The Mindful Equestrian

12/21/2024

Two years ago, life threw me a curveball when I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. It’s been quite the journey, and while it hasn’t been easy, my mindfulness practice has been what truly got me through it.

Life throws challenges at all of us—sometimes big, like cancer, and sometimes small—but learning how to stay present is key. It’s so easy to get caught up in future worries or past regrets, but the only way forward is to focus on the moment, take small steps, and keep moving.

During my treatment, I had some good stretches, but there were also tough times. The physical toll, lack of sleep, and stress started catching up to me. I managed what I needed to—clinics and essential work—but I wasn’t at my best with promoting my business. Still, I kept going step by step, and now that I’m feeling better, I’m back to working with renewed energy and focus.

This ties so closely to riding. Roadblocks happen—an injury, a setback with your horse, or just feeling stuck. It’s easy to spiral into worry about where you should be or frustration about what’s happening. But the key is to pause, stay present, and figure out your next step… and then the next.

Mindfulness is such a powerful tool, not just for life’s big challenges but for your riding journey, too. If you’re feeling stuck, don’t be afraid to reach out. I’d love to help you develop mindfulness tools to support you and help you navigate whatever roadblocks are in your way.

12/20/2024

This is a great quote and so true! When I get stuck with a business project, I have learned to step away from it and take a break. I often go for a walk, as that is one of the places I do my best thinking. You can apply this to riding as well. If you are stuck trying to achieve something, stop, and do something simple and different. Maybe go on a trail ride or just be done for the day and do something else. Your horse will appreciate it and so will you. You will come back to what you were working on with a fresh new perspective and get better results!

12/19/2024

It's so easy to look outward to blame the world for our problems and want to change everything around us in hopes that it will make life better. But the first work needs to come from within. Looking inward honestly and kindly to see where we can make thoughtful change that will then make our experience better.

12/18/2024

It's so easy to get caught up in our worries about the future and all of our "what ifs" and lose track of what is happening right now. Stay present and don't miss the moments of today. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.

12/17/2024

One thing I’ve learned in life—and it applies to both business and riding—is the importance of not just following the crowd. I’ve struggled with this myself, especially in my business. Recently, I’ve been working on developing programs, marketing, and all the things every business owner does. There are certain models out there that people say you need to follow for success.

For online courses and programs, there’s always a formula: follow the funnel, create urgency, offer deals with strict timelines, and use all these little tricks to push people to buy. But I’ve realized that when I try to follow those models, they just don’t work for me. It doesn’t align with who I am or how I want to approach my clients.

I want to be upfront, straightforward, and authentic in what I offer. No tricks, no gimmicks—just, this is what I do, this is why I do it, and this is how I believe I can help you. That’s what feels right to me, and I’m learning to trust that.

It’s the same with riding. So often, we feel like we have to follow the crowd—do what everyone else is doing, or take the same steps they took to get where they are. Whether it’s showing, progressing with your horse, or even how you train, there’s this pressure to do it "the right way" or keep up with others.

Of course, there are foundational principles in riding (just like in business) that are important to follow. But beyond that, it’s about finding what works for you. You don’t need to look at someone else’s journey and think, Why am I not riding like them? Why is their progress faster than mine? You are where you need to be right now, and your journey is uniquely yours.

Take the time to discover your path, and then follow it authentically. Learn from others, sure—but don’t lose sight of who you are and what’s best for you and your horse.

So today, take a moment to pause and reflect: What is it that you want to do? Where do you want to go? How fast do you want to get there? Take inspiration and learn from others, but remember to trust yourself and create a path that feels authentic and right for you.

12/17/2024

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Ready to start your journey?
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12/16/2024

Don't let difficult times stop you. Instead use them to move you forward to better things.

12/15/2024

It's so easy to get caught up in what others may be thinking, particularly when others make it a point to let you know they are judging you. It happens too often in the equestrian world that people become judgmental and opinionated about others. When that happens, remember that it really is about something in themselves that they feel is a problem. It's not really about you.

Show up each day and do the best you can in each moment. Some days that is better than others. Once that is done, let go of worrying about it. Learn from mistakes, grow and move on to the next thing.

12/14/2024

One exercise I often guide my students through focuses on relaxation and feeling the horse during a ride. We work on shortening, lengthening, and transitions, emphasizing the importance of sitting deep and leading with the seat before using the hands. The goal is to stay elastic and adaptable.

Now, this is easier said than done. Many riders tell me, 'I get the feel, but I can't hold onto it.' That's probably the most challenging aspect of riding, and let's face it, life in general. Once you're aware of a habit you need to change, it's tough not to backslide. But remember, it took time to form those old habits, so it's going to take time to change them.

