Turn Riding Fear Around

The pressure to push through riding fear might be exactly what's keeping you stuck. Just get on.Push through it.Don't let fear win. Riders hear this advice all the time. But what happens when you never actually deal with WHY you're afraid to ride? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're looking at the difference between pushing through riding fear and actually working through it. Sometimes pushing through works. Sometimes it adds more pressure without addressing what your fear is trying to tell you. If you're scared to ride your horse, struggling with horseback riding anxiety that has just crept in, or trying to rebuild your riding confidence after a fall or scary experience, you don't have to prove anything by forcing yourself into the saddle. Your fear has information. Understanding it can help you decide what your next doable step actually is.In this episode, you'll learn: • Acknowledge the fear - feel gratitude for it.• What's the root fear telling you?• Knowing that, what's your next doable step?• THEN decide — ride or don't ride each day. The goal isn't to get REALLY good at pushing through fear. It's to listen to what it's telling you and take one step forward. If you're ready to understand what's behind your riding fear and figure out your next doable step, a Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to do exactly that.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

What if riding could be FUN again? Not something you SHOULD do.Something you WANT to do. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're talking about what can happen when riding fear, riding anxiety, or a loss of confidence takes the fun out of horseback riding—and how to start finding your way back to enjoying time in the saddle. Remember when riding was FUN? You weren't analyzing every ride or wondering whether you felt confident enough. You just wanted to get on your horse and GO. Maybe getting your riding confidence back isn't really the goal.Maybe you want to enjoy riding again. To look forward to getting on your horse. To have FUN. In this episode, you'll learn:• What would FUN riding look like for you?• What would you love to FEEL when you think about riding?• What's one thing you could change that would make riding more fun right now? Riding doesn't have to look like it used to. If riding fear or anxiety has taken some of the fun away, a Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to look at what's getting in the way and find your next step toward enjoying your horse again. Let's find what FUN looks like for you now.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

What if “I don't want to ride anymore” isn't actually the whole story? What if what you really mean is...“I don't want to feel like THIS when I ride anymore.” In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're talking about what happens when riding fear, riding anxiety, or a loss of confidence leaves you wondering whether you even want to ride your horse anymore. You love your horse. You WANT to want to ride. But when riding has become filled with fear, tension, What Ifs, or anxiety, it's easy to start wondering whether maybe you're just done. There's a BIG difference between: “I don't want to ride anymore.”and...“I don't want to feel like THIS when I ride anymore.” Before you decide you're finished with horseback riding, give yourself a chance to figure out which one is really true for you—and what you would love riding to feel like instead. In this episode, you'll learn:• Ask, “If fear wasn't part of riding, would I still want to ride?”• Take some time to DREAM about what you would love riding to look like.• What's the biggest thing getting in the way of enjoying that dream? And what is one step to overcome. Maybe you're not done riding. If fear or anxiety is getting between you and the riding you want, a Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to figure out what's getting in the way and find your next step toward enjoying riding again.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

What if you don't actually miss being fearless? What if you miss being EXCITED to ride? Remember when you couldn't WAIT to get to the barn? You weren't wondering whether you'd feel confident enough that day. You weren't analyzing every possible What If. You just wanted to RIDE. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're looking at something that can get lost when you're dealing with riding fear, riding anxiety, or a loss of confidence on your horse: the FUN. Sometimes we become so focused on getting our riding confidence back that we forget what we're actually wanting. The excitement. The anticipation. That feeling of, “OH GOOD! I GET TO RIDE TODAY!” If you've lost your motivation to ride, aren't excited about going to the barn anymore, or find yourself wondering why horseback riding doesn't feel as fun as it used to, this episode gives you a different place to start. In this episode, you'll learn:• Ask, “What did I LOVE about riding then?”• What do I miss now?• What would make riding feel FUN again? Maybe fearless isn't what you're looking for.Maybe you want to be excited to ride again.You don't have to ride exactly like you used to...to love riding like you used to. If you're ready to find out what would make riding feel fun again for the horsewoman you are TODAY, let's talk. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to look at what's getting in the way and create your next step toward enjoying your horse again.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

You used to be the rider who just got on and RODE. No committee meeting.No 47 possible What If scenarios.Just LET'S GO!!! So what happened? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're talking about why experienced riders can suddenly become scared to ride—even when they used to feel completely fearless on a horse. There's a whole lot of life wisdom between Fearless Kid You and the rider you are today. More experience. More knowledge. Maybe a fall or two. A different horse. And possibly a body that doesn't bounce quite like it used to. You don't need to erase everything you've learned to rebuild your riding confidence. You get to bring that wisdom with you and discover what the horsewoman you are TODAY needs to enjoy riding again. In this episode, you'll learn:• Stop asking, “How do I become fearless again?” Start Asking, “What do I need to enjoy riding NOW?”• Keep the wisdom but set the fear down• Invite Fearless Kid You back into the ride with your wisdom. You don't have to become the fearless rider you used to be.Fearless Kid You doesn't need the reins.Maybe she just needs to ride double with you. If riding fear or anxiety has changed the way you feel about getting on your horse, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to look at what's changed, what you need now, and create your next step toward enjoying riding again.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

