Treat Yourself Like A Toddler for Better Rides

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Hey rider,
I’ve got something a little different—and a little essential—for you today.

Because let’s be honest: we all talk about mindset. Confidence. Grit.
But what if the real reason your rides feel off isn’t in your head… it’s in your body?

👉 Enter: sleep, snacks, and your nervous system.

Yep, the things you’d obsess over for a toddler? Turns out, they’re the same things that unlock better rides, bolder energy, and way more fun in the saddle.

Inside today’s episode, I’m sharing why…

• Tired bodies = reactive rides
  

• Blood sugar crashes = spiraling confidence
  

• And the real secret to momentum is better fuel—not more force

(This ties right into what we’re doing inside Ride Free—where we’re helping riders like you ditch the burnout, ride bold again, and fall back in love with their horse life.)

So if you’ve been craving more ease, more clarity, and more spark in the saddle?
Keep reading—or hit play.

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🟡 It’s not just your mindset—it’s your biology

Let’s be real—some days you show up to ride and everything feels off.

You’re cranky. Unfocused.
Little things annoy you.
And even though you want to ride with confidence… you just can’t get there.

Here’s the truth no one’s saying:

It’s not always a mindset problem. Sometimes it’s just a biology problem.

Like…
😴 You didn’t sleep well the night before
🍫 You skipped a real breakfast and ran on caffeine
💧 You’re dehydrated and irritable

And then you expect yourself to perform like a calm, focused, elite competitor?

Cowboy. That’s not confidence. That’s survival mode.

The truth is:

You don’t need more grit. You need more gas in the tank.

So many riders come to me saying things like:

“I just don’t feel brave anymore.”
“I second-guess myself in the saddle.”
“I used to love riding… but now it kind of feels like a chore.”

And yes, of course, most of the time that’s about fear or a limiting belief or a story that needs to be rewritten.

But a lot of the time—especially with the folks I work with—it’s actually about a body that’s been running on empty for way too long.

Here’s the thing:
You could have the best mental game in the world. You could visualize your ride, recite your affirmations, and have the most beautifully thought-out show plan…

But if you’re exhausted, sleep-deprived, or under-fueled, your brain can’t access any of that.
Because your nervous system isn’t in “focus and flow” mode—it’s in survival mode.

Let me paint this picture a little clearer:

• When you’re not sleeping well, your anxiety increases.
  It’s not just in your head—it’s literally what your body does to keep you hyper-aware and on edge. Not ideal when you’re trying to ride calm and confident.
  

• When you skip meals or go too long without eating, your blood sugar crashes.
  That affects your patience, your clarity, and your ability to stay grounded when things don’t go perfectly in the arena. And suddenly you’re not just having a bad ride—you’re beating yourself up for it, too.
  

This stuff matters—and yet, no one talks about it in the horse world.

We celebrate grit and “pushing through”…
But even elite athletes—I’m talking Olympic-level—treat sleep and nutrition like part of their training. They don’t see it as optional. They see it as essential.

So why wouldn’t we?

Especially when we’re asking our bodies to show up and perform—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally—in a high-stakes, high-energy sport like riding.

You’re not doing anything wrong.
You’re not less motivated.
You’re just human. And your body is asking to be supported.

So before we rush to fix the mindset, let’s get curious about the basics.
Because no amount of “think positive” will land if your body doesn’t feel safe, rested, or fueled.

🟡 Small shifts that make a huge difference

So let’s talk solutions—because I’m not here to just hand you a list of problems and leave you hanging.

You don’t need a complete lifestyle overhaul to feel better in the saddle.
But you do need to give your body enough support to do what you’re asking it to do.

And that starts with some really simple shifts.

Let’s start with sleep.

Now listen—I’m a mom, a business owner, and a horse girl. I get that perfect sleep isn’t always realistic.

But prioritizing consistent sleep—even if it’s not perfect—can change everything.

That might look like:

• Going to bed 30 minutes earlier on nights before you ride
  

• Keeping a sleep routine that helps you wind down
  

• Or just getting honest with yourself when lack of sleep is making you snappy, tense, or reactive
  

Sleep isn’t “just rest.”

