2024-03-20 23:10
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… Read More
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The Timid Rider Blog
timidrider.com
I am an equine and canine sports massage therapist who loves using holistic and natural wellness with my clients. While I'm confident at work, I struggle with confidence in the saddle as a returning adult equestrian. Thank you for reading my journey as The Timid Rider.
2023-11-22 23:58
On this special episode of Adulting with Horses, Natalie and I want to highlight some friends of ours with amazing small, women-owned businesses! Even better, they have each offered a specia… Read More
2023-11-16 19:48
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 wan… Read More
2023-06-14 12:00
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… Read More
2023-04-26 11:00
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… Read More
2023-04-12 11:00
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… Read More
2023-03-22 22:45
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&rsqu&hell…Read More
2023-02-08 10:25
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… Read More
2023-01-25 10:30
When your horse behaves badly under saddle, what do you assume is the reason? Is it better to push on and assume they are just being spicy or to take a step back and look for signs of pain?… Read More
2023-01-04 10:30
You Won’t Catch Me Setting a New Year’s Resolution My social media feed is filled with years in review and resolutions for the coming year. It’s rampant. And good for you i… Read More
2022-11-25 10:30
I’m not a professional groom, but I do spend a lot of time doing this with my horses as a way to bond and relax together. If you’ve been following along by now you probably know… Read More
2022-10-28 15:00
I’ve been a bodyworker with multiple certifications for many years. Trust me, I’ve seen a lot. The thing I hate the most, however, is working on a horse to have them feeling ther… Read More
2022-09-28 09:00
Confession: It’s Easy for Me to Rationalize the Things Holding Me Back. A few years ago I published a fun little book based on excuses equestrians. I had used many myself but it was fu… Read More
2022-09-28 00:26
Recently I sent out a poll to my Timid Riders Community on Facebook asking them what they were most afraid of. As I do, I take from my own life for examples and listed a number of things tha… Read More
2022-05-25 13:00
Confession: Two rides, two mindsets, two vastly different experiences. I rode two horses when I traveled last in Mongolia. The first experience was disappointing and the second was exhilarat… Read More
2022-05-04 15:14
Obviously I identify as a timid rider. As such, I may have skill but I tend to over think things, expect the unexpected, and prefer a slow but steady approach to anything I do. The term I li… Read More
2022-04-20 13:00
Confession: my husband and I just bought a dream home in Vermont with 10 acres. You can bet I’m planning to bring my horses. Since I was a little girl I dreamed of waking up to my hors… Read More
2022-04-13 14:30
Therapeutic riding takes a special place in my heart. My eldest daughter has Cerebral Palsy and has been riding in a PATH Intl. program since she was four years old. In addition to the physi… Read More
2022-04-06 14:21
Confession: I like to be behind the camera but that isn’t the reason you won’t see me riding. My blog and social media are from my point of view. There are snippets of how I view… Read More
2022-03-23 13:00
Confession: I had never done any type of lunging or ground work until I owned my own horse. In the English disciplines, ground work is relatively uncommon. Occasionally you may see someone l… Read More
2022-03-09 14:00
What is your experience with horses? I have loved horses all of my life. In my circles, we call it the sickness and horses are the only cure. I owned a horse as a teenager and paid for all e… Read More
2022-02-23 14:00
Confession: My pony had EPM and now has been diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease. I knew that Ferrous had recovered from Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis or EPM before I bought him and the… Read More
2022-02-09 14:00
Christina is the founder of Fit Equine, a website dedicated to education for horse owners. Learn how a young woman in Southern California saw a need and is on a mission to help horse owners… Read More
2022-01-26 14:00
Confession: I love to travel and going to Iceland to see the Northern Lights and ride the horses are on the top of my bucket list. My husband and I travel together for our wedding anniversar… Read More
2022-01-12 14:24
What is your experience with horses? As a lifelong yogi and long-time horsewoman, it was only natural that I applied yogic principles and practices to my horsemanship from ground to saddle… Read More
2022-01-05 14:00
I have been dealing with health issues the last few years that took a long time to identify and I am still recovering. I believe in treating the body as a whole (yes, I am addicted to Coca-C… Read More
2021-12-22 14:00
