Running on Empty

Hey! Prefer to listen instead of read the Newsletter? I got you! The Resilient Reiner Newsletter also comes as a podcast! 🎙️ Tune in to listen now! 

The other day, I was staring at my truck’s fuel gauge, dead sure it was lying to me. You know how it shows “Full” forever, but once it hits “E,” heck once it hits ¼ tank,  it seems like you're in a race to the gas station? And then there’s that little passive-aggressive warning light, like, “Hey, just so you know, you’re about to turn a simple trailering trip into an episode of Survivor.” Cool. 

And don’t even get me started on towing with a horse in the trailer. There’s no wiggle room for guessing. You don’t want to be the person parked on the side of the highway with a snorting, impatient 1,200-pound passenger staring daggers at you through the window. .

But then the great algorithm of the internet delivered an interesting little piece targeted right at me! Haha! 

“Your fuel gauge says ‘E’—how far can you still drive?”

Of course I clicked it. (Who wouldn’t?!) Turns out most modern trucks (all vehicles really) are hiding a little secret: a fuel reserve kicks in when the gauge hits empty. what?!?!!  You might have 10%-15% of your tank still waiting to be tapped into. Basically, it’s your truck’s way of saying, “Calm down, cowboy, we’re not walking yet.”

Apparently, some vehicles can go 50-99 miles past “E.” Not that I’d test it—trailering horses is stressful enough without rolling the dice on hidden reserves. Honestly, I’m that person that 99% of the time I fill up once I hit half empty. But sometimes it creeps down there…

And this got me thinking about riders.

Stay with me here.

How many times have you felt like your mental fuel gauge hit “E”? Like you’ve got nothing left in the tank—no confidence, no focus, no patience? Come on, I know I’m not the only one who hits a mental “wall” every once in a while. Maybe it’s halfway through a grueling show day when your horse decides lead changes are optional. Or after your fifth ride in a row where nothing seems to click. You hit that wall and think, “I’m done. I’ve got nothing left to give.” 

But here’s the thing: just like your truck, you’ve got more in the tank than you think.

That reserve exists—you just need to learn how to tap into it.

Here are some ways to tap into your reserve tank when you think you’ve hit E. 

1. Review your wins – What went RIGHT in your last ride or show? Even tiny things, like a smoother stop or a sharper turn, are proof you’re moving forward.

2. Laugh it off – Seriously, find humor in the frustration. Like how your horse always finds mud to roll in right after you bathe them even on the driest day of the year. Sometimes, humor is the quickest way to refill your tank.

3. Borrow confidence from your past – Think back to a time when you crushed it—a run that felt amazing or a moment when you overcame something tough. That version of you is still in there.

4. Shift your focus – Instead of worrying about the worst-case scenario, ask yourself, “What’s the best thing that could happen?” Your focus drives your energy.

5. Visualize success – Close your eyes and picture a perfect run or a flawless ride. (It’s not woo-woo; it’s proven science. Trust me on this one.)

Here’s why I’m telling you this:

Every single rider has those days where they feel like they’ve hit rock bottom—no energy, no confidence, no hope. But that’s not true. You’ve got more in you than you realize—you just need the tools to access it.

That’s exactly what I help riders uncover in my coaching and inside the Mental Gym for Equestrians (opening soon!). Whether it’s building confidence, mastering mental focus, or learning how to keep calm when things get hairy, I’ll show you how to tap into your reserve tank so you’re never left stranded in the show pen—or in life.

If this sounds like something you could use, hit reply, and I’ll send you the details.

Because when it comes to riding—and life—running on fumes isn’t your only option.

Running on mindset, not fumes,
Nicole