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.

fun

3 Simple Ways to Bring Fun Back Into Your Riding

3 Simple Ways to Bring Fun Back Into Your Riding
Let’s try something different today.

Not a better ride.
Not a more productive ride.

Just… a more enjoyable one.

Because fun doesn’t come from doing everything right.
It comes from loosening the grip a little and letting yourself be in your joy again.

Here are three simple ways to bring that feeling of fun back.

🐴 1. Change the Rules (Just for Today)

What if today didn’t have to follow the usual plan?

No “we should work on this.”
No “I need to fix that.”

Just a ride where you get to decide what feels good in the moment.

Turn early.
Walk longer.
Pause when you want.

The second you change the rules, the ride changes with you.

🐴 2. Follow Curiosity Instead of a Plan

Plans are helpful… until they’re not.

Instead of sticking to “what you’re supposed to do,” try asking:

“What would feel interesting right now?”
“What would my horse find interesting right now?”

Maybe it’s:
  • taking a different path
  • noticing how your horse feels today
  • trying something just because you haven’t in a while
Curiosity brings you back into the moment.
And that’s where riding feels alive again.

🐴 3. Chicken Wings (Yes, Really)

At the walk or trot, start flapping your elbows like chicken wings.

No, this is not a drill.
Yes, you might laugh.

Match the rhythm of your horse.
As their feet move, you flap your elbows.
Let your body move.

What happens?
  • your shoulders loosen
  • your breathing shifts
  • your brain stops overthinking
And suddenly… things feel different.

Sometimes the fastest way back to fun is to stop trying to look like you know what you’re doing.

🐴 Final Thought

Fun isn’t something you earn at the end of a “good ride.”

It’s something you allow into the ride.

And the moment you do…

Everything softens.

👉 If you want more ways to bring fun back into your riding (without overthinking it), book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call and let’s map out your next step.




Why is Horseback Riding Fun?

Why is Horseback Riding Fun?

I started to write about riding horses if you really want to ride horses. Don't let anything stop you.  I was going to give a pep talk on making it happen.  But then I realized, the loss of confidence can turn into feeling like riding would be a chore, at least it did for me.  So I changed course and decided to write about how to have fun riding again.  I have had so much fun and thinking about it, helps me want to get on and ride!

 

First of all, riding a horse, is all about the connection to your very best friend.  It is like going to the mall and shopping with your bestie, only riding a horse takes that connection one step further to actually feeling the rhythm between the two of you physically.  Hearts connected and bodies connected.  That feeling of pure joy as the two of you see the sights together.

 

With that in mind, riding can be fun for both of you.  I spent most of my hours riding as a kid, riding trails and playing, almost no time in an arena.  We would race each other and even race motorcycles.  We would jump over anything and everything that we could find.  I think my favorite was playing tag in the heat of summer.  We would swim in the ponds and if our horses touched the ground, we were out and had to sit out in the heat until everyone was out.  We would do this for 8 or 9 hours.  I think back now to our poor horses swimming for hours but I think they enjoyed not being in the 100 degree heat.

 

As an adult, I love to play "I Spy", "Red Rover", and tag (having the horse touch all kinds of stuff while I am riding).  I also love a good jumper competition but the arena work can feel too much like work!  What are two or three things you can do to make riding more fun for you?  Think about them, picture them, get excited about having that fun on your horse again.  It will help overcome the confidence issues as you bring joy into your thoughts of riding, more and more.

 

Picture what that fun will look like.  Develop that picture and share that picture with your horse.  The more you can imagine that fun, the better you will feel about riding. 

 

Why is horseback riding fun?  I would love to hear the number one thing you would enjoy having fun with your horse!  Whether it is riding or not riding, not everyone wants to ride.

 

If you enjoyed this and would like to see some fun ways to ground play with your horse, you can get my guide, 5 Fabulous Ground Play Challenges here!



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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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