10/15/2025
You horse shuts down, bolts, or rears.
For many riders, it’s one of the hardest moments to face.
No connection. No clear plan of what to do next.
But this moment isn’t random.
It’s a clear message from your horse’s nervous system.
When we understand it, we can respond in a way that builds trust instead of tension.
💥The way you move, breathe, and act sends constant signals to your brain & those signals shape your ride more than your riding skills.
And your horse feels it all.
🚨When your breath is shallow, your hips are tight & your shoulders round forward, your nervous system tells your horse, “We’re not safe.”
🧘♀️When you move with softness and awareness, you send a completely different message, one of safety, presence, and connection.
🔬 The Neuroscience
Your brain's Default Mode Network is the system that turns on when your mind wanders or loops through old thoughts.
For riders, this shows up as the self-talk that says:
“I’m not good enough.”
“What if I mess up again?”
“Why isn’t my horse listening?”
When your DMN is calling the shots, your body tightens, and your horse mirrors that tension.
But when you consciously come back to your body through movement, breath, or mindful action, you quiet that network and activate your task-positive network, the part of your brain responsible for focus, flow, and presence in the saddle.
You’re not just calming yourself down…
✅️You’re literally rewiring your brain to embody calm confidence, and your horse feels that shift instantly.
Next time you ride, this these...
3 Practices to Rewire for Calm & Confidence
1️⃣ Move with awareness.
Every time you walk, groom, or ride notice your posture. 👉Lengthen your spine & relax your shoulders.
2️⃣ Breathe before you act.
Take one slow, full breath before any cue. 👉That single inhale interrupts your DMN’s autopilot and signals safety to your brain and your horse’s nervous system.
3️⃣ Anchor into one sensory detail.
When your mind spirals, tune in to one sensory system. 👉Hear the sound of your horse's hooves.
📌Save this for your next lesson & share it with a fellow rider who might benefit 🫶
