Brain Training for Riders: Unlock Your Riding Potential with StressLess Techniques for Conquering Fear, Improving Performance, and Finding Focused Calm Paperback – November 15, 2016

I couldn't put this down. So much deep helpful information to explain why we think and feel how we do with ourselves and our horsesI read it on Kindle the first time, and now have ordered the hard cover, so I can highlight key parts for me.It's going to be my go to map, to finally get focused and calm.

Amazing book. Returning to riding as a mature adult, my riding fears have grown exponentially over the last 19 years as I've bought horse after horse, trying to find that magic one that can make me feel comfortable, confident and safe again. None of my horses were bad, but my fears became their fears and we were nervous, unhappy and frustrated. I did finally have a horse that I looked forward to riding and enjoyed riding, but old age has caught up to him and he is no longer sound enough to ride. So on to a new horse (again) and the resurrection of the fear demons in my brain. My brain is filled with fears and fearful thoughts that bounce around in my head and fill it up, even before I get on the horse.I've tried hypnotherapy and EFT over the years; Ms. Waldo's book is one of many that I've bought in the attempt to tame my demons. Her book, however, is the one that has helped me the most. Come to find out, I'm not just stupidly (and insanely) terrified, I'm actually pretty normal but my Lizard Brain is over-active/reactive and it completely takes over my rational thoughts as it tries to protect me. That was one of the first things I learned from her book. The second (and maybe the best) thing I've learned is to tell my Lizard Brain (LB) to go sit in the tack room while I ride. We are still working on that, as sometimes LB has a voice that can be heard across the property. I have found, though, that more and more LB just sits and sulks because I'm able to ignore her. And, the very best of all, I'm enjoying riding my new horse more often than ever before.Thank you, Ms. Waldo, for your wonderful book. Thank you for sharing your riding fears and how you overcame them, thank you for helping me to overcome mine.

I have ridden horses competitively for over 40 years but, when I stopped competing, I rode less frequently and with less discipline. I began to lose my confidence, which was always a little flimsy anyway. But I didn't want to give up! I read many books and articles. Most helped for only short periods of time. The horse I own now is so much fun to ride but he is also one to mildly test his rider. A friend suggested "Brain Training for Riders..." and I bought it out of respect for her suggestions, but thinking it would be just another horse self help book. Not so! This book has helped me tremendously! Not only does Ms Waldo make meaningful suggestions for how to deal with fear issues, but she provides exercises to reinforce those concepts. I kept a journal and it really helped. I sometimes still go to that dark place of fear but when I do, I read excerpts from the book and I go out and do what my brain tells me is difficult to do. Wow! I am 73 and hadn't cantered my horse for over 5 years. Now, I'm cantering and I enjoy riding and working to overcome my fears. Who knows - maybe I'll take him over fences some day!

I know a couple of really nervous riders at the barn and this just has the potential to help them SO MUCH with anxiety, showing, and getting over your fears. Definitely a great book.

This has been helpful for my child who was thrown from a horse and had difficulty getting over that fear. She had been thrown before and was able to get back on and continue to ride. Something about this one incident caused her to freeze up. This book helped her to move through that fear and return to riding.

I was skeptical when I purchased this book, fearing it would be like many other books on the same subject, telling one to breath deep, sing to relax the nerves, etc. with information that wasn't practical for me to use or didn't work for me. Boy, was I wrong! This book is incredible. It's written by an author that is both a horse trainer/instructor and is a therapist who treats people for various fears issues. Because of this author's experience including her own fear issues, the result is a book has information that is easy to implement, even if you don't ride every day, easy to understand and filled with information that is extremely helpful in calming nerves and chasing away fears about riding. The author even debunks other common advice and gives you practical ways to be confidant in the saddle. I have bought one other book on fear and it was just a waste of money. But this book is well worth the price. I was skeptical before I purchase but bought based on the positive reviews. Those reviews all proved true. This is a book that I wish I had read when I first started riding. It's helpful with advice you can use and that works. Very highly recommend this book if you have fear issues or just have trouble with nerves. The advice offered by the author is for every kind of rider, both English and Western This book should be on every rider's bookshelf. Very highly recommend this book. In sum, this book contains information easy to understand; exercises easy to use and ones that work to relieve your fear and give you confidence; and advice that one can easily put to use. Excellent book on fear issues with information that one an use no matter what discipline