Maintaining balance and rhythm can feel easy on a straight line, yet the moment we turn onto a circle or add bending, everything can shift. In this episode, we explore why horses often lose tempo, swing, or self-carriage on curved lines and how small rider patterns can accidentally make the problem bigger. You’ll learn simple exercises that help your horse organise their body, breathe, and move more freely, including the Snail Circle, slow-tempo balance work, pole patterns, and essential body checks for both horse and rider. These tools support relaxation, natural bend, and a soft, honest connection — so your horse can carry themselves with confidence.

• Slow the tempo to help the horse find coordination and self-balance. • Notice your own alignment and how it affects the horse’s rhythm. • Check saddle balance to prevent the horse from compensating. • Ride the Snail Circle for natural bend, rhythm, and self-carriage. • Use polework to create automatic tempo and core activation. • Get your horse physically checked to restore symmetry and comfort. • Explore Masterson and DORN methods for soft, effective bodywork. • Allow the horse time to breathe, organise, and offer true rhythm.

This Week’s Exercise Goal: Help your horse find natural rhythm and balance.

1. Start on a 20 m circle in a quiet, steady tempo.

2. Slowly spiral in, allowing the horse to adjust the rhythm on their own.

3. Hold the smallest circle for a few strides, then gently spiral out again. Feel-checks: Feel the back swing softly under you for several strides. Notice if the horse breathes regularly as the circle changes. Check that the bend appears without pulling.

“Give your horse room to find their balance, and they will always give you more than you expect.” — Sarah

Resources / Links • Contact me to learn more about Masterson and DORN bodywork. • Join the HRHH Facebook community.

Call to Action • Try one or two steps on your next ride and share what you felt. • Reach out with questions or for 1:1 help. • Join the HRHH Facebook community. • Leave a 5-star review if this episode supported your riding journey.

SEO snippet Simple dressage exercises to improve balance, rhythm, bend, and self-carriage with welfare-first training.

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.

Episode 20: Masterson & DORN Method Explained: 4 Gentle Bodywork Steps to Understand Your Horse’s Tension

In this episode, we explore how small changes in your horse’s behaviour, bend, rhythm, or reactions during grooming can reveal early signs of tension. You’ll learn how the Masterson Method and the DORN Method work together as gentle, non-invasive approaches to help the horse release muscular tightness and improve joint alignment. I walk you through four simple steps you can use from the ground to observe your horse more clearly, understand where tension may be hiding, and support your horse’s comfort before you ride. These techniques build awareness, prevent frustration, and deepen your partnership through calm, mindful observation.

Key Takeaways • Notice subtle behaviour changes during grooming or saddling. • Understand how Masterson releases tension by engaging the nervous system. • Learn how DORN supports gentle joint alignment through movement. • Use a detailed ground-position test to spot where tension is held. • Check neck and shoulder symmetry with soft hands. • Re-test to observe even small shifts in stride, rhythm, and willingness. • Remember: you are observing patterns, not diagnosing or treating. • Small releases can create big changes in the way your horse moves.

This Week’s Exercise Goal: Improve your awareness of your horse’s comfort before riding. Steps:

1. Perform the ground-position test in walk or trot and note where your horse hesitates.

2. Run the soft topline check and pause at any tension points.

3. Check neck and shoulder symmetry with both hands, then re-test the circle.

4. Write down one or two changes you observed.

Feel-checks: • Feel-check: Notice if the stride becomes softer or longer for 5–6 steps. • Feel-check: Observe if the breathing deepens or your horse blinks more when releasing. • Feel-check: Sense whether the bend improves slightly on the difficult rein.

Quote “Every small release tells a story about where your horse is holding tension—and how you can help.”

Resources / Links • Join the private HRHH Facebook community to connect with likeminded riders and to keep up with upcoming tips. • Contact for questions or 1:1 guidance: Send a DM or an email: dyrlaegesarahthor.

Call to Action • Try 1–2 steps before your next ride and note what changed. • Share your observations with us in the HRHH Facebook community. • Reach out for personalised help if you feel stuck. • If this episode supported you, please leave a 5-star written review.

Learn 4 gentle Masterson & DORN Method steps to spot tension early, improve your horse’s comfort, and deepen your partnership.

Keeping your horse sound and happy isn’t just about luck — it’s about awareness, consistency, and understanding what truly keeps our horses healthy from the inside out.

In this episode, Sarah dives into veterinarian-backed strategies for long-term soundness, shares science-based tips for everyday prevention, and opens up about her own journey with her horse — from dealing with a tendon sheath strain to finding the perfect connection through patience, technique, and trust.

You’ll walk away with practical steps you can use immediately to support your horse’s physical and mental wellbeing — and to ride with more mindfulness, purpose, and joy.