You know what's exhausting? Holding yourself together. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're talking about why riding anxiety can leave you feeling physically exhausted in the saddle. Tension, holding your breath, tightening your muscles, bracing, and trying to control everything all use energy—sometimes more than we realize. If you tire quickly while horseback riding, feel exhausted after riding, or notice that anxiety makes your body tense and tight in the saddle, this episode will help you understand where some of that energy may be going. As your body discovers what safe feels like, it can spend less energy bracing and leave more energy for actually enjoying your horse. In this episode, you'll learn:• Notice where you're spending your energy.• Help your body discover an easier way to ride.• Save your energy for enjoying your horse, not holding yourself together. Tension takes energy. What could riding feel like if you didn't have to spend so much energy holding yourself together?If riding anxiety, tension, or physical exhaustion is making riding harder than you'd like, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to look at what's happening for you and create a plan to help you feel calmer, more confident, and more comfortable in the saddle.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

What if the goal isn't to stop the What Ifs? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're looking at those "What if?" thoughts a little differently. Your brain is asking them for a reason. It wants to keep you safe. Instead of leaving the question unanswered, you can give your brain something much more useful—a plan. If riding anxiety has your brain jumping from one What if? to the next, this episode will help you turn those questions into something you can actually use. Because "What if?" doesn't have to be the end of the conversation. In this episode, you'll learn:• Listen to your What if? - What is it trying to tell you?• Answer it with What's the plan? - Know what you will do.• Let your plan become your confidence. Your What Ifs have information. Listen. Answer. Make a plan. When you're ready to turn your riding What Ifs into a plan that's right for you, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to look at what's happening in your riding and create your next step toward enjoying it again.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

Every good horseman knows you don't judge a horse until you've warmed them up. Maybe our own bodies deserve the same courtesy. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're talking about stiffness and what happens when we give our bodies a chance to warm up before deciding what's really going on. Just like with our horses, movement gives us information. Once your body becomes as fluid as it can be today, you can start listening. Is it tension? Inflammation? Pain? Or simply a body that needed a little time to get moving? In this episode, you'll learn:• Warm up before deciding what's wrong.• Listen to what your body is telling you.• Help your body become as fluid as it can be today. Stiffness is a starting point.Warm up. Move. Then listen to what your body has to say. If your body has been making riding harder than you'd like, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to look at where you are today and create a plan to help you feel better, build confidence, and enjoy riding again.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Shaking can be one of the most unsettling physical symptoms of riding anxiety. But there's a reason your body does it. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, we're talking about adrenaline—what happens in your body when it shows up and why something as simple as your horse swishing at a fly, shaking its head, or stepping into the canter can suddenly send your body into high alert. Understanding what's happening gives you something solid to work with. Your body is protecting you, and you can help it discover what safe feels like while also learning to recognize what really does need your attention. In this episode, you'll learn:• Recognize adrenaline when it shows up.• Thank your body for protecting you.• Help your body discover what safe feels like and just important, what needs attention. Shaking is information. When you understand what your body is telling you, you can decide what comes next.If riding anxiety is showing up in your body and you're ready to create a plan for feeling calmer and more confident in the saddle, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call gives us a chance to look at what's happening for you and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

Mounting your horse shouldn't be the hardest part of your ride. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share a different way to think about pain when you mount. Instead of assuming it's "just getting older," what if your body is giving you useful information? Just like we pay attention when our horses tell us something, our own bodies deserve the same curiosity. If mounting has become uncomfortable, or you've started dreading that first step into the saddle, this episode is for you. Small changes can make a big difference, and understanding what your body is saying is the first step toward feeling better. In this episode, you'll learn:• Start asking How can I feel better riding?• Listen to what your body is saying to you.• Small changes can make mounting easier. (Wiggle Walk is my favorite) Your body has something worth listening to.The better you understand it, the better you can help it.When you're ready to feel more comfortable in the saddle and create a plan that's right for you, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step toward enjoying riding again.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Maybe there is a better question than, "Will I ever get my confidence back?" In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I explore a different way of thinking about riding confidence. What if your confidence was never really gone? What if it's simply been covered by layer after layer of your brain doing its job—keeping you safe? Instead of waiting for confidence to return, you can begin uncovering it one ride, one small win, and one step at a time. If you've been wondering whether you'll ever feel like yourself in the saddle again, this episode is for you. Confidence isn't something you have to go find. It's something you get to uncover. In this episode, you'll learn:• Stop waiting for confidence to return.• Play hide and go seek with your confidence.• Each confident step is like watering a garden. Confidence doesn't disappear.Sometimes it just gets covered. When you're ready to uncover the confident rider that's been there all along, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ????????