When I was young the canter was my favorite gait while riding. Something about the rocking motion and the big stride gave me a sense of freedom. I still prefer a balanced canter above all ga… Read More
2021-12-15 14:00
Rachel Smith is an Equestrian Mindset coach from Rimbey Alberta Canada. She is a rider, trainer, and equine sports therapist with a passion for holistic health for equines and riders on body… Read More
2021-12-01 14:00
Living Up to the Hype and Beyond A few years ago (2018), I encountered an emerging fashion brand called Redingote Equestrian that I found incredibly intriguing. I’d been a working stud… Read More
2021-11-10 14:00
Alyssa Mathews is a lifelong equestrian and adventure addict, and in 2017, she set out on an adventure to ride every breed of horse in the world, in her quest: Discover the Horse. ... When f… Read More
2021-11-03 13:00
Confession: I already have a tack and shopping problem, and I think it just got a little harder to resist. Recently, I won a Cavali Club Lifestyle Subscription box and $25 Corro gift card in… Read More
2021-10-27 13:00
Confession: Depression, burn out, or severe anxiety…call it what you will but I’ve been experiencing it for months and it’s not pretty. I’ve been silently struggling… Read More
2021-10-13 13:00
Diana De Rosa is a veteran equestrian photo journalist, who has traveled the world and has recorded equestrian history for over 35 years. Her story and photography have taken her to over 30… Read More
2021-09-23 13:00
Since childhood, we like to understand things in relation to others. As young as elementary school I’ve started to see cliques. Those that fit into neat little groups, or “fit th… Read More
2021-08-12 21:00
My trainer has always stressed ending on a good note with my horse when in lessons. It always made so much sense, when they get it right, stop and that is a positive reinforcement and reward… Read More
2021-06-30 15:57
I don’t consider myself a professional but after taking even one lesson from a professional horse trainer; I realized how much I didn’t know about my communication with my horse… Read More
2021-06-16 17:00
Mandee Flanders is a woman on a mission to support equine entrepreneurs. I met her first at Equine Affaire in 2019, when she stopped by my author table to introduce herself and we chatted fo… Read More
2021-06-02 13:10
When it comes to performance, mindset is everything. There are a lot of memes out there and accounts perpetuating toxic positivity. Toxic positivity is the belief that no matter how dir… Read More
2021-05-19 13:00
Trail rides or hacking is a favorite of mine. Still, it does cause a lot of nerves because anything can happen. Outside the arena is an environment that cannot and will not be controlled. Lo… Read More
2021-05-05 13:00
Christy Landwehr has been active in the horse industry for over 35 years. Hunter/jumper, dressage, side saddle, western pleasure, hunter pleasure, barrel racing, endurance riding and saddle… Read More
2021-04-28 13:00
Confession: I hauled a horse for the first time and I feel damn proud! A Little Background When I imagined hauling a horse in a trailer a few years ago, I immediately shot down the idea of e… Read More
2021-04-21 13:00
If you are like me, you spend a lot of time driving. Sure, you can listen to music, but a long drive to the barn or even time spent mucking out is often better when listening to a podcast. T… Read More
2021-04-07 13:00
What is your experience with horses? I started riding when I was eight and spent most of my teenage years riding in the hunter jumper world and volunteering at a therapeutic riding center. I… Read More
2021-03-24 13:00
I see the sales listings all the time that mention an all round horse that can go any direction. Physically that may be true, but often in work I come across a horse that is shut down, going… Read More
2021-03-10 14:00
What is your experience with horses? I was born with a love of horses. I had horses as a kid and grew into a successful & highly respected business established in 1978 to pres… Read More
2021-02-24 14:00
If you are over winter, like me, then here are some tips to stay motivated to ride and work with your horse! Many equestrians focus on the care of horses during cold and icy winter mon… Read More
2021-02-10 14:00
We have to stop thinking of training horses in human terms. They have herd behavior. We don’t speak the same language. We can try but we will never be as good as they are, because we a… Read More
2021-01-13 14:00
Many times others have questioned me, saying I don’t strike them as a timid person. In fact, I appear quite the opposite and for the most part there is truth to that. For me, I struggl… Read More
2020-12-09 14:00
Riding is my chosen form of exercise. I’m limited on time. You know the story: work and family and chores tend to always take precedence. It’s a common theme among equestrians. A… Read More
2020-11-11 14:00
Confession: I feel things very intensely, very deeply but often I hide it behind a smile. Most people won’t know when my heart is breaking, or completely full. That is, unless I openly… Read More
2020-10-07 13:00
