From Spiraling at the World Show to Steady in the Saddle

Have you ever wondered, “Why do my nerves show up so strong in the saddle, when I’m confident everywhere else?”

That’s exactly what happened to my client, Bonnie Habel, with her APHA mare, Morgan. Bonnie is a skilled rider in trail and horsemanship, but before we started working together, her nerves were getting louder every time she showed. At the Paint Horse World Show, it hit hard—she couldn’t settle, couldn’t connect with Morgan, and left feeling rattled and frustrated.

But here’s the good part: instead of letting that spiral define her, Bonnie decided to do the real work on her mindset. And in today’s episode of the Resilient Reiner Podcast, she’s sharing how she went from anxious and second-guessing to grounded, joyful, and ready to trust both herself and her horse again.

In this conversation, Bonnie shares:

• How she went from spiraling at the Paint World Show to calm, connected rides with Morgan at home
  

• The old beliefs and hidden baggage that were fueling her anxiety in the show pen
  

• The simple pre-ride resets that helped her feel collected the moment she swung a leg over
  

• Why she’s now riding longer, playing more, and actually enjoying her time in the saddle again
  

This isn’t just theory—it’s a real story of a rider and her horse. And it’s proof that confidence is something you can train, just like a lead change or a trail pattern.

👇 Ready for your own breakthrough?

Inside The Mental Gym for Equestrians,  you’ll learn the same program Bonnie used to rebuild her confidence and mental game from the ground up. Come train those tools like a muscle—so when life (or your horse) throws you curveballs, you can stay steady and ride through it.

You’re not broken. You don’t need to “just tough it out.” You just need the right tools.

And I’d love to help you get there.

Ride on, 

Nicole