Sometimes one decision changes everything. Not because it makes the fear disappear...but because it gives your brain a new direction. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share the one decision that changed my riding confidence forever. The moment I decided I was going to enjoy riding again, my brain stopped looking for reasons to quit and started looking for ways to make it happen. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, or wondering whether you'll ever enjoy riding the way you used to, this episode is for you. Confidence doesn't begin when fear disappears. It begins when you decide where you're going. In this episode, you'll learn:• Decide you're going to enjoy riding again.• Stop looking for a way out. Start looking for a way forward.• Let every step become another step toward the rider you want to be. The decision comes first. Confidence grows as you keep taking the next step. When you're ready to decide what's possible for your riding and create a plan to get there, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Sometimes losing confidence isn't what keeps us stuck. It's what happens after. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I talk about one of the biggest mistakes riders make after a scary ride or loss of confidence. Our brains start asking "What if?"—and before we know it, one question has turned into ten more. The good news? Your brain isn't looking for fear. It's looking for a plan. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, or a mind that won't stop imagining everything that could go wrong, this episode is for you. You don't have to stop the What ifs. You can teach your brain a better question. In this episode, you'll learn:• Catch each What if? before it turns into ten more.• Turn every What if? into What's the plan?• Confidence grows when your brain knows what comes next. Your brain feels safer when it knows what comes next. That's how confidence begins to grow. When you're ready to create your own plan for rebuilding riding confidence, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

Sometimes we spend so much time trying to get our confidence back...we forget to ask whether it's really gone. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I explore a different way of looking at riding confidence. What if the confident rider is still there, but she's been hiding behind low energy, aches, stiffness, or a body that doesn't feel the way it used to? Sometimes confidence doesn't begin in our minds. Sometimes it begins by helping our bodies feel better. If you've been feeling frustrated that riding seems harder than it used to, or like you've somehow "lost" the rider you once were, this episode is for you. Your horse isn't judging how you look. Your horse is responding to how you feel. In this episode, you'll learn:• Your body and your confidence work together.• Feeling better is part of becoming the rider you want to be.• Your horse notices how you feel long before it notices how you look. The confident rider you're looking for…may have been there all along. When you're ready to help your body feel stronger, move with more confidence, and enjoy riding again, join the Healthy Rider Reset and discover how feeling better can help you become the rider you know is still within. https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Have you ever noticed how easily your brain falls into the same fearful thoughts every time you ride? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share why our brains are a lot like horses following the same trail through a pasture. The more often we travel one path, the easier it becomes to follow. The good news? We aren't stuck on that trail. We get to create a new one. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, or a mind that automatically jumps to "What if something goes wrong?", this episode is for you. Fear can become a habit—but confidence can become one too. In this episode, you'll learn:• Fear is a habit. Create a new habit of confidence.• What If's to What's the Plan - This is a new habit.• Practice your What's your plan in your mind, then riding, then you have it if you need it. Your brain follows the paths you practice most. You can choose to practice a new one. When you're ready to create new habits, build lasting confidence, and enjoy riding again, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you. https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

Have you ever noticed your brain never asks, "What if this goes really well?" In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I explain why our brains naturally expect the worst after a scary experience. They're not trying to predict the future. They're trying to protect us from getting hurt again. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, or a mind that won't stop imagining everything that could go wrong, this episode is for you. You don't have to stop your thoughts. You just need to teach your brain a better question. In this episode, you'll learn:• Notice when your brain starts asking, "What if...?"• Replace it with, "What's the plan?"• A plan calms the nervous system. Panic feeds it. Your brain isn't looking for perfection. It's looking for a plan. If you're ready to feel calmer, think more clearly, and create your own "What's the plan?" for riding and beyond, join the Healthy Rider Reset Waitlist and be the first to hear when the next group opens. https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Have you ever wished your riding confidence would just come back on its own? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share why confidence isn't like a rubber band. It doesn't snap back after a scary experience. It grows back, one small step at a time. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, or waiting for the day you finally "feel ready" again, this episode is for you. Confidence isn't something you wait for. It's something you build through small, safe experiences—both in and out of the saddle. In this episode, you'll learn:• Stop waiting for confidence to return.• Create one small win at a time.• Trust the process, not the timeline. Confidence doesn't come back all at once. It grows back one small win at a time. When you're ready to stop waiting and start rebuilding your riding confidence, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

Have you ever wondered what your horse knows about you before you even put your foot in the stirrup? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I talk about something every horse understands. Before we ever pick up the reins, our horses are already reading our energy, our movement, and whether we're truly present. They don't need us to be perfect. They just need us to show up. If you've been feeling stiff, distracted, overwhelmed, or like you're not bringing your best self to the saddle, this episode is for you. Sometimes becoming a more confident rider starts before the ride even begins. In this episode, you'll learn:• Notice how you're showing up before the ride begins. (Predict what your horse will feel)• Help your body become part of the partnership.• Give your horse a rider they can confidently follow. Your horse doesn't expect perfection. Your horse notices presence. If you're ready to help your body feel stronger, move with more confidence, and become an even better partner for your horse, join the Healthy Rider Reset Waitlist and be the first to hear when the next group opens. https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Have you ever stood at the mounting block and suddenly felt like you couldn't get on—even though you wanted to ride? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share why the mounting block usually isn't the real problem. By the time we get there, our brain has already decided whether today feels safe or dangerous. Understanding what's happening is the first step toward changing it. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, or freezing at the mounting block after a fall or scary experience, this episode is for you. Your mounting block isn't trying to stop you. It's trying to tell you something worth listening to. In this episode, you'll learn to:• Listen to what your mounting block is trying to tell you.• Find the real reason you're freezing instead of mounting.• Build confidence one safe ride at a time. The mounting block isn't where your confidence disappears. It's where your brain asks one last time, "Are we safe?" When you're ready to understand what's really happening and create a plan that helps you ride with confidence again, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? Have you ever stood at the mounting block and suddenly felt like you couldn't get on—even though you wanted to ride? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share why the mounting block usually isn't the real problem. By the time we get there, our brain has already decided whether today feels safe or dangerous. Understanding what's happening is the first step toward changing it. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, or freezing at the mounting block after a fall or scary experience, this episode is for you. Your mounting block isn't trying to stop you. It's trying to tell you something worth listening to. In this episode, you'll learn to:• Listen to what your mounting block is trying to tell you.• Find the real reason you're freezing instead of mounting.• Build confidence one safe ride at a time. The mounting block isn't where your confidence disappears. It's where your brain asks one last time, "Are we safe?" When you're ready to understand what's really happening and create a plan that helps you ride with confidence again, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

