#191 Die Hard is a nervous system masterclass. Fight me.

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Hot take: Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

Hotter take: it’s also the best mental performance lesson you didn’t know you needed.

Listen to this episode for my top 3 mental performance takeaways from Die Hard.

When watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, it hit me. John McClane is capable and effective not because he’s calm. He’s capable and effective because he knows how to respond inside chaos. And honestly? That’s the exact skill riders need in the saddle whether you compete or not.

Because let’s be real — the show pen is not a spa. It’s bright lights, loud speakers, rushed schedules, and a horse that suddenly thinks the gate banner is a government drone. If your confidence depends on everything going smoothly, it’s going to crack under pressure. In this episode, I’m breaking down why mental performance isn’t about “feeling calm,” but about staying functional when you’re not — and how a simple, repeatable response can keep you riding like yourself even when your nervous system is on high alert.

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 genuinely want to hear what clicked for you — or where you noticed this showing up in your own rides.

And if you haven’t already, please leave a review on iTunes. It helps other riders find this podcast and reminds them they’re not broken for feeling pressure — they just need better tools.

In This Episode You Will Learn

Why “calm” is not the requirement you think it is for good riding under pressure
What your nervous system is actually doing when show nerves hit
How to stop negotiating with panic when things start to feel intense
The difference between chasing perfect and riding responsively
A simple 30-second “anti-spiral” protocol you can use in the warm-up pen
Why identity drives performance more than confidence ever will
How having any plan reduces nervous system overwhelm on show day
How to rewrite the mental story that’s been sabotaging your consistency

Questions I Answer

Why do you feel more tense now than you did earlier in my riding career?
Is something wrong with you if you can’t “calm down” before you ride?
How do you stop spiraling when your horse spooks or things don’t go to plan?
What should you focus on when your brain feels totally fried in the pen?
How do you build confidence without waiting to “feel ready”?
What’s the simplest thing you can do when pressure hits mid-ride?

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/