Episodes

It wasn’t the accident that changed everything… it was what came after—and how it slowly took my enthusiasm with it. ???? 1. Reconnect with when it felt good When was the last time you felt real enthusiasm riding? ???? 2. Do you truly want that feeling back? Getting it back may mean letting go. Not sacrifice… just making space for something different ???? 3. Start before it feels natural You might have to act a little “as if” at first. Getting enthusiasm back is often overlooked and also...

Calm Isn’t Missing—It’s Just Buried You’re not trying to create calm… you’re uncovering what’s already there. ???? Calm is your natural state You were born knowing calm, it just got covered by experiences, thoughts, and reactions. ???? You don’t have to force calm Calm shows up when you stop looking for it and trust it is still there. ???? Clear away what’s covering it Instead of chasing calm, start removing what’s in the way: tension in your body racing thoughts old patterns Reset ba...

You’re Solving the Wrong Problem You think the problem is the anxiety… but the real problem is how well you’ve practiced it. ???? The Courageous YOU Remember a time when you felt fierce, confident, and completely in control. Write it down… or even better, say it out loud. ???? Practice Being THAT YOU Step into that version of yourself—on purpose. Walk like her. Think like her. Ride like her. ???? Swish Anxiety into Courage When you feel anxiety starting, don’t fight it—redirect it. See i...

When Your Heart Starts Racing Before Riding When your heart starts racing before you ride, your body is trying to take over—let’s bring it back to calm. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. ???? Name It, don't fight It You’re not in danger—your body is just doing what it’s been trained to do. ???? Lengthen your exhale Long, slow, loud exhale let's your body know it can let go of the anxiety and heart racing. ???? Give your body a simple job When your heart ...

How to Calm Anxiety Fast (When Your Body Won’t Settle) When your body won’t settle, your brain can’t either… but here’s the good news—you can calm both at the same time. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. Your body and your brain are like the chicken and the egg— they’re constantly talking to each other. So instead of trying to calm just your thoughts… we’re going to calm your body and brain together. ???? The Shrug + Blow Shrug your shoulders up tight… ...

Just like a chick breaking out of its shell… sometimes we don’t need fixing—we need to break free. If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start riding with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here: ???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, Elise Hittinger shares a powerful way to move through anxiety—not by fixing yourself, but by breaking free from the patterns that have been...

You can think your way out of anxiety… but it took me 20 years. There’s a much faster way. If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start riding with calm confidence, you don’t have to figure it out alone—book your Calm-Ride Strategy Call here: ???? https://elisehittinger.com/scheduler/calm-ride-strategy In this episode of Turn Riding Fear Around, Elise Hittinger shares why thinking alone isn’t the fastest way through anxiety—and what actually creates real, lasting calm and confidence. If yo...

As anxiety starts to build, it forms a groove in our brain. And the more we repeat it, the deeper that groove becomes. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. ???? Anxiety is a story about the future we keep repeating ???? Breaking the groove begins to dissolve the anxiety ???? Consciously creating the grooves we want keeps it from returning Just like riding your favorite trail, or going to your favorite horse show… your brain follows the paths it knows. So wh...

Anxiety has one job—to try to protect you from making the same mistake twice. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. ???? Anxiety is future-focused ???? You don’t need to fight it—you need to understand it ???? Calm is found in the present moment Let your horse bring you back to the present—that’s where your calm is. That shift—from fighting anxiety to understanding it—is where calm begins. If you’d like support with this, I offer Calm-Ride Strategy Calls to h...

Anxiety isn’t the problem… it’s a signal from your body asking you to pay attention. I'm Elise Hittinger, and I am the host for your journey to courage. Anxiety is your body trying to get your attention When we treat anxiety like the problem, we try to shut it down… instead of listening to what it’s telling us. When you respond to the signal instead of fighting it, your body can actually begin to settle. These signals can show up crystal clear in the saddle since our horse is an extension o...

Most people think anxiety is the problem… it’s not. In this episode, you’ll discover: ???? Why anxiety isn’t the problem — it’s a signal from your body ???? Why you can’t think your way out of it (and what actually helps) ???? How your body learned anxiety — and how it can learn calm And if you’re a rider, this is where your horse will often signal it too. Now that you understand what anxiety actually is in your body… the next piece is what your brain does with it. I did an episode on why...

Turn Fear Around Podcast - Why Your Brain Lies to You When You’re Anxious Your brain writes stories when it’s scared… not facts. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Just the Facts - Focusing on the facts calms the nervous system. ???? Create Really Good Lies - If your brain is going to make up stories anyway… make them so ridiculous they make you laugh. (Think Harry Potter Boggarts.) Your brain writes stories when it’s scared… not facts. Ready for calm, confident rid...

