Resilient Reiner

Politics, preferences, and questionable calls—here’s your edge without losing your soul.

This episode is for horse riders who leave the pen replaying scores, rail whispers, and “was it me or them?”—and want a repeatable way to compete clean under noise.

Get ready for a clean, practical system to keep your head straight when scores feel off—so you ride better now and build real momentum until your next horse show.

This one’s all about keeping your head clean, your focus sharp, and your integrity inta...

I swear my saddle squeaked today like it was trying to warn me. 😳

Then my coffee went cold mid-ride, and my horse side-eyed the arena gate like he saw a ghost. That’s when I knew… it’s that week. Halloween. And yes, the barn is officially haunted — not by spirits, but by the monsters that live inside your own mind.

These are the sneaky ones — the thoughts that twist your confidence, hijack your focus, and drain your joy faster than a leaky water trough. They lurk right before your best rides, right...

Here’s the thing most riders don’t realize: the riders who look the calmest under pressure aren’t born that way. They built that.

You’ve seen them in the warm-up pen—the ones who stay cool when their horse blows a lead, when the gate guy yells, or when the run just doesn’t go as planned. They don’t crumble, they course-correct. And while most people are still trying to control every little thing around them—the footing, the judge, the draw—these riders have learned to control what actually matters: their mindset.

Everybody talks about chasing buckles, titles, and those big shiny goals. But here’s the truth that doesn’t usually make it into the motivational quotes: the buckle isn’t what gets you out of bed on the hard days.

I’ve sat across from riders who told me straight up, “Nicole, I want it all—the big runs, the recognition, the proof that I belong.” And you know what? I get it. I’ve felt that fire too. But when the horse is cranky, your body’s sore, and you’ve strung together three rough rides in a row...

Most riders don’t lose because of their horse. They don’t lose because the pattern was too tricky. They don’t even lose because of a lack of talent. They lose because they went into the arena unprepared where it matters most—their mind.

Join The Mental Gym for Equestrians by Oct 12 to get access to the live Melt Your Riding Blocks Masterclass!

I’ve coached enough riders to see the same patterns repeat over and over. Smart, dedicated horsemen and horsewomen who put in the hours, polish their maneuvers, drill unti...

Here’s the thing nobody likes to admit out loud:

You can have the horse. You can have the talent. You can put in the hours. You can even be confident in every other part of your life… and still feel like a complete rookie when your nerves take over in the saddle.

That’s exactly what happened to my client, Bonnie Habel, an APHA rider who shows trail and horsemanship with her mare, Morgan. She had the horse. She had the training. She had the drive. But at the Paint World...

Let me tell you the truth that not everybody knows….

If you’re not training your brain, you’re still training it.

That tight breath before a run? Training.

That anxious thought before you even tack up? Training.

Just like your horse learns from every moment with you—so does your brain.

In this episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on the real reason why mental rehearsal for riders isn’t fluff—it’s science. We’re talking mirror neurons, vi...

Get ready to not GAF about what anyone else thinks. Here’s the truth no one tells you: You could have perfect posture, flawless cues, and a dang good run—but if your brain is spinning about what the judge, your trainer, or that one rider on the rail thinks of you… it won’t matter.

This episode is your wake-up call and your permission slip: You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. You just need to ride for your horse. Because when you do, everything changes—from your mindset to your score sheet. I’m b...

Have you ever walked out of the arena and thought, That wasn’t my best ride…? 

Maybe you’ve felt that heavy weight of chasing the win—the score, the title, the validation—only to realize it’s pulling you away from what truly matters: being in the moment with your horse. 

In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful mindset shift that can completely change how you approach competition and your riding as a whole. It’s all about focusing on small wins instead of obsessing over the importance of any given run. Thi...

You don’t need to be stronger to sit the stop—you need to feel safer.

Sounds backwards, right? But that’s exactly what I see trip up even the most talented riders in the arena. They’re told to sit deep and stay soft—but no one talks about how to do that when your brain is screaming “Danger!” the moment your horse locks in for the slide.

In today’s episode, I’m answering a question straight from a rider in our community who asked, “Nicole, how the heck do I sit at the slid...

You can have the best-trained horse in the warm-up pen… and still lose.

