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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20 May 2025

#165 From Sick Days to Success: Rebuilding Momentum in Your Mindset & Riding

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, straight from the couch to the barn.

If this one hits home, be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share the episode with a friend who might be crawling out of their own slump right now. We’re all in this together, and I seriously love seeing how y’all bounce back in your own way.

If this helped you reset, would you leave a review on iTunes? That helps more riders find the show and get the support they didn’t know they needed.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

  • Why just “resting” isn’t enough to reset your nervous system
  • Two powerful tools that helped me shake the brain fog and get grounded again
  • What breathwork really does to your body and why it’s not just trendy nonsense
  • How gratitude can rewire your brain (yes, literally)
  • Why it’s easier to maintain your mindset than rebuild from zero
  • How to check in with your mental state before you swing a leg over
  • The not-so-fancy truth about showing up—even when you’re not 100%

QUESTIONS I ANSWER:

  • What’s the first thing you should focus on when you’re trying to feel like “yourself” again?
  • How does breathwork work—and how do you use it when you feel off?
  • Why is gratitude such a game changer for performance and clarity?
  • What does ongoing mindset maintenance actually look like in real life?
  • How can you spot when you’re slipping—and how do you get ahead of it?

🚀 Ready For Your Own Mental Breakthrough? Here’s How:

If you’re in a season where you feel like you’re running on fumes… I want you to know this:

You’re not lazy. You’re not behind. And you’re definitely not broken.

 Your mindset just needs a little dusting off—like a saddle that’s been sitting in the tack room too long. It’s still good. You’re still good.

So take this episode like a deep breath. A mental reset.

 Get back in the groove, one step at a time. You’ve got this.

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08 May 2025

#164 For the Love of Horses and the Hate of Paperwork—With James Dexter of Stable Pro

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.

STABLE Pro is the business tool every trainer wishes they had years ago—and today, James is sharing the behind-the-scenes journey of creating it, why it matters so much for mental clarity, and how it’s changing the game for trainers and clients alike.

If you’re ready to ride with a little less chaos (and a lot more focus), this episode’s for you.

If you or someone you know would love this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach, @resilientreiner, and James at @farmerdexter on Instagram and share it with your crew! I love hearing what hits home for you. And if you’ve got a second, please leave a review on iTunes—it seriously helps more riders find the show!

Tune in to Hear: James’ story of growing up ranching, showing, and what finally pushed him to build STABLE Pro.

🎙️ How trainers (and their families!) were drowning in paperwork, stress, and late-night invoices—and how it didn’t have to be that way.

🎙️ How STABLE Pro helps trainers automate invoices, track trips, manage horses, and free up brain space.

🎙️The “mental load” no one talks about in the horse world—and why tackling it matters just as much as training your horse.

🎙️ Why being organized isn’t just about admin—it’s about showing up with more focus, energy, and confidence.

🎙️ Real stories of how STABLE Pro is making life easier for trainers and clients (and yes… even saving a few marriages along the way!).

🎙️ What’s coming next for STABLE Pro—and how the horse world is finally catching up to modern business tools.

Questions We Cover:

🎯What made James realize the horse industry desperately needed a tool like STABLE Pro?

🎯 How does mental overload hurt trainers (and their horses)?

🎯 What’s the one feature James is most proud of?

🎯 How can better organization improve show day confidence?

🎯 Why does James believe even small trainers and barns can benefit from better systems?

🎯 What’s next for the future of equine business management?

Meet James Dexter: James Dexter is a lifelong horseman, carrying on his family’s multi-generational ranching legacy at Fifty Horse Ranch. After seeing how business stress was stealing the joy from horse training, he founded STABLE Pro to help trainers stay organized, lighten their mental load, and get back to doing what they love most—riding and training with confidence.

Connect with James: Follow James on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stable_pro/ and check out everything STABLE Pro can do at https://stablepro.us/ !

Extra Resources:

  • 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

🎧 Now, hit play & let’s celebrate these incredible wins together!

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06 May 2025

#163 When Riding Plans Go Off the Rails: Here’s What I’m Learning

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.

If your horse training plan has gone off track and your brain is spiraling with “I’m behind,” this episode is the deep breath and mindset reset you didn’t know you needed.

🤠 If this episode hit home, I’d love to hear about it. Tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share what landed for you. And if you’ve got a barn friend who needs this reminder too—send it their way. It helps so much when you leave a quick review on iTunes so more riders can find this kind of support.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

  • How I’m navigating two horses at totally different stages—and neither of them according to plan 🙃
  • The mental reframe that’s helping me feel proud even when I’m not in the saddle
  • Why real progress is rarely linear (but always worth it)
  • The surprising connection between ego and rest
  • What “riding the season you’re in” actually looks like
  • Why consistency doesn’t mean perfection—and how to feel strong without doing it all “right”

QUESTIONS I ANSWER:

  • What do you do when everything gets thrown off?
  • Is it okay to give my horse time off—even when you feel behind?
  • How do you handle guilt when you’re not riding as much as you planned?
  • Can you still call myself a serious competitor if you’re not showing right now?
  • How do you get out of a mental spiral when everything’s off track?

