Ever feel like your emotions are riding shotgun and occasionally grabbing the reins? Welcome to Hot Mess at X, where we turn barn aisle breakdowns into breakthroughs. In this episode of the Stress Influencer Series, we're tackling the Emotional Influencer: the sneaky little voice that turns a spook into a spiral and a trainer comment into a full-blown existential crisis.

You'll learn how to:

• Spot your emotional triggers (before your horse does).
• Decode the drama (spoiler: it's usually a gremlin in disguise)
• Use Emotional Timeouts that last longer than your horse's attention span.
• Shift from "Why am I like this?" to "I've got this."

Because emotions are not the enemy they are just barn gossip with a message. And when you learn to ride with curiosity, courage, and a little chaos? That's when the magic happens.

So grab your Trigger Journal, saddle up your self-awareness, and let's ride through the messy middle together. Your horse doesn't need perfection, just your presence (and maybe a few giggles).

Happy Riding!

Let's face it, your horse can feel it when your mind is cluttered.The inbox stress, the barn drama, the endless to-do list running laps in your head, it all shows up in the saddle.

Welcome to Mind Over Muck, part of the Mastering Rider Mindfulness – From Self to Saddle™ series. This podcast is where equestrians learn to clean out the mental stalls, ditch the head trash, and ride with more clarity and focus.

This episode dives into the third stress influencer, mental clutter. We’ve already explored the social and spiritual influencers, and now it’s time to get honest about what happens when your brain is stuck in the muck. From showing up at the barn frazzled instead of grounded, to dragging invisible distractions into your ride, mental clutter is one of the sneakiest ways stress impacts your connection with your horse.

With humor, barn-aisle real talk, and practical tools, you’ll discover how to:

• ​Ride clearer 🧠
• ​Focus deeper 🎯
• ​Connect stronger 🐴

Because the muck belongs in the bucket not in your brain.

You’re doing everything right. The saddle fits, the ride looks good on video, but something still feels… off.

In this episode of Mastering Rider Mindfulness – From Self to Saddle, Cathy Penrod takes you into the emotional arena where pressure, misalignment, and forgotten values quietly hijack your ride.

You’ll learn:

• Why your horse might be reading your energy better than you are

• How to recognize hidden stress responses in your riding

• What core values have to do with focus, flow, and joy in the saddle

• Plus: a simple reset practice to realign before your next ride

If you’ve ever thought “I should be loving this, but I’m not”… this episode is for you.

In this episode of Mastering Rider Mindfulness – From Self to Saddle, we continue exploring what impacts your energy when you ride—specifically, the first of six Stress Influencers that shape your experience in the saddle: Social Influencer.

These aren’t social media stars with flawless barn selfies we’re talking about but the real-life people, dynamics, and unspoken energy that ride with you (often without your permission). From barn mates and trainers to family, friends, and even competitors, their influence can quietly trigger internal blocks like Gremlins, Assumptions, and Limiting Beliefs and shift your entire perception in the saddle.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to identify who’s in your mental saddlebag and who’s draining your spark

• Tips for building a supportive Saddle Squad and Ride Tribe

• How to manage energy vampires (no garlic necessary)

• Ways to set boundaries that protect and empower your energy

• How social stress feeds your Gremlin (inner critic) and how to retrain it

• Tools for competitive riders to stay grounded, focused, and growth-driven

• The power of deep listening and intentional communication

• Why using SCOPE can help you shift energy before your foot even hits the stirrup

Whether you’re prepping for a show or just navigating barn dynamics, this episode will help you ride with more awareness, clarity, and confidence.

SCOPE is available on Apple or Google Play. Powered by iPEC

Welcome to Riding Through the Change—the podcast for women who ride and are navigating the “change of life” with a saddle, a sense of humor, and a whole lot of heart. Whether you’re hot-flashing your way through dressage, crying in the feed room over lost confidence, or wondering why your sports bra now doubles as a compression suit—this space is for you.

Hosted with wit, wisdom, and the occasional wine reference, this episode dives deep into the physical, emotional, and mental transitions riders face during perimenopause and beyond. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll nod along as we explore:

• Hormones, hot flashes, and how your breeches suddenly have attitude

• The Rider’s Cycle of Change—your midlife riding roadmap

• Confidence, authenticity, and connection—your new daily disciplines

• Sneaky energy blocks (and how to outsmart them like the barn ninja you are)

This isn’t just another midlife podcast. It’s a trail ride for your soul—with practical tools, unfiltered truth, and just enough sass to keep you smiling through the sweaty saddle pads.

