The Thinking Horse and Rider: Helping Riders Understand Their Horses | Anna Fox

76. Your Horse Can Feel Your Anxiety | Here’s What to Do Before You Ride

If your brain is already rehearsing everything that could go wrong before you ever reach the mounting block, this episode is for you. This week on The Thinking Horse & R

75. The Hardest Part of Riding | How to Stay Relaxed on Your Horse

In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, we're talking about something almost every rider experiences but few people know how to work through: fear and tension in

74. The Horse Training Mistake Almost Everyone Makes (Without Realizing It)

The Horse Training Mistake Almost Everyone Makes (Without Realizing It) What if one of the biggest mistakes we make with our horses isn't what we teach...it's what we st

73. How about Animal Communicator Ginny Horton: What Horses Really Need From Humans | Soul Sketches

What do horses really need from humans? In this episode of The Thinking Horse & Rider, Anna talks with animal communicator Ginny Horton, author and illustrator of Soul S

72. Heart Centered Horsemanship with Stacey Carter

Should you lead your horse with your heart or your head? In this episode, Anna talks with Stacey Carter, founder of Heart Centered Horsemanship, about moving beyond domi

71. Why You Miss the Signs Before Your Horse Spooks (And How to Change It)

Did your horse really spook, buck or bolt “out of nowhere”—or did both of your nervous systems miss the quieter signals leading up to it? In this episode of The Thinking

70. Are You the Person Your Horse Needs You to Become?

We spend so much time chasing outcomes in the horse world. We celebrate ribbons, scores, smooth rides, and milestones. But what if those aren’t the things that truly shap

69. BONUS When is it too Hot to Ride?

Is it too hot to ride your horse? The answer isn’t as simple as checking the thermometer. As a former collegiate athletic trainer, I learned that heat safety isn’t about

68. The Biggest Myth in Horse Training: Dominance

What does it really mean to be a leader for your horse? For decades, riders have been taught that safety depends on being the “boss”—that horses need a dominant leader w

67. We're All Traumatized. Now What?

We’re all traumatized. Now what? After a question at Happy Horse Camp about what “trauma lens” I work from, I found myself reflecting on my childhood, my years as a 911

66. The Horse Training Advice I Stopped Following: “Don't Let the Horse Win"

One of the most common pieces of horse training advice is, "Don't let the horse win." But what if that mindset is creating more fear, more tension, and more problems tha

65. Why Lunging Your Horse First Isn’t Creating Relaxation (And What to Do Instead)

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

64. The Missing Piece in Horse Training: Relaxation for Horse AND Rider

What if the missing piece in horse training isn’t more pressure, more control, or better technique… but relaxation? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider Podca

63. Inside Leg to Outside Rein Explained (3 Exercises to Finally FEEL It)

How many times have you heard the phrase “inside leg to outside rein”… but still secretly had no idea what it was supposed to FEEL like? In this episode of The Thinking

62. Horse Training Exercises That Build Confidence, Autonomy & Leadership

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,

61. Horse Autonomy: How Giving Your Horse Choice Builds Safety, Trust & Better Riding

What if your horse isn’t inconsistent… but just hasn’t been allowed to think for themselves? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, we dive into horse autonomy

60. How to Motivate a Lazy Horse Using the Energy Ladder

Is your horse lazy—or just confused? In this episode, we explore how to motivate your horse using the Energy Ladder, helping you create clearer communication, better forw

59. How Playfulness Helps Horses Learn and Perform Better with Giorgia Ghizzoni

When most riders hear “playfulness” in horse training, they picture liberty work, toys, or something that feels… optional. But what if play isn’t extra at all? What if

58. Why Your Riding Falls Apart and How to Fix It!

Ever feel like everything just falls apart when you ride? One moment you feel capable… and the next you’re thinking, “I have no idea what I’m doing right now.” You di

57. Why Your Horse Isn’t Listening (And Are You Taking it Personally)

Do you ever feel like your horse just isn’t listening… no matter how clearly you ask? Most riders assume they have a training problem. But more often than not, it’s act