Have you ever noticed how creative you'll get to solve a problem for your horse... but not for yourself? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share the story of my mare who used to stomp on my foot every time I bridled her—and how that simple memory reminded me that we're incredibly creative for our horses, but often accept aches, stiffness, and aging as "just the way it is." If you've been feeling older in the saddle, less balanced, or frustrated that your body doesn't move the way it used to, this episode is for you. Your body isn't asking you to fight aging. It might just be asking for a different approach. In this episode, you'll learn:• Notice what your body has been remembering.• Don't fight aging. Get creative.• Give your body new evidence that it can move, balance, and feel better. Your horse deserves a rider who feels good. And so do you. If you're ready to feel stronger, move with more confidence, and enjoy riding again, join the Healthy Rider Reset Waitlist and be the first to hear when the next group opens. https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I explain why your brain keeps sounding the alarm long after the danger has passed. It isn't trying to make you afraid. It's trying to make sure you never have to experience that pain again. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, or a loss of confidence after a fall or scary experience, this episode is for you. Understanding why your brain reacts the way it does is the first step toward helping it feel safe again. In this episode, you'll learn: • Stop fighting your brain. Start understanding it.• Be grateful. Its only mission is to keep you safe.• Your brain can learn a new safe story. Your brain isn't working against you. It's working overtime to protect you. When you're ready to help your brain feel safe again and rebuild your riding confidence, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

I thought I was protecting myself. Looking back... I was protecting my anxiety. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I explore the difference between healthy self-preservation and anxiety that keeps us stuck. Sometimes the hardest part isn't overcoming fear—it's recognizing whether your body is asking for help or your anxiety is asking to stay in charge. If you've been struggling with riding anxiety, loss of confidence, fear after an accident, or feeling like you're holding yourself back, this episode will help you look at your thoughts from a different perspective. In this episode, you'll learn:• Listen before you label it.• Ask what you're really protecting.• Strengthen the body so your brain has evidence.Self-preservation is important. The key is knowing whether it's protecting you... or protecting the anxiety that's been calling the shots. When you're ready to build a stronger, healthier body that supports calmer, more confident riding, join the Healthy Rider Reset Waitlist and be the first to know when the next group opens. https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Have you ever thought about quitting riding after a scary experience, a loss of confidence, or one really hard day? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share one of the biggest riding decisions I ever made—and why deciding not to make a decision changed everything. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, loss of confidence, or wondering if it's time to give up riding, this episode is for you. Sometimes the best decision isn't deciding your future today. Sometimes it's giving yourself permission to heal first. In this episode, you'll learn:• Don't decide your riding future on your hardest day.• Heal first. Decide later.• Find the next step... not the whole journey. Healing doesn't happen because time passes. Riding confidence grows when we take the right next step. When you're ready to stop trying to figure it all out on your own, I'd love to help. A Calm-Ride Strategy Call is a chance for us to look at where you are today and create the next step that's right for you.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

You know you're safe. Your horse knows the trail. So why does your brain still act like a barn sour horse trying to get back to the barn? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share one of my favorite horse metaphors for understanding riding anxiety. Sometimes the problem isn't that we're in danger—it's that our subconscious has practiced the same route for so long, it keeps trying to take us back there. If you've ever wondered why riding anxiety keeps showing up even when you know your horse is safe, you're in the right place. This episode will help you understand why knowing you're safe isn't always enough—and what to do instead. In this episode, you'll learn:• How to notice the patterns your brain keeps repeating• Why arguing with anxiety rarely works—and what to do instead• How confidence grows when we practice a different route often enough Just like a barn sour horse can learn a new way of thinking about leaving the barn, your brain can learn a new pattern too. Anxiety doesn't have to stay in charge forever. If you're ready to stop repeating the same anxiety loop and start training a new path to confidence, I'd love to help. Book a Calm-Ride Strategy Call, and together we'll create the next step toward calmer, more confident riding.  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

The mounting block used to feel like a brick wall. Today, it gives me knowledge. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share how the mounting block became one of the most valuable places to check in with myself and my horse before every ride. If you've ever struggled with riding anxiety, lost confidence at the mounting block, or wondered why some days feel easy while others don't, this episode will help you see the mounting block in a completely different way. Sometimes it isn't about courage at all—it's about listening to what your body, your mind, and your horse are trying to tell you. In this episode, you'll learn:• How to check in with your body before you get on• How to check in with your mind before you get on• How to check in with your horse before you get on Because some days your body says no.Some days your brain says no.Some days your horse has an opinion. The mounting block doesn't have to be a brick wall. It can become a doorway to better decisions, safer rides, and more joyful riding. If you're ready to feel healthier, stronger, and more confident in the saddle, join the Healthy Rider Reset Waitlist and take the next step toward riding with greater ease and confidence. https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

