Barbra Schulte

10/13/2026

Today, I have another article for you.

I was thinking about the difference between inspiration, motivation and readiness.

Those three terms are easy to toss around when thinking about the 'mental game' of riding, but what do they mean - and do they really make a difference?

So, here you go... when you align inspiration, motivation, and readiness, it creates a clear path for going for your dreams - especially when you use them strategically.

Let me know what you think. 😊

How Inspiration, Motivation and Readiness Work Together

Have you ever watched a beautiful ride and thought, “I would LOVE to be able to do that”?

But once you were in the saddle, that gorgeous dream went up in smoke. Your mind got busy. Your body tightened. You didn’t know where to start to get that gorgeous rhythm.

But when you understand how inspiration, motivation, and readiness work together to give you a starting point—plus a succinct path toward your dreams, you can consciously use them to stay engaged and ready!

Each has a role in our journey. Each serves a distinctive purpose. We need all three.

______________
Inspiration opens our eyes to possibilities.

It might come from watching a wonderful horse and rider, or hearing someone’s story, or experiencing a few moments of exquisite connection ourselves.

Inspiration holds excitement and whispers, “I really can do this! Something more IS possible.”

It renews our hope and expands our belief in ourselves.
_______________
Motivation gets us going.

If inspiration fires up our belief, motivation gives us a burning desire to move toward something we want. We might want to learn more, be more consistent, feel confident, or be better prepared to show.

Motivation asks: Why do I want this?

When our reasons why are compelling to us, we make time to practice. We lift ourselves up and keep going when things get challenging.

But inspiration and motivation are feelings (that's a good thing) - but they vary from day to day—and mood to mood.

Feeling inspired and motivated doesn’t automatically give us the skills or steadiness to do what we’ve imagined.

That’s where readiness comes in.
________________
Readiness is how we prepare to meet the moment.

Readiness gives us a structure we can use routinely to prepare our body, mind, and emotions for what’s next. It also means making sure our horse gets what they need mentally, emotionally and physically.

Readiness asks: What matters most in the next five to ten minutes? How can I get grounded, focused, and connected to my body and my horse? How can I best ensure my horse's focus?

For example, just before entering the ring, our routine might include:
Feeling our seat in the saddle
Feeling our feet in the stirrups
Asking ourselves, “What matters right now?”
Exhaling to ease any too revved up feelings inside.
It might also include some familiar sequence for our horse to get ready in mind, body, and emotion, too.

Ideally through practice, we condition this routine so it unfolds easily and effectively. We use it readily to get grounded, focused, and settled for what matters next. It's not dependent on how we feel - again, it's systematic.

So... we need all three.

Inspiration helps us see possibilities and believe in ourselves.

Motivation is our 'why' and gives us a reason(s) to take action and keep going—especially when things get difficult.

Readiness gives us a repeatable way to bring ourselves—and our horse—into the moment, prepared to do what we know how to do - at our highest level.

And that’s how we can keep moving toward our dreams—believing in what’s possible, taking consistent action over time, and learning to call on a ready body, a clear mind, and a grounded presence when it’s time to ride.

10/05/2026

Today, I have an article for you. It's about something that's so easy to understand, but challenging to do.



It's about setting things up for success and then letting go to allow the process to create the results on it's own.



Enjoy and as always, please hit reply and leave a comment.

__________________

What Pretty Stops and Deep Connection Have in Common
We all want that pretty stop.



The kind where our horse melts into the ground, stays soft and underneath themselves — and everything feels effortless.



And because we want the stop so badly, what do we do?



We focus on the stop. We anticipate it. We lift our hand. We try to make it happen.



But the irony is that the more we focus on getting the stop, the more we interfere with the process that creates it.



A great stop doesn't begin with our hand. It begins with everything that comes before it.



It begins with the quality and speed of the acceleration.



It begins with our body — our eyes, our breath, our timing, and our ability to soften and drop down into the saddle — all so our horse can feel our request and then balance its body on its own for the stop.



Only then should our hands support that gorgeous stop — the icing on the cake.



That's the process.



When we focus on doing each piece well, and let the horse do its part without interference, the stop happens beautifully on its own.

We Can't Ride the Result
This is true of almost everything we do with a horse.



While we naturally want results, we cannot force the outcome. We can only execute the process.



The outcome is the result of everything that comes before it.

