Winter can make riders feel rushed, behind, or unsure what to do with their horse. In this short episode, I share why downtime isn’t wasted time — and how winter can actually deepen your connection. I also tell the story of the 2021 Texas snowpocalypse and what those frozen days revealed about calm, clarity, and soaking.

Show Notes:
This weekend’s episode is a quiet reflection on something many riders feel this time of year: the worry that winter will set them back. Short days, cold weather, muddy footing — it’s easy to feel behind or unsure how to use your horse time.

In this episode, I share why downtime isn’t wasted time, for horses or humans. In good horsemanship, we talk about soaking — the quiet time after a session when the real learning takes place. Winter is the seasonal version of that. It slows things down and gives both you and your horse space to breathe and absorb.

I also tell the story of the 2021 Texas snowpocalypse, when I spent twelve frozen days caring for three horses through the deep freeze. The roads were shut down and everyone was stalled — yet the horses stayed calm and handled their turnout with surprising ease. That experience taught me that winter doesn’t always set us back. Sometimes it shows us where our horses truly are — and where we are, too.

You’ll hear:
• why winter’s slower rhythm can help your horse
• how “doing less” leads to deeper learning
• why quiet time matters for riders
• what those icy days revealed about calm and connection

At the end, I share a small, personal Black Friday offer for riders who want a gentle reset this winter: the

Stop Trying So Hard: Winter Reset — a simple, individualized way to make winter horse time feel calmer and less effortful.

LINKS:
• Join the Winter Reset ($97 — limited to 8 spots): https://horsewisecoach.com/reset

In this episode of the Horse Wise podcast, I share a colt starting story about a bit that went in…sideways — and how that small moment turned into a lasting lesson about steadiness and humor around horses.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to get everything just right, or worried about how you look in front of others at the barn, this one’s for you.

You’ll hear how a kind filly reminded me that horses don’t need us to be perfect — they just need us to stay calm, smile often and keep going.

➕ Learn more about upcoming programs like Relax & Ride and coaching options at https://horsewisecoach.com

In this episode of the Horse Wise podcast, we explore one simple language tweak that can transform how you handle time pressure around your horse.

If you ever feel rushed, behind, or overwhelmed trying to “do it all” at the barn — this one's for you.

I share how swapping “but” for “and” in your internal dialogue can unlock creativity and reduce tension — both for you and your horse. You'll hear a real-life example from my own horse life, plus a surprising connection to Navy SEAL mindset.

➕ Learn more about upcoming programs like Relax & Ride at https://horsewisecoach.com/

🎵 Music: acoustic-western-rock-background via Pixabay

Episode 116: Rachael Mullins on how to balance your horsemanship and competition goals. A 2023 episode from the vault of the older Horse Wise Scholars private study group.

At Horse Wise®, I teach people tools so that they can learn how to coach themselves and their horses to progress together as a team. It’s a fun process that shows you how build a good partnership with your horse (in a practical, fun way). If you’d like more information on my Horse Wise® services, please visit my website for more information:  ⁠http://horsewisecoach.com/⁠

Episode 115: An interview with acclaimed author Natalie Keller Reinert about her work and the worlds she has created full of horses and the people who love them. Please check out her work at https://www.nataliekreinert.com/

At Horse Wise®, I teach people tools so that they can learn how to coach themselves and their horses to progress together as a team. It’s a fun process that shows you how build a good partnership with your horse (in a practical, fun way). If you’d like more information on my Horse Wise® services, please visit my website for more information:  ⁠http://horsewisecoach.com/⁠

Episode 114: I’m presenting at today’s online Art of the Horseman Fair — along with 50+ horsemanship experts. You can get a free ticket at https://www.becauseofthehorse.net/free-ticket =— but only if you can act by Feb 23, 2025. If you miss it, then please go here for more info: https://www.becauseofthehorse.net/video-lynn-reardon-ready-to-ride:-build-pre-ride-confidence-with-horse-yoga-&-ground-work-exercise-part-2-of-2

At Horse Wise®, I teach people tools so that they can learn how to coach themselves and their horses to progress together as a team. It’s a fun process that shows you how build a good partnership with your horse (in a practical, fun way). If you’d like more information on my Horse Wise® services, please visit my website for more information:  ⁠http://horsewisecoach.com/⁠

Episode 113: Amy Skinner discusses why the advice of “listening to your horse” isn’t always what you think it means. And how “listening” means REALLY understanding what the horse is saying. Please check out Amy’s terrific work at https://amyskinnerhorsemanship.com/

At Horse Wise®, I teach people tools so that they can learn how to coach themselves and their horses to progress together as a team. It’s a fun process that shows you how build a good partnership with your horse (in a practical, fun way). If you’d like more information on my Horse Wise® services, please visit my website for more information:  ⁠http://horsewisecoach.com/⁠

Episode 112: What if….it all goes right? A fresh take on how to flip the overthinking script in the saddle. 

At Horse Wise®, I teach people tools so that they can learn how to coach themselves and their horses to progress together as a team. It’s a fun process that shows you how build a good partnership with your horse (in a practical, fun way). If you’d like more information on my Horse Wise® services, please visit my website for more information:  ⁠http://horsewisecoach.com/⁠

Episode 111: The action-awareness loop: why knowledge without motion gets you nowhere. And how that can help you start the new year on the right foot. 

At Horse Wise®, I teach people tools so that they can learn how to coach themselves and their horses to progress together as a team. It’s a fun process that shows you how build a good partnership with your horse (in a practical, fun way). If you’d like more information on my Horse Wise® services, please visit my website for more information:  ⁠http://horsewisecoach.com/⁠

Episode 110: A highlight reel of my favorite clips from an earlier interview (Episode 75) with Dr. Steve Peters, author of Evidence-Based Horsemanship.

At Horse Wise®, I teach people tools so that they can learn how to coach themselves and their horses to progress together as a team. It’s a fun process that shows you how build a good partnership with your horse (in a practical, fun way). If you’d like more information on my Horse Wise® services, please visit my website for more information:  ⁠http://horsewisecoach.com/⁠

Episode 109: It can be easy to accidentally act creepy when we’re trying to be soft with our horses.  In this episode, I discuss the difference — and give some tips on spotting latent creepiness in our posture 🙃

At Horse Wise®, I teach people tools so that they can learn how to coach themselves and their horses to progress together as a team. It’s a fun process that shows you how build a good partnership with your horse (in a practical, fun way). If you’d like more information on my Horse Wise® services, please visit my website for more information:  ⁠⁠http://horsewisecoach.com/⁠