Resilient Reiner

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Podcast by Nicole Burnett

Resilient Reiner

The Resilient Reiner with Nicole Burnett is your go-to podcast dedicated to mental performance coaching for reiners and western horse riders. Join us as we explore the power of the mind and how it can elevate your performance with your horse to new heights. Each episode uncovers invaluable strategies, techniques, and mindset shifts to help you overcome mental barriers, boost confidence, and achieve peak performance in the saddle. From managing competition nerves to cultivating focus and resilience, our podcast provides actionable insights and real-life stories that inspire and empower horse riders at all levels. Whether you're a passionate non-pro, rookie reiner, veteran competitor or seasoned pro, The Resilient Reiner is your go-to source for sharpening your mental edge and unlocking your equestrian potential & transforming your riding journey. Tune in, harness the power of your mind, and ride towards excellence.
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Latest episodes

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10 December 2025

#189 “Tough love” is ruining your run.

If you talk to yourself like a drill sergeant, this one’s for you.

If you cheered for yourself the way you do your best friend… you’d already be winning. But instead? You’re in the barn running a mental bootcamp in your own head. Tough love? Nope. That’s trauma on loop—and it’s draining the life out of your ride.

Let’s call it what it is: The way most riders talk to themselves would get them kicked out of any decent warm-up pen if they said it to someone else. I’m diving into this because someone wrote to me and said, “Nicole, I’m SO hard on myself. I don’t want to be like this anymore.” And I felt that to my core. If you've ever walked out of the pen after one fumbled transition and spiraled for hours, this one’s for you.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the not-so-obvious ways your inner voice is wrecking your confidence—and how to change it without pretending everything’s fine or repeating toxic affirmations in the mirror. This is about building a real, unshakable inner coach—one that actually helps you ride better under pressure.

If this episode hit home for you—or if you know another rider who needs to hear this—be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your crew. I want to hear what part made you pause and say, “Dang… that’s me.” And if you haven’t already, leave a review on iTunes to help more riders like you find this show!

🎧 IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

  • Why “being hard on yourself” doesn’t actually make you more driven—it makes you exhausted
  • How to identify the root of your negative self-talk (spoiler: it didn’t start with you)
  • The difference between your inner critic and your inner coach—and how to shift toward the one that helps
  • Simple ways to practice self-compassion without feeling cheesy or fake
  • What it actually looks like to treat yourself like you treat your horse (yes, that includes do-overs and soft hands)
  • Why perfectionism is not a flex—it’s a trap
  • How grit, grace, and grounded rituals can build true resilience in AND out of the arena

❓ QUESTIONS I ANSWER:

  • “Why are you so mean to yourself—but so supportive of your friends?”
  • “What do you actually do when you notice you’re spiraling after a mistake?”
  • “Isn’t self-compassion just coddling yourself?”
  • “How do you stop trying to ‘earn’ your worth through riding?”

Links & Resources:

You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. And you sure as hell don’t need to bully yourself into success. That’s not what makes great riders.

What makes them great? The ones who keep showing up—even when their brain is loud, their boots are muddy, and the warm-up didn’t go to plan.

You’ve got grit. You’ve got heart. Let’s get your brain back on your team.

👢 Keep riding with heart,

Nicole

Your Mental Performance Coach

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02 December 2025

#188 I Was Low-Key Trashing My Horse… Then I Tried This One Sentence

Have you ever ridden around and suddenly realized… you’re low-key trashing your own horse in your head?

Nothing dramatic. Nothing worthy of a meltdown.

Just that subtle, steady drip of:

“Ugh… this is uncomfortable.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“I wish you felt more like my other horse.”

Yep. I had one of those moments this week — and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Because even though I wasn’t yelling, yanking, or actually upset… my horse could still feel that I didn’t fully want to be there with him.

But then something wild happened.

I tested one simple sentence — genuinely, softly, out loud — and it completely flipped not just my ride… but my horse, my body, and honestly? My whole energy in the arena.

This episode breaks down what happened inside that little gratitude experiment, why it worked so powerfully on both of my horses, and how you can use this one sentence to shift any ride — even the ones that feel “meh,” sticky, or downright frustrating.

If you’ve been needing a reset… if your patience has felt thin… or if your horse has been carrying the weight of your exhaustion, irritation, or distracted brain — you’re going to love this one.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach, @resilientreiner, and (if you share a rider story) your horse’s Instagram handle too.

Share it with your barn friends or your riding group — I love seeing these episodes travel through the community.

I’m genuinely curious to hear how this lands for you and what happens the first time you try the gratitude ride.

And don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes so other riders can find these tools and ride with more clarity, calm, and confidence.

🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

  • The exact moment I realized I was mentally criticizing my horse without even meaning to
  • The one sentence I said out loud that instantly changed my ride
  • How your brain’s “search filter” shifts when you intentionally choose appreciation
  • Why genuine gratitude softens your nervous system and cleans up your riding cues
  • How your horse can feel the difference between “ugh, fine” vs. “I’m glad it’s you today”
  • Why gratitude isn’t pretending — it’s choosing what part of reality to amplify
  • A simple 4-step gratitude ride challenge you can try on any horse, any day
  • How to reset your focus when little frustrations start piling up
  • How regulating you gives your horse permission to settle and trust

❓ QUESTIONS I ANSWER INSIDE THIS EPISODE:

  • Why does my ride sometimes feel “off” even when nothing is technically wrong?
  • How does my horse pick up on my thoughts or energy so quickly?
  • What happens in the brain when I switch from negative focus to gratitude?
  • Can one sentence really change the feel of a ride?
  • What am I supposed to do when negative thoughts pop up mid-ride?
  • How do I find something to be grateful for when my horse is being spicy, green, or frustrating?
  • Why does gratitude help my timing, feel, and connection improve?
  • How do I keep my mindset from sliding into nitpicking or comparison?

Links & Resources:

🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor

Stop “show nerves” and saddle up with swagger.

👉 https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/

🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy

The confidence to win so you ride like you belong.

👉 https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy

🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians

Train your mind like a pro so you ride like one.

👉 https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/

🎯 Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips

Get rider-specific mindset tools in your inbox. Join my email list here.

👉https://www.resilientreiner.com/

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25 November 2025

#187 Does Gratitude Make You Soft?

I’ll shoot you straight—this isn’t a fluffy episode about sunshine, rainbows, and “just be thankful.”

This is about a tension riders quietly wrestle with all the time:

If I practice gratitude… will I lose my edge?

One of my riders asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks:

“Nicole, does gratitude make me less ambitious?”

Maybe you’ve felt that tug too. If you loosen your grip, will you start settling? If you let yourself breathe, does that mean you don’t want it badly enough anymore?

In this episode, we peel that apart.

Because the real cost of riding without gratitude isn’t that you’ll suddenly go soft—it’s that you burn yourself out chasing harder, faster, never-enough.

And the cost of riding without ambition? Drifting. Coasting. Riding smaller than you and your horse are capable of.

Neither feels good.

But together? Gratitude and ambition can fuel you in a way that steadies your seat, calms your nervous system, and keeps your fire lit for the long haul.

If you’ve ever braced your body in the saddle from sheer dissatisfaction, or felt that hamster wheel spin of “never enough,” this episode is going to give you clarity—and maybe the freedom—you’ve been looking for.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share it with your community. I’d love to hear what lands for you. And if this podcast has helped you, leaving a quick review on iTunes helps more riders find this work.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

  • Why gratitude isn’t the enemy of ambition—it’s the anchor that steadies it
  • The difference between “gratitude as a cop-out” and “gratitude as fuel”
  • How some riders accidentally use “I’m just grateful…” to avoid discomfort and growth
  • How to practice thankfulness without lowering your bar, losing your fire, or going soft on your goals
  • The difference between riding from dissatisfaction vs. riding from grounded drive
  • How gratitude can purify your ambition instead of watering it down
  • Practical ways to be deeply grateful for where you are and still hungry for more

Questions I Answer:

  • Does gratitude actually make riders less ambitious?
  • What really happens in your body when you ride from dissatisfaction?
  • How can gratitude improve your performance instead of dulling it?
  • What does ambition look like when it’s fueled by gratitude instead of fear?

Links & Resources:

🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor

Stop “show nerves” and saddle up with swagger.

👉 https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/

🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy

The confidence to win so you ride like you belong.

👉 https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy

🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians

Train your mind like a pro so you ride like one.

👉 https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/

🎯 Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips

Get rider-specific mindset tools in your inbox. Join my email list here.

👉https://www.resilientreiner.com/

This conversation isn’t about choosing gratitude or ambition—it’s about learning to ride with both. Because the truth is, when you ground yourself in gratitude, you actually free up the energy to chase harder, ride clearer, and enjoy the ride more along the way.

Nicole

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19 November 2025

#186 Too Busy for Mental Training? The 5-Minute Mental Routine I Give My Busiest Riders

If you feel too busy for mental training, this episode is for you. We’re talking about mental training for busy riders who are juggling jobs, families, and horses—and still want to compete well. You’ll learn how to use tiny “in-between” moments to train your brain without adding hours to your schedule.

Mental Training Doubt: Do I have enough time? It’s a question I hear again and again.

Let me tell you something a little spicy…

Some of the most confident, consistent riders I’ve ever coached? They don’t have more time. They’re just using the right minutes.

Yep. The riders you swear have it all together — polished runs, calm warm-ups, those annoyingly steady show-day nerves — most of them don’t have a spare hour to meditate, journal, or narrate affirmations into the sunrise like a cowboy Oprah.

They’re doing their mental training in the cracks.

In the truck.

In the barn aisle.

