Turn Riding Fear Around

Rider Balance: Why Feeling Unsteady Changes Everything

Feeling physically unsteady in the saddle can quietly affect far more than just your balance—it can change your confidence, your reactions, and the trust between you and your horse.   In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share why rider balance affects riding confidence more than most of us realize, and how feeling physically unstable can make our nervous system louder, our reactions bigger, and our horse feel our tension before we even know it’s there.   If you struggle with mounting and dismounting, grabbing with your reins or legs, feeling tense when your horse moves, avoiding certain situations, or feeling unsteady both in and out of the saddle, this episode will help you understand why balance matters so much for calm, confident riding.   In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why physical balance affects your nervous system and riding confidence • How balance outside the saddle improves balance in the saddle • Why moving with your horse creates trust, softness, and connection • How a steady body helps your brain feel safer and respond with more confidence   Because sometimes what we call riding fear… actually starts with our body not feeling steady underneath us.   And just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new. If you’re ready to build more balance, courage, calm, and trust in your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call:   https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy [https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy]   If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH [https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH] and keep training courage into your riding.

The First 30 Seconds in the Saddle Matter More Than You Realize

The first 30 seconds after mounting your horse may be shaping far more than you realize.   In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share how the way I was taught to get on horses as a kid created habits I never even questioned… until I realized those first moments in the saddle were training my horse—and my brain.   If your horse fidgets at the mounting block, walks off before you settle in, or you find yourself adjusting everything before ever really connecting, this episode will help you understand why those first 30 seconds matter so much for both horse and rider.   In this episode, you’ll learn: • How asking for stillness before mounting builds trust • Why mounting with softness changes how your horse feels you • How connecting before movement helps both nervous systems settle   Because your horse learns from every moment… and so does your brain. When we rush, brace, or skip connection, we can accidentally train tension, movement, and anticipation instead of trust.   But just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new.   If you’re ready to train courage, calm, and trust into your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call: https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy [https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy]   If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH [https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH] and keep training courage into your riding.

The Pre-Ride Checklist That Changes Everything

After my riding accident, I created something that completely changed the way I prepare for every ride—and honestly, I wish I had done it years earlier.   In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share the pre-ride checklist I now use to help reduce riding anxiety, build trust, improve safety, and feel more prepared before ever getting in the saddle.   If you struggle with riding fear, loss of confidence after an accident, pre-ride nerves, or wondering if both you and your horse are truly ready to ride, this episode will help you create a system that builds trust before your feet ever leave the ground.   In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why preparation gives us more control, even when we can’t control everything • How to create a pre-ride checklist for your horse so nothing important gets missed • How a pre-ride checklist for the rider helps your brain relax and trust your leadership again   Because we may not prevent every accident… but we can prevent a lot of them through preparation, awareness, and training.   If you’re ready to reduce riding anxiety and train calm confidence into your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call:   https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy [https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy]   If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH [https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH] and keep training courage into your riding.

Talking to Your Brain When Your Heart Starts Racing

When our heart starts racing, our palms start sweating, and fear starts taking over, what do we say to our brain?   In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share what happens when fear has been practiced so long that our subconscious stops waiting for our leadership… and starts making the decisions for us.   Maybe it happens when our horse spooks, moves quicker than expected, or something catches us off guard. Our heart starts racing, our body goes into fight, flight, or freeze mode, and suddenly we forget everything we know.   In this episode, we talk about how to train our mind and body to stay present when fear shows up.   You’ll learn how to: • Practice being the eye of the storm before you need it • Keep your body moving so fear doesn’t freeze you • Give your mind a job so your focus interrupts fear   Because just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new. If you’re ready to train courage, calm, and trust back into your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call: https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy [https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy]   And if you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube—and keep training courage into your riding.

What to Say to Your Brain When Anxiety Shows Up

Maybe it happens at the mounting block, heading out on the trail, when your horse starts moving faster, or stepping into the show ring. Your heart starts racing, your palms start sweating, and suddenly your brain is telling you stories that aren’t helping.   In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share how to talk to your brain when riding anxiety shows up—and how to train your mind and body to trust your leadership again.   You’ll learn how to: • Name what’s happening • Tell your brain the truth • Give your body a job   Because your brain has one job—to keep you safe… not necessarily to keep you happy. And just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new. If you’re ready to train calm confidence into your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call: https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy [https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy]   And if you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube—and keep training courage into your riding.