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Ready for a Blizzard with the Ovation Dafna Boot
Winter riding can be fun and fulfilling with the perfect equipment. Finding the right gear can mean the difference between life or death, or in my case- warm toes. My feet get notoriously cold, which then brings down the temperature throughout my body. I used to be an avid skier but the tight boots and resulting blue toes quickly prevent my enjoying myself. I’ve tried a few types of boots but they either are uncomfortable or don’t work very well in extreme temperatures. While it is one thing to ride for an hour in the cold, it is quite another to remain comfortable for multiple hours…
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How to Choose the Perfect Horse for a Nervous Rider
Choosing the perfect horse for a nervous rider is not always easy, but it is possible to find a balance between safe and challenging. A nervous rider is you, your trainer, or your child. Everyone has periodic self-doubt or fear, which varies from mild to panic depending on each person and situation. Nerves happen to the best of riders from top-level athletes to those just starting out. After all, we are astride 1200-pound animals with minds and hearts of their own. We literally put our lives in their hooves every time we interact with them. The horse you ride will make or break your confidence level. Ride a…
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Positive Affirmations with Kick-On Cards
I write my blog to share my personal feelings and struggles about being a returning adult equestrian with confidence issues. Through writing these posts I learn a lot about myself. I never considered myself a person with anxiety until I read some of the words that came out of me. I am not diagnosed. I am not on medication. Horses are both therapy and a cause of nerves for me at the same time. That in itself is an internal struggle. Finding balance is incredibly hard for anyone. I realize how many other people have the same self-doubts that I experience. While I still write for myself, I share…
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It’s Not My Horse, It’s Me (A Long Way to Go Part 2)
There has been a lot of feedback from my post describing my realization my confidence needs work after a recent trail ride. Some of the feedback has been supportive, but a lot of equestrians have been surprisingly negative saying that I shouldn’t be riding a horse I don’t trust or that my friends shouldn’t push me to do things that I am not comfortable with. These are all fair points and I absolutely agree with them. However, that is not the case in my situation. My story in A Long Way to Go, was to reveal my own anxiety and show how I tend to…
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A Long Way to Go (Part 1)
Confession: Today was interesting. I realized just how far I need to go to work on my confidence. I think I underestimate myself constantly. I spoke with my husband today and was ridiculously self-righteous talking about how I have been dealing with my stress levels in a positive way. What a big load of horse manure. I’ve been fooling myself thinking that my anxiety is well-managed but the brutal honesty is that I hide it well. Really well. By the time anyone else sees it, my nerves are epically out of control. Recently I saw this meme and I wanted to laugh, but it really hit home.…
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Gain Confidence to Do Anything with Three Steps
Confidence is a tricky thing for all people, not just equestrians. Too much confidence and you may make mistakes. However, if you have too little determination, you stop trying and miss out on amazing things. While your faith in yourself may change over time when you lose that faith or find it halting you in your tracks, what can you do to move forward? These three steps will help you gain confidence in or out of the saddle. 1. Be Honest It would be best if you were honest with yourself about WHY you are feeling self-conscious or fearful. For many people, this is the hardest part. Why?…
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Is My Horse Too Good for Me?
Confession: My horse is perfect. Yes, yes, we all say the same because all of our horses are the best! Horses are in many ways a perfect creature. They are graceful, delicate, athletic, and beautiful with so much heart that they will often do anything for you as long as you ask the correct way. The thing is, how could we compete with such perfection? Surely we come out the loser by comparison? Compared to Ferrous’s extended stride in a frame (when I can get it), my equitation looks like a sack of potatoes with my lower leg working overtime to keep him moving forward with compulsion. My…
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My Favorite Horsey Things
It’s the holiday season. But all equestrians know that there is no perfect time to buy tack or pick up something special for your animal. So I got to thinking…this year I bought a pony and while I thought I had an obsession before, well, it wasn’t anything compared to the reality. As The Timid Rider, I receive many items to review, try, or I buy myself because I’m intrigued and want to learn more. As a result, here are a few of my favorite things, in no particular order. Treatibles Full Spectrum Hemp Oil with Peppermint This year I was excited to hear that Treatibles released a line of…
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The Incredible Power of Connection
It is the nature of my blog that I reveal my innermost confessions and feelings relating to the world and riding. In doing so my goal is to show you that you are not alone and that it is okay to be less than perfect. But the result is the same, I feel that I talk about myself too much. While I am trying to relate to you and expose myself, this isn’t really about me. It’s about all of us. So today I want to talk more about the power of connection with the world around us. Not to sound new age, but we are all made up…
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When Technology and Nature Combine to Benefit Your Pet
Advanced technology combined with the superpowers of cannabinoid oil. Intrigued yet? Well, you should be, because that is what the DROP Effect provides for your pet. I do not believe in coincidences. I received a call from a client who was welcoming a new foster dog to her home. This young dog, less than a year old, had only known the research lab and traveled up from the southern US and she wanted me to work with him to help him learn positive touch and be a better candidate for adoption. As I packed my car for the initial consultation, I mentally itemized my arsenal. Essential oils, check. New…
Equestrian Author and Podcast Host
