Fear has a sneaky way of making us forget why we started riding in the first place. It can turn something we once loved into a source of stress, causing us to overthink every step. But what if we could tap back into the effortless joy we used to feel?
Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, let’s take a new approach—one that brings back the excitement, wonder, and deep connection that horses once gave us.
A Different Way to Find Confidence
Confidence doesn’t always come from pushing through fear. Sometimes, it comes from remembering what it felt like before fear took over. Think about when you first fell in love with horses—before anxiety, before self-doubt.
Was it the feeling of freedom?
The trust between you and your horse?
The simple happiness of being in the moment?
Try this: Find an old picture of yourself with a horse or write about a favorite horse memory. What did that version of you believe? How did they see riding differently than you do now?
Feel Before You Think
When fear creeps in, we tend to analyze everything—what could go wrong, how we might fail, what mistakes we need to avoid. But confidence doesn’t start in the mind. It starts in the body.
Instead of overthinking your next ride, try this: Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and let yourself feel what it’s like to ride with joy. Imagine the rhythm of the trot, the steady beat of hoofprints in the sand, the way your horse responds to your cues. Let your body remember that sensation before you even step into the stirrup.
Bring Playfulness Back Into the Saddle
Fear often makes us take riding too seriously. But horses don’t live in the past or the future—they live in the moment. What if you let yourself do the same?
Try this: The next time you ride, set a small, playful goal. Maybe it’s playing a game like "I Spy", trying a new path, or simply laughing at your horse’s silly antics. Give yourself permission to enjoy the ride without pressure.
Confidence isn’t something you force—it’s something you rediscover. And sometimes, the best way forward is to take a new route back to joy.
Ready to build your confidence and shift your mindset?
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