#211 “I Could Win at Home… Then I Entered the Show Pen” with MJ

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"I could win everything at home... if they judged me there."

When MJ said that during our conversation, I knew exactly what she meant.

Because here's the thing: she wasn't lacking horse training. She wasn't lacking effort. She wasn't lacking a good horse or a good trainer. In fact, she had all of those things. But every time she rode through the gate at a horse show, everything changed. Her body tightened, her hand came up, her legs got stiff, and the rider she knew she was at home seemed to disappear.

This week's guest is MJ Anderson, an Air Force veteran, non-pro reined cow horse competitor, and one of the most determined horsewomen I've had the privilege of supporting through The Mental Gym for Equestrians. In this conversation, she shares how years of frustration in the show pen led her to build a real mental toolbox, develop a pre-run routine she can trust, and finally learn how to stay present when the pressure is on.

What I love about MJ's story is that it isn't about becoming fearless.

It's about learning how to stop abandoning yourself the moment pressure shows up.

And because of that, it's a story I think every Western rider needs to hear.

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 am curious to hear all about your experience.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• Why MJ felt like two completely different riders at home versus horse shows

• What happened when her trainer finally told her, "You need a mental coach"

• How pressure was changing her horse's behavior before she even realized it

• The reason trying harder kept making the problem worse

• Why MJ decided to join Mental Gym for Equestrians after seeing results from Five Days to Confident Competitor

• The exact pre-ride routine she now uses before every ride

• How tapping, breathing, grounding, and nervous system regulation changed her confidence

• The surprising thing she did before entering the herd that led to one of her best runs ever

• How she cut all three cows clean after years of struggling in the herd work

• What helped her break into the 70s in the reining for the first time

• Why staying present became more important than riding perfectly

• How she learned to stop riding everyone else's ride and focus on her own

• The mindset shift that helped her stop putting so much pressure on herself

• Why she now says, "Be a dog" before important runs

• How journaling helped her recreate great rides instead of obsessing over mistakes

• What it means to train your brain the same way you train your horse

• Why her biggest win had nothing to do with scores, checks, or year-end awards

• The powerful lesson she learned about investing in herself

Questions We Answer:

• Why do you ride so much better at home than you do at horse shows?

• Why does your horse feel completely different in the show pen?

• What can you do when you start spiraling before a run?

• How do you stop overthinking during reining patterns and cow work?

• What should you focus on when nerves start taking over?

• How do you stay present when you’re competing?

• Why do you keep putting so much pressure on myself?

• How can you trust your horse more under pressure?

• What tools help regulate horse show nerves in the moment?

• How do you stop comparing yourself to other riders in your barn?

• What does it actually look like to train your mental game?

• How do you become the rider your horse needs you to be?

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/