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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19 May 2026

#209 Why Do Affirmations Work on Instagram but Not in the Warm-Up Pen?

I’m going to say something that might ruffle a few feathers…

If affirmations were enough, more riders would be winning in the show pen.

Not because you’re not saying the right things.

But because when your horse feels the pressure, your body is already telling a different story.

Picture this for a second—you're sitting on your horse, everything felt fine at home, you know your cues, you’ve practiced, you’ve even told yourself, “I’ve got this.”

And then you hit the warm-up pen.

Energy shifts. Eyes are on you. Someone next to you looks sharper, faster, more polished.

And suddenly… your brain gets loud, your body tightens, your timing feels off, and that confident version of you? Gone.

This episode is where we unpack why that happens—and more importantly, what actually helps you stay steady, clear, and connected to your horse when it matters most.

Because this isn’t about thinking better thoughts.

It’s about becoming a rider your horse can trust under pressure.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I am curious to hear all about your experience. Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the show.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • Why affirmations can feel powerful at home—but fall apart in the warm-up pen
  • What’s actually happening in your nervous system when pressure hits
  • The difference between a thought problem and a state problem in riding
  • Why your horse responds to your internal state more than your intentions
  • How pressure changes your timing, cues, and decision-making in the saddle
  • The real reason one small mistake can spiral into a full breakdown
  • What effective self-talk actually needs to be under pressure (and why most riders get this wrong)
  • The three qualities your self-talk must have to actually work when it counts
  • Why trying to “be positive” can sometimes make things worse
  • What it looks like to come back to yourself mid-ride, even when your brain gets loud

Questions I Answer:

  • Why do affirmations work at home but not at horse shows?
  • What should you do when your brain starts spiraling in the warm-up pen?
  • Why do you feel confident one minute and completely off the next?
  • How do you stop overthinking when you’re about to go in the gate?
  • What’s actually happening when your horse starts to feel tense or disconnected?
  • How do you stay present and ride the horse youI have under pressure?
  • Why does one mistake turn into multiple mistakes during a run?
  • What kind of self-talk actually helps in high-pressure moments?

Links & Resources:

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12 May 2026

#208 Feeding Performance Horses: What Most Riders Get Wrong with Rachael Haar

Equine nutritionist Rachael Haar joins me to simplify what actually matters when feeding performance horses — from forage and hay quality to supplements, gut health, hydration, hauling, recovery, and the nutrition mistakes well-meaning horse owners often miss.

Because let’s be honest: horse nutrition can get confusing fast.

One person says your horse needs electrolytes.

Another says alfalfa makes horses hot.

Someone else swears beet pulp changed their horse’s life.

Then suddenly you’re standing there holding three supplements, questioning every feeding decision you’ve ever made while your horse licks the salt block and judges you.

So today, we’re simplifying all of it.

In this episode, I sat down with equine nutrition consultant Rachael Haar from BCS 5.0 Equine Nutrition, and we had such a good conversation about what actually matters when it comes to feeding western performance horses. We talk about hydration, gut health, hauling, showing, topline, supplements, forage, electrolytes, recovery, and how nutrition may be impacting horses that feel hot, dull, inconsistent, reactive, or flat under saddle.

This episode felt like sitting in the barn aisle having a really practical conversation with someone who actually understands horses, performance, and real life horse ownership. Rachael does an incredible job making nutrition feel way less overwhelming and way more doable.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether your horse actually needs all the things in your feed room right now… this episode is probably going to save you some stress (and maybe some money too).

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach @resilientreiner and @bcs5.0equinenutrition on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I am curious to hear all about your experience.

Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes to help other riders discover the show!