How do you decide a young horse’s discipline? Conformation? Intelligence or confidence level? Owner’s goals? I bought my pony when he was 11 years old and an established hunter c… Read More
2020-09-16 13:00
Confession: I don’t completely understand the science behind ceramic technology but I like how effective it is! The fact that SmartPak came out with their own product line is just icin… Read More
2020-09-02 13:00
Confession: I best love horses and books above all. I Launched a New WebsiteAn unexpected project I took on this summer was creating and launching The Bookstore for Horse Lovers. Severa… Read More
2020-08-26 13:00
Summer is tough on our equine friends. Here are my top tips for keeping your horse happy and cool in summer Read More
2020-07-10 13:00
With two weeks of reconditioning under our belts, I'm excited for the next few weeks. This week the veterinarian will return for the spring shots and we can discuss his progress. More, Ferro… Read More
2020-07-03 19:41
Confession: Lately I feel I've been making such strides in my confidence under saddle. Then, suddenly, I'm not Read More
2020-06-29 13:00
I struggle with removing knots from my horse's coarse mane and tail. Finally, there is a natural product that really works for us! Read More
2020-06-26 13:00
I thought my pony was an easy keeper but it turns out when he isn't regularly exercised he is basically a jellyfish- nothing firm about him. Thank you for joining us on week two! Read More
2020-06-12 22:15
7 weeks during pandemic lockdown and and my pony's top line just disappeared. This is week one of our rehabilitation diary Read More
2020-05-22 13:00
Pandemic forced my pony into vacation mode for almost two months. When I returned, his entire toppling disappeared. Now, we're building up from the bottom Read More
2020-05-01 15:00
Wow, that’s a mouthful! But like many woman I am not just one thing. I am a boss babe trying to run my own little empire through writing and animal bodywork. I’m also a bit of a… Read More
2020-04-24 13:00
CONFESSION: I read a lot of books. They help me to experience new worlds and right now they are keeping me sane when I can't leave home.
The post READ BOOKS WHEN YOU CAN’T RIDE HORSES… Read More
2020-03-27 18:00
Confession: I need a little non-pharmaceutical help with my anxiety while the barn is closed and I can’t get in the saddle. These are my favorites ways to help keep me calm, balanced… Read More
2020-03-23 16:50
Confession: When the world turns to chaos, and you are scared, it is best to focus on the small things. Riders know the power of a positive mindset and visualizing what you want to hap… Read More
2020-03-02 20:24
Confession: I often find it hard to maintain a work/family/horse balance. Raise your hand if you can relate. Are you with me? I moved to a new barn and am getting to know everyone. Very quic… Read More
2020-02-14 13:00
Confession: I've slowly been crippling my pony. I had no idea my saddle was the reason his ribs and pelvis are constantly out of alignment or that he couldn't physically move forward well. I… Read More
2019-12-17 13:00
Confession: Often people wonder how a timid rider like myself ended up in Mongolia, not once but twice.
The post Girl Forward: A Tale of One Woman’s Unlikely Adventure in Mongolia app… Read More
2019-11-22 15:17
Welcome back to my #beBold series on female equestrians making a difference in the horse world. Today we meet Karen Bowersox, one half of the couple at Major League Eventing. What is your ex… Read More
2019-11-18 15:40
Create Positivity and Presence in the Moment Exercising mindfulness for equestrians, the moment-to-moment awareness without judgement providing connection through observation, will benefit y… Read More
2019-10-18 13:00
I strongly believe in women supporting women. I am proud to introduce you to Samantha Harvey, a horse trainer and coach from Idaho. She has a unique view of horsemanship and one that I find… Read More
2019-09-24 01:00
I find time in the saddle especially on the trails is extremely grounding. There is something about being in the middle of the woods away from cars, noise, and technology that speaks to my s… Read More
2019-09-24 01:00
I find time in the saddle especially on the trails is extremely grounding. There is something about being in the middle of the woods away from cars, noise, and technology that speaks to my s… Read More
2019-08-19 20:59
Why do I hold myself back? That is the question isn’t it? My friends meeting at the Tom Quilty endurance race in Australia asked the question, “Why doesn’t Heather ride lik… Read More
2019-08-19 20:59
Why do I hold myself back? That is the question isn’t it? Why do I put up walls. I need to focus on breaking down the equestrian barriers and learn to relax, let go, and step outside o… Read More
2019-08-02 13:00
Confession: I realize it is an unpopular opinion but I really dislike the summer. I am a creature of habit and organization. Chaos, disorganization, and noise these all feed my anxiety as a… Read More
2019-07-08 13:00
Confidence can be a moving target but we are making great strides forward and really, isn't that all we can ask of ourselves?
