Every rider hits a moment where the plan goes out the window. The horse spooks. Maybe your horse’s energy spikes, or he gets distracted by the other horses, or sheer excitement. That’s what I call survival mode.

It’s not fun. You're just trying to stay safe and sane and get through it. And believe it or not, it’s a natural part of the journey. It’s important to know, if you're a trainer, that in survival mode, you're no longer training—you’re managing.

Training mode is where growth happens. You set goals, you challenge yourself and your horse, and you both come out better. Survival mode? That’s where you hold on, breathe deep, and try not to make things worse.

In survival mode, everything depends on how you communicate. Think clean, clear, simple cues—delivered with crisp energy and smooth hands. It’s like driving on ice: the tighter you grip the wheel, the more likely you’ll overcorrect or spin out. You want loose, steady hands that don’t overcorrect. But there are moments when you need a sharp, deliberate cue to interrupt a dangerous direction. A quick redirect can prevent escalation, like tapping the brakes before sliding into a ditch.

If you can see it coming, get off before it escalates. But sometimes it happens so fast you can't, and you're left trying to steer your way to safety by spinning your horse or somehow asking for a stop. There are many tricks to manage a horse through survival mode—we teach them in our courses. Things like getting off without using the stirrups and practicing rolling rather than dropping to the ground. Or, if you choose to stay on... things like facing the fear with wide hands and legs that hug for security, or bracing in the stirrups for quick, unpredictable movements. The list goes on.

But let’s say you get through it alive. What then? What should you do next? I say get off and walk for a minute. Let your horse graze or simply stand near you without expectations. This cool-down bonding time resets the nervous system—for both of you.

Later, reflect. What triggered the shift? Was it something external—a loud noise, a stiff breeze—or something internal, like rising fear or frustration? Survival mode teaches us what’s real. It reveals where the edges are, and where more trust needs to be built. Where training can begin at home.

​You don’t train through survival mode—you train around it. You survive, then reconnect and take home new information. Because in the end, it’s not about never losing control—it’s about knowing what to do, how to get through it, and how to approach it next time with a better-prepared horse.