The Thinking Horse and Rider: Helping Riders Understand Their Horses | Anna Fox – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What if your horse doesn’t need a boss — but a calm, clear partner?

In this episode, Anna explores Seed Two: Empathic Discipline and why real leadership isn’t 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 — this one’s 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 anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!

In this episode of The Thinking Horse & Rider Podcast, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened explores the deeper layers of rider awareness — beyond reading your horse’s body language and into recognizing how our own fears, habits, and control patterns shape every ride.

We talk about the quiet “sins” of good riders: the ways we unintentionally limit our horses’ freedom, the contradiction between our love of liberty and our need for control, and how to release judgment so true connection can grow.

You’ll learn why awareness without judgment is the missing ingredient in modern horsemanship, how fear disguises itself as discipline, and why forgiveness — both for ourselves and our horses — is the foundation of trust.

If you’ve ever felt like the joy that drew you to horses has been replaced by pressure or perfectionism, this conversation will remind you what’s been missing — and how to find it again.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 — for riders ready to rediscover peace, presence, and partnership

💫 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 anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!

In this episode of Come Ride With Me, we’re throwing perfectionism out of the saddle and riding straight into the messy, beautiful truth: your horse doesn’t want you to be perfect—they want you to be present.

Host Anna Fox explores how horses, in their natural state, model emotional regulation, alignment, and presence without judgment or pressure. We dive into why so much of the traditional horse world runs on outdated, fear-based systems—and how embracing imperfection can free both you and your horse.

You’ll also get this week’s experiment: Make It Messy—a bold exercise in letting go of compensation patterns and learning to feel crookedness before you fix it.

Whether you’re stuck in “shoulds,” burnt out from over-trying, or just ready to feel more you in the saddle, this episode invites you to drop the pressure and reconnect with what riding was always meant to be: a relationship.

🧠 Listen in and let the mess be the message.

🐴 Then head back to Season 1 for deeper insights into leading, following, and building the freely forward horse.

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 Equus Enlightened.

https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!

Why forcing the perfect response from your horse might be the very thing holding you both back.

Ever feel like the harder you try to ride correctly, the more your horse resists—or delays their response altogether?

In this episode of Come Ride With Me, we’re digging into the learning science behind latency—that hidden gap between cue and response—and how perfectionism in the saddle can actually slow your horse’s learning (and yours too).

I’ll walk you through a simple experiment you can try today with your horse to test how your energy and intention affect timing, clarity, and flow.

Spoiler alert: it’s not about riding less.

It’s about trying less hard.

🎧 Ready to turn tension into timing magic?

Let’s 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 Equus Enlightened.

https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!

What do McDonald's and Smartphones have in common? Speed! Why does that matter? Speed is important in the learning process and as a perfectionist, your speed might be hurting you and your horse's learning curve.

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 Equus Enlightened.

https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!

This is a follow-up to the weekly experiment in episode one. You can also watch the video on YouTube.

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 Equus Enlightened.

https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!

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 Equus Enlightened.

https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!

For those of you interested in videos of the podcast, there are some up on YouTube. My channel is Equus Enlightened.

Find out more about Equus Enlightened at www.equusenlightened.com or 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.

Email me at anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!

Join Anna Fox as she navigates the complex world of horse training, focusing on building harmonious equine partnerships through curiosity and awareness. This episode pivots from a planned topic to address a recent scandal involving Olympic equestrian Charlotte Dujardin. Anna emphasizes the value of understanding horse psychology and human emotional responses, advocating for a more thoughtful, less reactive approach to training. Tune in for insights on creating an enriching environment for both horses and riders, and stay updated on her plans for the podcast's upcoming second season.

In this episode I play with a young horse working to build confidence around trailer loading. We often hear the phrase "it isn't about the trailer". While this is very true, trailer loading is often a tangible goal that fits the human mindset. I use highlight techniques that build confidence and trust, but the most important lesson is to remain perceptive and mindful. I talk about some of the things I noticed in previous sessions with this horse that might make his desire to load questionable. I ask Remi a few different questions so I can gauge his responses before we even go near the trailer. Then, I focus on his mind being engaged and curious with the trailer. Which allows him to have the courage to step inside.

Listen to this episode and get some practical guidance on nurturing your equine partner's bravery and curiosity. Discover strategies for teaching your horse to explore independently and handle challenging situations with ease. Dive into an insightful journey of fostering emotionally stable equine companions and becoming a perceptive rider. For more resources, visit Equus Enlightened online.

For those of you interested in videos of the podcast, there are some up on youtube. My channel is Equus Enlightened and it’s linked in the linktree below. 

Find out more about Equus Enlightened at www.equusenlightened.net or on social media as @equusenlightened.  Join our Facebook group titled Powerful Equestrian Partnerships or join the community and the Dressage Naturally Video Classroom at www.patreon.com/equusenlightened.

https://linktr.ee/equusenlightened

Email me at anna@equusenlightened.net

Happy Riding!