You can have a big riding goal, a great horse, a solid trainer, and every intention of improving—and still be the person quietly getting in your own way. That’s the frustrating thing about self-sabotage in riding. Most of the time, it doesn’t look like deliberately giving up on your goals. It shows up in the […]

There is something you want to do with your horse. Maybe you want to finally nail that lead change, stop blowing by the second barrel, branch out into a new discipline, haul somewhere new, or finally go after that buckle you keep thinking about. For so many riders, the biggest hurdle isn’t knowing what they […]

“I’m going to fall off.” “My horse runs so fast it’s out of control. I can’t ride her.” “My horse is guaranteed to spook in that corner.” “Marlene is in my class!? What’s the point? She’s going to beat me.” “I don’t think I can do this.” Do you have that insidious, nagging voice in […]

“If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” Have you heard that one before? I definitely took it to heart growing up. And on the surface, it sounds like solid advice: do a good job, care about what you do, put in the effort. Very Western, right? But lately, I’ve been catching myself in this […]

Mental toughness is not about doing everything alone. I know that idea is deeply ingrained in the horse world. We admire the cowboy who figures things out, gets the job done, and doesn’t need anyone holding their hand. And because riding itself can feel so individual—just you and your horse in the arena—it’s easy to […]

Confidence in the saddle isn’t something you either have or you don’t. It develops, changes, and gets tested as you grow as a rider. That’s why I like thinking about confidence as a rider in four different levels. Figuring out where you currently fall gives you a tangible way to look at your progress—and, more […]