The Confident Rider Podcast

Latest Episodes:

On Vitality & Saving Your Own Life Mar 12, 2023

Show notes

The subject of vitality is on my mind because in a couple of weeks' time, I'm teaching a workshop with Rupert Isaacson on that exact topic. It's a workshop that I'm really excited for because at the heart of my work lies the desire for the restoration of vitality. The pathway there might look different for everyone; the challenges each of us experience may hold their own unique flavor; but ultimately, we are all looking to feel the essence of our own aliveness and to be able to hold that energy without turning away from the conversations that are important to us. Horses provide us with a portal to have conversations that we would not be brave enough or supported enough to have without them. They free us to say, I am experiencing anxiety or I feel lost or I can't find my way or I'm struggling in my relationships, by allowing us to think that it's about them, just enough, that we can turn towards what it is that is happening and begin the conversation. They teach us different ways that we can save our own lives. Ways that ultimately become more graceful as we become more skilled at holding the energy that's required.

In this episode, we discuss:

What vitality is (and what it isn't)
The many ways we seek to save our own lives
How vitality allows us to face towards the conversation, instead of away from it

I hope you enjoy it! You can learn more about the Vitality Workshop I'm teaching with Rupert Isaacson or sign up on this link:

https://confidentrider.online/vitality-online-workshop/

Happy listening,

❤️ Jane

---

Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

Training In Freedom: A Post Clinic Catch Up With Elsa Sinclair Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Elsa Sinclair is a human that I have looked up to for a very long time. In the horse world, she is a rare light who explores a way of partnering together with horses that is seldom explored and practiced; one that is rooted entirely in freedom.

When I consider my own life and horsing adventures, I know that I am traversing a time where our consciousness of our relationships with our horses is undergoing a seismic shift. Whilst the majority may still work and ride with the traditional methods we have always known, there is a groundswell of others who are seeking something more. And beyond that, are starting to ask themselves the question, is what we're doing here really ok? Is how we are approaching our horsemanship and riding of true benefit to our horses?

Diving into Elsa's work gives you real possibilities when it comes to finding those answers. And as with any new learnings, it's a process that involves unpicking and discarding some of your current beliefs or ways of going about things in order to make room for some new, that is as much about the human as it is about the horse.

In this episode we discuss:

The different forms of leadership; what it means to be a passive and supportive leader and a dominant leader
My takeways from my 4 day clinic with Elsa
How we can work in a way where the horse trains themselves to be a better partner
What's required for emotional stability in our horses

I hope you enjoy it! Let us know what you think!

❤️ Jane

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Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

A Conversation with Crissi McDonald & Mark Rashid Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

Fabulous humans, it's a party of awesomeness on the podcast!

I am joined today by the incredible Crissi McDonald and Mark Rashid who are not only incredible horsepeople, but beyond that have a collective list of skills and accomplishments that make them a unique force of goodness in the horse world.

Crissi has spent over thirty years working with many different horses and people from all over the world, as well as learning herself from some of the horse industry's top leaders in our current understanding of humane horse practices.

She teaching at clinics with her husband Mark Rashid, is a certified Masterson Method® equine bodyworker, and an instructor for the Masterson two-day Beyond Horse Massage workshops. Crissi is the author of a number of books exploring the human/equine bond, as well as a fiction series that we discuss over the course of our conversation.

Mark Rashid is an internationally known author and horseman, he has earned a third degree black belt in Yoshinkan aikido and now teaches the "way of harmony" in the local dojo as well as in his Aikido for Horseman workshops, which are known also by the name of "Aibado."

He is the author of fifteen books, is an accomplished musician with three music cds, and his novel Out of the Wild is now featured on Amazon Prime.

Before I release you to our conversation together, I wanted to let you know that all three of us- Crissi, Mark and I are teaming up to bring you a three part Zoom series called Come as you are, an exploration of mind, movement and the nervous system in horses + humans that we would love you to join us for! We will be discussing topics such as how to create a productive learning environment for horses and humans, how to create new learning patterns, how the mind and the nervous system shows up in movement and so much more.

