What exercises can help me trust my horse more?

A good foundation, generally, is to spend plenty of time together, not just in the saddle. Work in hand, long-reining, walks, grooming, lungeing and so on, all to build your relationship with the horse.

If you feel you struggle to trust your horse, think about what you DO when you feel unsure. The small behaviours as well as the big ones! For example, checking the horse a lot or keeping the reins short, gripping with your legs when your balance is off, riding behind another horse rather than in front, or holding back from things you would actually like to do, such as heading out to train.

Make your own list and see whether you can gradually break the things you do. Try riding in front for a while, lengthening the rein little by little, or lifting your legs away so you cannot grip with them (following the examples above). By breaking these habits and behaving the way you would if you trusted your horse, you will come to trust your horse more and more ☀️🐴