I know that sounds harsh, but I’ve seen it too many times to ignore. A rider pours months—heck, years—into perfecting every detail of their horse’s training. The circles are round, the stops are deep, the lead changes are smooth as butter. And yet, when the pressure’s on? They choke. Not because they’re not good enough—but because they never trained their mind to handle the moment.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain o...

Truth bomb: Wanting it to be different doesn’t make it so.

In this episode, we’re digging into one of the most overlooked—but powerful—mental performance tools I teach: radical acceptance. Not hustle. Not trying harder. Not demanding that things go your way. But meeting the moment exactly as it is… so you can actually do something about it.

Because here’s the thing—most riders burn out not from the ride itself, but from the resistance. From the frustration of, “My horse shouldn’t be acting like this,” or “I should be furt...

“I’m just free.” -Janessa 

You know that dream? The one where you ride out into the arena with confidence, freedom, and ease — just you and your horse, no pressure, no second-guessing, no needing someone to hold your hand?

Well… what happens when you finally get the horse, the lessons, the gear — and you still don’t feel ready?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with one of my amazing clients, Janessa, to talk about the real stuff behind riding confidence. Not the fake-it-til-you-make-it kind — but the deep, grounded...

They won’t tell you this part.

That getting better, wiser, and more experienced… can sometimes feel like fading into the background.

You’re not the rookie anymore. Not the one everyone’s watching. And even if you’re still chasing big dreams, there are moments where it feels like most of your energy goes toward helping someone else win.

This week’s episode was born in a dark movie theater with buttered popcorn, where I thought I was watching an action flick—and instead got hit in the gut by...

Treat yourself like a toddler for better rides?!

What if your biggest confidence issue isn’t mindset… but blood sugar? 🫣

Here’s something most riders don’t talk about: you’re not losing your edge because you lack grit—you’re running on fumes.

The horse world loves to glorify mental toughness. “Push through it.” “Cowgirl up.”

But what if the real reason you feel anxious, snappy, or disconnected in the saddle… is because you hasn’t had breakfast?

In today’s episode, I’m pulli...

When her success hits you harder than you expected…

Let’s be real for a second. You’re in the warm-up pen, or maybe just scrolling Instagram—and boom.

There she is. Confident. Collected. Owning it.

And you feel it.

That tight chest. That wave of “ugh.” That tiny voice whispering, “Why am I not there yet?”

Comparison sneaks in before you even realize it.

But what if I told you… that reaction isn’t something to hide or fight?

Ever crush a run on paper yet feel shaky inside your own boots? That gap between what you can do and what you believe you can do is where today’s conversation lives. Angela Bitencourt has shown working cattle in high‑pressure Brazilian ranch‑sorting pens, holds a master’s in animal science and beef genetics, and still found herself riding like she didn’t trust her own talent after a brutal fall and two surgeries.

In this episode we peel back the curtain on that invisible pressure: why skill alone won’t plug the confidence lea...

✨ Let’s be honest: most riders aren’t breaking down because they’re weak—they’re breaking down because they’ve been told to stay strong for too long.

In this episode, I’m joined by Devin Bang, the founder of @buck.thestigma, and we’re cracking wide open the pressure, identity weight, and unspoken mental load riders carry. From the outside, Devin looked like she had it together. But underneath? Anxiety, overwhelm, and a constant battle to prove she was enough. Constantly inspired by her experiences and interactions with other competitors, trainers, owners and friends in rodeo...

Ever felt like you’re stuck in reverse? Like no matter how hard you try, you’re not moving forward—not in your riding, your mindset, or even your life? I’ve been there. And let me tell you, I’ve had a horse who quite literally refused to go forward, no matter how patiently or clearly I asked.

This episode is about what I learned from that experience—and trust me, the lessons go far beyond groundwork. Because whether you’re working with a tricky horse or tackling your own mental blocks, the truth is the same: there are no shortcuts to lasting success. The “long way,” as frustrating as it feels, i...

Hot take: It’s not them. It’s you.

If you’ve ever asked your horse for a lead change and got a tail swish, ear pin, or full-on kick in response… this episode is for you.

I’ve heard from so many riders who say things like:

“She knows how to do the change… but lately, she kicks out like she’s mad at me.”

Yep. From ranch riders to reiners. From cowhorse to barrel racers. And beyond! The dreaded lead change. And I get it—because I’ve been in that saddle too. But here’s the truth no one’s telling you...

