The easiest, no-fail way to memorize your pattern cold

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

Let’s talk about something that makes even the most competent pattern riders feel personally attacked:

Memorizing the pattern. 😅

Calling all ranch riders, reiners, trail, horsemanship, showmanship… if you’ve ever walked out of the office with a pattern sheet and thought, “Cool cool cool… I’ll just… absorb this by osmosis,” this is for you.

Because here’s how it usually goes:

You show up, grab the pattern (or find out which standard pattern your class is using). Nobody says, “Make sure you memorize it,” because… that’s just assumed.

So riders “look at it a few times,” maybe trot through it once, and then head into the pen hoping muscle memory will magically handle the rest.

And then… the gate opens, adrenaline hits, and your brain goes:

“Wait. What’s next?”

So today I want to give you a simple method that makes patterns feel automatic fast.

And here’s the real reason so many riders struggle with this:

You were never taught HOW to memorize a pattern—only that you should memorize it.

Wait… what?! 🤯

The “Blackout” Pattern-Memorization Method (science-backed)

You’re going to memorize your pattern easy-peasy. 

1. You need two copies of your pattern. So grab two at the show office, or bring a notebook and pen to draw it out yourself. 

2. Read it out loud like a script. (Yes, out loud. Don’t skip this. “Jog in. Stop at marker A” and so on. Out loud!)

3. On copy #1, black out ONE piece (one maneuver, one marker, one lead departure).

4. Read it again and let your brain fill in the blank.

5. If you miss it, peek at the clean copy, then try again.

6. Keep blacking out more parts and reading until you’re looking at a fully blacked-out page… and you can recite the whole thing from memory.

Why this works (the quick brain version)

Your brain memorizes through retrieval, not re-reading.

Every time you force yourself to fill in a blank, you’re strengthening the exact pathway you’ll need when pressure hits.

Even the most intricate trail patterns only end up being a few minutes of ride time. Meaning, this whole thing is absolutely doable in only a couple minutes. Grab a sharpie and go to town. 

👏 👏 Because you can’t ride the moment if your brain is busy trying to remember what to do next.

And the goal isn’t “I know the pattern.”

The goal is: my brain is free so I can focus on my horse. 

Know your pattern. Then you can ride. Then you can feel. 

Try this out and be amazed at yourself.

Go get it, tiger,
Nicole

P.S. Want help building mental systems that actually get followed so you can ride better? Reach out to see if coaching is a good fit.