Our Job Is Always the Next Step
As riders, we are continually leading — ideally, through the clarity of our communication.



Our job is to stay immersed in the moment and respond to the needs of the next moment.



Is my horse moving forward freely?



What is happening in my body? Where are my eyes? Am I breathing? Do I need a little more energy — or less?



Is my timing clear? Did I give my horse enough time to feel the cues?



Those are things we can control and work on.



The secret is not to put pressure on ourselves to make the result happen. When we do, we're more likely to rush, tighten, overcue, or stop listening to our horse.

You Can't Force Connection Either
The same principle goes beyond technical skills.



We all yearn for connection with our horses. We want trust. We want them to feel safe with us. We want communication that feels effortless.



But you can't force connection.



You can only build trust through repeated small actions.



You notice and listen. You communicate clearly. You respect boundaries. You repair things when they don't go well. You spend time together.



That's the process of growing a relationship.



And somewhere along the way, through the safety of a trusting relationship, exquisite connection happens on its own.

Dream About the Feel of the Result. Ride the Process.
So dream about what you yearn for. Imagine that great ride. Dreams are an important part of our process. They give us direction.



But whether you want to perfect a technical maneuver, have a great ride in the show pen, or experience a heartfelt connection, resist the tendency to demand it.



Look to the process. Do the pieces as well as you can.



And then let go. Give the result time and room to happen on its own - and experience the magic you were looking for all along.

09/29/2026

09/28/2026

This week, I’m doing my first online webinar series on showing — or really, about doing any activity when you feel pressure.

It’s one of my favorite topics because there are so many things that can come at you from the outside - and from within - things that can throw you, your horse, or both of you off.

But as you become more familiar with some key elements of competitive success - both within yourself and with your horse - showing can take on a whole new depth of awareness, focus, experience ~ and fun.

This week, I have a video for you. I share my take on what I’ve seen, what I’ve experienced myself, and what I’ve noticed that people who consistently rise to the top do differently.

https://vimeo.com/1230311406/4b9c696d23?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci&utm_source=aweber&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=barbra-schulte-what-it-takes-to-compete-well

https://bschulte.lpages.co/competitive-excellence-26/?utm_source=aweber&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=barbra-schulte-what-it-takes-to-compete-well

09/25/2026

I'm happy to say the Competitive Excellence Blueprint replay is ready!

If you couldn’t join us live — just sign up for the replay - the link is in the comments.

In the replay, I'll walk you through a simple way to understand what happens to you and your horse when pressure shows up — and how to recognize what may need adjusting — AND HOW — so you can stay more grounded, connected, and effective.

Thank you to so many for being there and sending me thumbs up feedback.

Enjoy.

09/23/2026

This evening, we’re going to do something very practical and very special.

But first, competition can be an almost glorious experience — one that brings out the best in you, your horse, and the two of you together.

Because we care so much and want to do well, pressure shows up. And when it does, our minds and bodies can speed up.

People are watching. Your horse may feel different. You may feel different. You know something feels “off,” but you’re not always sure what to do next.

This evening I’m going to walk you through a simple, systematic way to recognize where you want — and need — to be on show day.

You’ll learn how to notice what’s working for both you and your horse, identify what needs adjusting, and know when to dial things back or bring them up.

The goal is to help you trust yourself, trust your horse, and prepare you both to show at your best when the pressure is on.

You’ll learn how to:

Check in with yourself (and adjust) five areas: your clarity, arousal, attention, focus, and intensity

Check in with your horse in those same five areas

Bring the two of you together so you can ride with greater confidence, connection, and clarity under pressure

The Competitive Excellence Blueprint webinar is free and open to everyone. You’re welcome to pass the link along to a friend, too.

It’s tonight, Wednesday, September 23, at 6:00 PM Central.

And yes, we'll post a replay within 24–36 hours if the time doesn’t work for you.

But if you can, I hope you’ll join us live. We’ll have time for Q&A, too — and it’s always more fun and engaging when we’re together in real time.

Just click the link in the pinned top post to register for this evening and the replay.

Have a great day,
Barb

09/21/2026

Do you ever feel like you ride one way at home — and then you get to the show pen, or another pressure situation, and somehow things start to fall apart?



Maybe you feel nervous. Maybe your horse gets wired or distracted. Or maybe you feel disconnected from yourself, your horse, or both.