✅ The most common injuries vets see in sport horses — and what often causes them ✅ Why soundness is a lifestyle, not a one-time fix ✅ The science behind proper warm-up, cool-down, and recovery routines ✅ How shorter, more focused training sessions (around 30 minutes total) can actually improve your horse’s health and happiness ✅ The importance of hoof balance, cross-training, and bodywork ✅ How early signs of unevenness or stiffness can reveal much deeper issues ✅ Sarah’s personal stories:

• How her horse’s tendon sheath strain in the right front leg changed her approach to training and recovery

• The moment she discovered her horse’s “too-loose” contact wasn’t just about connection — but about hidden hip imbalance and mechanical lameness, and how DORN and Masterson Method treatments helped him return to full soundness and harmony

📚 Studies show that:

• 45% of performance horse lameness stems from soft tissue injuries (Equine Veterinary Journal, 2022)

• Early detection can reduce recovery time by up to 50% (Dyson, 2020)

• Warm-up and cool-down routines significantly improve tendon elasticity and reduce microstrain (Clayton & Hobbs, 2017)

• Regular turnout and mental relaxation lower stress hormones and help prevent lameness (Greene et al., 2019)

This episode blends research with real-life horsemanship — giving you simple, science-based habits that make a real difference in your horse’s long-term wellbeing.

✨ Check your horse’s movement daily — subtle changes tell powerful stories. ✨ Prioritize warm-up and cool-down — tendons need time to prepare and recover. ✨ Keep training sessions focused, not long — quality over quantity. ✨ Maintain balance: in hoofs, muscles, and mind. ✨ Small, consistent care routines lead to big long-term soundness wins.

“I know the equestrian world isn’t always one where we openly share and help each other — it can be quite individual and competitive. But I want to encourage you to dare to open up. Share your experiences, your worries, and your solutions with each other in our private Happy Rider, Healthy Horse Facebook community. Together, we can lift each other up and help our beloved horses stay healthy and happy for as long as possible — both physically and mentally.” — Sarah Martine

👉 Join the Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4007067746246133 📧 Email Sarah: dyrlaegesarahthor@gmail.com

If this episode inspired you, please leave a 5-star review and share it with another rider who loves their horse as much as you do. Your reviews help this podcast reach more riders who want to create balance, connection, and longevity in their training.

🎧 Remember: Every ride is a chance to build trust, grow together, and move forward — one step at a time.

“Why Rest Days Matter: How to Plan Your Horse’s Week for Better Recovery, Strength, and Performance”

Your horse doesn’t get stronger during the workout — real progress happens afterwards, during recovery. 🐴

In this episode of The Happy Rider Healthy Horse Podcast, we dive into the science of rest and recovery and why your horse’s muscles — and mind — need downtime to perform their best. You’ll learn how muscle fibers rebuild after training, why rest days help your horse absorb new lessons, and how to plan a balanced weekly training routine that supports long-term strength, soundness, and happiness.

Discover the difference between active recovery and full rest, how to prevent overtraining, and how giving your horse a day off can actually make them more supple, focused, and willing in the next ride.

💪 Build strength through smart recovery 🧠 Let your horse’s mind process learning 🌿 Plan a week with balance, not burnout

If you want a stronger, happier horse, this episode will help you train smarter — not harder.

Connect with us in the private Facebook Group: "Happy Rider Healthy Horse", we love to hear from you!

#HorseTraining #DressagePodcast #EquineWellness #RestDaysForHorses #HappyRiderHealthyHorse #HorseCareTips #DressageMindset #MastersonMethod

Moving from Training Level to Prix St. Georges is one of the most exciting — and most challenging — transitions in a dressage rider’s journey.

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to progress step by step through the levels, with patience, understanding, and harmony as the guiding principles.

Your host shares her own personal story of bringing several horses successfully to Medium level, yet struggling to make that final leap to Prix St. Georges — and how, with time and reflection, she learned that the key wasn’t about pushing harder, but about slowing down and building stronger foundations.

Together, we’ll unpack the mindset, physical preparation, and exercises that help you and your horse develop the strength, balance, and confidence to move up the levels without losing the joy and flow of your partnership.

💡 1. Why patience is your most powerful training tool – How rushing to the next level can hold you back in the long run. – Why allowing time for muscle memory, balance, and understanding leads to lasting progress.

💡 2. The importance of aligning your ambitions with your horse’s learning curve – How to recognize when your horse is ready for more — and when they need consolidation. – Building a partnership based on trust and timing, not pressure and deadlines.

💡 3. Key exercises to strengthen your horse’s body and mind – Canter-walk transitions two meters off the wall to improve collection and engagement. – Counter-canter with leg-yield for developing straightness, suppleness, and balance before flying changes. – Square canter exercises and transitions within the gait to build toward half pirouettes.

💡 4. How to prepare for flying changes and pirouettes the right way – What to master before you even ask for a change. – How to build the “pirouette canter” step by step without tension or resistance.

💡 5. The mindset of steady, joyful progress – Shifting your focus from achieving movements to achieving harmony. – Celebrating the small moments of connection that make big goals possible.

“True, sustainable progress can only happen at a pace the horse can mentally and physically keep up with. It’s not about lowering your expectations — it’s about giving both yourself and your horse the time needed for the learning to settle into strength, balance, and trust.”

Pick one canter exercise — for example:

• Canter–walk transitions, or

• Counter-canter with leg-yields.

Work on making it smoother, more balanced, and more relaxed. Then reflect: 📝 What improved? 💭 What still needs work?

That small, mindful awareness is what builds long-term progress and connection.

If you loved this episode, please share it with a fellow rider or leave a review — it helps more riders find the podcast and build a happy, healthy partnership with their horses.

🎙 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!