Confident, Consistent Rides—For Western Riders Who Are Done Letting Nerves Win
This is the place where western riders calm their nerves, quiet the “I’m going to blow it” spirals, and finally ride like their best self on purpose—especially when it counts, through mental performance coaching.
Walk into the pen steady instead of shaky, with a body that’s calm instead of feeling like you might puke in the warm-up.
Ride the pattern in front of you, not the disaster movie in your head, even when nerves spike or a dog runs loose into the arena.
Walk out proud of how you rode instead of driving home replaying every mistake and beating yourself up for days.
Hey cowgirl, come on in!
You’ve got the horse. You’ve put in the work. But your brain still melts down under pressure—and you’re over it.
Imagine if you could...
- You love your horse. You’ve put in the hours. But your brain keeps hijacking the ride.
- You’re not a newbie. You’ve put in years, money, clinics, coaching, and miles—but mentally? It still feels like chaos.
- You ride great at home, but the second you hit the warm-up pen, your brain goes straight to the pattern, the judge, and who’s watching.
- You walk into the arena already braced for everything that might go wrong—and then ride tight, small, and tentative. Adding speed? Challenging the pattern? Fuhgetaboutit.
- You obsess over scores, rail whispers, and who “deserved” what, instead of feeling solid in your own ride.
Tell Me If This Sounds Familiar…
That's exactly what we work on together.
- You beat yourself up for every mistake and secretly wonder if maybe you’re just not cut out to be “that level” of rider.
- You tell yourself, “If I just ride more, haul more, try harder,” but the anxiety and doubt never really go away.
- You know you’re capable of more—but your confidence never seems to match your ability.
- You don’t have to be showing right now for this to hurt—just thinking about stepping up, riding in front of others, or going to bigger events can send your brain into overdrive.
If you’re nodding along… you’re in the right place. There is nothing wrong with your talent. Your brain just hasn’t been trained for this level of pressure—yet.
The process we’ll use together is simple to follow and powerful to experience.
I help western riders train their mind and nervous system so they can show up calm, clear, and confident—not just at home, but in the show pen, under real pressure. No more mysterious “good days” that are out of your control.
This isn’t vague “think positive” fluff. It’s practical, science-backed, rider-tested mental training built for riders with real goals, real horses, and real lives.
We turn your run from “white-knuckled survival” into “I rode my plan, start to finish, and I’m proud of how I showed up.”
What if your brain wasn't the problem anymore?
Know exactly what to do with your mind and body in the 10 minutes before you show so you ride in ready to crush your run.
Bounce back after a bobble instead of spiraling and tanking the rest of your run.
Stop needing your trainer to talk you off the ledge before every class.
Trust your preparation—and finally see scores that match what you’re capable of at home.
Start texting your barn bestie “OMG best run EVER!!!” updates instead of “I screwed that up again” voice memos.
With this work, you’ll be able to:
5 Days to Confident Competitor is a $33 audio-based training that gives you simple, powerful tools to calm your body, quiet your brain, and ride with more confidence in just five days.
Daily bite-sized trainings you can do in real life, not just on the couch.
Practical tools for nerves, spirals, and “what if I blow it?” thoughts.
I’m ready to fix my show nerves now
I Want To Binge Free Mental Coaching!
The Resilient Reiner Podcast is for western riders who want a sharper mental game and more confident, consistent rides.
Listen while you’re hauling, cleaning stalls, or tacking up and get practical tools you can use the same day.
We talk show-pen nerves, confidence slumps, fear after bad runs, identity, and real stories from riders just like you—plus exactly what to do about it.
Like having a mental performance coach in your pocket—whenever you need it.
For riders who want deep, lasting change—not just a quick fix.
95% of what you get in the arena isn’t about a new drill or a different bit—it’s about what’s happening in your subconscious: your beliefs, your identity, and your nervous system. When those are wired for doubt, no amount of “just ride better” sticks.
Inside The Mental Gym for Equestrians (MGE), we train your mind and body together so your confidence, feel, and connection stop disappearing under pressure and start showing up on purpose—every time you ride. This is where you rewire your brain for success.
I’m ready for deep, long-term mental mastery.
For competitors who are done letting show nerves run the ride.
Start Here
Get Coaching in Your Ear, Starting Today
For serious western riders who want to rebuild their mental game from the inside out.
Choose your path, cowgirl
Hi, I’m Nicole—western rider, mental performance coach, mom, and host of the Resilient Reiner Podcast.
I’ve spent over twenty years in the western horse world, and I know what it’s like to ride better at home than under pressure (lessons, clinics, shows, anyone watching, my horse getting fresh…)
After seeing my own brain implode one too many times in the show pen, I stopped looking for the mystical perfect bit and started studying the mental side—nervous system, thoughts, identity, and how pressure actually changes a ride.
Out of that came a practical system for western riders who want their confidence, feel, and partnership to hold up under pressure, not just on rare “good days.”
Since then, I’ve put a 71.5 on a mare who’d spent three seasons getting zeros, turned a wild little mustang into the horse everyone wants to ride, and helped riders go from spiraling in the warm-up pen to riding their plan and walking out proud.
That’s what I’m here to help you do: train your mind the same way you train your horse, so you can ride like the rider you know you are—at home *and* under pressure.
meet Nicole
your mental coach in the saddle
A few things you should know about me:
- I’m a western rider myself, not just a mindset coach in a swivel chair.
- I host the Resilient Reiner Podcast, a top podcast dedicated to the mental side of riding.
- I’ve helped riders go from panic attacks in the warm-up pen to focused show-stopping runs.
- I care more about your nervous system and your joy than chasing quick-fix gimmicks.
Curious what it would look like to work together?
the heart of my work
You were never “too weak” or “too much” for this sport. Your brain just needs the same quality of training you’ve always given your horse.
My clients are winning in ranch riding, reining, barrel racing, ranch work, cowhorse, pleasure and more. They compete and win at the AQHA Congress, AQHA Worlds, APHA World Show, NRHA Derby and more.
Real Riders. Real Shifts.
No endless homework. No fluffy “just be confident” pep talks. We build a plan that fits your real life—kids, job, barn time and all.
How Working With Me Works
step 1: Get Clear on Your Mental Blocks
step 2: Build Your customized Rider Regulation Protocol
step 3: Train It Like You Train Your Horse
You’ll use your protocol in real life—at home and at shows—so it becomes second nature. We tweak and refine as you go, just like schooling a pattern.
We’ll map out exactly where your brain hijacks your ride—show pen, warm-up, at home, or all of the above—so we know what we’re actually working with.
Together, we create a personalized set of tools and routines—breathwork, nervous system resets, grounding drills, and self-talk shifts—that support you before, during, and after your rides.
Common Questions
Nope. A lot of my riders show (or want to), but you don’t have to be in the pen to benefit from this work. If your brain is getting in the way of enjoying your horse, riding in front of others, or going after your goals—even if they’re not show goals yet—this is for you.
You don’t have to be a pro, (and I've worked with several), but this work is best for riders who aren’t total beginners. If you can walk, jog/lope independently and have some time in the saddle, we can do a lot together. Most riders tell me they wish they’d started this work years earlier.
No. I’m not a therapist and this isn’t a substitute for mental health treatment. This is coaching focused on performance, confidence, and how you show up in the saddle. We work on skills, tools, and patterns in the context of your riding.
5DCC is the easiest, lowest-cost way to get my tools in your hands quickly, and it’s where I recommend most riders start. If you already know you want deeper support, you can explore MGE or 1:1 options on my Work With Me page.