Whether you’re trotting into this season or already deep in it, remember: you’re not alone—and you’re stronger than you think.

So grab a peppermint (or a Pinot), pull up a hay bale, and ride through the change with us. Because this part of the journey? It matters. And so do you.

In this empowering episode of Mastering Rider Mindfulness - From Self to Saddle, we dive deep into the emotional landscape of riding with anxiety. Whether you're preparing for a show or navigating a tough ride, anxiety can hijack your focus and connection with your horse.,

Learn how to:

• Understand the roots of anxiety in the arena
• Recognize emotional triggers and reclaim your power
• Use the 6-Step Reset to shift from reactivity to intentional response
• Move from "have to" to "choose to" for deeper engagement
• Reflect on your rides with curiosity, not criticism

This episode is packed with practical tools and mindset shifts to help you ride with clarity, confidence and calm. Because when you shift your energy, your horse feels it, and transformation begins.

In this episode of Mastering Rider Mindfulness, Cathy Penrod explores the complex relationship between fear and riding. She discusses how fear is often a projection of negative outcomes rather than a reflection of reality. Cathy emphasizes the importance of understanding personal fears, their impact on performance, and offers practical tools for managing fear in the saddle. The conversation also delves into the cyclical nature of a rider's journey, encouraging listeners to embrace their fears and recognize them as part of their growth as riders.t

Takeaways

• Fear is the anticipation of a negative outcome.
• Fear is not weakness; it's a biological response.
• You are not your thoughts; you can control your fear.
• Understanding your fears is the first step to overcoming them.
• Your body physically reacts to fear, affecting your riding.
• Tools like combat breathing can help manage fear.
• The rider's cycle of change reflects the ups and downs of riding.
• Identifying personal fears can help in addressing them.
• Horses are emotional mirrors; they sense your fear.
• You don't need to be fearless to ride forward. Embrace your journey.

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Cathy Penrod explores the hidden ways perfectionism can block progress in the saddle — and in life. Whether you're a teen rider navigating school and shows, a young adult shaping your identity in the sport, or an adult balancing barn time with life’s demands, the pressure to “ride perfectly” can quietly erode joy, connection, and confidence.

Through personal stories, coaching insights, and practical mindset tools, Cathy unpacks:

• The shift from joy to judgment in riding
• How perfectionism shows up — and how it sabotages progress
• The validation trap and its impact on rider-horse connection
• Why perfectionism is so common in young adults and adults alike
• A powerful mindset shift: from performance to partnership
• The ABC Goal Framework to reframe success with self-compassion

“What would it feel like to ride from self-trust instead of self-doubt? From communication instead of performance?”

This episode is a must-listen for any rider ready to trade perfection for presence, and pressure for partnership. You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful — and your horse doesn’t need perfect, they need you.

🎧 Tune in, reflect, and ride forward with intention.

In this episode of Mastering Rider Mindfulness, host Cathy Penrod delves into the internal energy blocks that affect equestrians in their riding. She discusses the importance of awareness, the impact of limiting beliefs, interpretations, and assumptions, and how these factors can hinder performance. Cathy introduces the concept of the 'inner gremlin' as the inner critic that often leads to self-doubt, fear of failure or I am not good enough. She emphasizes theneed to confront these blocks and create a personal success formula to enhance riding experiences. The episode concludes with a reflection on energy blocksand their influence on the rider-horse connection.

Episode 1: Perception in the Saddle – How Energy Shapes Your Ride

From Self to Saddle – Mastery Starts Here

What if the way you see your ride is shaping the way you experience it?

In this powerful first episode of Mastering Rider Mindfulness, we explore how your perception—your beliefs, emotions, and energetic state—directly influences your performance, your connection with your horse, and your joy in the saddle.

Host Cathy Penrod, Certified COR.E Performance Dynamics Specialist, introduces the foundational concepts of energy awareness and mindset mastery. You’ll learn how invisible filters shape your reactions, how catabolic and anabolic energy impact your ride, and how to begin shifting from stress to strength, from doing to being.

We’ll also dive into:

• The 7 Levels of Energy and how they show up in the saddle
• The difference between “doing” and “being” as a rider
• A simple but powerful mindfulness exercise to take into your next ride
• What it means to ride as a 7th Level Rider—and how that’s available to you now

Whether you’re showing or riding for pleasure, this episode lays the groundwork for a more conscious, confident, and connected riding experience.

🎧 Listen now and begin your journey toward true rider mastery.
📲 Visit www.equicoach.net to learn more and reach out to [email protected] to schedule the Energy Leadership Index Assessment and a full debrief.