Have you ever ridden around and suddenly realized… you’re low-key trashing your own horse in your head?

Nothing dramatic. Nothing worthy of a meltdown.

Just that subtle, steady drip of:

“Ugh… this is uncomfortable.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“I wish you felt more like my other horse.”

Yep. I had one of those moments this week — and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Because even though I wasn’t yelling, yanking, or actually upset… my horse could still feel that I didn’t fully want to be there with him.

But then something wild happened.

I tested one simple sentence — genuinely, softly, out loud — and it completely flipped not just my ride… but my horse, my body, and honestly? My whole energy in the arena.

This episode breaks down what happened inside that little gratitude experiment, why it worked so powerfully on both of my horses, and how you can use this one sentence to shift any ride — even the ones that feel “meh,” sticky, or downright frustrating.

If you’ve been needing a reset… if your patience has felt thin… or if your horse has been carrying the weight of your exhaustion, irritation, or distracted brain — you’re going to love this one.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach, @resilientreiner, and (if you share a rider story) your horse’s Instagram handle too.

 Share it with your barn friends or your riding group — I love seeing these episodes travel through the community.

I’m genuinely curious to hear how this lands for you and what happens the first time you try the gratitude ride.

And don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes so other riders can find these tools and ride with more clarity, calm, and confidence.

🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• The exact moment I realized I was mentally criticizing my horse without even meaning to
• The one sentence I said out loud that instantly changed my ride
• How your brain’s “search filter” shifts when you intentionally choose appreciation
• Why genuine gratitude softens your nervous system and cleans up your riding cues
• How your horse can feel the difference between “ugh, fine” vs. “I’m glad it’s you today”
• Why gratitude isn’t pretending — it’s choosing what part of reality to amplify
• A simple 4-step gratitude ride challenge you can try on any horse, any day
• How to reset your focus when little frustrations start piling up
• How regulating you gives your horse permission to settle and trust

❓ QUESTIONS I ANSWER INSIDE THIS EPISODE:

• Why does my ride sometimes feel “off” even when nothing is technically wrong?
• How does my horse pick up on my thoughts or energy so quickly?
• What happens in the brain when I switch from negative focus to gratitude?
• Can one sentence really change the feel of a ride?
• What am I supposed to do when negative thoughts pop up mid-ride?
• How do I find something to be grateful for when my horse is being spicy, green, or frustrating?
• Why does gratitude help my timing, feel, and connection improve?
• How do I keep my mindset from sliding into nitpicking or comparison?

Links & Resources:

🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor

Stop “show nerves” and saddle up with swagger.

 👉 https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/

🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy

The confidence to win so you ride like you belong.

 👉 https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy

🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians

Train your mind like a pro so you ride like one.

 👉 https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/

🎯 Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips

Get rider-specific mindset tools in your inbox. Join my email list here.

 👉https://www.resilientreiner.com/ 

I’ll shoot you straight—this isn’t a fluffy episode about sunshine, rainbows, and “just be thankful.”

This is about a tension riders quietly wrestle with all the time:

If I practice gratitude… will I lose my edge?

One of my riders asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks:

 “Nicole, does gratitude make me less ambitious?”

Maybe you’ve felt that tug too. If you loosen your grip, will you start settling? If you let yourself breathe, does that mean you don’t want it badly enough anymore?

In this episode, we peel that apart.

Because the real cost of riding without gratitude isn’t that you’ll suddenly go soft—it’s that you burn yourself out chasing harder, faster, never-enough.

And the cost of riding without ambition? Drifting. Coasting. Riding smaller than you and your horse are capable of.

Neither feels good.

But together? Gratitude and ambition can fuel you in a way that steadies your seat, calms your nervous system, and keeps your fire lit for the long haul.