I always compliment riders for catching those moments of true feel. I urge them to pay attention to how they arrived at that moment. Being present and letting go of self-judgment can make a big difference. It not only helps you rediscover that feel but also lets you hold onto it for longer each time. So give this exercise a try and enjoy the process!

12/13/2024

Let go of regrets of the past or worries about the future. It is a waste of energy and a source of stress. The past is over and the future is often a bunch of stories we create in our heads. Don't waste this precious moment right now. It will never be here again.

12/13/2024

🐴 Are you ready to connect more deeply with your horse and ride with greater focus and presence? 🐴
I’m so excited to share my free guide, “The Mindful Rider: A Journey to Greater Connection and Presence with Your Horse”!

This guide is packed with simple, practical exercises to:
✅ Enhance your focus in the saddle
✅ Build a stronger bond with your horse
✅ Bring mindfulness to every ride

Download your free copy today and start transforming your riding experience! https://bit.ly/mindfulridingguide

12/12/2024

One of my fafvorite words is "grit." It's a quality that Angela Duckworth researches and discovered that the quality of grit is passion plus perseverance. Passion alone is not enough to get what you desire. You need that perseverance, grit and courage to make things happen!

12/11/2024

We can create big stories in our heads about imagined future problems or regrets about past mistakes. When we live in those stories our minds live them as if they are actually real. We experience the stress response as if it all actually happened. Then when the future comes most often the stories we created never really occur. But we experienced them as if they really did. Developing a mindfulness practice can help you stay present in what is what is happening right now , good or bad, and let go of those stories. Look for ways to help you come back to the present and stop the cycle of those problems you create in your mind.

12/10/2024

It's not a bad thing to want to do well but it does have to be done on your own terms. Otherwise much stress and disappointment can happen when you strive hard to live up to someone else's expectations of you, but you haven't really looked inward to see what it is you want to be and do. It is also hard when you try and live up to self-imposed expectations you have created based on what others are doing and you continually strive to keep up with them.

A good practice to develop is one of mindful self-discovery. Take time to pause and look inward and be curious about what it is you really want from your riding and what limiting beliefs are holding you back from being okay with being you. Then give yourself permission to do just that, "Be You."

When you really discover what it is you want and what pace is best for you to achieve that goal you can put a plan in place to get there with small achievable steps. You can talk to your instructor about the plan and be honest and happy with the choice of saying this is what I want and who I want to be as a rider. There is no need to look outwards at others wishing about being someone else when you have the opportunity and freedom to be the best version of you that you can be.

12/09/2024

We can be so tough on ourselves in all areas of our lives. It is easy to stay stuck dwelling on regrets and beat ourselves up for past mistakes. Take time to be compassionate to yourself, forgive yourself and learn from mistakes so you can move forward. We are all human and perfection is unattainable. Mistakes are part of living.

12/09/2024

🚨 New Interview Up! 🚨
Ever wondered about the world of equine appraisals or transitioning careers in the horse industry? I sat down with Samantha Clark, appraiser and owner of SS Equestrian Services, to talk about her inspiring journey from barn life to appraising.
Get her top insights on:
🌟 Why appraisals are essential for horse owners.
🌟 Balancing passion and career pivots.
🌟 Lessons from managing a successful boarding barn.
🔗 Watch now:

🎙️ New Interview Alert! 🎙️Join me, Lisa Eklund from The Mindful Equestrian, as I chat with Samantha Clark, owner of SS Equestrian Services and an ASCA Asso...

12/08/2024

It is so easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. It is part of being human. Many equestrians get stuck in the comparison loop, thinking they aren’t enough in some way. I call it a loop, but it is really a snowball because each comparison builds on another until we get overwhelmed and stuck in place, unable to move forward and improve

12/07/2024

his tip is to help you understand that it is okay if you immediately focus on what is going wrong on a regular basis instead on what went well. We do this because the brain has a built in negative bias. It helped our ancestors be alert for dangers and kept them safe. It does the same for us, but we don't have those same types of regular dangers in our day to day lives that our ancestors did. We do have negative things occur regularly that don't necessarily put us in danger, but the brain doesn’t recognize that. When something goes wrong we immediately focus on that negative event and it gets stuck to our memories like velcro. Then one negative event attaches to another and so the stressful spiral begins!⠀
So how do you stop this cycle and get your brain to focus on what is going well? First you need to be compassionate with yourself and not beat yourself up over it. Then when things go wrong pause and think about what went right. This takes some mindful awareness for you to notice your patterns of negative focus and then take a breath and sit with it. After a pause, shift your focus to all that went well. Even if you can’t find a lot that went well, there is always something that is better. In order for your brain to connect to this positive event and create a good memory of it you need to put your focus on it, acknowledge it and give it credibility. The more you do this the more you will start noticing positive things first. Then you can build on what is working and use those lessons to create change around what isn’t. Give it a try and don’t give up. It takes time, but you can do it!