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/