If riding fear has been showing up for you, you’re not alone.
It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It doesn’t mean you’re not a “real” rider. It means your mind and body are trying to protect you.
Fear can appear after a fall, a bad experience, time off, a change in horse, or even from the pressure to ride like you used to.
And as frustrating as it feels, confidence can be rebuilt.
Step by step.
With the right tools.
The right mindset.
And the right support around you.
That’s why we’re running a free workshop to help riders start overcoming riding fear and rebuild confidence in the saddle with practical, supportive guidance.
If you’re ready to feel calmer, safer, and more confident with your horse, comment “FEARLESS” or DM us and we’ll send you the workshop link.
Your Riding Success
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Your Riding Success
For riders that want to succeed and have fun YOUR RIDING SUCCESS - By Natasha Althoff.
This is a supportive and kind space for all horse enthusists xx
22/08/2026
Sooo… do you want to know more?! 👀
If you’re tired of feeling stuck at the same level and want a clear, step by step system to help you progress, we’d love ❤️ to help!
Comment “LEVEL UP” below and one of our coaches will DM you to chat about how Dressage Mastery Academy could help you and your four legged dressage king or queen 👑
20/08/2026
Scared to ride after a fall? 🐴
We’ve all been there… falling off sucks! The emotional trauma that can happen following a fall can stay with you for days, weeks, months, even years!
The good news? I can help (no matter how long you’ve had your riding fear)
COMMENT THE WORD “ACTION” and I’ll send you 2 options to start overcoming your fear today
Most people said I would fail... 'You can't take a Friesian to Grand Prix"... I did. "You'll never successfully bread Friesians"... I did. "Your stallion will never do flying changes"... "He did"
My whole life was filled with peoples doubt... even my own father (more on this soon).
Don't give up. Comment below if you need a pep up!!!! I'll pump you up to accomplish anything!!
🥲 does this make anyone else emotional?!?!
Where should you be gripping with your legs?
Ideally, you’re not gripping at all.
When riders feel nervous or unbalanced, it’s common to clamp with the knees or thighs. It feels like it should make you safer, but it often does the opposite.
Too much grip can block your seat, create tension through your body, tip you forward, and make your horse feel restricted underneath you.
Instead, think of your leg as draping long and softly around your horse.
You want even, elastic contact through your inner thigh, calf, and ankle. More like a supportive hug than a squeeze.
Your leg should be available to give clear, intentional aids, then soften again. Not constantly gripping. Not holding on for balance. Not squeezing every stride.
Your seat and core do far more to stabilize you than gripping ever will.
So if you feel insecure in the saddle, come back to the basics:
Breathe.
Lengthen your leg.
Soften your knee.
Let your heel sink naturally.
Allow your body to move with your horse.
Next ride, notice where you hold tension. Is it your knees? Your thighs? Your calves? Awareness is the first step to changing the habit.
And if gripping is something you struggle with, comment or DM us. You’re not alone, and it’s something you can absolutely improve.
Ahhhhh don't we all select horses based on how pretty they are? haha!!
Shiny, Tall and Black with some bling is my fav. What is your fav??
15/08/2026
I wanted to write to you today about the thing that changed my entire life, and the thing I built my whole business around fixing for other riders.
In 2012, I came off my stallion Jorrit and broke a bone in my back. I remember walking up to him afterwards to get back on, the way you're supposed to, and feeling sick.
I walked away instead.
For a while I genuinely thought that was it, that I might have to give up horses altogether.
I didn't have a horse problem. Jorrit was fine. I had a fear problem, and nobody around me knew what to do with that, including me.
If that's not your story, you've probably ridden alongside someone it is.
The friend at the yard who bought the calm one and still won't canter. The one who used to hack out alone and now won't get on without someone standing there. The one who tells you she's "just not a confident rider," like that's a fact about her instead of something that happened to her.
Your riding fear is not a courage problem, a character problem, or a horse problem.
I built FearLESS Mastery because I needed someone to tell me that in 2012, and nobody did.
If fear is present in your riding, I want you to know that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep letting it decide when, where or how you ride.
Fearless Mastery has now helped more than 4,000 riders around the world work through their riding fear and begin enjoying the saddle again.
I created this program using everything I’ve learned as a Grand Prix rider, through my NLP training and from facing my own fear after a serious riding accident.
If this sounds like you, comment "ACTION" below and we’ll send you more information about Fearless Mastery.
Big love,
Tash
P.S. Below is a photo of Jorrit, the horse I was riding when I was bucked off and fractured a bone in my back. I know firsthand that riding experience doesn’t make us immune to fear, but I also know that fear doesn’t have to define the rest of our riding story.
I am in awe of everyone involved at the FEI World Equestrian Games. You are all so so so inspiring!!!! Sending love and positivity to you all. ALSO, shout out to the amazing grooms... all the horses are presented beautifully x
I did what I was told... Money is laying on it's side haha
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