After being down sick for a week—coughing, couch-bound, and completely out of rhythm—I realized it’s not just your body that needs a comeback plan. Your brain does too.

And I’m not talking about “motivation” or “trying harder.” I’m talking about that subtle shift that happens when your energy feels off, your confidence feels thin, and you’re just not all the way with it anymore.

Whether you’ve been sick, sidelined, burnt out, or just plain tired… this episode is your permission slip to regroup, reset, and come back stronger—without the pressure to “hustle.”

This is real-life mental coaching, s...

Ever feel like your brain is overloaded with everything but actually riding your horse? If you’re a trainer—or even just a client who’s lived through the chaos—you know exactly what I’m talking about. Managing the business side of training horses is a full-time job in itself.

Today, I’m bringing on James Dexter, a lifelong horseman who grew up ranching in Nevada and has seen it all firsthand. After watching too many great trainers burn out from the business stress, James decided enough was enough—and STABLE Pro was born.

ST...

Truth bomb: Sometimes the biggest growth as a rider comes when you don’t get to ride.

This one’s personal. I’m bringing you behind the scenes of what’s been going on with my horses lately—yep, two three-year-olds, big dreams, and a whole lot of unexpected detours. Between surprise injuries, weather chaos, and a few humbling reality checks, I had to let go of the perfect plan… and remind myself what I actually care about: healthy horses, long-haul progress, and being the kind of rider who doesn’t crumble when things go sideways.

You can be 99% ready, 99% confident—and one tiny mistake can make your brain yell, "Welp. Guess we blew it."

Sound familiar?

Today, we’re diving straight into something most riders don’t want to talk about but EVERY rider faces: what to do when your confidence tanks mid-pattern.

Because here’s the hard truth—even the best riders lose it sometimes. The real difference? It’s not about never wobbling. It’s about knowing exactly how to get yourself back in the game when it happens. Saddle up, friend. Th...

Here’s something wild: your brain is tricking you on purpose.

Yep, you read that right. And not because it’s broken or messed up—but because it’s doing its best to protect you.

In this episode, I share the story of a tiny bird with one of the strangest survival strategies in nature… and how that same pattern plays out in your brain every time you step into the show pen and feel your confidence disappear. If your nerves flare up and your focus gets hijacked—right when it matters most...

Here’s a hot take: Confidence has nothing to do with ribbons or high scores.

Last week, I was riding through wide-open country, soaking up a scene that looked like it came straight out of an old western film—bison off the trail, a bald eagle overhead, and a sunset that nearly stopped me in my tracks. But what gave me goosebumps wasn't just the view. It was the feeling. Of being grounded. Present. At peace with my horse and myself.

In this episode, I’m sharing the story behind that ride a...

If fear is still showing up before a run—even after the journaling, the breathwork, the visualization—you are not broken. And no, it doesn’t mean your mindset work isn’t working.

Here’s the hard truth we don’t talk about enough in the horse world: Confidence isn’t the absence of fear. It’s what you choose to focus on in spite of it. This episode is your no-fluff reminder that waiting for every last doubt to disappear before you ride your best? That’s a one-way ticket to disappointment. We’re not here for Stepfor...

You ever hear someone say, “You just need to build trust with your horse,” and want to scream, Cool, but HOW?!

Same.

Unless we’re about to do a full-on trust fall in the middle of the warm-up pen (hard pass), that advice can feel vague at best and frustrating at worst.

Here’s what no one tells you: trust doesn’t come from a perfect pattern or flawless cue. And it doesn’t come from just sitting in the middle of the field with your horse, either. It c...

You can have your heels down, shoulders back, and hands perfectly placed…

And your horse will still look at you like, “Girl… pick a lane.”

Let’s cut to the chase: your horse doesn’t care about how well you follow the textbook and how perfect your hip angle is if your energy is scattered and your cues are saying two different things. They’re not confused because they’re stubborn. They’re confused because you’re giving them mixed messages—and most of the time, you don’t even know you’re doing it.

<...

You storm into the barn after a rough day. Your brain’s still chewing on a conversation you had hours ago, your jaw’s tight, your shoulders are up around your ears… and the second you swing a leg over? Your horse is tense, distracted, maybe even downright cranky.

And we think they're the problem? Nah.

Sometimes your horse isn’t being a brat. They’re just mirroring YOU!

