Rider Confidence Rescue

Samantha Shanks-Husbands
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  • Self-Improvement

Rider Confidence Rescue is the podcast for riders who want to feel calmer, more confident and more in control in the saddle. Join rider confidence coach Samantha Shanks-Husbands and amateur jump jockey Victoria Sollitt, as they explore why fear and anxiety can take hold, what keeps them going, and practical ways to rebuild genuine, lasting confidence with your horse. Learn more at preparetowin.co.uk/rider-confidence

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Nothing Bad's Happened, So Why Have I Lost My Rider Confidence?

    Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/ Have you lost your rider confidence even though nothing bad has actually happened? Perhaps you haven’t had a fall, your horse hasn’t frightened you and there isn’t one obvious moment that explains why you suddenly feel different. Yet you find yourself hesitating, imagining what could go wrong or avoiding rides you used to enjoy. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks-Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore why rider confidence can change for reasons that may have nothing to do with riding. They discuss how stress, bereavement, financial pressure, becoming a parent and other changes in life can affect how safe the world feels to your brain. They also explore how other people’s comments, your existing beliefs and one seemingly insignificant moment can create doubt and change the way you feel. Sam shares her story of how she completely lost her rider confidence despite nothing bad happening. She explains why one small buck that briefly unseated her became the moment everything suddenly felt different, and how understanding what was happening in her brain helped her regain her confidence. If you’ve lost your rider confidence and keep thinking, “It just doesn’t make sense because nothing bad has happened,” this episode is for you!

  2. 6d ago

    How to Regain Confidence After Falling Off Your Horse

    Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/ Have you lost your confidence after a fall or riding accident? Perhaps you expected to feel nervous for a little while and assumed your confidence would return once you started riding again. Instead, you still feel anxious, ride defensively or worry constantly about getting hurt again. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore why a fall can change the way your brain responds to riding and why simply getting back on doesn’t always restore your confidence. Victoria shares how breaking her collarbone left her terrified of being injured again and affected her riding so significantly that she eventually felt unable to continue. She then explains why, after retraining her brain, an almost identical accident and injury had a completely different outcome. Sam explains why losing confidence isn’t a flaw or personal failing, how the survival brain can begin to perceive riding as a threat, and what needs to change for you to feel genuinely calm and confident again. If a fall, injury or frightening experience has changed the way you think, feel or ride, this episode is for you!

  3. Oct 21

    I Love My Horse, So Why Am I Scared?

    You love your horse, so why do you still feel anxious, nervous or afraid to ride? Perhaps you know your horse is safe, you know you have the skill and ability to do all the things you want to do, and nothing bad may ever have happened. Rationally, you know you should be fine, but another part of you still hesitates, worries or finds reasons not to ride. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks-Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore why rider anxiety can feel so confusing and why it doesn’t always respond to logic or reassurance. They discuss how the rational mind and survival brain can pull you in different directions, why your brain can learn to perceive danger from things you’ve experienced, witnessed, heard about or repeatedly imagined, and why anxiety often begins building before you consciously notice it. Victoria shares how her nerves often appeared as excuses and avoidance, while Sam explains why forcing yourself to ride through fear isn’t always helpful and how calming the survival brain can change the way you think, feel and respond. If you love your horse but can’t understand why anxiety, nerves or fear keep showing up, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

  4. Oct 14

    Do You Feel You're Not Good Enough for Your Horse?

    Have you ever thought, “I’m just not good enough for my horse”? Perhaps you worry that you’re holding your horse back, believe they would progress further with somebody else or treat every mistake as proof that you don’t deserve them. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks-Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore why so many riders struggle with feeling inadequate and how separating your self-worth from your riding ability can change the way you learn and progress. They discuss the difference between not being good enough and not being ready yet, why comparing yourself with more experienced riders is rarely helpful, and how to identify whether you need to change your thinking, develop your skills or seek expert advice about the partnership between you and your horse. Victoria shares how experiences from childhood shaped the way she saw herself as a rider, while Sam explains why focusing on how much better her horse might be with somebody else only got in the way of becoming better for the horse she had. If you’ve ever felt that your horse is wasted on you or would be better off with a more capable rider, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

  5. Oct 7

    What’s Really Stopping You Riding Like You Know You Can?

