My Horse Only Went In Reverse

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I have a young horse who just couldn’t seem to grasp the concept of forward. He’s a young mustang and I went to do one of my favorite groundwork exercises where I simply ask them to circle me and change directions at the end of the lead rope. Simple. Easy wins. Go forward. Yield to pressure. Change directions. Stay soft. No big deal, right. 

But of course, he was different. Every time I asked him to quietly walk forward, let alone a change of direction, he’d plant his feet or very enthusiastically back up instead. It felt like I was hitting a brick wall, no matter how patiently I tried to explain the ask. What the heck, bud? I know you can walk forward!

I’ll be honest—there were moments I was tempted to “shortcut” the process. Maybe if I applied more pressure or rushed him through it, I could force the result. But I knew deep down that wouldn’t get us where we needed to be.

So, I committed to the long way.

Every day, I broke the task into smaller, clearer steps. First, I rewarded the tiniest shift in weight forward. Then, a single step. Over time, two steps. Three. Some days, it felt like we were going nowhere. Other days, he’d surprise me.

And then, one day, it clicked.

Not only could he finally walk around me in a circle, he could smoothly shift from one direction to another with ease, and he did it willingly—confident in what I was asking and trusting in the process we’d built together.

The thing they don’t tell you is…

The long way IS the shortcut.

Because the shortcut never gets you there. 

So people quit when things get hard because the thought of things being hard forever feels unbearable. 

But that’s a lie. 

Because nothing is hard forever. 

You either quit, it gets easier, or you get harder. 

But no matter what, nothing is hard forever. The hard always ends. And the only way you lose, is if you quit before seeing it through. 

And so what I try and tell myself when I'm in those harder times is… this is for NOW. It’s not for forever. 

It’s true if you are working on your training, or if you’re working on your mindset. And yes, you need both to succeed. 

The long way IS the shortcut. 

Because when you rush through the hard moments, you might get temporary results, but you miss the foundation you need for lasting success.

It’s the same with your mindset.

When nerves or doubts creep in, it’s easy to either push through on autopilot, blame your horse or trainer, or avoid the discomfort altogether—whether by skipping the show or numbing yourself with a few shots. But here’s the truth: that discomfort isn’t permanent. By committing to mental training and facing it head-on, you’ll not only overcome it but also build unshakable resilience, sharpen your focus, and develop the confidence to thrive under pressure.

Because the hard always ends. And the only way you lose is if you quit before seeing it through.

So, when you’re in those harder times—whether it’s training a tricky maneuver, managing show-day pressure, or rebuilding confidence—remind yourself:

This is for NOW. It’s not for forever.

👇 Ready to stop rushing progress—and actually build confidence that lasts?

If that message hit home today… this is your next step.

Inside 5 Days to Confident Competitor, I’ll walk you through five short audio trainings to help you reset your mindset, drop the pressure, and finally build the kind of calm, focused confidence that sticks.
No pushing. No overthinking. No pretending it’s “not that bad.”

Just five days to learn how to stay steady—even when things feel stuck, slow, or frustrating.
Because you don’t need to “try harder.”

You need a better mental foundation.

And that’s what this $33 audio coaching experience was made for.

👉 Join 5 Days to Confident Competitor today and start building the trust and confidence that actually carry you through the hard stuff.

Stay the course. The long way will get you there.

Ride on,
Nicole