Show Nerves & Pressure

stop overspin penalties in reining with these tips

Stop Overspin Penalties in Reining for Good

5/05/26

Overspin penalties in reining are so frustrating because the spin is one of the flashiest, funnest maneuvers out there. The rider shakes out their arm with panache, sets their hand down and with the barest touch on their horse’s neck, their horse is spinning like a top. Mane flying out to the side, then they […]

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Show Nerves & Pressure

4/28/26

Why Do I Ride Better at Home Than at Shows?

Why “Just Stay Positive” Doesn’t Work

If you ride better at home than at shows, you’re not crazy—and you’re definitely not the only rider dealing with it. At home, you can ride. You can warm up, go through your pattern, make a correction, adjust, and actually feel what’s happening underneath you. You can lope circles, work your transitions, and ride with […]

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Confidence, Self-Talk & Identity

can riding less make you a better rider?

Get Motivated to Ride With My Dark Mental Hack to Crush the Competition With Unbeatable Consistency

4/23/26

How to stay motivated to ride when you’re tired, busy, or just not feeling it? That’s the question. Alright, be honest with me for a second… Have you ever wanted the results — the smooth pattern, the clean stop, the confident run — but absolutely did not feel like doing the boring, unsexy thing that […]

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Show Nerves & Pressure

3/10/26

Read This Before You Hire a Mindset Coach for Riders With Horse Show Nerves

photo of the author

If you’re thinking about hiring a mindset coach for riders with horse show nerves, you’re probably not a beginner. You can ride. You’ve shown. You’ve put in the time. But something keeps happening under pressure. (And if you don’t show, you’ve still felt this — clinics, lessons, hauling out, new arenas. Same pressure, different setting.) […]

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Nervous System & Emotional Regulation

how to get your horse to respond to you with these tips

How to Get Your Horse to Respond to You

2/27/26

If you’ve ever wondered how to get your horse to respond to you, there’s a moment every rider knows. You pick up your reins. You ask for a stop, a turn, a transition… and your horse gives you something, but it’s delayed, dull, bracey, sticky, or just… not you. And immediately your brain goes: “He’s […]

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Focus & Staying Present

2/19/26

The Mental Skill Pro Riders Use to Make Fast Calls Mid-Run

the mental skill pros use to make fast decisions under pressure

Decision making under pressure is often the difference between an okay run and a money run. You’re loping along and you guide your horse into that right circle. You’re thinking ahead—because you want that circle nice and wide, so you’ve got room. Ten good strides across the arena to set up and execute your lead […]

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Show Nerves & Pressure

perform under pressure by training your mental game

If You Want to Perform Under Pressure, Train These 3 Skills

2/03/26

To perform under pressure, you need training — not hype. Not another affirmation you only believe when things are going well. Not another pre-run ritual that falls apart when your horse gets strong, the judge is watching, or your brain starts spinning. You need skills your nervous system can reach for when pressure is real. […]

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Nervous System & Emotional Regulation

1/28/26

Horse Show Nerves: Why “Just Stay Positive” Doesn’t Work

If “just stay positive” worked, horse show nerves would disappear the second you pulled into the show grounds. The warmup pen would be full of Pinterest quotes and zero anxiety. But… here we are. And listen—positivity isn’t evil. I’m not out here trying to cancel good vibes. I’m just saying: “stay positive” is not a […]

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Nervous System & Emotional Regulation

can riding less make you a better rider?

The 70% Rule: Why Riding More Can Make You Worse

1/13/26

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 […]

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Show Nerves & Pressure

12/30/25

How to Stop Forgetting Your Pattern at Horse Shows

stop forgetting your horse show pattern

Keep forgetting your pattern at horse shows? Learn a simple way to memorize it cold so you can ride with more focus and confidence. The easiest, no-fail way to memorize your pattern cold so you stop forgetting your pattern in the arena Let’s talk about something that makes even the most competent pattern riders feel […]

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