About the Author

Elise Hittinger - Courage Coach

Elise is a Courage Coach, Certified Hypnotherapist, and NLP Practitioner dedicated to helping anxious equestrians get out of their heads and back in the saddle with calm and confidence. Through her "Turn Riding Fear Around Podcast" and bestselling book, 'Rise from Fear to Courage,' she empowers riders to quiet the noise, reset their nervous systems, and reconnect with the joy of riding. She leads a thriving community of over 1,600 riders in her 'Overcoming Anxiety & Fear Horseback Riding' Facebook group. Learn more about Elise's transformative coaching through a Calm-Ride Strategy call.

Emotional Reset Tools: Why Every Rider Needs One

Why Emotional Resets Matter for Riders

Riding isn’t just about technique, tack, or training—it’s about partnership. And that partnership is built on trust. Your horse looks to you for leadership, calm, and confidence. When your emotions spiral out of control, your horse feels it immediately.
That’s why emotional reset tools aren’t just “nice-to-haves.” They’re non-negotiables for riders who want safe, joyful, and connected rides.

We all know what it feels like when fear or anxiety creeps in. Maybe your heart starts racing before a ride, or you tense up the moment your horse spooks at something, you may not even see. The problem is, once your body goes into survival mode, your horse often follows suit.
Without a way to reset, things can escalate fast—for both of you. But when you have a tool that helps you pause, ground yourself, and redirect your energy, you’re showing your horse: I’ve got this. That reassurance creates safety and trust on both sides.

The Safety Net Every Rider Needs

Think of emotional reset tools as your contingency plan. Just like we wear helmets for physical protection, these tools protect your partnership emotionally. When nerves flare or frustration sneaks in, you have a simple, reliable way to get back to calm before things spiral.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about being prepared. Having an emotional reset tool in your back pocket means you can recover quickly—so instead of ending a ride in tension, you can return to joy and connection.

Knowledge Builds Confidence

The beauty of reset tools is that they aren’t complicated. Whether it’s grounding with your senses, singing, moving your body, or playing a quick mental game, these techniques give you practical steps to take when your emotions threaten to take over.  What works for one person, may not work for everyone so play with them and see which one works for you.

The more you use them, the more your confidence grows. You stop fearing the “what ifs” because you know what to do when emotions rise up. That confidence spills over to your horse, and together, you both relax.

Your horse doesn’t need you to be fearless. They need you to be steady. Emotional reset tools give you the ability to reset, refocus, and ride forward with clarity and calm.

👉 Want to know my 5 favorite emotional reset tools? I put them together in a quick guide just for riders like you. These are the exact tools I use myself and with clients to bring calm back in seconds.

Grab your free copy here ➡️ 5 Favorite Emotional Reset Tools




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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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