Silvolutions - Performance, Mindset & Wellbeing

11/01/2026

So, something happened to me this morning that I just wanted to share…

I was out running, with a very clear plan: 16 miles at a steady, comfortable pace. Nothing heroic. Yes, I know that 16 miles probably sounds like some crazy s**t to most of us. 😂 But for me it was just solid, intentional work. Everything was going really well… until somewhere around mile 11 or 12 when another runner went past me.

They weren’t flying. Just a little quicker. 🏃
And instantly, my first instinct was to speed up. To catch them. To run past them.

Because suddenly, without any real logic, I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. 🧠

It took me a moment to pause and remind myself of a few things:
1. He was probably nowhere near as far into his run as I was.
2. He was younger than me.
3. His training plan is almost certainly different to mine.
4. He’s on a completely different path and journey.

And it really hit me how easily we slip into judging and comparing even when there’s absolutely f**k all value in it.

It’s exactly the same in riding. 🏇

You’re having a good session. Your horse feels relaxed, rhythmical, connected. You’re sticking to your plan. Then you notice Deirdre watching from the sidelines, or perhaps Davide enters the warm up arena, suddenly something shifts.

You add leg.
You ask for more.
You start doing rather than feeling.

Not because your horse needs it.
Not because it’s part of the session.
But because comparison has quietly crept in.

The interesting thing is, we often label this as an equestrian problem.

“I lose confidence when others are around.”
“I over-ride when I’m being watched.”
“I feel like I’m not doing enough.”

But in reality, it’s rarely about the riding at all.

It’s a life mindset thing that just happens to show up in the saddle and really stand out to us.

That same habit of comparing, proving, rushing, or feeling behind doesn’t start with horses, it shows up at work, in relationships, in training, and yes… out on a long run when someone overtakes you at mile 12.

And when we recognise that, something really powerful happens.

Because instead of trying to “fix” the riding, we can shift the perception. We can notice the story the mind is telling, step out of it, and come back to what actually matters in that moment, the plan, the process, the connection.

Our horses don’t care who overtakes us.
Our bodies don’t either.
That voice comes from ego, not progress.

The real skill in running, riding, and life is staying committed to your pace, your plan, and your horse, even when others move past you. Especially then.

Letting someone pass isn’t weakness. It’s discipline.
It’s trusting the work you’re doing.
It’s knowing you don’t need to prove anything to anyone.

And often, the biggest breakthroughs in the saddle don’t come from better techniques…
They come from a calmer, kinder, more grounded way of thinking that follows you everywhere you go.

11/01/2026

Sixteen miles this morning.

There’s a point in a long run where the body is still capable, but the mind starts negotiating. Shortcuts appear. Excuses sound reasonable. Comfort feels close.

That’s the moment this run was for.

Not to prove anything.
Not to chase a pace.
Just to practise staying steady when it would be easier to stop.

Because progress is rarely dramatic. Most of the time it’s built quietly, mile after mile, when no one is watching and nothing is being won except trust in yourself.

That’s the work that carries over into everything else. 🏃‍♂️

04/01/2026

I had no motivation to run this morning.
None. Zero.

But I went anyway. 👟

Not because I felt inspired, but because I’ve learned that consistency matters more than mood.
Some days are powered by fire.
Some days are powered by discipline. 🏃‍♂️

Both count.
Both move you forward.

Keep putting in the work. 🔥

02/01/2026

🐎 “But you don’t even ride anymore…”

I hear this quite a lot.
And honestly? My answer is usually: that’s kind of the point.

Because I’m not part of the competitive equestrian world, I’m not caught up in yard culture, competition pressure, or all the quiet “shoulds” riders carry around.
“I should be braver.”
“I should be further on by now.”
“I shouldn’t still be struggling with this.”

What I notice, again and again, is that a lot of so-called riding problems aren’t really riding problems at all.

They’re life problems.

Stress.
Pressure.
Trying to keep too many plates spinning.
Being endlessly hard on yourself.

The horse just ends up reflecting it all back.

And when people start feeling a bit calmer, happier, and more settled in themselves generally, something interesting happens, their riding usually improves too! Not because they’ve pushed harder, but because the mind getting on the horse feels safer and less tangled.