You can learn more about that here:

https://confidentrider.online/come-as-you-are-sessions/

And you can get in touch with Mark and Crissi and find out more about what they do on www.markrashid.com

We would love to have you be a part of it!

Happy listening!

❤️ Jane

---

Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

Post Summit Catch Up With Robyn Schiller, Kathy Price & Christine Dickson Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

If you listen to the podcast regularly, you'll know that I was recently in Texas as part of Warwick Schiller's Journey On Podcast Summit.

The summit itself was a mindblowing experience in every way, and I'm yet to adequately find the words for my experience there. I definitely didn't come out of it the same person I was going in.

I wanted to chat about my time there from the position of a presenter, but it didn't feel right to do that alone... so I've brought in some of my favourite people to do it with me! Today I am joined by Robyn Schiller, Kathy Price and Christine Dickson, incredible individuals in their own right and each a key part of my own summit adventures.

We chatter about how the idea for the summit came about, our thoughts leading up to it, and of course, how things played out over the course of the actual summit.

I hope you enjoy it!

You can find out more or get in touch with Robyn here: www.warwickschiller.com

To find Kathy, jump on www.kathyprice.co.uk

And you can find Christine at www.onthepathcoaching.net

Happy listening!

❤️ Jane

---

Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

Creatures Of Movement: A Confident Rider Live Q&A Session Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

Fabulous humans!

Ready to riff with me on all things mind, movement, and the nervous system?

This week's episode is a recording of a live Q&A I held yesterday to answer some questions and continue on discussing the topics I talked about in my presentation at the Journey On Podcast Summit.

I've had a lot of emails come in post-summit that vary from general questions on movement and the nervous system to more specific questions on various challenges that people are currently facing and I thought what better way to talk about them than to jump on a call, share space, and get into it together!

We cover a lot of territory ranging from the structural changes that occur in the different nervous system states, the effect of the nervous system on emotions and mindset and the relationship of the nervous system overall to riding biomechanics.

So here it is for you… I hope you enjoy it! Please feel free to share!

❤️ Jane

Want to check out JoyRide? You can do so here:

www.confidentrider.online/joyride

---

Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

How Does Movement Affect Your Mindset? Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

Last week, an email landed in my inbox that asked a very specific question.

"I get much of what you talk about, this person told me, but I still can't make the connection between how the movement work you teach relates to mindset. Can you explain this to me please?"

Now at this point there are two things you should know about me:

I'm a self-professed movement and nervous system nerd. This question lights up my insides in a similar fashion to when I see dark chocolate, and I really like dark chocolate.
I have trouble narrowing things down into short, bullet point form. I err on the side of big conversations rather than succinct snapshots

… so, with those two things in mind, I've dedicated this week's podcast to answering that exact question.

We all know that movement, exercise and being active generally is important for our emotional and mental well-being, but I want to dive beyond that more superficial understanding and consider movement from a nervous system perspective, and how we can use that knowledge to better understand ourselves both in daily life, in our riding, and when it comes to moving on from experiences we might label as upsetting, stressful or traumatic.

In this episode we discuss:

The connection between our nervous system and our movement patterns and habits
Dominant Patterns of Use; what they are, how that affects us and why they hold the key to moving past trauma and upset
The interconnection of thought, movement, and experience

I hope you enjoy it! Please feel free to share and review the podcast- I really appreciate you taking the time to listen.

❤️ Jane

www.confidentrider.online

---

Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

Kate Sandel: Connection, Balance & Riding In Release Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

I first became aware of Kate Sandel after reading one of her most excellent blogs that she shared on her Facebook page ,Soft and Sound, and from there launched into "quiet stalker mode" to find out more about her on her website.

I was fortunate enough to become one of the early members of her online membership program, and from there, she has become not only one of my go-to people for help and advice about my horses, but beyond that a much-cherished friend.

If this is your first introduction to Kate, she runs a thriving equine business and teaches in the UK and internationally. She trained for several years with Philippe Karl, French classical master and founder of the Ecole de Légèreté, as well as honing her horsemanship skills with a variety of incredible teachers.

She is also a qualified equine sports massage therapist and her background in mental health means she values the wellbeing of both the human and horse in a riding partnership.

She also recently released her book Riding In Release: A Practical Guide To French Classical Equitation & Horsemanship that is well worth having in your library!