If you’ve ever braced your body in the saddle from sheer dissatisfaction, or felt that hamster wheel spin of “never enough,” this episode is going to give you clarity—and maybe the freedom—you’ve been looking for.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share it with your community. I’d love to hear what lands for you. And if this podcast has helped you, leaving a quick review on iTunes helps more riders find this work.

• Why gratitude isn’t the enemy of ambition—it’s the anchor that steadies it
• The difference between “gratitude as a cop-out” and “gratitude as fuel”
• How some riders accidentally use “I’m just grateful…” to avoid discomfort and growth
• How to practice thankfulness without lowering your bar, losing your fire, or going soft on your goals
• The difference between riding from dissatisfaction vs. riding from grounded drive
• How gratitude can purify your ambition instead of watering it down
• Practical ways to be deeply grateful for where you are and still hungry for more

• Does gratitude actually make riders less ambitious?
• What really happens in your body when you ride from dissatisfaction?
• How can gratitude improve your performance instead of dulling it?
• What does ambition look like when it’s fueled by gratitude instead of fear?

🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor

Stop “show nerves” and saddle up with swagger.

 👉 https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/

🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy

The confidence to win so you ride like you belong.

 👉 https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy

🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians

Train your mind like a pro so you ride like one.

 👉 https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/

🎯 Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips

Get rider-specific mindset tools in your inbox. Join my email list here.

 👉https://www.resilientreiner.com/ 

This conversation isn’t about choosing gratitude or ambition—it’s about learning to ride with both. Because the truth is, when you ground yourself in gratitude, you actually free up the energy to chase harder, ride clearer, and enjoy the ride more along the way.

Nicole

If you feel too busy for mental training, this episode is for you. We’re talking about mental training for busy riders who are juggling jobs, families, and horses—and still want to compete well. You’ll learn how to use tiny “in-between” moments to train your brain without adding hours to your schedule.

Mental Training Doubt: Do I have enough time? It’s a question I hear again and again. 

Let me tell you something a little spicy…

Some of the most confident, consistent riders I’ve ever coached? They don’t have more time. They’re just using the right minutes.

Yep. The riders you swear have it all together — polished runs, calm warm-ups, those annoyingly steady show-day nerves — most of them don’t have a spare hour to meditate, journal, or narrate affirmations into the sunrise like a cowboy Oprah.

They’re doing their mental training in the cracks.

In the truck.

In the barn aisle.

In the 60 seconds before they swing a leg over.

And that’s exactly what we’re diving into today — the truth about busy riders, mental training, and the tiny reps that create giant breakthroughs. If you’ve ever looked at your calendar and thought, “If I add one more thing, this whole life is gonna tip over,” this episode is going to feel like a deep breath and a warm hand on your shoulder.

Let’s talk about building a better ride… without needing a different life.

I’m talking how 5-minute habits could change your next show. And how to keep your brain from frying even with holiday chaos + horse shows: 

If this episode hits home for you (or for a friend who’s juggling kids, work, horses, and a whole life on top of it), tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share it with your people! I absolutely love hearing your takeaways and seeing where you’re listening from.

If you want to help other riders find this work, be sure to leave a review on iTunes — it means more than you know.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• What pros know about mindset that busy riders miss. 
• The lie hiding inside “I don’t have time”. (And why busy riders actually have an advantage in mental training).
• The truth about the “perfect morning routine” myth (and why pros DON’T do it)
• Five tiny mental reps that fit into your real life — each less than two minutes. Yes, finally mental training for riders who hate long routines
• How to use truck rides, tacking up, cooling out, and barn chores to rewire your mindset
• The secret reason your brain resists mental training — and how to get it working with you
• What changes when your mind trains the same way your horse does: small, consistent, intentional reps
• The very first habit I give overwhelmed riders — and why it works immediately
• How to start shifting your identity as a rider in a way that feels natural, not forced

QUESTIONS I ANSWER IN THIS EPISODE:

• What to do if you don’t have time for mental training?
• What if your life already feels like a sprint?
• Isn’t mindset work supposed to take hours?
• How do you keep your brain from spiraling on show day?
• How do you know which micro-habit to start with?
• Can you really make progress if you only ride a few times a week?
• What do pros do differently when it comes to their mental game?

LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Ready for 5 days of simple, done-for-you mental training you can listen to in the truck or barn aisle? 

Check out 5 Days to Confident Competitor

• 🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor. Stop ‘show nerves’ and saddle up with swagger! https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/ 
• 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here!  https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy 
• 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/ 
• 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

Politics, preferences, and questionable calls—here’s your edge without losing your soul.

This episode is for horse riders who leave the pen replaying scores, rail whispers, and “was it me or them?”—and want a repeatable way to compete clean under noise.

Get ready for a clean, practical system to keep your head straight when scores feel off—so you ride better now and build real momentum until your next horse show.

This one’s all about keeping your head clean, your focus sharp, and your integrity intact — even when the arena doesn’t feel level. Because champions don’t waste time fighting what they can’t control… they build what they can.

If this episode hits home, share it with your barn crew or tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram — I want to hear your take on fair play, politics, and the moments that tested your

confidence most.

If you or someone you know needs this reminder, send it their way — and if you love what you’re hearing, leave a quick review on iTunes. It helps more riders find this podcast and ride a little braver too.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• How to stay steady when judging feels subjective or unfair
• What to focus on when you can’t control the politics
• How integrity and confidence actually feed performance
• Why “fair play” isn’t weakness — it’s strategy
• The mindset that helps you rise above drama, distraction, and doubt

Questions I Answer:

• What do you do when you know a call wasn’t fair?
• How can you stay focused when you feel judged for the wrong reasons?
• Where’s the line between integrity and naïveté in competition?
• How can you build trust in yourself when the playing field doesn’t feel even?
• What’s the difference between reacting to politics and riding your plan?

LINK/RESOURCES:

• 🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor. Stop ‘show nerves’ and saddle up with swagger! https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/ 
• 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here!  https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy 
• 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/ 
• 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

The truth is, the pen won’t always be fair. But your focus, your ethics, and your preparation? 

Those are always within reach.

Keep riding brave. Keep riding clean.

Your horse knows. And that’s the score that really counts. 🤠

I swear my saddle squeaked today like it was trying to warn me. 😳

Then my coffee went cold mid-ride, and my horse side-eyed the arena gate like he saw a ghost. That’s when I knew… it’s that week. Halloween. And yes, the barn is officially haunted — not by spirits, but by the monsters that live inside your own mind.

These are the sneaky ones — the thoughts that twist your confidence, hijack your focus, and drain your joy faster than a leaky water trough. They lurk right before your best rides, right when you care most.

So grab your coffee or your candy corn (no judgment here), because in this episode of The Resilient Reiner Podcast, we’re facing off with the five “Spooky Scaries in the Saddle.” You’ve met them before — you just didn’t know their names. This week, we’re calling them out, laughing in their ghostly little faces, and taking back the reins.

If this episode had you nodding, laughing, or side-eying your own mental monsters, tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram — and share it with your barn bestie before her next ride gets haunted too. 👻✨

I love hearing which monster shows up for you the most (my personal nemesis is Perfectionism in a pink clipboard). Don’t forget to leave a quick review on iTunes — it helps more riders find their way through the fog.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The five mental monsters haunting your rides — and what they really want from you
• Why the Hex of Self-Doubt actually shows up when you’re leveling up
• How to turn show-day anxiety into laser-sharp focus (spoiler: breathe through your seat bones)
• The real reason Distraction keeps crashing your warm-up pen
• How to spot the Poltergeist of Perfection before she steals your fun
• What the quiet Tomb of Burnout feels like — and how to resurrect your joy
• A few “spell-breaking” tricks to keep your mind clear, grounded, and ghost-free

Questions I Answer:

• How do you tell the difference between fear and focus?
• Why does anxiety always show up exactly when things start going well?
• What do you do when distraction takes over mid-run?
• How can you let go of perfection without letting go of progress?
• What’s the difference between needing rest and losing your spark?