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • Why most horse owners are overcomplicating nutrition
  • What hay testing can tell you about your horse’s health and performance
  • How nutrition impacts recovery, energy, consistency, and topline
  • The truth about electrolytes, probiotics, calming supplements, omega-3s, and joint supplements
  • Why some horses feel hot, reactive, dull, or inconsistent under saddle
  • How hauling and showing affect hydration and digestion
  • Why gut health matters so much for western performance horses
  • The difference between feeding a lightly worked horse vs. a performance horse
  • Common feeding mistakes horse owners make without realizing it
  • Simple ways to support your horse’s health without buying every supplement on the market

Questions I Answer:

  • Does alfalfa actually make horses hot?
  • Are calming supplements worth it?
  • How do you know if your horse’s diet is balanced?
  • What causes horses to feel inconsistent at horse shows?
  • What supplements are actually useful for performance horses?
  • Why do some horses struggle with topline and recovery?
  • What role does hydration play in horse show performance?
  • How can owners support gut health and digestion during hauling and showing?
  • How much forage should horses really be getting?
  • What should owners look for when choosing supplements?

Connect with Rachael Haar + BCS 5.0 Equine Nutrition:

Rachael Haar is an independent equine nutrition consultant who helps horse owners build balanced, forage-first feeding programs that support long-term health, recovery, condition, and performance. Her approach is practical, science-backed, and incredibly easy to understand — especially for riders who feel overwhelmed by all the nutrition noise online.

You can connect with Rachael here:

Instagram: @bcs5.0nutrition

Facebook: BCS 5.0 Nutrition

TikTok: @bcs.5.0.nutrition

Join her Newsletter here: https://bcs-5-0.kit.com/subscription

Links & Resources:

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05 May 2026

#207 Stop Overspin Penalties for Good

Overspin penalty.

If you’ve ever shown reining—or any western discipline where precision maneuvers matter—you know that feeling. Because it didn’t feel like a disaster. The horse was turning. The maneuver had speed. There was shape. It felt like it might finally be the spin.

And then… you went just a little too far.

That moment is one of the most frustrating experiences in the show pen. Not because it was terrible—but because it was so close.

In this episode, I want to talk about something that a lot of riders misunderstand about spins, timing, and performance under pressure.

Because most riders assume overspin penalties mean one thing:

They need to practice spins more.

More drilling.

More control.

More trying to catch the stop earlier.

But after coaching a lot of western riders—reiners, ranch riders, cow horse competitors, and people riding patterns across different disciplines—I’ve noticed something important.

A lot of overspin penalties are not actually spin problems.

They’re pressure problems.

What happens is riders get mentally ahead of the maneuver. Instead of riding the spin they’re in, they start riding the stop they’re worried about missing.

And the moment your brain jumps ahead like that, timing gets messy. Your body tightens. Your cues change. Your horse feels it.

In this episode, I’m going to break down the mental pattern behind overspin penalties, why pressure causes riders to rush their timing, and what you can do to stay present enough in the maneuver to actually ride your horse instead of reacting to the mistake you’re afraid of.

If you’ve ever walked out of the show pen thinking, “I know I can ride better than that,” this episode is for you.

If this episode resonates with you, be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share the episode with your horse friends or your barn crew.

I genuinely love seeing where riders are listening from and hearing what clicked for you. I’m always curious to hear how these ideas show up in your riding.

And if the podcast has been helpful for you, leaving a quick review on iTunes is one of the best ways to help more riders discover the show.

In This Episode You Will Learn

  • Why overspin penalties often start before the spin even begins
  • The mental pattern that causes riders to rush timing in spins
  • Why drilling maneuvers harder doesn’t always fix the problem
  • How pressure changes your nervous system in the saddle
  • The difference between riding the maneuver and riding the mistake you’re afraid of
  • Why anticipation is one of the biggest timing killers in western riding
  • The subtle ways riders tighten their bodies without realizing it
  • How staying present improves feel, precision, and communication with your horse
  • A simple mental cue that can help riders stay in the maneuver instead of rushing the finish
  • How one rider completely changed her spin scores by shifting her mindset

Questions I Answer

  • Why do you overspin even when the spin itself feels good?
  • Is overspinning a training issue or a mental timing issue?
  • Why does pressure in the show pen change the way you cue your horse?
  • What causes you to anticipate the stop during spins?
  • Why does trying harder to avoid a mistake often create the mistake?
  • How does tension affect your horse during a maneuver?
  • Why do you perform differently at home versus in the show pen?
  • What role does your nervous system play in timing and feel?
  • How can you stay mentally present during fast maneuvers?