You can find out more about Kate via her website www.softandsound.org

I hope you enjoy our conversation, happy listening!

❤️ Jane

www.confidentrider.online

---

Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

Self-Trust: What It Means To Be A "Good Student" When Exploring Our Boundaries & Patterns in Clinic & Lesson Situations Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

Finding the right environment and teacher to learn with can be really messy territory to step into. On the one hand, we want to open ourselves up to the learning experience and put ourselves out there for the betterment of both ourselves and our horses. On the other, the vulnerability that creates means we want to make sure that we are doing so with the right people and in the right situations.

From the student perspective, we want to know that the ethos of any trainer or coach we work with aligns with what's important to us. We want to make sure that our voice is respected and considered, and that the learning container is one that allows us to navigate our comfort zone artfully, empathetically and skilfully.

We also want to step into the mode of self-responsibility; to commit ourselves to the necessary level and to do the work required in order fully understand and embody what is being offered to us.

From the coach perspective, we need to have done enough work ourselves to allows our students their own learning experience, without seeking to control or override it. We need to let go of the need for others to agree with us and our patterns of perfectionism and likeability in order that we can be honest and clear.

At the end of the day, truly being teachable, I believe, comes down to self-trust. The self-trust that allows you to open yourself up to new things whilst maintaining your voice and advocating for yourself and your horse whenever the situation requires it.

In this episode we discuss:

The difference between boundaries and barriers (and how they apply in learning situations)
What to do when things go wonky and you realise you're not in the right place for you (I share my own clinic experiences to this effect!)
What it means to be teachable and take responsibility for your own "stuff" (which applies to both coaches and students)
How the different nervous system states affect our capacity to learn

I really hope it's useful to you when it comes to navigating your own experiences in the arena and beyond!

Happy listening!

❤️ Jane

To learn more about my work or find out how we can work together, visit www.confidentrider.online

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Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

Come Riding With Me! Part 2 of Stepping Outside Of The Control Model Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

In the last episode, we launched into the topic of biomechanics and how understanding the role of the conscious and unconscious brain in movement can empower us to find a different way of moving and being in the saddle that sits outside of the traditional riding lesson model.

One of the things I find challenging about these conversations is that the work I practice is highly experiential and so explaining things from a purely cognitive or "thinking about it" perspective can make it difficult to appreciate what I'm going on about.

With that in mind, when I recorded today's podcast I had it in mind that you could ride along with me- a ride along audio session- so if you want to do that, you'll need to grab a pair of blue tooth ear buds or a speaker, your phone with this podcast on it and set yourself up so you can listen to it while you ride.

We cover some basic terms at the start and then launch into the practice together!

Along with the ridden practice, in this session we also discuss:

- Movement arcs and their role in movement in the parasympathetic system

- The basic anatomy of your centreline, and how to use your centreline to match the balance point of your horse

I hope you enjoy it!

If you are interested to learn more or join me in my membership program JoyRide, you can do so here:

www.confidentrider.online/joyride

Happy Riding!

❤️ Jane

---

Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/

Stepping Outside The Control Model: Rider Biomechanics From A Nervous System Perspective Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

Those of us interested in the art of horsemanship and riding find ourselves on a constant quest for harmony; a way of being and moving with our horses that allows both of us to find an ease of movement not only in our bodies, but also in our minds.

My adventures into the nervous system have led me to some specific understandings of how the nervous system impacts our movement, and how we can use this knowledge to not only move through the physical challenges that we experience as riders, but optimize our balance and effectiveness in the saddle.

This involves letting go of models of control and embracing ways of working with the body that honour its inherent wisdom and capacity for ongoing adaptation.

In this episode we discuss:

The relationship of biomechanics to the nervous system
The role of the unconscious and conscious brain in movement
How we can use these understandings to work with the body rather than against it

I hope you enjoy it!

You can learn more about my work by visiting my website at www.confidentrider.online

❤️ Jane

---

Click below to learn all about my JoyRide membership, to help you think, feel, move & ride differently:

https://confidentrider.online/joyride/

For other resources:

Website: https://confidentrider.online/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConfidentRider/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confident_rider/