What if rider confidence has less to do with your horse... and more to do with your relationship with yourself? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I explore the connection between self-trust, leadership, and rider confidence. Many riders spend years focusing on their relationship with their horse, while rarely stopping to consider the relationship they have with themselves. If you've ever struggled with riding confidence, leadership, self-doubt, anxiety around your horse, or feeling uncertain in the saddle, this episode may help you look at confidence from a completely different perspective. In this episode, you'll learn:• Take stock of your energy. Timid, confident, or somewhere in between.• Do one thing each day to move 1% toward confident.• Let your horse participate. Play with your energy around your horse. Because horses often respond to far more than our cues. They respond to our energy, our leadership, and the confidence we bring into the relationship. In this episode, I share how one horse in particular, Binky, taught me a powerful lesson about leadership. I had to take a hard look in the mirror and realize that being timid, overwhelmed, and chaotic wasn't serving either of us. Once I stepped into leadership, everything began to change. If you're ready to improve your health, energy, confidence, and leadership both in and out of the saddle, join the Healthy Rider Reset Waitlist and be the first to hear when doors open.Your horse may be waiting for you to step into the leader they already know you can be. ???????? https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Have you ever felt like your riding confidence disappeared? What if it isn't gone at all? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share one of the biggest lessons from my own riding confidence journey: discovering that my confidence wasn't missing—it was hiding behind a danger folder that had gotten way too thick. If you've been struggling with riding fear, riding anxiety, loss of confidence, fear after an accident, or feeling stuck despite your best efforts, this episode may help you uncover what's really getting in the way. In this episode, you'll learn:• What is hiding in your danger folder?• Confidence can't lead while danger is in charge.• Get help digging it out. You don't have to do this alone. Because confidence isn't always gone.Sometimes it's buried behind danger. For me, the real issue wasn't confidence. The real issue was fear of pain. Once I uncovered what was really hiding behind my danger folder, confidence started showing up not only in my riding, but in other areas of my life as well. If you're ready to stop letting fear lead and start uncovering the confidence that's already there, I'd love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call.You don't have to dig through your danger folder alone. ????????  https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ????????

For years, I didn't realize how much my health was affecting my confidence in the saddle. The worse I felt physically, the less I trusted myself riding. It happened so gradually that I barely noticed it—until one day I had to sit down to put my socks on. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I explore the connection between rider health, riding confidence, mobility, flexibility, strength, and anxiety. If you've ever wondered why riding feels harder than it used to, why your confidence seems lower, or why you're struggling with things that once felt easy, your health may be part of the conversation. You'll learn:• Why declining health can quietly affect riding confidence• How to do a simple assessment using your clothes, your socks, and getting on and off your horse• Areas to start improving, including balance, flexibility, and strength Because confidence isn't just built in the mind.Sometimes it starts with feeling better in your body. And if you're ready to improve your health, mobility, flexibility, strength, energy, and riding confidence, join the Healthy Rider Reset Waitlist and be the first to hear when doors open. https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist Your horse may appreciate carrying around less of a stiff sack of potatoes too. ???????????? If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

After my riding accident, it took me nearly 20 years before I truly felt comfortable riding outside the arena again. Along the way, I spent a lot of time, energy, and money trying things that didn't work. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share one of the biggest lessons I learned about overcoming riding fear, rebuilding confidence after an accident, and why confidence doesn't return simply because time passes. If you're struggling with riding anxiety, fear after a horse accident, loss of confidence in the saddle, or feeling stuck in the same place year after year, this episode will help you look at your journey differently. In this episode, you'll learn:• Why many riders spend far longer struggling than they need to• Why confidence comes back through the right process, not just the passage of time• How to stop trying to solve your entire riding confidence problem at once• Why every rider's next step is different• How focusing on the next piece of the puzzle can dramatically reduce overwhelm Because rebuilding riding confidence isn't about waiting.It's about finding the right next step.You don't need the whole picture today. You only need the next piece. If you're ready to identify the next step in your own riding confidence journey, I'd love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call.Whether you're dealing with riding fear, anxiety after an accident, panic at the mounting block, loss of confidence, or simply feeling stuck, we'll work together to uncover the next piece of your puzzle and create a plan forward. https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you'd like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH )—and keep training courage into your riding. ???????? 

