
Podcast by Nicole Burnett
Podcast by Nicole Burnett
05 August 2025
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 on the real reason so many talented riders hit a ceiling they can’t break through. It’s not about talent. It’s not about horsepower. It’s about what’s happening between your ears. If you’ve ever walked out of the arena thinking, “My horse was ready, but I wasn’t,” this one’s for you.
If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I’m always curious to hear about your experience. Also, don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes to help more riders discover the show.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
Questions I Answer:
🚀 Ready For Your Own Mental Breakthrough? Here’s How:
00:00
11:33
29 July 2025
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 further along by now.”
Whether you’re dealing with tech meltdowns in your business, a horse that spooks at air, or a show that goes nothing like you planned, this shift will change how you show up—for real.
And no, radical acceptance doesn’t mean giving up or lowering your standards. It means dropping the drama and meeting reality so you can take smart, steady action in the only moment you truly have power: right now.
If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I’d love to hear what hit home for you—and where you’re practicing radical acceptance in your own riding.
And if this episode gave you a new way of looking at something, please take a second to leave a review on iTunes. Your review helps other riders find the support they need too.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
QUESTIONS I ANSWER:
LINK/RESOURCES:
00:00
20:21
16 July 2025
“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 trust that changes how you ride, how you show up, and how you feel in your own skin. Janessa went from constant what-if spirals and fear of riding solo… to riding alone, lighthearted, laughing, and living out her cowgirl dreams in the saddle.
She’s been through our programs - Resilient Reiner Academy and Mental Gym for Equestrians, and the transformation she’s experienced will give you chills. If you’ve ever wondered whether confidence like that is possible for you — this episode is your proof.
If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I'm so curious to hear what parts hit home for you. And if you’re feeling inspired, leave a review on iTunes so others can discover the podcast and find the support they need to ride with confidence, too.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
Questions I Answer:
🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES:
This episode is full of heart, honesty, and hope. Whether you’ve been riding for years or just getting started, Janessa’s journey is a reminder that the real transformation doesn’t start in the saddle — it starts in your mind.
Be sure to follow the podcast and stay tuned for more client stories, mindset tools, and rider breakthroughs. And if this story lit something up in you… don’t ignore it.
You’ve got more control than you think.
Nicole
00:00
40:38
08 July 2025
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 something much deeper. Brad Pitt. Fast cars. And an unexpected masterclass in quiet leadership.
It cracked something open in me.
And if you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Am I still going after my dream… or just helping everyone else chase theirs?”—this episode is for you.
We’re talking aging, ego, and that strange, tender season of evolving from the one in the spotlight… to the one holding the line. And what it really means to lead with strength no one claps for.
🎧 If this episode hit home—or reminded you of a rider who needs to hear this—tag me on Instagram @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner so I can cheer you on and hear your story. And don’t forget to leave a review on iTunes so more riders can find this podcast when they need it most.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
Questions I Answer:
🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES:
This one’s close to my heart.
Sometimes, growth isn’t about riding harder—it’s about not giving up while carrying more quietly.
And still showing up. Still dreaming. Still going.
You’re not done. You’re just evolving.
Let’s ride.
— Nicole
00:00
10:51
02 July 2025
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 pulling back the curtain on a conversation most riders desperately need to have.
We’re not just talking about mindset—we’re talking biology.
Because if you’ve been second-guessing yourself, losing patience, or just not feeling the joy in riding lately…
It might not be a mental block.
It might be your body asking for literal gas in the tank.
Let’s talk about how sleep, food, and hydration are secret weapons for calm, confident rides—especially when you're working hard to rebuild trust, momentum, and fun again.
Whether you’re showing or trail riding, green horse or seasoned partner—this one’s for you.
🎧 If this episode hits home, don’t keep it to yourself.
Tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share it with your barn crew or riding bestie. I want to know how this lands for you!
And if it sparked a breakthrough? Leave a review on iTunes—it helps other riders like you discover the show. 🤠
🧠 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:
❓QUESTIONS I ANSWER:
🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES:
Let this be your reminder:
You don’t need more pressure. You need more presence!
And that starts with sleep, snacks, and support—just like you’d give a toddler before a rodeo day. 😉
So if you’ve been frustrated with your mindset or stuck in your head… Zoom out.
Your confidence might not be gone, it just might be tired, hungry, or dehydrated. Let’s fix that!
Catch you in the episode,
Nicole 💛
00:00
20:43
25 June 2025
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?
What if it’s actually a message—a clue to your next level?
In this episode, we’re breaking down the moment that stings the most—and flipping it into something powerful. I’m walking you through how to stop making comparison mean something’s wrong with you… and start letting it show you what you truly want.
Because here’s the truth: her success isn’t your shame—it’s your signal.
If this episode hits home for you (or makes you see things in a new light), be sure to tag me @nicoleburnettmentalcoach and @resilientreiner on Instagram and share this with your riding buddies. I’m so curious to hear what part stuck with you. And if you haven’t yet, leave a review on iTunes to help more riders like you find the show!
🔗 LINKS / RESOURCES:
If fear’s been creeping into your rides—or you’ve been holding back, second-guessing, or wondering if you're even cut out for this—you don’t have to stay stuck.
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Let’s ride.
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10:44