LINK/RESOURCES:

• 🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor. Stop ‘show nerves’ and saddle up with swagger! https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/ 
• 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here!  https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy 
• 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/ 
• 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

Here’s the thing most riders don’t realize: the riders who look the calmest under pressure aren’t born that way. They built that.

You’ve seen them in the warm-up pen—the ones who stay cool when their horse blows a lead, when the gate guy yells, or when the run just doesn’t go as planned. They don’t crumble, they course-correct. And while most people are still trying to control every little thing around them—the footing, the judge, the draw—these riders have learned to control what actually matters: their mindset.

In this episode, we’re diving into ten game-changing habits that’ll give you a stronger mindset than 99% of riders. We’re not talking about toxic positivity or forcing yourself to “just be confident.” We’re talking about mental performance—the kind that helps you stay steady, ride clear, and show up like a pro no matter what chaos hits the arena.

If you’ve ever wondered why some riders seem unshakable while others spiral after one mistake, this episode breaks down exactly what separates the two—and how you can start training your own mind like the riders who always find their way back to focus, no matter what. 🤠

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I’d love to hear how you’re putting these mindset habits into practice. Don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes to help other riders discover the show—it truly makes a difference.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• The ten core habits that mentally strong riders practice every day (and why they work).
• Why “radical ownership” is your secret weapon against frustration and blame.
• How to train your thoughts with the same consistency and compassion you give your horse.
• What emotional regulation really looks like for riders (and how it changes your performance).
• Why visualization isn’t about perfection—but about recovery.
• The mindset shift that separates amateurs from pros: focusing on state instead of outcome.
• How to protect your mental space from comparison, negativity, and overwhelm.
• The real reason your horse feels your mental clutter—and how to fix it fast.

Questions I Answer:

• What does “radical ownership” actually look like for a rider?
• How can I train my mind like I train my horse?
• How do I keep my emotions steady when the pressure hits?
• What’s the difference between visualizing success and visualizing recovery?
• How do I stay confident even when I mess up in the show pen?
• What daily mindset habits make the biggest difference long-term?

LINK/RESOURCES:

• 🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor. Stop ‘show nerves’ and saddle up with swagger! https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/ 
• 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here!  https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy 
• 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/ 
• 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

Here’s the truth most riders never want to admit: your mindset is your ride. You can have all the talent, training, and horsepower in the world, but if your thoughts are running wild, your results will too.

The good news? You can train your mind. You can build calm under chaos. You can turn those shaky moments into steady ones. It’s not magic—it’s mental fitness. And just like leg strength or balance, it’s something you work on every single day.

So start simple. Pick one of these ten habits this week. Maybe it’s catching your self-talk before it spirals, or focusing on how quickly you can regroup after a mistake. Whatever it is—practice it with the same dedication you bring to your riding.

Because the riders who rise to the top aren’t the ones who never lose their cool. They’re the ones who know exactly how to get it back.

You’ve got this, cowgirl. Let’s ride. 🧠✨

Everybody talks about chasing buckles, titles, and those big shiny goals. But here’s the truth that doesn’t usually make it into the motivational quotes: the buckle isn’t what gets you out of bed on the hard days.

I’ve sat across from riders who told me straight up, “Nicole, I want it all—the big runs, the recognition, the proof that I belong.” And you know what? I get it. I’ve felt that fire too. But when the horse is cranky, your body’s sore, and you’ve strung together three rough rides in a row… that shiny end result won’t push you through the grind.

