Nicole Burnett
07 October 2025
18m
#181 Are You Making These 5 Common Mistakes in Your Mental Prep?
00:00
18:00
Resilient Reiner
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 until the horse could do it in their sleep… and then crumble in the pen. Not because they’re weak, but because no one ever taught them how to train their mental game the same way they train their horse.
So today, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the five most common mistakes riders make in their mental prep. And here’s the good news: once you see them, you can stop repeating them—and start showing up with the confidence, composure, and presence your horse has been waiting for.
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’m curious to hear all about your experience with mental prep—what’s clicked for you, and what mistakes you’ve caught yourself making. And don’t forget, leaving a review on iTunes helps other riders find the show.
In This Episode You Will Learn:
- Why saddle time doesn’t equal confidence—and what to do instead.
- The surprising role your nervous system plays in every single ride.
- How visualization can either wire you for failure or train you for success.
- Why perfectionism is killing your confidence (even when it looks like “high standards”).
- The single biggest difference between riders who dabble in mental prep and those who master it.
Questions I Answer:
- What’s the difference between training your horse and training your mind?
- Why do you feel confident at home but freeze the second you walk in the pen?
- Is visualization really that powerful—or is it just “woo woo”?
- How do you tell the difference between preparation and perfectionism?
- What does it actually look like to make mental prep a discipline instead of a one-off?
LINK/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. Sign up here! https://www.nicoleburnettcoaching.com/resilientreineracademy
- 🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians → Ride like a pro https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/
- 🎯 Get Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips → Join my email list! Subscribe here
Join The Mental Gym for Equestrians to get access to the live Melt Your Riding Blocks Masterclass!
These mistakes don’t mean you’re broken. They just mean you’ve been riding with blinders on in your mental game. The beauty of this work is that once you shine a light on them, you can melt the blocks and ride free. Your horse doesn’t need a perfect rider. They need you—calm, present, and confident. That’s the work. That’s what makes you unstoppable.
Nicole