Mental training for the show pen.
Resilient Reiner focuses on the mental side of reining, horse shows, and western riding. Episodes connect nerves, confidence, decision-making, horse care, and self-trust to what happens in the saddle.
PRESS PLAY
Resilient Reiner sits at the intersection of western riding, mental performance, and the daily reality of living with horses. Its core concern is simple: why capable riders can feel clear at home and suddenly tight or different under pressure. Nicole Burnett approaches that gap as a training problem. Not a character flaw. Episodes turn show nerves, end-gate tension, spirals after mistakes, and riding to prevent disaster into specific patterns riders can notice and change. The show often begins with familiar arena moments. A horse cuts a circle after a distraction. A rider has to decide whether to fix, push, or keep the rhythm. A colt spooks, bucks, bolts, or tests the rider's composure. A horse feels dull, bracy, sticky, or late to respond. From there, the conversation usually moves toward timing, clarity, nervous-system training, and the rider's responsibility to stay useful to the horse. That makes the show more concrete than general confidence talk. It is not only about feeling better. It is about showing better, riding better, and making cleaner decisions when a horse and rider are both under pressure. Guest episodes broaden the frame. Bethany Wiley brings in nutrition, conditioning, hoof quality, skin issues, forage, minerals, and the behind-the-scenes care that shapes performance long before a run begins. Keri Klingenberg brings a coach and trainer perspective on growth, discomfort, goals, nerves, sacrifice, and the willingness to look awkward while improving. The show also occasionally steps outside horse-specific topics, using weight loss to examine identity, patience, self-trust, and working with the brain instead of fighting it. The register is candid and coaching-forward. It speaks to ambitious riders without pretending ambition always feels polished. Its best moments give language to the private gap between the ride a person knows they can produce and the ride that actually appears in the moment.
Made for: Resilient Reiner is for western riders, reiners, and horse show competitors who want steadier nerves, clearer rides, and a more practical relationship with pressure. It also fits riders who care about the whole performance system, including horse care, conditioning, nutrition, and confidence.
What sets it apart: The show ties mindset work directly to recognizable riding moments: end-gate tension, mid-run decisions, colts testing boundaries, and horses that stop responding cleanly. It balances mental coaching with barn-level realities rather than treating confidence as a slogan.
The Resilient Reiner with Nicole Burnett is your go-to podcast dedicated to mental performance coaching for reiners and western horse riders. Join us as we explore the power of the mind and how it can elevate your performance with your horse to new heights. Each episode uncovers invaluable strategies, techniques, and mindset shifts to help you overcome mental barriers, boost confidence, and achieve peak performance in the saddle. From managing competition nerves to cultivating focus and resilience, our podcast provides actionable insights and real-life stories that inspire and empower horse riders at all levels. Whether you're a passionate non-pro, rookie...
The show pen gets loud; Nicole Burnett helps you hear what your hands and legs are saying.
Press play if you want
Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
Improvement starts where comfort stops.
This episode keeps returning to a plain but useful point: getting better is rarely comfortable. Keri Klingenberg and Nicole talk through the habits, nerves, and self-belief that shape how riders improve, and the episode works best when it stays close to that tension.
Better rides start with the horse care that happens outside the saddle.
Bethany Wiley keeps the conversation on nutrition, conditioning, and the practical horse care choices that help support equine longevity. It stays grounded and useful, moving through barn management, lessons, feed, minerals, hoof quality, and skin condition without losing sight…
Patient, practical conversations about racehorses and their lives after the track.
Second careers, told from the barn aisle.
Horse people telling the long story.
Dressage guidance with horse-first honesty.
On Resilient Reiner #217, Nicole Burnett addresses Western riders whose show rides fall short of the riding they demonstrate at home.
Nicole Burnett built Every Horse Training Tracker after years of app-store searches failed to find a log for actual horse-training work.
Nicole Burnett of Resilient Reiner identifies nine warning signs that distinguish demanding equestrian coaching from toxic training relationships.
