Real Progress Isn’t Pretty, But It’s Everything
Let’s be honest, coming back to riding after raising a family or building a career can feel like stepping into a life you barely recognize.
The real success? It’s not in the ribbons, the perfect rides, or the videos we post online. It’s in the quiet, imperfect moments that no one else sees. Those moments you cherish in the stable when you feel the freedom of being.
That moment, when you swing a leg over after years away and feel more awkward than athletic? That’s progress. The time your horse spooked, and you stayed calm instead of spiraling? That’s confidence rebuilding itself.
Behind every polished ride is a sea of ugly ones. What we see online are highlights, not the hundreds of hours in the saddle where you fumbled, second-guessed, and got back on anyway. That’s where transformation happens. Those ugly moments when you hope, or wish, no one saw.
The Progress You Can’t Post
Riding isn’t about reaching some picture-perfect endpoint.
Trust me, there’s no trophy for “Most Collected Trot in Midlife.” What matters is that you’re showing up. The stiff hips, the messy transitions, the “why can’t I remember how to sit the trot” moments—they’re all bricks in the foundation of something stronger.
Missed that distance? You just learned feel. Botched your half-halt? Now you know what it shouldn’t feel like. Progress hides in the ugly reps, not the Instagrammable ones.
But you have to do the reps.
From Hot Mess to Mastery—One Ride at a Time
Let’s normalize the chaos. Because each ride teaches you something, whether it feels like it or not. The ones where you get frustrated? That’s where your patience is being shaped. The times you ride with a lump in your throat but finish anyway? That’s courage growing under pressure.
It’s not just about riding better—it’s about becoming the kind of woman who can fall apart and still get back on the horse.
AND,
having a plan to get there.
It’s Not Repeating It’s PLANNING
You might feel like you’re riding the same damn circle every week.
You probably are.
But that’s not stagnation. That’s refinement. And development. Every time you ride that circle with a
little more feel,
a little more balance,
a little more softness,
you’re becoming the rider your horse deserves.
And let’s not forget—your horse is learning too. Repetition isn’t failure. It’s communication. It’s partnership. It’s progress whispered, not shouted.
Success Isn’t a Moment, It’s a Mindset
Every accomplished rider you admire? They’ve been exactly where you are. Nervous in the warm-up ring. Doubting themselves in the barn aisle. Wondering if they still belong here.
What separates the riders who thrive from the ones who quit isn’t talent, it’s grit. It’s choosing to celebrate the tiny wins, not chase perfection. It’s riding on the hard days. It’s falling in love with the process, not just the performance.
So, What Now?
Next time you finish a ride, don’t obsess over what went wrong. Ask yourself: what went right? Maybe you stayed present. Maybe you handled a tough moment better than you used to. Maybe you just showed up.
Progress doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it’s quiet. But if you listen, it’s always there.