The post Making Great Strides appeared first on The Timid Rider Read More
2019-07-02 13:18
A Tale of One Woman’s Unlikely Adventure in Mongolia I knew when I heard about the Gobi Desert Cup that I was taking a calculated risk. The adventure was not only worth it but it also… Read More
2019-06-17 13:00
Referring to myself as a timid rider results in a few different reactions. Certainly, admitting this to others leaves me open to comments, opinions, and rarely even derision. The most common… Read More
2019-06-11 13:00
Horses aren’t walked in harnesses, unlike dogs, but to an ex-mounted police officer the Headlight Harness for dogs had a lot of equine potential. A chance meeting at a local pet event… Read More
2019-06-07 13:00
When I made the decision to move barns to a smaller, private facility I knew there would be an adjustment period. Perhaps, however, I underestimated just how used to a routine we had been… Read More
2019-06-04 13:00
Finding and spending time with your herd, a group of like-minded people, can keep you motivated and inspired. More, you can have fun!
The post Finding Your Herd: Motivation, Inspiration, and… Read More
2019-05-17 13:00
Confession: I’m moving barns at the end of the month. This was a terrifying decision to make. If I’m being honest, which let’s face it I always am, I love being at my curre… Read More
2019-05-10 13:00
Confession: I’ve been a busy little bee. This year, since releasing The Timid Rider, has been a whirlwind of the best kind. While the blog is gaining in popularity and my… Read More
2019-04-29 16:55
Confession: Not everyone is perfect, even my pony. It’s hard to admit. But sadly, Ferrous is not perfect. I know, it was shocking to me as well. Alas, it is true. Generally, my p… Read More
2019-04-26 13:00
Confession: We’ve all bit knocked down from our pegs a time or two, hopefully, to get up again stronger. My daughters all ride horses. All of them. I am both happy to share my p… Read More
2019-04-22 13:00
I had the absolute pleasure of meeting and spending time with Sabine Schleese at the American Horse Publication conference in Hunt Valley, Maryland in 2018. Sabine is the woman behind Schlee… Read More
2019-04-08 13:00
Confession: Today my normally confident daughter showed me her timid side. My eldest daughter has been riding therapy horses since she was 4-years old. Now, six years later she is inc… Read More
2019-04-05 13:00
Confession: For the first time I’m nervous to ride my pony. Ferrous and I have a wonderful relationship and I couldn’t be happier with him. He’s predictable but chal… Read More
2019-04-01 13:00
Fitness isn’t enough. I need to achieve balance with chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, massage, and nutrition. After all, I believe in holistic wellness for horses, why not for my… Read More
2019-03-27 13:00
Confession: I’m worried sick because pony has a skin infection. Like many animal lovers, I am more comfortable being ill or injured than seeing my horse or dog in pain. There is… Read More
2019-03-25 13:00
I met Allison and her partner Connie on Instagram and then IRL at the Jersey Fresh International 3-Day Event in 2018. We immediately hit it off and I found myself pausing while photographing… Read More
2019-03-18 13:00
Confession: If I rode a horse like a drove a car I’d be an eventer. I’ve been referred to as an aggressive yet defensive driver. What does that mean? Well, it means I can… Read More
2019-03-13 12:45
Many of you might think this little Hunter/Jumper woman with occasional confidence issues would be a fish out of water at an endurance conference. But the opposite couldn’t be truer. … Read More
2019-03-04 14:00
It may come as no surprise that equestrian superstars such as Charlotte Dujardin and others struggle with confidence from time to time, after all, they are only human. With great power comes… Read More
2019-03-04 14:00
I’m a believer in less is more, and using natural methods whenever possible for my horse. However, it is also difficult for me to let go of control. It wasn’t an easy decision to… Read More
2019-02-25 14:00
There is no such thing as a coincidence. I believe everything happens for a reason, and life brings us together in mysterious ways. Last fall I attended the 2018 Equus Film Festival in New Y… Read More
2019-02-22 14:00
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.  &hell…Read More
2019-02-18 14:00
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 chi… Read More
2019-02-15 14:00
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 c… Read More
2019-02-09 12:24
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… Read More
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