PODCAST · sports
Come Ride With Me
by Equus Enlightened
Welcome friends and fellow horse fiends! You’ve landed on Come Ride With Me, a podcast dedicated to helping you find harmony, joy, and success in your riding. I’m your host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened. This pod isn’t about training your horse, but about training you to be the best partner for your horse. Listen to how I use my intention to direct my ride. You’ll hear how I decide what to focus on, what to say yes to, and when to redirect my horse. You’ll see how not getting frustrated or overwhelmed is the easiest path to sanity and harmony. So, what are you waiting for? Come ride with me!
Episodes
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81. Beyond the Bit: Slow Down to Learn Faster with Daniel Dauphin
Could you ask your horse to walk exactly seven steps—and stop on the seventh? It sounds simple, but Daniel Dauphin explains why slowing down can reveal the gaps we rush past. In Beyond the Bit: Slow Down to Learn Faster with Daniel Dauphin, I’m joined by the horseman, clinician, and host of Adult...
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80. What’s the Mission? Adam Trenk on Horses, Leadership & Rebuilding Genuine Billy Cook Saddles
What happens when the plan falls apart? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, Anna Fox talks with Adam Trenk, CEO of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles, about horses, leadership, pressure, resilience, and rebuilding an iconic Western brand. Adam shares the story of acquiring Genuine Billy Cook...
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79. Ride Easier, Help Your Horse Move Better with Mary Debono
Can changing the way you move help your horse move with greater ease? Feldenkrais Method practitioner and Debono Moves creator Mary Debono joins us to explore how a rider’s balance, breathing, tension, and movement habits shape the horse–human conversation. We discuss why familiar patterns aren’t...
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78. Does Your Horse Owe You Obedience? | Trust, Control & True Partnership
We pay the bills. We buy the feed. We schedule the vet. We rearrange our lives around our horses. It’s easy to start feeling like the horse should give us something back. A good ride. Good behavior. Effort. Compliance. But horses don’t think about relationships that way. In this episode of The...
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77. Why Trying Harder Makes Riding Harder | Emotional Tension & Better Feel
What happens when trying harder actually makes riding harder? In this episode of The Thinking Horse & Rider, we’re digging into emotional tension—the pressure riders put on themselves to do everything correctly, remember every instruction, fix every mistake, and manage every part of the horse at...
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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 & Rider, we’re continuing the conversation from Episode 75 and digging into mental tension and anticipatory anxiety—the fear of…
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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 the saddle. After an unexpected run-in with a wasp (and a horse standing nearby), I realized just how quickly our brains jump...
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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 stop teaching? When a horse becomes buddy sour, pushy for treats, anxious at the mounting block, spooky on the trail, or difficult...
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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 Sketches, about what horses may be trying to tell us about community, choice, safety, connection, and belonging. Ginny shares how...
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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 dominance-based training to create safer, more cooperative relationships with horses. Stacey shares how therapeutic horsemanship,...
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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 Horse and Rider, Anna explores how stress, information overload and a high baseline level of anxiety can limit a rider’s…
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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 shape us—or our horses? In this episode of The Thinking Horse & Rider, I explore why the process matters far more than the outcome....
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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 comfort—it’s about physiology. In this episode, I compare modern sports medicine protocols used by the NCAA, NFL, Olympic...
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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 who controls every situation. But is that how horses actually live? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, I sit down...
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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 dispatcher, and the many theories I’ve studied—from learning theory and neuroscience to polyvagal theory and psychology. What…
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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 than it solves? In this episode, Anna explores what really happens when riders get off after something goes wrong, why punishing a...
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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 keep them moving until they “settle.” But exhaustion is not relaxation — and in the long run, it often creates fitter, more...
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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 Podcast, I’m sharing why I created the Happy Horse (and Human) Experience at Shining River Ranch and the deeper philosophy behind it....
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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 Horse and Rider, I’m breaking down 3 simple exercises that help riders finally understand the connection between the inside hind...
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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, autonomy, and connection between horse and rider. After forgetting to include the weekly experiment in the previous episode on...
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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—what it really means, why it matters, and how it can completely change your riding experience. I’m joined by Elizabeth Reicks,...
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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 forward energy, and true self-carriage. Learn why more pressure isn’t the answer, how inconsistent energy creates dull or reactive...
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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 it’s actually one of the most effective ways to prepare your horse’s body, mind, and nervous system for riding? In this episode…
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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 didn’t forget how to ride. Your brain just got overwhelmed. In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, we break down what’s...
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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 actually a communication problem. In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, we dive into what’s really going on when your…
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56. Why Horses Need the Right to Say No | Rethinking Horse Training
What kind of relationship would you want to be in if you were never allowed to say no? It’s a question that stops a lot of horse people in their tracks — and it’s exactly where this conversation begins. In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider Podcast, Anna Fox continues exploring the...
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55. The Missing Piece in Most Horse-Human Partnerships
Many riders spend years trying to perfect their aids — better hands, better leg, better timing. But there’s one piece of the conversation with your horse that often gets missed. Awareness. Before your horse ever feels pressure or responds to a cue, they experience you — your posture, your breath,...
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54. Seeing the World Through Your Horse’s Eyes
What if your horse isn’t being difficult… What if you’re just seeing the situation from the wrong point of view? In this episode, I sit down with former competitive dressage rider turned animal communicator Angie Morin to talk about what it really means to see the world through your horse’s eyes....
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53. Why Your Horse Isn’t Progressing: The Missing Piece of Awareness
If your horse isn’t progressing, it might not be a training problem. In this episode, I’m joined by dressage trainer Elaine Hayes of Partnership Dressage to explore why true Awareness is the foundation of sustainable performance. We talk about what we’re actually taught in the horse world — and...