This episode is about what will. We’re digging into why “wanting it bad enough” isn’t the answer—and what actually fuels riders to keep showing up, even when the arena feels like the last place you want to be.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I’d love to hear how this landed for you, and what keeps you going when motivation runs dry. Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes to help other riders discover the show.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• Why motivation based on buckles, titles, and outside recognition always fizzles out when things get tough.
• The mindset shift that takes you from chasing the end result to actually falling in love with the process.
• How to reframe drills, circles, and long practice sessions so they fuel your growth instead of draining you.
• The deeper reason riders who thrive under pressure aren’t relying on motivation at all.
• A simple way to start finding joy in the ride—today, not “someday.”

Questions I Answer:

• Why isn’t wanting it bad enough to get the results you want in the show pen?
• What actually keeps you consistent when motivation fails?
• How can you start to love the grind when it feels repetitive or frustrating?
• What does it mean to connect with your horse through the process—not just the outcome?

LINK/RESOURCES:

• 🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor. Stop ‘show nerves’ and saddle up with swagger! https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/ 
• 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here!  https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy 
• 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/ 
• 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

At the end of the day, chasing buckles and big titles is exciting—but it’s not enough to carry you through the long, dusty hours in the saddle. What makes you the rider who actually earns those results is falling in love with the process: the circles, the drills, the small connections with your horse that build day after day.

So let me ask you—what’s fueling your ride right now? If it’s only the end result, it’s time to build something stronger. And that’s exactly what we’re doing here, together.

Nicole

Most riders don’t lose because of their horse. They don’t lose because the pattern was too tricky. They don’t even lose because of a lack of talent. They lose because they went into the arena unprepared where it matters most—their mind.

Join The Mental Gym for Equestrians by Oct 12 to get access to the live Melt Your Riding Blocks Masterclass!

I’ve coached enough riders to see the same patterns repeat over and over. Smart, dedicated horsemen and horsewomen who put in the hours, polish their maneuvers, drill until the horse could do it in their sleep… and then crumble in the pen. Not because they’re weak, but because no one ever taught them how to train their mental game the same way they train their horse.

So today, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the five most common mistakes riders make in their mental prep. And here’s the good news: once you see them, you can stop repeating them—and start showing up with the confidence, composure, and presence your horse has been waiting for.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I’m curious to hear all about your experience with mental prep—what’s clicked for you, and what mistakes you’ve caught yourself making. And don’t forget, leaving a review on iTunes helps other riders find the show.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• Why saddle time doesn’t equal confidence—and what to do instead.
• The surprising role your nervous system plays in every single ride.
• How visualization can either wire you for failure or train you for success.
• Why perfectionism is killing your confidence (even when it looks like “high standards”).
• The single biggest difference between riders who dabble in mental prep and those who master it.

Questions I Answer:

• What’s the difference between training your horse and training your mind?
• Why do you feel confident at home but freeze the second you walk in the pen?
• Is visualization really that powerful—or is it just “woo woo”?
• How do you tell the difference between preparation and perfectionism?
• What does it actually look like to make mental prep a discipline instead of a one-off?

LINK/RESOURCES:

• 🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor. Stop ‘show nerves’ and saddle up with swagger! https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/ 
• 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here!  https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy 
• 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/ 
• 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

Join The Mental Gym for Equestrians to get access to the live Melt Your Riding Blocks Masterclass!

These mistakes don’t mean you’re broken. They just mean you’ve been riding with blinders on in your mental game. The beauty of this work is that once you shine a light on them, you can melt the blocks and ride free. Your horse doesn’t need a perfect rider. They need you—calm, present, and confident. That’s the work. That’s what makes you unstoppable.

Nicole

Here’s the thing nobody likes to admit out loud:

You can have the horse. You can have the talent. You can put in the hours. You can even be confident in every other part of your life… and still feel like a complete rookie when your nerves take over in the saddle.

That’s exactly what happened to my client, Bonnie Habel, an APHA rider who shows trail and horsemanship with her mare, Morgan. She had the horse. She had the training. She had the drive. But at the Paint World Show, all of that went out the window when her nerves hijacked her ride.

