If you want to reach your full potential as a rider, you have to train your mind just as intentionally as you train your horse. A rider sat next to me on the bleachers, glowing with excitement. “Check this out,” she said, pulling out her phone to show me some recent videos. “I’ve finally dialed […]

What this AQHA World Show Junior Reining run teaches riders We just wrapped up the 2024 AQHA World Show—woo hoo! What a time. The energy, the competition, the stories. And let me tell you, AQHA World Show Junior Reining gave us a perfect little masterclass in what actually wins under pressure. Every competitor at the […]

A five-point lead change penalty in reining can feel brutal. Especially when it keeps happening. My client came to me after repeatedly getting five-point penalties in her reining patterns that were, understandably, tanking her scores. She was scoring 65 after 65… instead of the 70s she knew she was capable of. Ouch. Reining isn’t cheap. […]

It’s easy to look at top trainers and assume they have something the rest of us don’t. Maybe they’re naturally confident. Maybe they never struggle with nerves. Maybe they always know exactly what to do when things go wrong. But the truth is, the best horsemen and horsewomen are often asking the same questions we […]

A bad mood after a horse show is more common than most riders admit. One disappointing score, one frustrating run, or one ride that didn’t go the way you hoped can have you replaying every mistake long after you’ve left the arena. As the first hints of dawn crept over the horizon, I felt the […]

Show season is exciting, but there’s also a lot happening before you ever ride through the gate. Between preparing your horse, navigating the warm-up pen, remembering your pattern, managing nerves, and trying not to overthink every little thing, show day can get overwhelming fast. The good news? A few small mindset shifts can make the […]

We’ve all heard some version of it: Hard work pays off. No pain, no gain. Work harder than everyone else. That mentality runs deep in athletics, and especially in the Western horse world. We respect the rider who shows up early, stays late, rides the extra horse, and keeps working when everyone else is tired. […]

Have you ever had the best ride of your life when absolutely nobody was watching?! Then you turn on the camera, your trainer walks into the arena, or suddenly there’s a judge sitting at C…and everything changes. Your breathing gets shallow. Your upper body gets a little tighter. You start thinking about what you’re doing […]

Have you ever forgotten a pattern? If yes, congratulations. You’re human. Pull up a chair and let me give you 8 of my best tips for memorizing your horse show pattern. Honestly, if you’ve never forgotten a pattern, there’s a decent chance you just haven’t shown enough horses yet. The good news is that there’s […]