In the 60 seconds before they swing a leg over.

And that’s exactly what we’re diving into today — the truth about busy riders, mental training, and the tiny reps that create giant breakthroughs. If you’ve ever looked at your calendar and thought, “If I add one more thing, this whole life is gonna tip over,” this episode is going to feel like a deep breath and a warm hand on your shoulder.

Let’s talk about building a better ride… without needing a different life.

I’m talking how 5-minute habits could change your next show. And how to keep your brain from frying even with holiday chaos + horse shows:

If this episode hits home for you (or for a friend who’s juggling kids, work, horses, and a whole life on top of it), tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share it with your people! I absolutely love hearing your takeaways and seeing where you’re listening from.

If you want to help other riders find this work, be sure to leave a review on iTunes — it means more than you know.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

  • What pros know about mindset that busy riders miss.
  • The lie hiding inside “I don’t have time”. (And why busy riders actually have an advantage in mental training).
  • The truth about the “perfect morning routine” myth (and why pros DON’T do it)
  • Five tiny mental reps that fit into your real life — each less than two minutes. Yes, finally mental training for riders who hate long routines
  • How to use truck rides, tacking up, cooling out, and barn chores to rewire your mindset
  • The secret reason your brain resists mental training — and how to get it working with you
  • What changes when your mind trains the same way your horse does: small, consistent, intentional reps
  • The very first habit I give overwhelmed riders — and why it works immediately
  • How to start shifting your identity as a rider in a way that feels natural, not forced

QUESTIONS I ANSWER IN THIS EPISODE:

  • What to do if you don’t have time for mental training?
  • What if your life already feels like a sprint?
  • Isn’t mindset work supposed to take hours?
  • How do you keep your brain from spiraling on show day?
  • How do you know which micro-habit to start with?
  • Can you really make progress if you only ride a few times a week?
  • What do pros do differently when it comes to their mental game?

LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Ready for 5 days of simple, done-for-you mental training you can listen to in the truck or barn aisle?

Check out 5 Days to Confident Competitor

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12 November 2025

#185 The Truth About Competition: Navigating Fair Play in a Controversial World

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 intact — even when the arena doesn’t feel level. Because champions don’t waste time fighting what they can’t control… they build what they can.

If this episode hits home, share it with your barn crew or tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram — I want to hear your take on fair play, politics, and the moments that tested your

confidence most.

If you or someone you know needs this reminder, send it their way — and if you love what you’re hearing, leave a quick review on iTunes. It helps more riders find this podcast and ride a little braver too.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • How to stay steady when judging feels subjective or unfair
  • What to focus on when you can’t control the politics
  • How integrity and confidence actually feed performance
  • Why “fair play” isn’t weakness — it’s strategy
  • The mindset that helps you rise above drama, distraction, and doubt

Questions I Answer:

  • What do you do when you know a call wasn’t fair?
  • How can you stay focused when you feel judged for the wrong reasons?
  • Where’s the line between integrity and naïveté in competition?
  • How can you build trust in yourself when the playing field doesn’t feel even?
  • What’s the difference between reacting to politics and riding your plan?

LINK/RESOURCES:

The truth is, the pen won’t always be fair. But your focus, your ethics, and your preparation?

Those are always within reach.

Keep riding brave. Keep riding clean.

Your horse knows. And that’s the score that really counts. 🤠

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30 October 2025

#184 5 Spooky Scaries in the Saddle (Halloween Special)

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 when you care most.

So grab your coffee or your candy corn (no judgment here), because in this episode of The Resilient Reiner Podcast, we’re facing off with the five “Spooky Scaries in the Saddle.” You’ve met them before — you just didn’t know their names. This week, we’re calling them out, laughing in their ghostly little faces, and taking back the reins.

If this episode had you nodding, laughing, or side-eying your own mental monsters, tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram — and share it with your barn bestie before her next ride gets haunted too. 👻✨

I love hearing which monster shows up for you the most (my personal nemesis is Perfectionism in a pink clipboard). Don’t forget to leave a quick review on iTunes — it helps more riders find their way through the fog.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • The five mental monsters haunting your rides — and what they really want from you
  • Why the Hex of Self-Doubt actually shows up when you’re leveling up
  • How to turn show-day anxiety into laser-sharp focus (spoiler: breathe through your seat bones)
  • The real reason Distraction keeps crashing your warm-up pen
  • How to spot the Poltergeist of Perfection before she steals your fun
  • What the quiet Tomb of Burnout feels like — and how to resurrect your joy
  • A few “spell-breaking” tricks to keep your mind clear, grounded, and ghost-free

Questions I Answer:

  • How do you tell the difference between fear and focus?
  • Why does anxiety always show up exactly when things start going well?
  • What do you do when distraction takes over mid-run?
  • How can you let go of perfection without letting go of progress?
  • What’s the difference between needing rest and losing your spark?

LINK/RESOURCES:

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