Why Is It Better To Focus On Small Wins Instead Of Winning The Whole Thing?

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! 

Ok, so I get some version of this question all the time… 

Ok, Nicole, I hear you talking about present moment focus. But I’m a serious competitor, and I need to stay focused on my goals! I need to stay focused on how important it is for me to win this next event!!

Yeah. ok. 

Maybe it really is important for you to win that next event. 

So if you really want to give yourself and your horse the best shot at winning it… you better pay attention to the mental shift I’m going to share that you need to truly ride your best. 

The mental shift that can transform your performance and lead to better scores, a calmer mind, and even a winning run. I’ll share the story of a client who made this exact shift and saw a two-point jump in her score with the same horse and trainer. If you’ve been chasing perfection and feeling the weight of it, this episode is for you.

The in gate steward waved her in as the arena buzzed with anticipation. All eyes were on her as she guided her horse forward. This was the moment she’d worked toward for months, years really, but something wasn’t right. Her mind wasn’t on her horse or the rhythm of her ride—it was on the score she needed, the riders she had to beat, and the stakes if she fell short.

Her nerves took over, and though she completed the pattern, she left the arena feeling deflated. Not because she didn’t win—she didn’t—but because she knew she hadn’t ridden her best.

I’ve seen this happen so many times. A rider steps into the arena consumed by the big picture—winning it all—and loses sight of what truly matters: showing up, moment by moment, to ride their best.

But what if it could be different?

She adjusted her reins and exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the arena lights overhead. Her horse flicked an ear back, waiting for her signal. The crowd faded into a distant hum as she nudged him forward.

The spins came effortlessly—sharp, snappy, exactly what they’d practiced. Her breathing matched the rhythm of her horse’s stride as they transitioned into the next maneuver. A deep seat, steady hands, and then the slide—long and clean, dust curling behind them.

She wasn’t thinking about the score or the other riders. Her mind stayed on the feel of each movement, the quiet communication between her and her horse.

After she finished her run, she let out a laugh—a rare, genuine laugh as she patted her horse’s neck. In her gut, she knew this was her best ride yet.

The score was announced: two points higher than her last run. Same horse. Same trainer. The only thing different? This time, she left the pressure to win at the gate—and walked out a champion. 

This is a real result from one of my clients, and it’s possible for you too. 

I see this mental mistake over and over—riders fixating on the outcome, letting it steal their focus, and ultimately sabotaging their own performance. This isn’t just a mindset problem; it’s a performance problem. And it’s one of the biggest mental shifts you absolutely have to make if you’re going to level up as a rider.

When you’re focused on the win, your energy is tied to things you can’t control. The judges’ scores. How other riders perform. The weather. But when you focus on small wins, you take control of the things that are within your circle of influence—your preparation, your focus, how you handle nerves, and how you recover from mistakes.

Every time you nail a stop or stay steady through a transition, you’re stacking small wins, building momentum, and telling your brain, I’ve got this. That momentum is a game-changer. It grounds you in the present moment where your best riding happens, instead of spiraling into overthinking or second-guessing.

And let’s not forget the pressure. When your goal is to win, the stakes can feel paralyzing. The weight of everything riding on your performance is enough to throw even the most experienced rider off their game. But when you focus on small wins, the pressure lifts. Each ride becomes a series of manageable tasks, and as you excel in those tasks, you naturally build toward the result you want.

Here’s the thing: winning isn’t one big event. It’s the sum of all the small wins you stack together. Every sharp spin, every clean lead change, every moment you stay calm under pressure adds up—not just on the scoreboard, but in your confidence and growth as a rider.

This approach doesn’t just work for today’s competition—it sets you up for long-term success. When you focus on small wins, every ride becomes an opportunity to improve, to grow, and to build a foundation for the rider you want to become.

So, the next time you saddle up, ask yourself: What’s a small win I can focus on? Maybe it’s hitting your transitions, staying composed, or bouncing back quickly from a mistake. Whatever it is, focus there. Because when you master the small wins, the big ones take care of themselves.

This is how champions think. They focus on the process, not the outcome. And when you ride like that, success isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable.

To your success,

Nicole