What To Do When Everything Goes Off-Plan

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Hey friend,

Have you ever made a beautifully thought-out training plan—only to have your horse come up sore, your schedule fall apart, or your motivation completely disappear?

Same.

This week, I want to pull back the curtain and share what’s really been going on behind the scenes with my own horses… because chances are, you’ll see yourself somewhere in this story.

I’ve been calling it Rehab Ranch over here. And if you’ve ever been through a season of setback, delay, or frustration, this one’s for you.

🐴 A peek behind the barn doors

Right now, I’ve got two three-year-olds. One is a sturdy, sweet Mustang who’s destined to become our family’s ultimate trail horse. The other is a reining-bred dreamboat with lineage that reads like a Hall of Fame ballot.

Sounds awesome, right?
Well… it’s been a little messier than that.

The Mustang? He’s been growing, adjusting, and learning to trust humans. He needed time off this winter—so we slowed way down, focused on groundwork and connection, and let his big bones settle into his big body. A total win, but definitely not part of the original plan.

And the reiner?
He had some big early potential. I even paid him into futurities. But then he grew butt high, couldn’t hold leads, and started to struggle physically. I realized he didn’t need more training—he needed time. Just a few months off to grow and rebalance.

So we took that pause. I adjusted my expectations. And just when I thought we were back on track?
He gave himself a rope burn on a stretchy hose. 😩
Totally superficial (thank goodness)—but the kind of thing that just… takes time.

Weeks of wrapping, vet visits, monitoring, and more wrapping. He’s healing, but slowly. The kind of slow that tests your ego, your patience, and your ability to keep showing up when nothing looks like progress.

💭 So here’s the mindset shift I had to lean into:

What if sticking to the plan isn’t the point?
What if the real win is becoming the kind of rider who adapts, who trusts, and who keeps showing up when it’s messy?

Because maybe you’re not rehabbing a horse—but maybe you’re rehabbing your confidence, or your motivation, or your belief in yourself.

Here’s what I’m reminding myself (and what I want to offer you too):

• Ride the season you’re in, not the one you wish you were in.

• Progress isn’t always linear. Presence is always powerful.

• Consistency doesn’t mean perfection. It means refusing to quit on yourself.

I’ll say it louder for the riders in the back:
👉 Your worth is not tied to how perfectly your training schedule goes.

🧠 Ask yourself this:

What race are you really running?

Because it’s easy to get caught up in everyone else’s timelines, ambitions, and highlight reels. But success isn’t one-size-fits-all. And maybe your ride, your journey, your progress... is right on time.

🎧 Want to go deeper?

This whole story and the mindset tools I’m using to stay grounded?
It’s all in this week’s episode of the Resilient Reiner Podcast:
Listen: “When Riding Plans Go Off the Rails: Here’s What I’m Learning”

👇 Ready to rebuild your confidence too?

If your plan is off-track right now—and it’s rattling your nerves—get yourself inside 5 Days to Confident Competitor.

It’s a simple, powerful $33 audio coaching experience that helps you stop the show nerves and saddle up with swagger again.
Five days. One audio per day. Huge shift in how you show up in the saddle.

You don’t have to muscle through it.
You just have to get your mind back in the saddle.

Riding alongside you,
Nicole