Don't Second Guess Yourself

If you’ve ever sat in the saddle and suddenly felt your chest tighten, your thoughts race, or your brain says, “what if something goes wrong?”—you’re not alone.

Confidence in riding doesn’t come from perfect weather, the right boots, or a well-behaved horse (though those do help!). It comes from how we handle the thoughts that pop up—especially the ones that make us doubt ourselves.

What’s the secret to building real riding confidence?

It starts with recognizing that self-doubt doesn’t mean something is wrong.

It often means you’re growing, stretching, or returning to riding after a setback.

That inner dialogue—the one that whispers things like:

“You’re not ready.”
“You’re not as good as other riders.”
“You should just give up.”
...isn’t proof you’re failing. It’s proof that your brain is trying to protect you from a perceived threat—even if the “threat” is just looking less than perfect.

But confidence isn’t about silencing the inner critic forever.
It’s about not giving it the reins.

Here are 3 practical ways to build your riding confidence:

Name your inner critic—and then disagree with it.
Give it a silly name. Hear what it says and answer back with truth. "Thanks Nerdie, but I AM ready for this!"
Visualize successful rides.
Your brain doesn’t know the difference between imagined success and real experience. Visualizing calm, smooth rides helps your nervous system believe they’re possible—and gets you one step closer.
Celebrate courage, not just outcomes.
Rode for 10 minutes even when you were nervous? That’s courage.
Mounted up after a long break? That’s courage.
Confidence is built in these small, brave moments—not in perfection.

Every rider—even the most experienced—has moments of doubt. The key is learning to ride with the doubt.

Want more support letting go of self-doubt and reconnecting with your confidence?
Tune into the latest podcast episode: Your Inner Critic Doesn’t Get to Ride: Listen Here!

Let’s keep riding forward—one confident step at a time.