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52. What Riding Lessons Don’t Teach You (But Your Horse Needs Most)
What are the most important horsemanship skills that riding lessons never teach you? In this powerful conversation, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened is joined by lifelong friend and former professional groom Ellen Peebles to explore the seven missing pieces in traditional riding instruction. From...
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51. Why Horses Don’t Compete: Rethinking Leadership in Horse Training
Do horses understand competition—or is “don’t let them win” a human projection? In this episode of The Thinking Horse and Rider, Anna explores Leadership in Flow and why dominance-based ideas about leadership don’t align with how horses actually think and learn. Drawing from equine behavior…
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50. How Autonomy Builds Self-Carriage, Confidence, and Safer Horses
What if autonomy is the very thing that makes horses safer, more confident, and more capable of true self-carriage? In this episode, we dive into the concept of autonomy through both lived experience and research—specifically a study exploring the relationship between horse welfare, rider safety,...
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49. Creating Thinking Horses and Riders with Teresa Pilegaard
In this episode, Anna sits down with biomechanics and adaptive riding instructor Teresa Pilegaard to explore how riders can move beyond the old obedience-based training model and build true partnership with their horses. Teresa shares insights on rider biomechanics, nervous system regulation,...
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48. Your goal is to make your basics better and better.
What if the simplest thing your horse can do—stand still—was actually the foundation of everything you’ll ever teach them? In this episode, Anna dives into how true self-carriage begins with the simplest asks and why the classical masters (and the best modern trainers) all agree: advanced work is...
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47. Empathic Discipline: Holding Space Without Losing Yourself
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...
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46. The Quiet Sins of Good Riders: Awareness, Fear, and Forgiveness in the Saddle
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...
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45. Discover how awareness transforms the horse-rider partnership.
Most horse-and-rider problems don’t begin in the arena — they begin the moment we overlook the subtle ways our horses are already communicating with us. In this episode, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened introduces The Thinking Horse & Rider Podcast and explores how small shifts in awareness can...
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44. Did My Horse Actually Do Evil on Purpose? + Big News for Listeners
In this season finale of Come Ride With Me, host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened answers a powerful listener question: “Did my horse actually do evil on purpose?” This episode is a must-listen for perfectionist riders who feel stuck, frustrated, or disconnected from their horse. Anna breaks down…
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43. How to Stop Balancing on Your Horse’s Mouth
Have you ever caught yourself grabbing the reins when you feel off balance? Maybe it’s not even conscious—you just realize later that your horse’s mouth became your safety net. Here’s the truth: if you’re balancing on your reins, you’re not riding with your seat. Ditch the reins for 5 minutes a…
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42. How to Stop Balancing on Your Horse’s Mouth and Start Riding with Feel
Feeling unbalanced in the saddle? You might be relying on your hands instead of your seat—and your horse can feel it. In this episode of Come Ride With Me, host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened busts common riding position myths like “heels down” and “shoulders back,” explains why gripping the reins...
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41. Why Your Horse Won’t Try Anymore
Why Your Horse Won’t Try Anymore In this episode of Come Ride With Me, we’re flipping the script on rider perfectionism and taking a hard look at how our need to control every moment — in and out of the saddle — can shut down our horse’s ability to think, learn, and self-regulate. From...
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40. How to start a conversation with your horse.
Obedience might get a response—but real partnership comes from dialogue. In this episode, we explore what it truly means to have a conversation with your horse. Anna shares the origin story of her “3 Questions That Build Partnership”—softness, responsiveness, and alignment—and how they can...
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39. Control is just an illusion… so what do we do instead?
In this episode of Come Ride With Me, I combine two powerful experiments—“Find the Rhythm” and “Make It Messy”—to show how letting go of control actually creates more clarity in the saddle. You’ll ride along with me and Namastee as we explore how to feel what’s happening, respond without...
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38. The Illusion of Control in Dressage
Why Force Fails and Feel Wins Control might feel like safety, but in the saddle, it’s often one of the little things holding you—and your horse—back. In this episode of Come Ride With Me, Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened unpacks the sneaky ways force shows up in riding (hint: it’s not just harsh…
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37. Embracing Imperfection in Dressage
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,...
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36. The Harder You Try, the Slower It Gets
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…
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35. The Slowness of Perfectionism: Why Trying Hard Can Hold You Back
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...
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34. Letting Go of Control: The Power of Passenger 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...
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33. Perfectionism in Equestrianism: The Hidden Barrier
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...
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Trailer - Letting Go of Perfectionism
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…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome friends and fellow horse fiends! You’ve landed on Come Ride With Me, a podcast dedicated to helping you find harmony, joy, and success in your riding. I’m your host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened. This pod isn’t about training your horse, but about training you to be the best partner for your horse. Listen to how I use my intention to direct my ride. You’ll hear how I decide what to focus on, what to say yes to, and when to redirect my horse. You’ll see how not getting frustrated or overwhelmed is the easiest path to sanity and harmony. So, what are you waiting for? Come ride with me!
HOSTED BY
Equus Enlightened
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Come Ride With Me have?
Come Ride With Me currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Come Ride With Me about?
Welcome friends and fellow horse fiends! You’ve landed on Come Ride With Me, a podcast dedicated to helping you find harmony, joy, and success in your riding. I’m your host Anna Fox of Equus Enlightened. This pod isn’t about training your horse, but about training you to be the best partner for...
How often does Come Ride With Me release new episodes?
Come Ride With Me has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Come Ride With Me?
You can listen to Come Ride With Me on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Come Ride With Me?
Come Ride With Me is created and hosted by Equus Enlightened.
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