#213 How to Plus Your Sliding Stop Every Time

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It’s the crown jewel of reining. A fan favorite to watch. And a rider favorite to perform.

Yet you can have the horse, the training, and the maneuver… and still leave points in the pen.

Here’s the part riders don’t always want to hear—most missed sliding stops aren’t lost in the dirt… they’re lost 30 feet before the marker. Right in that rundown where everything should feel simple, but suddenly your body tightens, your mind jumps ahead, and your horse feels you check out.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why your sliding stop isn’t actually a “stop problem.” It’s a pressure problem. A timing problem. A presence problem. And once you see it, you won’t be able to unsee it.

We’re talking about what really changes in your body when the speed goes up, why anticipation quietly steals your score, and how to stay committed all the way through the maneuver so your horse can actually show you what they’ve got.

Because the goal isn’t to try harder at the marker.

It’s to become the kind of rider your horse can trust all the way down the pen.

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach @resilientreiner and @[GuestInstagramHandle] 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 most sliding stops lose quality before the cue ever happens
The difference between riding into the stop vs. bracing for it
How anticipation and overthinking change your body (and your horse feels it instantly)
What actually happens to your timing when pressure goes up in the rundown
Why fear around speed quietly holds riders back from bigger scores
The real reason “trying harder at the marker” doesn’t fix your stop
How your nervous system impacts your horse’s performance more than you think
What it means to stay committed all the way through a maneuver
The subtle ways riders “pre-stop” without realizing it
How to ride forward with confidence instead of backing off under pressure

Questions I Answer:

Why does your sliding stop feel good at home but fall apart in the show pen?
How do you stop anticipating the stop and stay present in the rundown?
Why does your horse feel different when you get nervous or start thinking ahead?
Do you need more speed or more control to get better stops?
Why do you tense up right before the marker—even when you don’t want to?
How can you stay committed to the maneuver without bracing or overthinking it?
What should you focus on during the rundown instead of the stop itself?
Why does adding speed make you feel out of control—and how do you fix that?

Links & Resources:

🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor
Stop “show nerves” and saddle up with swagger.
👉 https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/
🎯 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/