How often should you ride your horse if you want to improve? Most riders think the answer is “more.” Ironically, that mindset is exactly what keeps many riders stuck.
I work with dedicated riders. You don’t hire a mental coach unless you’re in this for real — and I love that about you!
But after watching rider after rider hit the same roadblock, I’ve gotta share it… so you can ride around it, too.
Dedicated riders tend to equate progress with more: more rides, more drilling, more pressure.
So when you take a lighter day, you feel guilty — like you’re falling behind.
You’re trying to earn confidence by grinding…
but the harder you push, the tighter you ride.
And here’s the part that stings: after all that “paying dues,” you and your horse feel a little fried… and the progress still isn’t matching the effort.
Ready for a smarter way to build consistency?
The 70% calendar rule: The peak progress schedule for riders
Most riders secretly think the goal is to be 100% maxed out: rides every day, drilling patterns, “no days off,” grind grind grind.
But the sweet spot for progress + confidence + consistency is usually closer to 70%.
Stop overscheduling yourself, cowgirl.
100% Scheduled = Rushed rides, fried brain
When your week is fully booked with schooling:
- you rush warm-ups (“we don’t have time”)
- you skip the mental reps (visualization, breath, intention)
- you don’t debrief, so mistakes repeat
- your horse gets sore/sour/flat
- you start riding tight because you’re always behind
You’re “working hard”… but your consistency drops.
30% Scheduled = Rust + overthinking
When you’re barely riding:
- you lose rhythm and timing
- you feel behind, so every ride feels like a test
- you grip, micromanage, and try to “make it happen”
- show day feels loud because your brain hasn’t had reps
That’s when nerves get spicy.
70% Scheduled = Peak progress
This is the zone where:
- you ride enough to stay in flow
- you have buffer for quality (warm-up, resets, patience)
- you actually integrate feedback
- you can do the mental work that makes the physical work stick
It’s not lazy. It’s strategic capacity.
What to do this week (simple + actionable)
Aim for a 70/30 week:
- 70% = intentional sessions (schooling with a goal)
- 30% = buffer + integration (easy rides, groundwork, walk/trot days, bodywork, journaling, visualization, tack prep, rest)
Tiny rule: If your week is so packed you’re skipping warm-up and debrief… you’re not disciplined. You’re overloaded.
So no, you don’t need to “want it more.”
You already want it.
You need space.
Try the 70% Calendar Rule for one week and watch what happens to your rides, your confidence, and your horse’s attitude.
Grinding isn’t the flex. Consistency is.
Stay consistent, friend.
What if the thing holding you back isn’t a lack of effort?
Because let’s be honest…
Most riders reading this aren’t lazy.
You’re not struggling because you don’t care enough.
You’re not struggling because you don’t want it badly enough.
If anything, you’re probably trying too hard.
You’re squeezing more rides into the week.
Adding more pressure.
Trying to force progress through sheer determination.
And that’s exactly why so many riders end up frustrated, overwhelmed, and wondering why their confidence isn’t growing alongside all that effort.
Confidence doesn’t come from doing more.
It comes from knowing what to do when things don’t go perfectly.
It comes from learning how to stay calm under pressure.
How to stop spiraling after mistakes.
How to trust yourself instead of constantly wondering if you’re doing enough.
That’s exactly what we work on inside 5 Days to Confident Competitor.
Because the riders who perform their best aren’t usually the riders doing the most.
They’re the riders who know how to think differently.
The riders who know how to regulate their emotions, recover from setbacks, and ride with confidence—even when things get messy.
If you’re ready to stop grinding and start building confidence in a way that actually lasts, I’d love to help.
Train Your Mind → Ride With Confidence
Now get out there and ride.
Nicole
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If pressure, overthinking, or show nerves have been getting in the way of your best rides, 5 Days to Confident Competitor is a simple place to start.
This five-day training helps you understand what happens in your brain and body when the pressure rises, so you can begin building tools to steady yourself, communicate more clearly with your horse, and ride with more confidence.
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Your horse feels what you bring into the saddle.
When pressure hits, your body, timing, focus, and confidence all affect the ride your horse gets.
Nicole Burnett is a mental performance coach for western riders who want their mindset to match their skill, their horse, and their goals.
Through practical mindset coaching and nervous system training, Nicole helps riders stay steady, communicate more clearly, and ride more effectively — whether they’re rebuilding confidence at home, sharpening their show-pen mindset, or preparing to compete on the national stage.
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