Sometimes what feels like riding fear… actually starts with tension in the body. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share why riding can start feeling harder when our body gets tight, stiff, and resistant to movement—and how that tension can quietly affect our confidence, balance, comfort, and connection with our horse. If you've ever felt like riding takes more effort than it used to, found yourself bracing instead of flowing with your horse, or wondered why your confidence seems to disappear when your body feels tight, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll learn:• Why a tight body can make riding feel harder than it needs to be• How physical tension affects riding confidence and trust• Why fear sometimes starts with stiffness before it starts in the mind• How practicing softness and movement can change your riding experience• Simple ways to identify and release areas of tension in your body Because when we fight movement, riding becomes work.When we move with our horse, riding becomes a partnership. And sometimes the fastest way to improve confidence isn't by changing your thoughts—it's by helping your body feel safe, loose, and free to move again.If you're interested in improving your rider mobility, flexibility, balance, strength, energy, and confidence, join the waitlist for the upcoming Healthy Rider Reset and be the first to hear when doors open. https://elisehittinger.com/page/healthy-rider-reset-waitlist If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Sometimes our horses notice our tension and anxiety before we do. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share what zebras, lions, and herd instincts taught me about riding anxiety, horse behavior, and why horses are often reflecting our emotional state back to us. If you've ever noticed your horse becoming tense, reactive, distracted, or unsettled when you're feeling nervous, anxious, or stressed, this episode will help you understand why. Horses are herd animals, and their survival depends on recognizing signs of danger. As part of their herd, our horses are constantly paying attention to us—even when we don't realize what we're communicating. In this episode, you'll learn:• Why horses can sense rider tension and anxiety so quickly• How horses reflect our emotional and physical state• Why not every anxious feeling is a sign of danger• How to use your horse's reactions as valuable feedback instead of something to fear• Simple ways to create more calm, trust, and confidence for both you and your horse Because sometimes our horse notices the tension before we do. And sometimes the greatest lesson our horses teach us is that not every signal means danger.If you're ready to reduce riding anxiety and build more courage, calm, and trust in the saddle, I'd love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call: https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Sometimes what feels like riding fear… actually starts with stiffness in the body. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share why rider flexibility affects riding confidence more than most riders realize—and how tight hips, stiff shoulders, a tight back, and restricted movement can quietly create tension, bracing, and loss of trust in the saddle. If you’ve ever felt like you were losing confidence riding, bracing instead of moving with your horse, or feeling stiffer in the saddle than you used to, this episode will help you understand why flexibility is about far more than stretching—it’s about freedom, softness, trust, and calm riding. In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why tight hips, shoulders, and back can affect riding confidence• How stiffness in the body can make your brain feel less safe• Why physical flexibility and mental flexibility work together• Simple ways to loosen your body and move with your horse again Including some of my favorite rider tools like:• The Wiggle Walk• Chicken Flap Riding• Mental flexibility shifts that help you ride with more softness and confidence Because sometimes what we call fear… actually starts with a body that no longer feels free to move.And just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new. If you’re ready to build more courage, calm, and trust in your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call:https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

Feeling physically unsteady in the saddle can quietly affect far more than just your balance—it can change your confidence, your reactions, and the trust between you and your horse. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share why rider balance affects riding confidence more than most of us realize, and how feeling physically unstable can make our nervous system louder, our reactions bigger, and our horse feel our tension before we even know it’s there. If you struggle with mounting and dismounting, grabbing with your reins or legs, feeling tense when your horse moves, avoiding certain situations, or feeling unsteady both in and out of the saddle, this episode will help you understand why balance matters so much for calm, confident riding. In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why physical balance affects your nervous system and riding confidence• How balance outside the saddle improves balance in the saddle• Why moving with your horse creates trust, softness, and connection• How a steady body helps your brain feel safer and respond with more confidence Because sometimes what we call riding fear… actually starts with our body not feeling steady underneath us. And just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new.If you’re ready to build more balance, courage, calm, and trust in your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call: https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

The first 30 seconds after mounting your horse may be shaping far more than you realize. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share how the way I was taught to get on horses as a kid created habits I never even questioned… until I realized those first moments in the saddle were training my horse—and my brain. If your horse fidgets at the mounting block, walks off before you settle in, or you find yourself adjusting everything before ever really connecting, this episode will help you understand why those first 30 seconds matter so much for both horse and rider. In this episode, you’ll learn:• How asking for stillness before mounting builds trust• Why mounting with softness changes how your horse feels you• How connecting before movement helps both nervous systems settle Because your horse learns from every moment… and so does your brain. When we rush, brace, or skip connection, we can accidentally train tension, movement, and anticipation instead of trust. But just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new. If you’re ready to train courage, calm, and trust into your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call:https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

After my riding accident, I created something that completely changed the way I prepare for every ride—and honestly, I wish I had done it years earlier. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share the pre-ride checklist I now use to help reduce riding anxiety, build trust, improve safety, and feel more prepared before ever getting in the saddle. If you struggle with riding fear, loss of confidence after an accident, pre-ride nerves, or wondering if both you and your horse are truly ready to ride, this episode will help you create a system that builds trust before your feet ever leave the ground. In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why preparation gives us more control, even when we can’t control everything• How to create a pre-ride checklist for your horse so nothing important gets missed• How a pre-ride checklist for the rider helps your brain relax and trust your leadership again Because we may not prevent every accident… but we can prevent a lot of them through preparation, awareness, and training. If you’re ready to reduce riding anxiety and train calm confidence into your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call: https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy If you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittingerCH and keep training courage into your riding.

When our heart starts racing, our palms start sweating, and fear starts taking over, what do we say to our brain? In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share what happens when fear has been practiced so long that our subconscious stops waiting for our leadership… and starts making the decisions for us. Maybe it happens when our horse spooks, moves quicker than expected, or something catches us off guard. Our heart starts racing, our body goes into fight, flight, or freeze mode, and suddenly we forget everything we know. In this episode, we talk about how to train our mind and body to stay present when fear shows up. You’ll learn how to:• Practice being the eye of the storm before you need it• Keep your body moving so fear doesn’t freeze you• Give your mind a job so your focus interrupts fear Because just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new.If you’re ready to train courage, calm, and trust back into your riding, I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call: https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube—and keep training courage into your riding.

