Have you ever felt your horse suddenly "drop out" from underneath you? It can feel like his back becomes a little shallow underneath you, his head and neck lift, energy is usually lost... And things become REALLY jarring and disconnected! If so, you've likely experienced your horse becoming hollow.
It's uncomfortable, frustrating, and honestly, it can feel like the whole arse has just fallen out of your ride!
In this episode, we're unpacking:
What hollowness really is
Why it happens (there are 3 big culprits)
How to begin retraining your horse so the back engages again
Why half-halts often don't work on a hollow horse, and how to change that
How to feel and identify when your horse is hollow
Why chasing your horse's head and neck only worsens the problem
Why rider balance is often the secret contributing factor
The importance of mental + physical forwardness
How rhythm helps your horse organize his body
A simple walk–halt exercise to start rebuilding communication
Where the half-halt really fits into improving your horse's balance
Our online membership where we're dedicating October–December 2025 to developing a reliable, effective half-halt, from the foundations upward.
Includes audio riding lessons, live group lessons, monthly planning + review sessions, and more.
Join here → https://stridesforsuccess.com/join
Get personalised guidance to retrain your horse or rebuild your own skills with confidence and clarity.
Details → https://stridesforsuccess.com/rr
A fun, simple way to build awareness of your seat and leg aids, and start communicating more clearly with your horse.
Learn more + join → https://stridesforsuccess.com/ride
A free space to continue the conversation, ask questions, and share your riding progress with like-minded riders.
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