Links & Resources:

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28 April 2026

#206 Why Do I Ride Better at Home Than I Do at Shows?

Hot take:

If you ride worse at horse shows than you do at home… It's probably not a training problem.

And I know—that’s not what most people want to hear.

Because it’s way easier to go home, work your horse harder, fix the spins, clean up the circles, and tell yourself you just need more reps.

But here’s what I see all the time as a mental coach for western riders:

You can school your horse at home and feel confident.

You can lope off, hit your marks, stay with the feel, and ride like you know how to ride.

Then you walk into the show pen…

and suddenly everything feels just a little off.

Not terrible.

Just enough to cost you the run.

And that’s the part that messes with riders the most.

Because it doesn’t feel like a total breakdown.

It feels like you’re almost yourself—but not quite.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why that happens, what pressure is actually doing to your riding, and why this gap between home and the show pen has nothing to do with whether you’re good enough.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach @resilientreiner and share this episode with your community! I am curious to hear all about your experience. Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the show.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • Why riding at home and riding at a horse show feel like two completely different experiences
  • The real reason pressure changes your timing, feel, and decision-making in the saddle
  • Why this is not a sign that you’re underprepared or not good enough
  • The difference between a skill problem vs. an access-to-skill-under-pressure problem
  • What actually happens in your body and mind when the stakes feel higher
  • How overthinking, micromanaging, and “trying harder” quietly hurt your performance
  • Why your horse can feel different—even when nothing about your training has changed
  • The subtle shift from riding the maneuver → to riding your fear of the mistake
  • Why your home rides are valid (and actually matter more than you think)
  • The perspective shift that helps riders stop spiraling after inconsistent show runs

Questions I Answer:

  • Why do you ride better at home than you do at horse shows?
  • Why does your horse feel different in the show pen?
  • Why do you overthink everything once you start competing?
  • Is this a confidence issue… or do you just need more practice?
  • Why can you know what to do but still not ride like myself when it counts?
  • Are you just not mentally tough enough for competition?
  • Why do you rush, hesitate, or second-guess things you normally do well at home?
  • Do your good rides at home even count if you can’t repeat them at shows?

Links & Resources:

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22 April 2026

#205 My Dark Mental Hack to Crush the Competition With Unbeatable Consistency

Here’s a spicy one for you today…

Some riders get their rides done no matter the weather, the wind, the mood, or the million distractions that come with real life. And it’s not because they’re more disciplined, more talented, or blessed with superhuman motivation.

It’s because they use one quiet mental trick that keeps their reins in their own hands — not their excuses.

And honestly?

This trick has saved me more times than I can count.

From the nights I’m staring at my boots thinking “absolutely not,” to the weeks where my horse life feels like one long to-do list… this tiny shift has pulled me out of procrastination, off the couch, and back into the identity of the rider I actually want to be.

Today, I’m breaking down the simple mental reframe that riders all over the world have used to turn “ugh, I should” into “alright, let’s go.”

It’s honest.

It’s practical.

And it works even on those cold, windy Tuesday nights when motivation is nowhere to be found.

If you’ve ever wanted the results — the clean stop, the confident run, the steady mind — but dreaded the ride that gets you there… this episode is going to land hard.