🚀 Ready For Your Own Mental Breakthrough? Here’s How:

FROM ME TO YOU, FRIEND:

If you’re in a season where your goals feel further away than ever… you’re not broken. You’re building. Even if it doesn’t look like much from the outside, every rehab wrap, every quiet moment at the gate, every time you choose presence over panic—that’s growth.

You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

And I’m right here in it with you.

Talk soon,

Nicole 🤎

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29 April 2025

#162 What To Do If Your Confidence Drops Mid Pattern?

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. This one’s a game-changer. 🤠

If you or someone you know benefitted from this episode, be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this with your riding crew! 🐎 I seriously love hearing how these episodes hit home for you, so don’t be shy—message me your biggest takeaway.

And hey—leaving a quick review on iTunes? Helps more riders find their power. I appreciate it more than you know. 🙌

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • Why losing your confidence mid-ride doesn’t mean you’re a bad rider (and what it really means)
  • The real reason your brain spirals over a tiny mistake
  • The 3-step Confidence Reset you can use IN THE MOMENT to get back on track
  • Why you don't have to be confident every second to ride like a pro
  • How to stop a mental meltdown before it wrecks your whole pattern

Questions I Answer:

  • What should you do when you realize you’re spiraling mid-pattern?
  • How can you snap yourself back to focus without losing precious time?
  • Is it even possible to rebuild confidence in the middle of a run?
  • How do elite riders handle the "oh no, I messed up" moments differently?
  • Can breathing really change how you ride under pressure? (spoiler: YES.)

🚀 Ready For Your Own Mental Breakthrough? Here’s How:

🎧 Now, hit play & let’s celebrate these incredible wins together!

Friend, riding like a champion isn’t about never making a mistake. It’s about knowing how to come back swinging, even after you hit a pole, miss a cue, or hear that ugly little voice start up in your head. You’ve got more in you than you even realize—and learning how to recover fast? That’s your real power. Let’s ride!

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22 April 2025

#161 Have You Seen The Bird That Fakes A Broken Wing?

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—this episode will shift the way you see it and give you tools to take your mental game back.

This one’s about way more than birds. It’s about understanding your stress patterns, rewiring your response to pressure, and becoming the kind of rider who can stay calm and connected no matter what.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I’d love to hear what your version of the “broken wing moment” looks like—and how this episode helped you move through it. Also, don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes to help other riders find the show!

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

  • What a killdeer is—and what the heck it has to do with your mental game as a rider
  • How your brain creates “decoy drama” right before high-pressure moments
  • The surprising truth about anxiety, overthinking, and second-guessing
  • Why your brain thinks it’s protecting you (even when it’s getting in your way)
  • A simple phrase that can flip your mindset instantly on show day
  • Why most riders ignore their mental patterns—and how that keeps them stuck
  • How to retrain your brain to stay grounded and focused, even when the pressure is high

Questions I Answer:

  • Why do you always feel anxious or scattered before you compete—even when you’re prepared?
  • How can you tell if what you're feeling is a real issue or just my brain freaking out?
  • What’s the fastest way to ground yourself before a run?
  • Is there a simple tool to help you stop spiraling when nerves hit hard?
  • How do you actually train your brain to stay calm under pressure?

🚀 Ready For Your Own Mental Breakthrough? Here’s How:

🎧 Now, hit play & let’s celebrate these incredible wins together!

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15 April 2025

#160 What I Saw On Horseback Last Week Still Gives Me Goosebumps

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 and the powerful reminder it gave me: we’re not building confidence to impress anyone—we’re building it so we can live. If your brain’s been stuck in “what if” mode or talking you out of the rides you actually want to be on, this one’s for you.

If this episode resonated with you—or you know a rider who needs to hear this message—be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I love hearing how these episodes land for you. And don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes so other riders can discover the podcast too!

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • Why confidence has to come before the ribbons, not after
  • What your brain is really doing when it talks you out of something
  • How fear can show up even when your horse is ready
  • The deeper reason we work on mindset—and how it fuels the rides of your dreams
  • To stop waiting until you “feel ready” to do the bold, badass things you’re dreaming of

Questions I Answer:

  • What does confidence actually look like outside the arena?
  • Why does your brain keep convincing you to play small—even when you’re ready?
  • How do you train your mind to stop second-guessing and start saying yes to your life on horseback?

🚀 Ready For Your Own Mental Breakthrough? Here’s How:

  • 🎯 Resilient Reiner Academy → The confidence to win so you ride like you belong. Sign up here! 
  • 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here

🎧 Now, hit play & let’s celebrate these incredible wins together!

You don’t have to earn the adventure. You just need to trust yourself enough to go live it.

See ya out there,

Nicole 🤠

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