It’s when your brain files away memories, regulates emotions, and resets your nervous system.

If you’ve ever cried over something silly at the barn after 4 hours of sleep—you know what I’m talking about.

Now let’s talk fueling.
Specifically, what you’re eating before and after you ride.

One of the fastest ways to feel clearer and calmer in the saddle?
Eat a pre-ride snack that includes protein and fat.

Even something small—a boiled egg and a handful of nuts, or a slice of turkey and some cheese—can stabilize your blood sugar and keep your brain online when it matters most.

If you’re running on just coffee and adrenaline?
Your blood sugar crashes mid-ride, your patience goes out the window, and suddenly your inner critic gets very loud. 

And I am preaching to the choir here. I’m totally guilty of this and have learned to love protein shakes and lower my caffeine intake.

And don’t forget hydration.
Dehydration messes with focus, mood, even muscle coordination.
One of my clients recently started tracking her water intake before rides, and her comment was:

“I didn’t realize I was riding dehydrated all the time… but now I feel sharper and calmer almost immediately.”

I had a similar experience myself.
There was a season where I just wasn’t enjoying my rides. I felt cranky, disconnected, and honestly kind of blah.

At first, I thought it was burnout. Or maybe I needed a new goal. Or a new horse.

But nope—it was sleep.
I started getting more intentional about rest and recovery… and it was like I rediscovered the fun part of riding again.
Less snapping at my horse. Less second-guessing.
More joy. More connection. More of that “heck yes, I love this” feeling.

And I want that for you, too.

Because when your body is supported, your mind gets to focus on the ride—not just surviving it.

🟡 You don’t need more grit—you need more gas in the tank

Alright, now let’s talk about the myth of grit.

Because if you’re anything like most western riders I know—including me—you’ve been taught to just push through.

Tired? Suck it up.
Hungry? Deal with it.
Emotionally wiped out? Get on and ride anyway.

And yes—there’s something powerful about showing up for yourself, about not letting fear or fatigue win.

But there’s also a difference between being resilient and running yourself into the ground.

Here’s what I want you to consider:

👉 Confidence and resilience doesn’t always come from trying harder.
Sometimes it comes from being better supported.

Because when your body is regulated, your brain is resourced.

When you’re fed, rested, and hydrated, you’re no longer white-knuckling your way through your ride—you’re present. You’re powerful. You can actually access all those mindset tools you’ve been working so hard to master.

I say this to my clients a lot:

“You don’t have a motivation problem. You have a depletion problem.”

And that’s what Ride Free is all about.

This isn’t about grinding harder or forcing your way through fear.
This is about building momentum without burnout.

It’s about having boldness that doesn’t come from pressure—but from real, grounded energy.
Because when your nervous system is calm, and your body feels safe, and your mind is supported…

You ride different.

You sit taller, you cue clearer, you connect more easily.
You’re not just riding your horse—you’re riding with joy. And that changes everything.

So if you’ve been telling yourself you just need more willpower…
Take a breath.
Take a nap.
Have a snack.

Treat yourself like a toddler. 

You might be shocked what that does for your mental and physical performance.

So here’s your reminder for today: 

Your mindset absolutely matters.

But it can’t carry the whole load if your body’s running on fumes.

Confidence doesn’t live in your thoughts alone—it lives in your nervous system, your sleep patterns, your blood sugar, your energy reserves.
And when those basics are dialed in, boldness stops feeling like a struggle.
It just feels… natural.

So if you’ve been beating yourself up for not feeling motivated or confident lately?
Pause. Zoom out.
And ask: Am I actually giving myself what I need to succeed?

Because you don’t need to “toughen up.”
You might just need more gas in the tank.

And inside Ride Free, that’s what we’re doing—supporting you fully, body and mind.
If your goal is to ride with joy, to haul out often, to finally feel free again in your horse life—this is your space.

If you’ve been feeling the nudge, reply to this email or DM me.
We’ll talk through what’s going on, and I’ll let you know if Ride Free is the right fit.

You deserve to feel amazing on and off your horse.

Let’s make that your new normal.

Your Mindset Coach,

Nicole