    What if the thing holding you back in your riding isn’t what you think it is? You might assume that you need better technique, more experience or a different horse. But tension, self-talk, fear of judgement, your environment and even the anxiety of the people around you can all affect the way you ride and the way your horse responds. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore the hidden factors that can prevent capable riders from performing at their best. They discuss how your mental state affects your physical state, why tension can make riding effectively much harder, and how other people’s opinions, fears and behaviour can influence your confidence without you realising it. Victoria shares how her own thoughts created limitations that didn’t really exist, while Sam explains why getting curious about your attention, your environment and what has changed can help you uncover the real cause of a problem. If you feel as though something is stopping you from riding the way you know you can, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

  6. Sep 30

    Why Riding Disappointment Can Knock Your Confidence

    What happens when riding doesn’t go the way you hoped? Perhaps you received a disappointing score, had a difficult round, missed an event you’d been looking forward to or found that circumstances with your horse changed the plans you had made. In this episode, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, as they explore how to respond to disappointment without allowing one outcome to define your ability, damage your confidence or steal the enjoyment from everything else. They discuss the difference between healthy disappointment and giving an event more meaning than it deserves, why focusing on the process is more helpful than trying to control the outcome, and how noticing what went well can prevent one setback from overshadowing the whole experience. Victoria shares how redefining success transformed the way she competed and helped her enjoy riding again, while Sam explains why some disappointments need time and acceptance, whereas others are best approached with curiosity, perspective and a practical plan for moving forwards. If a setback, score or disappointing result has ever stayed with you longer than you wanted it to, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

  7. Sep 26

    How to Get Your Confidence Back After a Break From Riding

    Why can returning to riding feel so daunting, even when you really want to do it? Whether you’ve had a few weeks away, taken time off after an injury or are returning after many years, you might find that one part of you is excited to ride while another part feels anxious or hesitant. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, and they explore why confidence can change after a break and how to return without putting pressure on yourself to pick up exactly where you left off. They discuss why your rational mind and survival brain can pull you in different directions, how effective visualisation can help you prepare, and why the right support and a sensible plan can set both you and your horse up for success. Victoria shares her experiences of returning after pregnancy, military deployments and injury, while Sam talks about coming back to riding after almost twenty years and what her horses and trainer taught her about making the return easier. If you want to get back in the saddle but feel more nervous or hesitant than you expected, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

  8. Sep 26

    How to Stop Dwelling on Riding Mistakes

    Why can one riding mistake stay with you for months or even years? Perhaps something went wrong in a lesson, at a competition or while jumping, and ever since then you've found yourself hesitating, overthinking or trying desperately not to make the same mistake again. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, and they explore why mistakes can turn into fear, self criticism and unhelpful patterns, and why beating yourself up rarely helps you improve. They discuss the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, why mistakes are part of learning and how curiosity, lightheartedness and a focus on solutions can help you move forward. Victoria shares how one missed stride affected her confidence and changed the way she rode, while Sam explains what her horses and trainers taught her about responding to mistakes without becoming defensive or judging herself. If one mistake has ever made you question your ability or feel that you're letting your horse down, this episode will help you see it differently. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

  9. Sep 21

    Why Do I Take Riding Feedback So Personally?

    Why does riding feedback sometimes feel so personal? If every lesson, clinic, dressage score sheet or correction leaves you wondering whether you're good enough, you're not alone. In this episode of Rider Confidence Rescue, Mind Coach and Anxiety Specialist Sam Shanks Husbands is joined by Victoria Sollitt, who brings the rider’s perspective to the conversation, and they explore why correction can feel like criticism, why your brain reacts that way, and how changing the meaning you give to feedback can transform both your confidence and your riding. Victoria shares how she stopped taking correction personally and learned to use it as a tool for improvement, while Sam explains why becoming curious instead of defensive made riding more enjoyable and helped her progress more quickly. If you've ever left a lesson, clinic or competition feeling discouraged by feedback, this episode is for you. Take your next step to becoming the calmer, more confident rider you want to be. Download the free guide: ''Before You Get On - The 7 Minute Rider Confidence Reset" at https://preparetowin.co.uk/7-min-reset/

  • 9 Episodes

About

Rider Confidence Rescue is the podcast for riders who want to feel calmer, more confident and more in control in the saddle. Join rider confidence coach Samantha Shanks-Husbands and amateur jump jockey Victoria Sollitt, as they explore why fear and anxiety can take hold, what keeps them going, and practical ways to rebuild genuine, lasting confidence with your horse. Learn more at preparetowin.co.uk/rider-confidence

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Shanks-Husbands
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Samantha Shanks-Husbands
  • Show Website
    Rider Confidence Rescue