Maybe it happens at the mounting block, heading out on the trail, when your horse starts moving faster, or stepping into the show ring. Your heart starts racing, your palms start sweating, and suddenly your brain is telling you stories that aren’t helping. In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, I share how to talk to your brain when riding anxiety shows up—and how to train your mind and body to trust your leadership again. You’ll learn how to:• Name what’s happening• Tell your brain the truth• Give your body a job Because your brain has one job—to keep you safe… not necessarily to keep you happy. And just like anything we’ve trained… we can train something new.If you’re ready to train calm confidence into your riding,I’d love to support you on a Calm-Ride Strategy Call: https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you’d like to keep going, explore the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube—and keep training courage into your riding. 

Riding didn’t stop being fun overnight… fear slowly squeezed the fun out of it. ???? 1. Fear fills the space fun used to live inFun didn’t disappear— it just got pushed out???? 2. You don’t bring fun back by forcing itTrying to “have fun” usually creates more pressure???? 3. Start adding fun back in—on purposeFun isn’t something you wait for… it’s something you create Bring the fun back. If you’re ready to start riding again with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy

It wasn’t the accident that changed everything… it was what came after—and how it slowly took my enthusiasm with it.  ???? 1. Reconnect with when it felt goodWhen was the last time you felt real enthusiasm riding????? 2. Do you truly want that feeling back?Getting it back may mean letting go.Not sacrifice… just making space for something different???? 3. Start before it feels naturalYou might have to act a little “as if” at first. Getting enthusiasm back is often overlooked and also, very important. I makes the rest easier. If you’re ready to start riding again with calm confidence, fun and enthusiam, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy

Calm Isn’t Missing—It’s Just Buried You’re not trying to create calm… you’re uncovering what’s already there. ???? Calm is your natural stateYou were born knowing calm, it just got covered by experiences, thoughts, and reactions.???? You don’t have to force calmCalm shows up when you stop looking for it and trust it is still there.???? Clear away what’s covering itInstead of chasing calm, start removing what’s in the way:tension in your body racing thoughts old patterns Reset back to the calm you were born with! If you’re ready to start riding again with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you’d like to go deeper, listen to the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube—guiding you from anxiety to calm, confident riding.

You’re Solving the Wrong Problem You think the problem is the anxiety… but the real problem is how well you’ve practiced it.  ???? The Courageous YOURemember a time when you felt fierce, confident, and completely in control.Write it down… or even better, say it out loud.???? Practice Being THAT YOUStep into that version of yourself—on purpose. Walk like her. Think like her. Ride like her.???? Swish Anxiety into CourageWhen you feel anxiety starting, don’t fight it—redirect it. See it… and then mentally swish into that courageous version of you. Practice the Courageous YOU as many times as you can, until your memory turns into the "new" you. If you’re ready to calm anxiety fast and start riding with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you’d like to go deeper, listen to the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube—guiding you from anxiety to calm, confident riding.

When Your Heart Starts Racing Before Riding When your heart starts racing before you ride, your body is trying to take over—let’s bring it back to calm. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. ???? Name It, don't fight ItYou’re not in danger—your body is just doing what it’s been trained to do.???? Lengthen your exhaleLong, slow, loud exhale let's your body know it can let go of the anxiety and heart racing.???? Give your body a simple jobWhen your heart is racing, your brain is spinning too so give your brain and body something to do. Help your body and brain work together to calm and stop the heart racing feelings. If you’re ready to start riding again with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you’d like to go deeper, listen to the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube—guiding you from anxiety to calm, confident riding.

How to Calm Anxiety Fast (When Your Body Won’t Settle) When your body won’t settle, your brain can’t either…but here’s the good news—you can calm both at the same time. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. Your body and your brain are like the chicken and the egg—they’re constantly talking to each other.So instead of trying to calm just your thoughts…we’re going to calm your body and brain together. ???? The Shrug + BlowShrug your shoulders up tight… hold… and then drop them as you do a BIG exhale.???? Count Both WaysUse your fingers—one hand counts forward, the other counts backward. Alternate.???? Pat and Rub ResetRub your tummy and pat your head—yes, just like when you were a kid. If you’re ready to calm anxiety fast and start riding with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you’d like to go deeper, listen to the Turn Riding Fear Around playlist on YouTube—guiding you from anxiety to calm, confident riding.

Just like a chick breaking out of its shell… sometimes we don’t need fixing—we need to break free. If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start riding with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, Elise Hittinger shares a powerful way to move through anxiety—not by fixing yourself, but by breaking free from the patterns that have been holding you back. If you’ve been feeling stuck, this episode will guide you through a simple visualization to help your body release anxiety and reconnect with calm and confidence. You’ll learn:???? How to recognize the “egg” of anxiety in your body???? How to gently break through what’s been keeping you stuck???? How to step into calm, steady confidence on the other side Just like we help our horses move through anxiety and find their calm, we can do the same for ourselves—even with all the extra thoughts we carry. When you recognize your patterns—and choose a new one—you open the door to freedom, confidence, and joy in your riding again. If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start riding with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you’d like to go deeper into how anxiety patterns are created, listen to You Can’t Think Your Way Out of This.

