Have You Seen The Bird That Fakes A Broken Wing?

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I was riding the other day when I spotted her.
Right on the edge of the arena.
Small, brown, fluttering and flailing like she’d been hit.

My horse’s ears flicked forward, and I instinctively started to slow down.

This little bird was putting on a full performance.
One wing dragging. Hopping in circles. Crying out.

And then it clicked:
Killdeer.

If you’ve never seen one do this, it’s WILD.
Nature’s biggest little drama queens.

They lay their eggs right on the ground, tucked into gravel or stones. (Or the edge of the arena 🤦‍♀️).
Totally exposed.

So when a threat gets too close, they fake an injury—dramatically—
To draw attention away from their eggs and lead predators far from the nest.

And it works.

As we moved past, she flew off, perfectly fine.
Back to guard her nest from a safer distance.

And it hit me:

Your brain does the same thing!

In moments of pressure, risk, or vulnerability,
your mind doesn’t show you what’s really important.
It throws up a distraction. A decoy.
It flaps around with fake drama.

Not because it’s dumb.
Because it’s trying to protect you.

That spike of anxiety before your run?
That loop of overthinking?
The sudden urge to second-guess everything?

Broken wing display.

Your brain sees the moment as dangerous,
so it gives you a flashy, dramatic story
to pull your focus away from what really matters—
your connection, your cues, your horse.

But here’s the good news:

Just like that killdeer,
your brain will settle once it knows you’re safe.

And the fastest way to do that isn’t to ignore the distraction.
It’s to name it.

Try this:

“Oh, this is my brain’s ‘broken wing’ moment. Got it.”

That one sentence can flip the switch.

It shifts you from reacting with the drama to observing it from a calm, grounded place.
And that’s where your real power lives.

If you’re ready to train your brain to settle sooner—
To catch that flailing moment and switch into calm, focused presence—
I’ve got something for you.

Introducing: 5 Days to Confident Competitor

You know that panic that hits right as you enter the pen?
That “what if I mess it up?” voice getting louder.
That breath that just won’t settle.

That’s just your brain’s version of a broken wing moment.
And we can train through it—together.

Imagine walking into your next show calm, clear, and focused—
not because you crossed your fingers,
but because your brain knows what to do.

This isn’t fluff. It’s 5 days of targeted, powerful mindset coaching designed for riders under pressure.

📬 One short audio lesson each day—delivered to your inbox
🎧 No app, no overwhelm—just hit play and ride the shift
🧠 Tools that work when the nerves actually hit

Here’s what’s inside:

Day 1: Why do you have show nerves? AKA Why Training Alone Isn’t Working
Finally understand what’s really going on—and why more saddle time isn’t the answer.

Day 2: My Breaking Point (And Why Yours Is Closer Than You Think)
The real truth about pressure, success, and what changed everything for me.

Day 3: The Confidence Shift
Turn spirals into strength, jitters into power, and inconsistent rides into calm presence.

Day 4: The Calm Switch
One 60-second tool to reset your nervous system on command—no crystals required.

Day 5: What I’d Tell Myself If I Could Go Back to My First Show (+Your Next Step)
The exact thing I’d whisper to rookie-me before her first run (and maybe what you need to hear too).

It’s simple. It's effective. It works fast.

👉 [Start your 5-day reset now]

Because show day confidence isn’t a fluke.
It’s a skill you can train—and I’ll show you how.

With grit and gratitude,

Nicole

P.S. Show season is here. Don’t let nerves call the shots again this year.