✨15-minute lesson preview. To listen to the full lesson and get access to hundreds of other listen-while-you-ride audio lessons with Kyle and other great coaches, just head to Ride-iQ.com to start your 2-week free trial. We'd love to have you!✨

If your horse feels a bit dull to the aids or disconnected after time off, this ride will help sharpen responsiveness and reestablish clarity in your communication. Your coach, Kyle Carter, focuses on leg-yields and stride-length adjustments in both trot and canter to encourage acceptance of the aids, straightness, and balance. You’ll work through thoughtful, repeatable exercises that keep the horse in front of the leg while staying soft in the connection. By the end of the ride, your horse should feel more adjustable, aligned, and tuned in to your aids.

✅ This lesson is great for…
👉 Horses coming back into work after a few days off.
👉 Horses that need clearer acceptance of the leg and connection.
👉 Riders working on straightness, balance, and adjustability.
👉 Pairs comfortable lengthening and shortening the stride in trot and canter.

✅ What to expect:
👉 Clear, systematic flatwork focused on rideability.
👉 Leg-yields used in small doses to improve alignment and responsiveness.
👉 Stride-length adjustments to sharpen the horse’s reaction to the aids.
👉 Regular walk breaks to keep the horse fresh and focused.

✅ Where to ride:
Kyle works in a 20m x 60m arena. Adjust the exercises as needed for your space, making sure you have enough room for leg-yields, circles, and stride adjustments.

✅ Lesson plan:
• Before you start – Walk or hack for 15 minutes to properly warm up.
• 1:00 – Walking: Kyle introduces the focus of the ride and what he’s looking for after a few days off.
• 7:30 – Trotting: Ride around the arena, adding leg-yields a few steps at a time and 20m circles in both directions.
• 14:50 – Walking: Short break while continuing light leg-yields.
• 18:20 – Cantering: Leg-yield toward the rail and work on shortening and lengthening the stride in both directions.
• 25:00 – Walking: Short mental and physical break.
• 30:50 – Trotting: 20m circles with stride-length adjustments in both directions.
• 35:40 – Cantering: Continue stride-length adjustments in both directions.
• 39:00 – Walk, pat your horse, and finish on a positive note.

✅ Time spent in each gait:
• Walk: 16 minutes.
• Trot: 13 minutes.
• Canter: 10 minutes.

✅ Meet Your Coach: Kyle Carter (Eventing)
Kyle Carter is an accomplished international event rider and Olympian known for his humor, candidness, and effective instruction. His training emphasizes clear communication, rideability, and producing horses that are adjustable, balanced, and confident in their work.

✅ Ready for more?
Ride iQ members get unlimited access to listen-while-you-ride lessons, expert Q&As, and a vibrant rider community—all for $29.99/month or $299.99/year.

✨ Start your 14-day free trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ride-iQ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and discover your personal best. ✨

✅ Ride iQ membership includes:
👉 Unlimited Audio Lessons: 450+ lessons with new lessons every Tuesday.
👉 Private Podcasts: Exclusive interviews with top riders and experts.
👉 Weekly Live Ask-An-Expert Events: Get answers from pros every week.
👉 Supportive FB Community: Connect with riders and coaches in an uplifting group.

Please remember to prioritize safety while enjoying your ride. By using this audio lesson, you agree to assume responsibility for any risks associated with riding activities.