You can think your way out of anxiety… but it took me 20 years. There’s a much faster way. If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start riding with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, Elise Hittinger shares why thinking alone isn’t the fastest way through anxiety—and what actually creates real, lasting calm and confidence. If you’ve been stuck in overthinking, trying to “figure it out,” this episode will help you understand why your brain keeps looping—and how to work with your body instead of against it. You’ll learn:???? Why thinking isn’t the fastest way through anxiety???? How real change happens when your body feels safe???? How to create lasting confidence by aligning your mind and body Just like riding your favorite trail or heading to a familiar horse show, your brain follows the paths it knows. The good news? You can create new ones. When you recognize that anxiety is a pattern—and choose a new pattern—you open the door to calm, confidence, and joy in your riding again. If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start riding with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here:???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy And if you want to go deeper, listen to Anxiety Isn’t Random (There’s a Pattern) to understand how these patterns form—and how to change them.

As anxiety starts to build, it forms a groove in our brain.And the more we repeat it, the deeper that groove becomes. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. ???? Anxiety is a story about the future we keep repeating???? Breaking the groove begins to dissolve the anxiety???? Consciously creating the grooves we want keeps it from returning Just like riding your favorite trail, or going to your favorite horse show…your brain follows the paths it knows. So when you create a new groove for what you want, everything starts to shift. Recognizing that anxiety is a pattern—and choosing a new pattern—brings joy back into your life. If you’d like support with this, I offer Calm-Ride Strategy Calls to help you through it. And I talk more about anxiety’s patterns in the podcast, What Anxiety Is Trying to Do for You. ???? Ready to feel calm and confident in the saddle? Start here:https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy

Anxiety has one job—to try to protect you from making the same mistake twice. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. ???? Anxiety is future-focused???? You don’t need to fight it—you need to understand it???? Calm is found in the present moment Let your horse bring you back to the present—that’s where your calm is. That shift—from fighting anxiety to understanding it—is where calm begins.If you’d like support with this, I offer Calm-Ride Strategy Calls to help you through it.And I talk more about what anxiety is trying to do for you, in the podcast - Anxiety Is a Signal — Not a Problem ???? Ready to feel calm and confident in the saddle? Start here:https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy

Anxiety isn’t the problem… it’s a signal from your body asking you to pay attention. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. Anxiety is your body trying to get your attentionWhen we treat anxiety like the problem, we try to shut it down… instead of listening to what it’s telling us.When you respond to the signal instead of fighting it, your body can actually begin to settle. These signals can show up crystal clear in the saddle since our horse is an extension of our body. Now that you see anxiety as a signal… the next step is understanding why it keeps repeating.I talk more about where this all begins in an episode called ‘You Were Born Calm—So What Happened?’ — it’ll make this make even more sense.???? Ready to feel calm and confident in the saddle? Start here:https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy

Most people think anxiety is the problem… it’s not. In this episode, you’ll discover: ???? Why anxiety isn’t the problem — it’s a signal from your body ???? Why you can’t think your way out of it (and what actually helps) ???? How your body learned anxiety — and how it can learn calm  And if you’re a rider, this is where your horse will often signal it too. Now that you understand what anxiety actually is in your body… the next piece is what your brain does with it. I did an episode on why your brain lies to you when you’re anxious — it really connects everything. ???? Ready to feel calm and confident in the saddle? Start here:https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy

Turn Fear Around Podcast - Why Your Brain Lies to You When You’re Anxious Your brain writes stories when it’s scared… not facts. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Just the Facts -  Focusing on the facts calms the nervous system.???? Create Really Good Lies - If your brain is going to make up stories anyway… make them so ridiculous they make you laugh. (Think Harry Potter Boggarts.) Your brain writes stories when it’s scared… not facts. Ready for calm, confident rides?Let’s create your personalized plan—book your free Calm-Ride Strategy Call now:???? https://elisehittinger.com/page/confidence-page Resources for Your Confidence Reset:Confidence Reset – https://elisehittinger.com/page/confidence-page – When overthinking isn’t working, this might.Book: Rise From Fear to Courage – https://amzn.to/4hESwxQ – A shortcut to saddle confidence.Blog – https://elisehittinger.com/blog – Relax and enjoy my ramblings on overcoming fear.Support Group – https://bit.ly/3ftvMA0 – Equestrian Courage Community for riders like you.???? Confidence doesn’t take forever. Start now. Stay Connected:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisehittingerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ehittingerRumble: https://rumble.com/user/ehittingerYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elisehittinger5358LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisehittingerWebsite: https://elisehittinger.com Thank you for listening to the Turn Fear Around Podcast. Together, we can reset your anxiety, restore calm, and bring joy back to your relationship with your horse. ???? About the host:Elise has spent her life in the saddle, but her journey wasn't always easy. After a significant accident left her battling paralyzing fear and isolation, she realized that "just getting back on" wasn't enough. Today, Elise combines her lifelong equestrian experience with her expertise as a Hypnotherapist and Courage Coach. She specializes in helping women move past the "creeping fears" of age, accidents, or life changes, giving them the mental tools to ride with joy and lead with confidence. #HorseRidingAnxiety #EquestrianMindset #CourageCoach #PreRideRoutine #MindfulRider