I don’t look at position or technique. That’s not my lane.
I help people understand how their mind works, in the saddle and everywhere else. Because it’s the same mind turning up to work, family life, relationships… and then to the yard.

January tends to shine a light on the things we’ve been coping with quietly. If riding has started to feel heavy, frustrating, or just not like you anymore, that’s often a sign it’s worth talking it through, not fixing, not forcing, just understanding what’s going on.

If this resonates, you’re very welcome to reach out.
A conversation can be the first small step back towards ease, both in life and in the saddle.

So no, I don’t ride.
But sometimes it takes someone outside the arena to help you feel steadier inside it.

✨

01/01/2026

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28/12/2025

Anxiety isn’t a flaw, it’s a nervous system trying to keep you safe. 🛡️🌿

It learned to stay alert when things felt uncertain.
It stepped forward to protect you, even when the danger passed.
And sometimes… it just never got the message that the war ended.

Anxiety isn’t your enemy.
It’s an overworked guard who’s been on watch for too long. 🏕️🔥
And guards don’t need punishment, they need rest, reassurance, and somewhere safe to stand down.

You’re not broken.
You’re protected a little too well. ✨

27/12/2025

🐎✨ “But you don’t even ride anymore…”

I hear this sometimes and my answer is always the same:
that’s actually what makes it work.

Because I’m not part of the equestrian world, I’m not caught up in yard culture, competition pressure, or all the quiet “shoulds” riders carry with them.
“I should be braver.”
“I should be further on.”
“I should be better.”

What I do see, very clearly, is this 👇

So many “riding problems” aren’t really riding problems at all.
They’re often symptoms of what’s happening elsewhere in life.

Stress.
Pressure.
Perfectionism.
Feeling stretched too thin.

The horse simply becomes the mirror 🪞

And here’s the interesting part:
when riders start feeling calmer, happier, and more grounded in their everyday lives, their riding almost always improves too. Not because they’re trying harder but because the mind that gets on the horse feels safer, steadier, and more at ease.

I don’t analyse position or technique.
I help people understand how their mind works because that’s what shapes confidence, focus, and connection.

And because I’m not comparing you to anyone, not to myself, not to other riders, it creates a space where you can be honest without judgement. That’s where real change begins 🌿

Sometimes, it takes someone outside the arena to help you find your best self inside it.

🐴💭

26/12/2025

The nervous system doesn’t reset on command,
neither does a good horse. 🐎

Rest isn’t weakness.
It’s maintenance.
It’s the quiet days that keep both horse and rider sound.

Today still counts, even if you do very little.
Standing in the field.
Loose reins.
Deep breaths. 🌾

Rest is part of the ride.
No horse goes the distance without time to walk, graze, and simply be. 🐴✨

26/12/2025

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak,
it means you kept riding through tired legs and heavy days for too long.

You stayed in the saddle when rest wasn’t an option.
You asked your body to keep going because others needed you to.
Now it’s asking you to soften the reins and listen. 🐎

This isn’t failure.
It’s feedback.
And even the strongest horse needs time to breathe, stretch, and stand quietly in the field. 🌾

25/12/2025

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄
As the year softens and we reach this pause point, I want to say thank you, to everyone who supports what I do here, and to those who’ve supported me in ways that may never have been visible. Every part of that has mattered.
Some people walk beside us for a season, some leave a mark and move on, all of it shapes who we become. I’m grateful for the lessons, the kindness, and even the chapters that have quietly closed.
This work, this space, and this sense of connection exist because of people, past and present, and I don’t take that lightly.
I hope today brings you warmth, gentleness, and a few calm moments, whatever Christmas looks like for you 🤍

24/12/2025

24/12/2025

Day 24 🎄
The last door. No big reveal, just a quiet moment to pause and notice how far December has moved us along.
This little daily ritual was never really about what was inside the calendar. It was about showing up, creating space, and allowing small moments to matter.
A reminder that care doesn’t have to be loud or perfect. It just has to be consistent enough to bring you back to yourself.
Here’s to the pauses we take, the habits we keep, and the calm we choose, even when life gets busy.