How to Stop Dwelling on Riding Mistakes

You love your horse, so why do you still feel anxious, nervous or afraid to ride? Perhaps you know your horse is safe, you know you have the skill and ability to do all the things you want to do, and nothing bad may ever have happened. Rationally, you know you should be fine, but another part of you still hesitates, worries or finds reasons not to ride. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks-Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore why rider anxiety can feel so confusing and why it doesn’t always respond to logic or reassurance. They discuss how the rational mind and survival brain can pull you in different directions, why your brain can learn to perceive danger from things you’ve experienced, witnessed, heard about or repeatedly imagined, and why anxiety often begins building before you consciously notice it. Victoria shares how her nerves often appeared as excuses and avoidance, while Sam explains why forcing yourself to ride through fear isn’t always helpful and how calming the survival brain can change the way you think, feel and respond. If you love your horse but can’t understand why anxiety, nerves or fear keep showing up, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

Have you ever thought, “I’m just not good enough for my horse”? Perhaps you worry that you’re holding your horse back, believe they would progress further with somebody else or treat every mistake as proof that you don’t deserve them. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks-Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore why so many riders struggle with feeling inadequate and how separating your self-worth from your riding ability can change the way you learn and progress. They discuss the difference between not being good enough and not being ready yet, why comparing yourself with more experienced riders is rarely helpful, and how to identify whether you need to change your thinking, develop your skills or seek expert advice about the partnership between you and your horse. Victoria shares how experiences from childhood shaped the way she saw herself as a rider, while Sam explains why focusing on how much better her horse might be with somebody else only got in the way of becoming better for the horse she had. If you’ve ever felt that your horse is wasted on you or would be better off with a more capable rider, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

What if the thing holding you back in your riding isn’t what you think it is? You might assume that you need better technique, more experience or a different horse. But tension, self-talk, fear of judgement, your environment and even the anxiety of the people around you can all affect the way you ride and the way your horse responds. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore the hidden factors that can prevent capable riders from performing at their best. They discuss how your mental state affects your physical state, why tension can make riding effectively much harder, and how other people’s opinions, fears and behaviour can influence your confidence without you realising it. Victoria shares how her own thoughts created limitations that didn’t really exist, while Sam explains why getting curious about your attention, your environment and what has changed can help you uncover the real cause of a problem. If you feel as though something is stopping you from riding the way you know you can, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

What happens when riding doesn’t go the way you hoped? Perhaps you received a disappointing score, had a difficult round, missed an event you’d been looking forward to or found that circumstances with your horse changed the plans you had made. In this episode, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore how to respond to disappointment without allowing one outcome to define your ability, damage your confidence or steal the enjoyment from everything else. They discuss the difference between healthy disappointment and giving an event more meaning than it deserves, why focusing on the process is more helpful than trying to control the outcome, and how noticing what went well can prevent one setback from overshadowing the whole experience. Victoria shares how redefining success transformed the way she competed and helped her enjoy riding again, while Sam explains why some disappointments need time and acceptance, whereas others are best approached with curiosity, perspective and a practical plan for moving forwards. If a setback, score or disappointing result has ever stayed with you longer than you wanted it to, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

Why can returning to riding feel so daunting, even when you really want to do it? Whether you’ve had a few weeks away, taken time off after an injury or are returning after many years, you might find that one part of you is excited to ride while another part feels anxious or hesitant. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, and they explore why confidence can change after a break and how to return without putting pressure on yourself to pick up exactly where you left off. They discuss why your rational mind and survival brain can pull you in different directions, how effective visualisation can help you prepare, and why the right support and a sensible plan can set both you and your horse up for success. Victoria shares her experiences of returning after pregnancy, military deployments and injury, while Sam talks about coming back to riding after almost twenty years and what her horses and trainer taught her about making the return easier. If you want to get back in the saddle but feel more nervous or hesitant than you expected, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/