategies to plan your week using the 5-Block Time Management System.
• How to identify your fundamental needs to make riding non-negotiable in your life.
• Simple steps to ride intentionally and make even short sessions meaningful.

Whether you’re struggling to find motivation after a busy day, coming back from injury, or just want to make the most out of your weekly rides, this episode will give you tools and strategies to stop procrastinating and start riding with purpose.

Take control of your time, improve your riding, and enjoy every moment with your horse.

Key Takeaways:

• Time isn’t always the issue—motivation, clarity, and decisiveness matter just as much.
• Even 15–20 minutes of mindful riding can significantly impact your horse and your connection.
• The 5-Block Time Management System helps you organize your week and prioritize what matters most.
• Identifying and addressing your fundamental needs can free mental space for riding.
• Planning your session in advance—goal, focus, and success criteria—boosts motivation and improves performance.

Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Learn more about the 5-Block Time Management System by Chelsi Jo: https://open.spotify.com/show/4IPLLBMSkXwtacplRZonzc?si=7a61135965ad47ef
• Connect with me and share your wins in our Facebook Community "Happy Rider Healthy Horse": https://www.facebook.com/groups/4007067746246133/

Listen If You:

• Want to ride more consistently, even with a busy schedule.
• Struggle to find motivation to ride after work or on hectic days.
• Want practical strategies to improve your riding and connection with your horse.
• Are ready to take control of your time and enjoy every session.

From Rhythm to Collection: How to Use the Training Scale in Your Daily Dressage Training

Welcome back to the Happy Rider, Healthy Horse Podcast! In this episode, we dive into one of the most important foundations for every dressage rider: the training scale. Don’t worry — this isn’t a lecture. We’ll explore the scale in a way that makes sense in the saddle, with real-life examples and practical exercises you can use tomorrow.

We break the training scale into three phases:

Phase 1 – Familiarisation: Your horse’s “elementary school” of dressage. Here we focus on:

• Rhythm: Every step, in every gait, should be even and steady. Try forest rides, pole work, or slow arena trots to really feel your horse’s back.
• Looseness: A relaxed horse is a happy horse. Learn to recognize swinging backs, soft breathing, and elastic contact.
• Contact / Acceptance of the bit: True contact is soft, elastic, and forward, not a pulled head. Practice low-tempo gaits and steady hands to build trust.

Phase 2 – Developing Push / Thrust: Once rhythm, looseness, and contact are established, we focus on impulsion and straightness:

• Impulsion is energy traveling over the back into the reins — not rushing, but suspended power.
• Straightness helps your horse load both hind legs equally, setting the stage for carrying more weight behind.

Phase 3 – Developing Collection: The “holy grail” of dressage. Collection is not about pulling the head in — it’s the result of all previous steps working together: rhythm, looseness, contact, impulsion, and straightness. When done correctly, it feels like your horse is dancing with you — light, balanced, and powerful.

Practical Homework for This Week:

• Rhythm: Forest walks, straight-track trots, or riding over poles to find natural tempo. Try switching diagonals on a large circle to maintain even rhythm.
• Looseness: Ride four poles in a circle repeatedly to encourage correct bending and suppleness.
• Contact: Ride in low tempo, letting the horse stretch into your hand; try holding both reins in both hands briefly.
• Impulsion: Transitions between gaits and within gaits, including shoulder-in exercises on circles.
• Straightness: Ride slightly inside the arena track at slow walk to feel and correct drifting shoulders or hind legs.
• Collection: Walk transitions, sitting tall, engaging your core, and feeling your horse shift weight behind before softening and lengthening again.

Whether you’re aiming for your next dressage test or just want a stronger connection with your horse, this episode gives you practical, step-by-step guidance to apply the training scale in everyday riding.

🔗 Resources & Links: 👉 Join the Happy Rider, Healthy Horse Facebook group for visuals of the exercises 👉 Connect with me to hear more about 1:1 online coaching or if you are situated in DK you can order a Masterson session. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

💡 Takeaway: Think of the training scale like building a house: you can’t start with the roof. Lay the foundation first, and when cracks appear, return to the basics. Step by step, your horse will become stronger, happier, and more balanced — and your riding will feel smoother and more connected.