Confessions of a Timid Rider
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The Feral 40’s Guide to Getting Your A&$ Back in the Saddle
Something wicked this way comes! Patreon members and in-person book signings will have a special edition paperback available Fall of 2026! If you’re in your feral 40’s or feel like you can relate, this book is a hilarious and motivating reset for you. It’s a healthy combination of my signature sass with actionable advice in an easily digestible format. Sample chapters in no particular order: – [ ] The Risk of Getting Hurt – [ ] Be Scary – [ ] Celebrate the Good Days – [ ] You Don’t Have to Be the Best – [ ] Stomp on Some Toes – [ ] Your Inner Child – […
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The Comeback
Surprise, I’m back my friends. No promises, but I’m going to try writing more regularly because dammit- it makes me happy. The reality is, my life is chaos in real time. But you’re probably an adult amateur, so you get it. I am definitely not the only one. For me, it was this pesky thing called separation and divorce. I spent most of 2024 and 2025 navigating the ups and downs of dissolving a 20+ year relationship with the father of my children. No matter how well we mediated between us and the lawyers, there are bound to be heightened emotions and a whole lot of uncertainty. Uncertainty for me,…
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Beyond Expectations
An Extraordinary Equestrian Journey from Deadly Diagnosis to the Paralympic Games by Sydney Collier and Heather Wallace Wow. I guess I’ve been pretty quiet on the blog over here. Sometimes I joke that I thrive in chaos. Perhaps, the busier I am the less I have to face the problems in my life. Of course, you probably won’t identify with that- wink wink. I’ve been working on a HUGE project behind the scenes and it’s finally coming to completion. My first traditionally-published book is now available for sale and I couldn’t be more proud! By Sydney Collier with Heather Wallace Shortly after Sydney Collier began riding at age seven, she was diagnosed…
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Can A Timid Rider Be Converted?
Yes! For me, being a timid rider is a personality trait. I’m careful, I’m overthinking, and prefer to take the slow, steady approach. My daughter was different. When she started riding at age 6, she was extremely timid. Unlike other children, she knew she could get hurt and was wary. Her first canter was an accident (like many others) and she panicked, resulting in her first fall. For a time, she needed to rebuild her confidence. She spoke up for her needs with her trainer, who agreed to go at her pace. She was supported and never made to feel “less than” because she was worried. Over the years, I’ve…
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Riding Different Horses Gives Me Confidence
I got on a horse that wasn’t mine today. It was a client’s horse that I had known and worked on for years. We had a little more time than expected so she asked, “Do you want to get on?” Now, I divide horses into two categories: ones that I would ride, and ones that I would never ride. Simple. This horse was one that I’ve always liked. So I figured, “Why not?” I donned her helmet and hopped on to do a little walk/trot around the arena. It felt great. As a timid rider that might seem strange, but I grew up catch riding and being assigned random horses…
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It’s Not All About Riding
I’ve worked with a lot of horse owners over the years in my bodywork business. Something I learned very quickly was that riding is the priority for only some of them. In reality, most people who own horses give less priority to saddling up than they do every day care, grooming, and horsemanship. So why the focus on riding we see everywhere on social media? There is nothing like the feeling of being on a horse, connected physically and mentally to make you feel alive. My husband is an extreme sports buff and loves the adrenaline rush of mountain biking, snowboarding and surfing. It might be an easy shift for…
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When Is It Time To Stop Riding? Part Two: The Rider
I’m a returning adult equestrian. I grew up riding, but decided to stop for a number of reasons. The latter was the final straw. I was a horse-obsessed child and for me to feel nothing but a pit in my stomach just before riding. Well- that wasn’t what I wanted in life. I stopped riding to focus on getting into college, going to school, starting a career in New York City, then getting married and starting a family of my own. When Is It Time to Start Riding Again? I dreamed of horses, waking in the morning, with the feeling of galloping through the woods on horseback and feeling the…
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When Is It Time to Stop Riding? Part One: The Horse
I always dreamed of having my own horse. I was an adult when I achieved that reality and knew from the beginning that any animal I had would be part of my forever family. No matter what. My experience as an equine bodyworker gave me certain advantages when I found out my little guy, Ferrous, had EPM previously and lived with anhidrosis (no sweat). I was able to work with colleagues in veterinary health to discuss supplements, boosting his immune system, and ways to reduce inflammation naturally. Then he was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme disease from tick bites and more recently, Cushing’s or PPID. The hits seemed to keep coming.…
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I’m An Outsider In An Insider Sport
When I was a teen there was a lot of pressure to fit in. Standing out made people a target. There was safety in following the crowd. I’ll be honest, that didn’t last long. I’ve always felt that being normal was a tad boring. Being myself meant embracing all the things that made me different and special. As I became an adult I gained more confidence to do my own thing, even if it didn’t fit the status quo.
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Keeping Your Horse Husband Happy- and other Impossible Tasks
Just kidding, horse husbands are the best! But we do want to keep them happy. After all, they can either make our hobbies possible or interfere. Are you the type of equestrian that yearns to share horses with your partner? I’m not. I think it is great to have a hobby to share. However, I am a pretty independent person and crave my alone time. For me, my self care involves going to the barn and grooming, spending time in the paddock, or riding. I don’t really want to do that with my husband. In fact, I’m happy to never do that with my husband. He drives me crazy. I…