This coming Wednesday, September 23, I’m doing a free webinar to help you trust yourself and your horse when it matters most.



We'll cover five key aspects of performance—including how to put each one into practice.



They will help you calibrate yourself and your horse together (you can dial them up or down for either one of you 🩵) so you can respond to what’s happening in the moment, build trust, and stay connected under pressure.



If this sounds like something you’d like help with, I’d love to have you join me.



The Competitive Excellence Blueprint webinar is free and open to everyone. Please feel free to pass this link on to a friend, too.



It's Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00 PM Central.



We'll post a replay within 24-36 hours if the time doesn't work for you.



The registration link is in the top post below.

Please join us,

Barb

09/15/2026

This week I have an article for you. It's a sequence of three simple tips, but it works wonders for your feel and communication with your horse - and can automatically help you regulate your nervous system.

_____________



How to Develop Better Feel and Timing with Soft Hands





When we become uncertain, concerned, or overly focused (we want to get it right!), tension quietly creeps into our bodies.



It shows up first in places we barely notice: our jaw, shoulders, hands, and fingers.



When our hands and fingers get tight, without us realizing it, our horse feels it through the reins – but we can’t feel them because of the tension.



Then, our horse might get resistant, heavy, and less responsive.



Next, if we feel they’re not with us, we tighten even more. Not a great cycle!



The good news is we can interrupt that sequence with a few simple steps.



1.Start with an exhale and keep gently breathing.



The next time you check in with your hands, and you feel tension, slowly exhale.



Think of your fingers as flexible and receptive, rather than clingy.



As you keep consciously breathing, notice what happens elsewhere in your body.



Your jaw might loosen. Your shoulders may drop. Your elbows might get heavy and stay closer to your sides (instead of sticking out like chicken wings - lol).



Keep gently breathing. Let it be easy, not forced.



Your horse will be thinking, “Yeah! I was waiting for you to come back and be with me!” (-:



2. Soften your fingers.



Soft does not mean you can never be firm. A soft hand has just the right amount of tension and is responsive to the moment.



Your fingers can close (without undue abruptness or tension) when you need to slow down, collect or guide your horse and then loosen again when the horse responds.



This is a wonderful exercise for developing feel.



It can help you grow your ability to notice incremental changes in your horse and respond appropriately with great timing.



3. Focus on feel.



Again, take a comfortable breath in. As you exhale, soften your fingers around the reins.



Gently check in with your jaw, shoulders, elbows and lower back and let go of extra tension in those areas, too.



Now, as your body lets go of unnecessary tightness, notice how you can feel your horse through your seat and your legs.



As you focus on feeling your horse, you can become increasingly aware of and intentional in how you ask your horse for things and how you respond to your horse.



As you continue to practice, I believe you’ll discover several things at once:

You'll become more aware of the amount and speed of the energy needed to extend to your horse's mouth through your hands/reins. You'll become more accurate and intentional.
You'll feel more settled and grounded.
Other parts of your body will begin to move more freely with your horse.
You'll feel smaller changes in your horse sooner, so your communication will become smoother, more effective, and better timed.
Your horse will relax, too.
I'd love to hear what you think. Hit reply and drop a note to me.

09/07/2026

In today’s video, I talk about two common — but very different — reasons a horse’s attention may wander in the arena and their behavior may change.



The first is curiosity or concern about something they see, hear, or sense — something we may or may not notice or understand. It may be inside the arena or somewhere outside of it. That’s where the video begins.



The second is when a horse wants to drift toward a certain place on their own — perhaps a gate, another horse, or a familiar part of the arena. I call these places magnets because the horse is naturally drawn toward them.



These two situations call for very different responses from us.



And that’s what this video is about: learning to recognize what’s really happening from your horse's perspective and how to respond in ways that best support and guide your horse.

https://vimeo.com/1224270705/1e35f58263?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci&utm_source=aweber&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=barbra-schulte-arena-worries-and-magnets

08/23/2026

In today's video, I talk about the three things that I strive to revisit everyday with the ponies.

See what you think and send a note back by hitting reply and responding to this email. I love hearing from you. 🙏🏻

Happy Day - Happy Week - Stay Cool (both temperature wise and swagger wise, LOL! 😉)

https://vimeo.com/1220474450/d2546eabde?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci&utm_source=aweber&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=barbra-schulte-get-unstuck-a-3-part-process