I know that’s a tough pill to swallow—but hang with me.

What if I told you...

Okay, I’m gonna say something that might ruffle some reins—but hear me out. What if your horse isn’t being stubborn? What if they’re not being disrespectful, lazy, or out to ruin your ride?

What if… they’re actually trying to communicate with you—and you’ve just been missing it?

In this episode, we’re flipping the script on one of the most frustrating experiences as a rider: when your horse just won’t do the thing. You know what I’m talking about—when they hesitate at the gate, throw their...

What if the reason you’re not winning isn’t your riding—but your mind?

I’m not talking about confidence in the usual way. I’m talking about the deep, hidden beliefs that make success feel unsafe—like stepping up will bring more pressure, more judgment, or more expectations than you’re ready for.

Riders think they need more training, more practice, more saddle time. But if your subconscious isn’t fully on board with success, no amount of extra effort with your horse will fix it.

In this episod...

What If Your Biggest Riding Breakthrough Had Nothing to Do with More Time in the Saddle?

You’ve trained, you’ve practiced, you’ve put in the work—but something still feels off. Maybe you’re inconsistent in the show pen, holding back when it matters most, or feeling like there’s a ceiling on your progress. What if I told you that the real reason you’re stuck has nothing to do with your riding ability or your horse?

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the hidden mental bl...

You never forget your first—

🏆 First big score.

🏆 First blue ribbon.

🏆 First time stepping into the show pen and actually believing you belong there.

But getting there? That’s the hard part.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing real client wins that prove confidence, connection and success isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build.

🚀 The rider who just walked away with her first-ever blue ribbon—after once believing she’d never be good enough.

🚀 The rider who scored her fir...

Some horses are steady, quiet, and predictable. And then… there are the ones that make you question every life decision that got you here. You know the type—the kind that steps into the warm-up pen already buzzing, flicking an ear, shifting a hoof, coiling up like she’s ready to launch into orbit. And no matter how much you try to settle her, she’s not having it.

So, you do what feels natural—you try to make her still. But the more you pull, breathe, adjust, the more she resists. And before you’ve even hit...

What if I told you that one simple change could completely shift your mindset, eliminate distractions, and help you ride with more confidence than ever before?

🚨 Spoiler: It has nothing to do with training harder… and everything to do with what you DON’T do before you ride. 🚨

>>>DON’T MISS THE FREE RIDE LIKE A PRO MASTERCLASS! Watch the replay here while it’s available! https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/rlap 

In this episode of the Resilient Reiner Podcast, I’m sitting down with Bella Sobral, a young equestrian...

What if I told you that your biggest riding struggle isn’t about skill or talent—it’s about what’s happening inside your mind? That hesitation before pushing for more speed in a run, the frustration over not getting that perfect stop, or the weird resistance you feel when things start going too well—it’s not just in your head. It’s a subconscious block, and it’s quietly running the show.

Most riders think that if they just work harder, practice more, or “get tougher,” they’ll break through their limits. But what if the real reaso...

Let me ruffle some feathers here—more saddle time isn’t a silver bullet. I said it. It’s not always the answer. 😲

Pssst- don’t miss out on the FREE masterclass next week! Ready to ride like a pro!? SIGN UP HERE!

I know, I know. That’s what we’ve always been told, right? You mess up in the show pen, you need more practice. You get outscored, you need to work harder. You choke under pressure, you just need more miles.

But what if I told you that...

DON’T MISS THE UPCOMING FREE RIDE LIKE A PRO MASTERCLASS! Sign up here!! https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/rlap 

Did you know your horse can feel your self-doubt before you even step into the arena? It’s true—and it’s probably holding you both back. Today, we’re diving into the untold truth about how your mindset affects your riding.

Joining me is Shelby Adcock, a veterinarian and fierce competitor from the rugged Wild West of Montana. With her talented mare, Scarlett, Shelby transformed from battling crippling nerves to qualifying twice for t...

What makes a true cowgirl spirit?

It’s not the price tag on the horse or the accolades on the wall—it’s the heart, grit, and unshakable belief in yourself and your partnership with your horse. 

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a heartfelt story about one of my clients who embodies this spirit. Her journey is proof that success isn’t about the easy path or the fanciest horse—it’s about showing up with courage, connection, and commitment every single day.

This episode is a love letter...