Carrying on when it doesn’t go to plan

It happens to all of us. You’ve prepared, you’ve done the work, and on the day everything unravels. Whether it’s a fussy horse, a clumsy moment, or something completely out of your control, those days sting.

Gio can be a tricky character—sensitive, opinionated, and convinced everything must be his idea. He’s taught me a lot about staying steady when things go wrong. Over time I’ve built the confidence and courage to try, even when failure is possible. Here are the lessons that helped me keep going.

Confidence in the journey

I no longer need instant certainty that a day will go my way. I hold a deeper confidence: a belief that, if I keep showing up and doing the work, my day will come. That long-term faith lets me face scary moments without fear of the outcome. There’s freedom in knowing one bad day is just a single day in a much longer journey. When I can reset, regroup and ride on, a small blip stays a small blip instead of turning into a cascade.

Allow yourself to try — and fail

Letting yourself attempt things you might not nail strengthens your mindset. Often the fear isn’t about the ride but about the result. For me, coming last repeatedly was the best schooling I ever had. It stripped the fear away and taught me to focus on the process, not the placing. Each uncomfortable attempt builds resilience, so that when the stakes rise you won’t choke, you’ll perform.

Ride forward in the present moment

Commit to the here and now: ride with energy, harmony and single‑minded focus on what’s happening now, not what just went wrong or what’s coming up next. Staying present often makes us braver and more decisive, which improves the ride. To do this properly you must know your test or plan inside out so your mind isn’t busy remembering what comes next. Preparation frees your headspace to react and adapt in the moment.

Get back up and try again

If a show or test fails, take it apart calmly. Note what happened, decide what to work on, and get back to it. I learn more from bad days than smooth ones, because a poor result forces honest reflection and targeted action. Sometimes you’ll still fail after the work, so do it again until it changes.

These approaches have helped me ride through the messy bits, and they might help you too. Keep showing up, take the long view, and don’t be afraid of the uncomfortable opportunities—those are the ones that make you better. I’d love to hear what helps you when it doesn’t go to plan.

If you want to get out of your own way and break through limiting beliefs, check out my mindset courses, or book a 1 on 1 mindset session!