Performance & Mindset
How to Build Confidence in the Saddle
<Confidence in the saddle isn't a fixed trait — it's a skill you can develop deliberately. Here's how to build it, layer by layer.>
Kate Luthra
8 min
The Equestrian Journal
Performance & Mindset
Every Performance & Mindset story from the Velvet & Valor atelier.
For the rider who wants to get better — technique, confidence, and the mindset that carries from the saddle to everything else. Practical guidance and the stories that keep you riding. 4 articles · updated regularly.
All Performance & Mindset Stories
Newest first
Performance & Mindset
Kate Luthra
8 min
Performance & Mindset
"Inside Leg, Outside Rein": Dressage Basics
"Inside leg, outside rein" is the phrase every dressage coach repeats — but what does it actually mean, and why does it matter so much? Here is the definitive guide.
Kate Luthra
10 min
Performance & Mindset
Why Every Rider Should Keep a Training Journal
A training journal is one of the most underused tools in an equestrian's arsenal. Here's why putting pen to paper after every ride could be the most transformative habit you ever build.
Kate Luthra
7 min
Performance & Mindset
How to Ride a Horse: A Beginner's Guide
<From your very first lesson to your first rising trot, this definitive beginner's guide covers everything you need to know about how to ride a horse — with honest advice on costs, safety, and the confidence it takes to truly connect with your horse.>
Kate Luthra
9 min