You know that feeling.

You’re showing up. You’re doing the work.
But the spark feels… off.
Your confidence is on edge. The results are inconsistent.
And the joy that used to pull you to the barn feels just out of reach.

This, friend, is the riding rut.
And if you’re in it—you are not alone.

But here’s the thing most riders don’t realise:

Riding ruts aren’t always about the horse.
Or the training plan.
Or even your technical skill.

Most often?
They’re a quiet signal that your mind needs attention.

Here’s what a mental rut can look like:

• Overthinking everything—your ride, your performance, your worth

• Feeling unmotivated but unsure why

• Dreading shows or lessons because you’re “not where you should be”

• Constantly comparing yourself to others (and coming up short)

• Wondering if maybe… this just isn’t for you anymore

It’s not always loud.
In fact, it’s usually subtle—until one day you’re driving to the yard and thinking:
“Why does this feel so heavy?”

What it really means:

You’ve likely been carrying a mental load for a long time.
Pushing through. Trying harder. Holding yourself to high standards because… that’s what you do.

But mental strength isn’t built from pushing through alone.

It’s built from clarity.
From learning to regulate pressure.
From reconnecting with why you ride—and how you want to feel while doing it.

So how do you get unstuck?

You don’t need a full life overhaul.
You need a pause. A reset.
And a clear, structured way to rebuild your mindset from the inside out.

That’s exactly what I created Foundations of Focus for.

It’s a 6-week program designed to help you:

✔️ Quiet the mental noise
✔️ Rebuild your competitive confidence
✔️ Ride with more calm, clarity, and purpose—whether you’re showing or not

And it starts with a free 30-minute 1:1 Mindset Mapping Session—a gentle, no-pressure call where we unpack what’s really been going on beneath the surface.

You don’t have to do this alone.
Let’s map it out, and see what’s possible from here.

https://forgingahead.co.za/foundations

You don’t need to force the spark.
You just need to clear the fog so it can come through again.