26/ FEBRUARY 2026 THE RIDER Confident Horsemanship:


oxer, or difficult movement. It’s the bul- lying voice inside their own head. As a confidence and performance


mindset coach for mid-life riders, I see “self-bullying” as a common habit. Many riders are their own worst critics, possessing an internal voice that speaks to them in a way they would never dream of speaking to a good friend. Common scripts include: “I’m going to ruin my horse,” “I’m going to get hurt,” or “I’m going to embarrass myself.” How does that help you? It doesn’t.


By Anne Gage, Horse Riding Confi- dence Coach – www.confidenthorse- manship.com


Do you know what the single


biggest obstacle is for anxious riders? It’s not a spooky corner, a challenging


Yucca Grants Continued from Page 25


That internal bully is constantly telling you that you’re not good enough - and never will be. The Mid-life Reality: As mid-life


riders, we have a different risk tolerance from when we were younger. We have more responsibilities: home, career, or family. The stakes feel higher, and our brains use this to fuel a “negativity bias.” This primal mechanism worked


Stop Self-Sabotage in the Saddle From Inner Bully to Inner Coach:


Breaking the Cycle of Equestrian Anxiety


well keeping our ancestors safe, but does more harm than good for riders. The Ghost of Rides Past: For many


riders, this anxiety is rooted in past falls, injuries, or “bad rides” that left a foot- print on the brain. Experiencing a trau- matic event in the saddle can cause the unconscious mind to store that memory as a survival warning. Your brain might still be reacting to a fall you had a decade ago, triggering that “bully” voice to start warning you about the “dangers” before you’ve even left home. Rewriting the Habit: The good


news is that these self-bullying thoughts are simply a habit. And all habits can be changed with the right practices. In my confidence and performance mindset coaching using NLP and hypnosis, we focus on moving beyond mere willpower to talk directly to the uncon- scious mind where these habits live. To start shifting from “bully” to


maple leaf. Bruce Mandeville, Rebecca Howard, and Michael Winter have all been fortunate to have worked with Nick on their road to representing Team Canada. Holmes-Smith explained, “In the


1970s to early 1990s, as an eventing com- petitor I struggled to afford the costs of travelling and competing. I am now very happy to be able to help today’s riders with their financial challenges.” Rebecca Howard, Technical Advisor


and chef d’équipe of Canadian Eventing High Performance, said. “The Country Yucca grants are an example of influence coming full circle. Nick and Yucca symbol- ize the tenacity and ‘get-it-done’ attitude re- quired of our Canadian athletes operating in a small sport in a very large country. Pushing boundaries is in his DNA. These grants showcase eventing and horses as a life-long endeavour and the impact of those who paved the way for others. This is an in- vestment in our sports future, providing de- veloping riders


access


might have thought Yucca was too small to jump the more advanced fences, but he quickly proved otherwise. Over the years, his rider, Nick


Holmes-Smith, has mentored and influ- enced many Canadian eventers, including several riders who have gone on to wear the


LongRun’s TB Star of February


Play on Evan is a gorgeous 4-year-old, 16.3h gelding


ready for his next career. He is goofy and playful, yet his movement would make a lovely hunter. Not suitable


for a beginner, but he would make an excellent project for a good rider looking to


take a flashy boy up the lev- els in the show world. If


you are interested in meet- ing Play on Evan, please contact LongRun!


to more


competitions, training opportunities and ex- posure to ‘the next level’.” For more information about the


Country Yucca Eventing Travel Grants, visit https://bit.ly/45VCJHr


“coach,” try these three steps: 1/ Acknowledge the Thought. Your brain isn’t trying to make you fail, it’s trying to keep you safe. But, it has gone into overdrive. Remember that when you feel that surge of anxiety. Simply label it as “that’s my negativity bias trying to keep me safe”. 2/ Interrupt the Pattern. Take in a long, slow breath through your nose followed by an even longer exhale. That triggers your parasympathetic nervous system to physically calm your body. The ‘Reframe’. Consciously replace the negative script with a supportive phrase like: “I am competent and capable.” 3/ Your mind learns through repetition. By repeating these steps, you begin to rewire your brain for confidence. If you find you can’t shift your internal bully alone, consider working with a confi- dence and performance mindset coach. With the right tools and support, you can


have the mental focus and confidence you need to achieve your riding goals.


About the Author: Anne Gage is a Con- fidence and Performance Mindset Coach and a veteran equestrian profes- sional with over 35 years of experience as a riding coach and horse trainer. By combining her deep knowledge of horsemanship with NLP and hypnosis, she helps competitive mid-life riders stop feeling anxious and rewire their subconscious for peak performance and the results they deserve. https://confidenthorsemanship.com


Author Bio: Anne Gage is a certified riding coach, horse trainer, and mindset expert who helps adult riders release fear, build confidence, and enjoy every ride — at home and in the show ring. Learn more at ConfidentHorseman- ship.com.


Canadian Show Jumping Team Presenting your


Canadian Show Jumping Team, set to represent the red and white in the $150,000 CSIO4* Na- tions Cup presented by Florida Coast Equip- ment, Feb. 25 - March 1 at Wellington Interna- tional/WEF in Welling- ton, FL! • Erynn Ballard • Amy Millar • Gavin Moylan • Chris Pratt • Kyle Timm • Nicole Walker The team will be sup-


ported by chef d’équipe Ian Millar


Go Canada Go! Starting Gate


Communications Play On Evan


Call 416-916-1527 www.longrunretirement.com • info@longrunretirement.com


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