Turn Riding Fear Around Podcast: You Were Born Calm—So What Happened? Calm isn’t something you learn… it’s something you return to. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Born with Only Two Fears - the rest are learned. ???? The Snow Globe of Calm - life shakes it up! Calm isn’t something you learn… it’s something you return to. Ready for calm, confident rides? Let’s create your personalized plan—book your free Calm-Ride Strategy Call now: ???? https://elisehittinger....

Turn Fear Around Podcast - Episode 192: Mounting Isn’t the Problem—Rushing Is We forget that calm is a choice right before we get on—because our brain loves to choose anxiety for us. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Slow Down - Mount as if you have all the time in the world ???? Don't let others pressure you - You and your horse are most important ???? Calm is non-negotiable - Calm comes from taking your time Slow down, enjoy being with your horse all the way to m...

Podcasthon Charity podcasts! I am so excited to welcome Kyle Rothfus here with me to talk all about his great charity, Mareworthy. A lot of you know I have Run Binky Run. A racehorse mare, rescued out of Puerto Rico through Kyle to me and she was one of the precursor mares to Mareworthy. There was a huge hole in the way ex-racehorse mares and broodmares were being treated, with many going to the not so good auction/slaughter industries. Kyle has developed a great charity to help these mares go o...

Turn Riding Fear Around Podcast: Episode 193: Your First 30 Seconds in the Saddle Matter More Than You Think It isn't about jumping on and going. It is about gently mounting and connecting. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Feel the connection in your body - take the time to feel through you into your horse ???? Feel the connection with your mind - let your horse know you are mentally with them. ???? Connect the communication channels - Movement in your body, legs, ...

Turn Fear Around Podcast - Episode 192: Mounting Isn’t the Problem—Rushing Is We forget that calm is a choice right before we get on—because our brain loves to choose anxiety for us. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Slow Down - Mount as if you have all the time in the world ???? Don't let others pressure you - You and your horse are most important ???? Calm is non-negotiable - Calm comes from taking your time Slow down, enjoy being with your horse all the way to m...

Turn Riding Fear Around Podcast: Episode 191: How to Leave Anxiety on the Ground Before You Get On The ground is a great place to leave your anxiety! In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Package it up - Color, texture, weight, movement - put your anxiety into a box. ???? Set it down - Just like setting down a suitcase while traveling. ???? Leave it - as you mount, just leave the box behind and it will be there when you get done. Mounting can fill you with joy! Ready ...

Turn Fear Around Podcast - Episode 190: The Moment Before You Mount: Where Calm Is Won or Lost We forget that calm is a choice right before we get on—because our brain loves to choose anxiety for us. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Your brain defaults to habit, not truth - What is true, in the moment of mounting? ???? Standing still increases anticipation. - Just like Freeze in our horses! ???? Borrow Calm - Close your eyes, Find that place of calm you love, Go th...

Turn Riding Fear Around Podcast: Episode 189: Why Mounting Triggers Anxiety (And What It’s Really About) Mounting isn’t scary because of the horse—it’s scary because of what our brain tells us about the horse. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Mounting is a Rider's transition challenge - Practice makes perfect ???? Your body remembers before your mind does - Let your body do the mounting ???? Anticipation fuels anxiety, movement calms it - Here is what I have done t...

Turn Fear Around Podcast - Episode 188: How Physical Wellness Supports Riding Calm Wellness isn’t extra—it’s foundational to calm. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Strength supports calm - Ways to improve physical strength ???? Physical Wellness supports the horses - When we are well, our horse can relax ???? Easy ways to support wellness - Here is what I have done that works. Pain, stiffness, lack of balance can all rob us of our joy riding, time to start fixing ...

Turn Riding Fear Around Podcast: Episode 187: Riding Fear Isn’t Always Mental Before you push through fear, ask where it’s coming from. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Fear Assessment - Take stock of your fear and the triggers ???? Focus on the physical triggers - make a list of the physical triggers ???? Evaluate the link between the Physical and the fear - Curiosity is your friend Finding and overcoming not feeling so well, is very rewarding. If today’s episod...

Turn Fear Around Podcast - Episode 186: Why Confidence Starts in the Body If you want lasting confidence, start below the neck. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? Pain distracts us - Pain pulls our attention away from the ride ???? Stiffness prevents speedy reactions - When we are stiff, we can't react fast ???? Balance and Calm - 80/20 rule (Alicia Dickinson) and other balance techniques Pain, stiffness, lack of balance can all rob us of our joy riding, time to sta...

Turn Riding Fear Around Podcast: Episode 185: Healthy Rider, Calm Mind Health isn’t separate from confidence—it fuels it. In just 5–10 minutes, you’ll get actionable tools to: ???? How did you feel as a kid? - Take yourself back and remember how you felt ???? How do you feel now? - Take inventory, how do you feel right now ???? Use Feeling Better to your advantage - Feeling better reduces riding anxiety Feeling like a kid again in body and mind makes a world of difference in our riding. I...