By: Jenny Swanson, Ed.D., LICSW, LCSW, CMPC There’s this moment a lot of riders have after time away from the saddle. Maybe it’s after an injury. Maybe it’s after a long winter at home. Maybe it’s after life just… got busy. You get back on and your first thought is: “I don’t feel confident.” And then the spiral starts... I’m out of practice. I should feel better than this. Why do I feel nervous? Why can't I do this? Let me say this very clearly: Your riding ability did not

Showing at indoors can be stressful...to say the least. I share my experience with nerves and anxiety at indoors and how you can handle it better than I did!

The Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Prevention By: Dr. Jenny Swanson, EdD, LICSW, LCSW, CMPC Injury is one of the biggest fears for...

How to Track Your Riding Progress Without Getting Discouraged By: Dr. Jenny Swanson, EdD, LICSW, LCSW, CMPC Progress in equestrian sports...

How to Develop Emotional Regulation Skills to Improve Performance By: Dr. Jenny Swanson, EdD, LICSW, LCSW, CMPC The Importance of...

By: Dr. Jenny Swanson, EdD, LICSW, LCSW, CMPMC Every equestrian has faced that heart-stopping moment when their horse spooks, tenses up,...

By: Dr. Jenny Swanson, EdD, LICSW, LCSW, CMPC The Rider’s Nervous System at Work Every equestrian knows that riding isn’t just a physical...

By: Dr. Jenny Swanson, EdD, LICSW, LCSW, CMPC The way you talk to yourself matters—both in and out of the saddle. Whether you're...

By: Jenny Swanson, EdD, LICSW, LCSW, CMPC Photo credit: Kathy Russell Photography In the equestrian world, the pursuit of excellence is a...

When people think about equestrian sports, they often focus on physical skills—balance, position, and rhythm. But riding is as much a...

“Get back in the ring” is more than just a saying—it can be a real challenge when fear lingers after an injury. By: Dr. Jenny Swanson,...

Ever felt your heart race, palms sweat, or mind go blank right before entering the ring? You're not alone. By: Jenny Swanson, EdD, LICSW,...

Dr. Taylor Swift & Your Mental Health| jennyswansonlicsw.com/blog By: Jenny Swanson, LICSW My fellow Swifties will know that today, May...

Two days after we ring in the New Year, I get to continue festivities as I celebrate my birthday a few short days after. This year, it’s...

How to make a comeback after a bad mental health day. Steps for success to overcome anxiety and horse show nerves!

Has a trainer ever told you, “You need to be more confident in your choices” or “You need to trust it/yourself”? Or just “Be more...

Toxic Positivity in sport. Taking a closer look at what it is and how it effects competitive equestrians.

Over dinner one night at a horse show, someone said “How can a therapist like you be so bad at helping yourself?!” to me. We had spent...

I did it. I hung onto my left rein and pulled out of the line. I stopped before the jump, 4, 3, 2, even 1 stride away. I circled out of...

As equestrians, we encounter intrusive thoughts more often than we think. Read on to learn more about what intrusive thoughts are and how to