If this episode hits home for you, or if you know a rider who’s been stuck in the “have to” mindset, be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share it with your community! I love hearing what shifts for you. And don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes — it helps more riders find these tools.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

  • The subtle language mistake that makes riding feel like homework
  • Why “I get to do this” doesn’t always work (and what to say instead)
  • The real reason your brain resists riding, practicing, or mindset work
  • How one flipped sentence lowers anxiety and gets you moving again
  • The simple daily script that rewires your identity as a rider
  • A live walkthrough of how to apply the “I want to… because…” tool to riding and non-riding tasks
  • Why this tool boosts motivation even when you’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed

QUESTIONS I ANSWER:

  • Why does “I have to” create resistance in riders?
  • What makes “I want to… because…” a scientifically-backed motivation hack?
  • How can riders reconnect to internal motivation instead of external pressure?
  • What does identity have to do with follow-through and confidence?
  • How do you use this mental tool during busy, stressful, or low-energy seasons?

Links & Resources:

If you’ve ever felt guilty for procrastinating your ride… or frustrated that motivation feels unpredictable… let today be your permission slip to stop muscling through and start choosing your ride with intention.

Your words matter.

Your identity matters.

And how you talk to yourself before you pull on those boots might be the quiet shift that changes everything.

Be sure to tag me when this clicks for you — I truly want to hear your “aha” moments.

Ride with confidence,

Nicole

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08 April 2026

#204 You Have to Be Willing to Look Dumb. Kari Klingenberg on Growth, Discomfort, and Better Riding

Join me for a sit down with Kari Klingenberg—an NRHA Professional, Team USA representative, and reining trainer based at Pinnacle Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona—who works with horses and riders at every level to build real performance in the show pen.

And we got real about what actually separates riders who show up like themselves when it counts…

from the ones who feel like everything falls apart the second the pressure hits.

We talk about what it really takes to build confidence as a rider, why some riders keep hitting the same wall (no matter how hard they work), and the shift that changes how your horse responds to you in real time.

Kari brings a grounded, no-BS perspective from the trainer’s side—developing horses, coaching non-pro riders, and navigating her own path in the western performance horse world.

And I think you’re going to feel seen in this one…

especially if you’ve ever walked out of the show pen thinking,

“I know I can ride better than that.”

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach @resilientreiner and @kariannaph on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I am curious to hear all about your experience. Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the show.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • Why riding great at home but struggling in the show pen has nothing to do with your actual riding ability
  • The real reason your horse feels different under pressure (and how you might be speaking a totally different “language” without realizing it)
  • How present-moment focus unlocks your best rides—and why most riders never actually access it
  • The difference between a rider who wants it… and a rider who is actually aligned with what it takes
  • What “I can’t” is really doing to your riding—and how to shift into a growth mindset that actually creates progress
  • Why discomfort, mistakes, and even looking dumb are part of becoming a better rider (and how to stop resisting that)
  • The hidden pressure riders put on themselves—and how it shows up in their horse’s behavior
  • How to stop over-checking your horse and start trusting your training
  • The role identity plays in your confidence, your decisions, and your results in the saddle
  • Why your goals might not be the problem… but your expectations around them are
  • How to balance ambition with enjoyment so riding doesn’t feel like a constant test
  • The truth about sacrifice in the western performance world—and why not everyone actually wants what they think they want
  • How to build resilience when things don’t go your way in the show pen
  • Why being “honest with yourself” is one of the most powerful tools you have as a rider

Questions I Answer:

  • Why do you ride so well at home, but feel like you lose it at shows?
  • How do you stay focused in the show pen instead of worrying about judges or other riders?
  • What’s the difference between a training issue and a confidence issue?
  • How do you know if your goals are realistic—or if you’re holding yourself back?
  • Why does your horse feel different when you get nervous?
  • How do you stop overthinking every cue and just ride?
  • What should you do when you feel like you’re not improving fast enough?
  • How can you push yourself without making every ride feel stressful?
  • Why do you feel like you have to prove something every time you show?
  • How do you rebuild confidence after a bad run or tough show?

Links & Resources:

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