Nicole Burnett interviews MJ, a Colorado reined cow horse rider who could perform at home but tightened up when entering the show pen.
Nicole Burnett of Resilient Reiner explains why a horse may become softer, more willing, and easier when a trainer rides it instead of its owner.
Rachel Harr argues that hay testing should come before supplement stacking, and says over 80% of her evaluated diet records show at least two or three nutrient imbalances.
Resilient Reiner #204 centers on NRHA professional Keri Klingenberg and Nicole Bryson talking about why riders have to be willing to feel uncomfortable, miss maneuvers, and "look dumb" before they get better.
Bethany Wiley says her biggest horse-care breakthroughs came from stopping the habit of feeding “just a scoop” and instead testing hay, balancing forage, and using targeted grain only where needed.
The host shares her personal weight loss journey of losing 45 pounds, emphasizing the mental and emotional aspects rather than just physical changes, and connects it to broader themes of identity and self-improvement.
This episode provides five essential questions to ask before hiring a mindset coach to help with horse show nerves and mental performance in writing.
This episode discusses a key rule for safely handling and riding colts to manage spooks, bucks, and other challenges while improving mental performance for equestrians.
This episode explores why horses may not respond promptly to rider cues and offers strategies to improve communication and performance.
This episode explores the mental skill pro riders use to make quick decisions during horse riding runs when faced with unexpected distractions like noise or horse bobbles.
Nicole Burnett introduces the three mental skills Western riders need to train for performing under pressure in the show pen.
Nicole Burnett debunks five self-talk myths that keep riders stuck and offers simple replacements for better mental performance under pressure.
This episode discusses how riders often misunderstand confidence and teaches a skill-based approach to building mental resilience for competition.
Nicole Burnett introduces her podcast on mental performance coaching for reining and western horse riders, sharing insights on overcoming mental barriers to improve show performance.
Host Nicole Burnett shares her annual ritual of reflecting on the past year to avoid repeating mistakes, and introduces the podcast's focus on mental performance for equestrian riders.
Nicole Burnett introduces a no-fail method for memorizing reining patterns and discusses mental strategies for equestrian competitors.
Nicole Burnett uses the movie Die Hard as a metaphor to teach mental performance lessons for equestrian competitors.
Nicole Burnett discusses the fear of not bouncing back from falls and shares a simple rule to build bravery without entering survival mode, using a Mario Kart analogy.
Nicole Burnett introduces a five-minute mental routine for busy riders to improve their mental game during the holiday season.
This episode provides strategies for handling subjective judging and competition pressure in reining, including the 'not my job' circle, ABC pattern planning, and a 15-second reset.
Nicole Burnett breaks down five common mental preparation mistakes riders make and how to avoid them.
This episode features Bonnie's story of overcoming anxiety and gaining confidence in horse riding through mental performance coaching.
Nicole Burnett introduces the concept of training your brain like you train your horse, emphasizing mental patterns for equestrian success.
Nicole Burnett answers a listener's question about how to sit a sliding stop without bracing, explaining the nervous system response and training techniques.
Host Nicole Burnett introduces a key mindset shift for equestrian competitors to improve mental performance and success in the show ring.
Nicole Burnett interviews client Janessa about overcoming fear and building confidence as an adult rider in the reining community.
Nicole Burnett discusses how biological factors like sleep and nutrition affect riding performance, offering strategies to shift from survival mode to confidence.
A mental performance coach interviews a client who overcame fear after a horse accident, promoting a coaching program for riders struggling with fear.
Nicole Burnett interviews Devin Bang about mental health and the unspoken mental load in the Western riding industry.
A mindset coach discusses the importance of mental preparation and being present for horse riding performance.
This episode features an interview with James Dexter, founder of StablePro, discussing how his platform helps horse breeders and trainers manage business operations more efficiently to focus on horsemanship.
This episode discusses how to handle setbacks in equestrian training plans, focusing on resilience, mindset, and bouncing back from unexpected challenges.
Nicole Burnett discusses how to regain confidence mid-ride after a mistake, offering mental strategies for equestrian competitors.