The Mental Game of Cantering Your Horse!
Friends often reach out and let me know they are ready to canter, they horse is ready to canter, but they mind is having none of it.  Like many of you, our minds can run the show and rob us of our joy, whether it be riding horses, cantering, or just living life to the fullest, if we let it.  I know I don't want to be that person, sipping tea on the front porch, looking back over my life and saying, "I didn't do the things I wanted to do!"

I believe we all have the ability to give the neigh sayer part of our mind a timeout, over in the corner, and bring the joy back into our lives with the happy part of our mind taking the lead.

But how?

Cantering is a great example.  When some of us think about cantering, we can feel the tension, anxiety and fear build, almost immediately.  That is our neigh sayer.  So let's turn that around.  We don't care if we ever canter.  Fun side of the brain, how many ways can we trot?  How can we get our horses balanced perfectly at the trot.  Let's go faster and slower at the trot.  How slow can we go for 10 strides and then how fast can we go for 10 strides.  Can we feel a "10 speed" bike with our horse at trot, staring out slow and then a bit faster, then a bit faster and then a bit faster.

How many ways can we play at the trot.  If we play enough at the trot, we will become much better riders.  Our horses will become more balanced and tuned in to us.  Eventually, as we are working on a well-balanced, fast trot, our horse will step into the canter.  We can then CELEBRATE.  We are cantering.  Our horse is balanced.  IT FEELS AMAZING!  

Then, smile for a week!!!!

Whatever your boogey man is for you, canter, trot, getting on, whatever it is, have fun overcoming that challenge.  It makes all the difference in the world!

Ready to turn your fear into cantering with a little help? Hypnotherapy can help you bring the fun side of your mind to the front, so fear no longer takes over. Let’s chat and see if it’s the right fit for you. Schedule a free chat today!

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Hey there! I’m Elise Hittinger—Fear Slayer, Confidence Creator, and your go-to Courage Coach.

 
Once upon a time, I was that fearless kid riding deep into Angeles National Forest without a second thought. Then bam—life threw me a plot twist. A horse flipped on me, pinning me beneath it, and fear crept in like an uninvited guest who wouldn’t leave.

That moment tested everything. But here’s the wild part—I walked away with only bruises and a divine reminder that I wasn’t done yet. Fear may have stolen my joy for a while, but it did not get the final say.

Fast forward to a move to Kentucky, where the trails were calling my name. I had two choices: let fear keep the reins or take them back. Spoiler alert—I took them back. Now, I help other riders (and, honestly, anyone sick of fear running their life) do the same.

I make fear pack its little bags and GTFO. Whether it’s through hypnotherapy, NLP, or a little well-placed humor, I help people trade anxiety for confidence, doubt for courage, and overthinking for action.

So, if you’re ready to kick fear to the curb and rediscover the joy you deserve—I’m here for it. Let’s do this.

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