I’m so proud of myself! Look at our ride! Thank you!
I’m not fighting my own brain every ride anymore.
I can feel myself start to panic… and I can stop it.
My timing improved because I’m not tense and rushing everything.
When I got steady, my horse got softer. That part shocked me.
I’m having fun like a little kid again!
Choose Your Proof
No hype. No “just be positive.”
This is proof from riders training real mental skills—so they ride better in the show pen, at home, and everywhere in between.
Click what fits you and jump straight to that section:
SHOW PEN NERVES
LOCKED-IN FOCUS
HORSE CHANGES
STOP THE SPIRAL
WINS & BREAKTHROUGHS
CONFIDENCE + RIDER IDENTITY
Bonnie Habel, APHA, Trail, Showmanship — From spiraling at the APHA World Show to riding steady when it counts
That was the line in the sand. Bonnie wanted to up her game—not just for herself, but to do that horse justice. So we trained the mental side like part of her program: steadier nerves, clearer decisions, and a reset that works when the moment gets big. Not hype. Skill.
Before: Pressure hijacked the ride—spiraling, tightening up, losing feel and timing when it mattered.
After: Steady under pressure—quick reset, clear decisions, and the ability to ride the horse she has.
You’ll relate to Bonnie’s story if you…
* have the horse and the talent, but pressure makes you ride below it
* spiral after one bobble and spend the rest of the run trying to recover
* feel that gut-punch of “I’m not doing my horse justice right now”
Bonnie didn’t call me because she “lacked confidence.” She called because she was done leaving talent on the table—especially when she already had the horse. At the APHA World Show, pressure got loud, her mind got louder, and the spiral stole the ride: timing went, feel went, and the run stopped looking like what she knew she could do.
Janessa Zenzen, Trail + Arena Rider
She went from scared to ride solo… to leading the group.
Now she rides with feel and follow-through. She confidently rides solo, adds speed without panic-braking, crosses water without turning it into a negotiation… and she even led a group trail ride with friends at her barn. Steady, present, and in charge of the ride.
Before: Avoided solo rides, speed, and water; rode tight and second-guessed.
After: Rides alone confidently, adds speed with control, crosses water calmly—led a group trail ride.
You’ll relate to Janessa’s story if you…
* ride “careful”
* avoid certain situations
* lack confidence in the saddle
Janessa struggled with confidence in the beginning—and it showed up as fear around riding solo, adding speed, and water crossings on the trail. One “sticky” moment could make her clamp down and second-guess everything.
Annie King, Reiner
+4 points in one season.
First 70.
First buckle.
She stopped second-guessing and started putting points on the board.
Annie used to walk into the barn with that pit-in-the-stomach feeling—is my horse going to be with me today… or is this going to turn into another ride where I overthink everything? And that doubt didn’t stay at home. It followed her into the pen, where hesitation shows up fast: late maneuvers, penalties, overcueing, and a run that never quite matches what you know you can do.
Once Annie trained the mental side—trust, focus, and how to stay out of her own way—everything started clicking. She rode with more clarity and commitment, her connection with her horse got simpler, and her performance followed: she raised her reining scores by 4 points in one season, earned her first 70, and took home her first belt buckle.
Before: Dread/second-guessing, overthinking at home, hesitation that followed her into the show pen.
After: Calm, clear, committed rides—+4 points, first 70, first buckle.
You’ll relate to Annie’s story if you…
* walk into the barn already doubting how the ride will go and struggle to connect with your horse
* feel “something is off” even when you’re putting in the work
* wonder if you’ll ever ride as good as you dream
Shelby Adcock, Reined Cowhorse — Her highest score last year became her lowest score this year
Shelby wasn’t riding to win—she was riding to survive. Holding her breath through maneuvers, bracing for mistakes before they happened, and feeling the pressure hit before she ever picked up a lope. Her horse felt it too—and it showed in the pen: rushed patterns, inconsistent lead changes, and that constant fight for control even though the skill was there.
When Shelby trained the mental side, she stopped riding tight and started riding with authority. The change wasn’t subtle: her runs got cleaner, her lead changes got consistent, she moved up into tougher divisions and held her own—and she didn’t just place… she started winning. She stacked high-point awards and qualified for the NRCHA Celebration of Champions twice.
Before: Breath-holding, bracing, rushed patterns, inconsistent lead changes, pressure running the ride.
After: Confident, committed runs—cleaner patterns, lead changes with authority, wins/high-points, NRCHA Celebration of Champions qualifier x2.
You’ll relate to Shelby’s story if you…
* feel pressure hits before you even start the pattern
* rush or “tighten up” and your horse gets tight with you
* wonder why everyone else can do lead changes but you
Show Pen Nerves
Show nerves, pressure, and performance anxiety—plus nervous system regulation that holds up under pressure.
Wins & Breakthroughs
Scores, buckles, high-points, firsts, and the “holy crap, it worked” moments.
Stop the Spiral
Overthinking, harsh self-talk, anxiety spirals, and resetting fast mid-ride.
Horse Changes
Softness, relaxation, responsiveness. When the rider gets steady, the horse follows.
Confidence + Rider Identity
Trusting yourself, committing to the cue, and riding like the rider you are.
Program Experience
What it's like to be coached by Nicole
Locked-In Focus
Blanking out, distraction, and staying present stride to stride.