In today’s episode, Bonnie shares what really happens when the spiral sets in, and how working inside the Mental Gym for Equestrians helped her flip the script. This isn’t a highlight reel—it’s the real, raw transformation of a rider who went from rattled and disconnected to grounded, collected, and genuinely excited about her rides again.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach, @resilientreiner, and Bonnie on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I’m curious to hear your takeaways and what part of Bonnie’s story resonated most with you.

And hey, if you loved it, please take a minute to leave a review on iTunes—it helps other riders discover the show and find the same breakthroughs.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• What it really felt like for Bonnie when her nerves hijacked her ride at the World Show
• Why experience, talent, and the “right horse” aren’t enough when the mental side is missing
• The exact wins Bonnie started noticing just weeks into Mental Gym for Equestrians
• How her relationship with her trainer and her horse both shifted once she began to trust herself again
• Why focusing on small changes (like feeling collected before she even rides) made a massive difference in her confidence

Questions I Answer (with Bonnie’s story woven in):

• What does it look like when nerves completely take over a seasoned rider?
• Why don’t traditional “just ride more” solutions work for show-pen anxiety?
• How can a rider rebuild confidence when they already know their cues but still spiral?
• What’s the real payoff when you start riding longer for fun instead of cutting rides short?
• How does confidence in the saddle spill over into life outside the arena?

LINK/RESOURCES:

• 🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor. Stop ‘show nerves’ and saddle up with swagger! https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/ 
• 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here!  https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy 
• 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/ 
• 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

Let me tell you the truth that not everybody knows….

If you’re not training your brain, you’re still training it.

That tight breath before a run? Training.

That anxious thought before you even tack up? Training.

Just like your horse learns from every moment with you—so does your brain.

In this episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on the real reason why mental rehearsal for riders isn’t fluff—it’s science. We’re talking mirror neurons, visualization, and how your nervous system doesn’t know the difference between real and imagined. It’s not about “pretending” to be confident. It’s about literally rewiring your system to perform under pressure—and helping your horse feel that clarity, too.

Whether you’re gearing up for a big show, rebuilding confidence after a bad fall, or just trying to feel more like yourself in the saddle…this episode will change the way you think about mental prep.

If this episode had your brain buzzing or helped shift the way you ride—don’t keep it to yourself!

Tag me on Instagram @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner and share it with someone who could use this edge. I’d love to hear what part hit home for you. And hey—if you’ve got 30 seconds to spare, leave a review on iTunes. It helps other riders find the tools they need, too!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why your brain treats visualization the same as real practice (yes, even without touching your horse)
• How elite athletes get better just by watching others perform
• The neuroscience behind “fake it till you make it” (spoiler: it’s real)
• Why your nervous system teaches your horse how to feel
• How to use intentional routines to regulate your state before you ride
• Why rushing, overthinking, or second-guessing can literally train in anxiety
• A quick pre-ride exercise to synchronize your energy with your horse’s
• Why confidence and fear are both contagious—and how to choose which one you spread

QUESTIONS I ANSWER:

• What are mirror neurons and why do they matter for horseback riders?
• Can you really improve just by imagining the ride?
• How does visualization actually change your brain?
• Why does my horse seem tense when I feel anxious—even if I’m trying to hide it?
• What’s one mental prep tool I can use before I even swing a leg over?
• Is it possible to build confidence even if I’m not riding every day?

LINK/RESOURCES:

• 🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor. Stop ‘show nerves’ and saddle up with swagger! https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/ 
• 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here!  https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy 
• 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/ 
• 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

If you’ve ever stood at the in-gate wondering why your body won’t cooperate, this episode is your answer.

Your mind isn’t just reacting to the pressure—it’s remembering what it’s been trained to expect.

You don’t have to “fake” confidence anymore. You can train it.

And if you want to build the kind of mental game that supports your horse, performs under pressure, and shows up with calm clarity every time—you know where to find me.

-Nicole