How Saying Positive Mantras Out Loud Rewires Your Brain (And Why Whispering Negatives Doesn’t Work)

Understanding Equestrian Sports Psychology

"I’m a bad rider" – Why Your Brain Believes Every Word You Say

Think about the last time you had a bad ride. Chances are, you replayed it silently in your head:

• "I’m useless at canter."

• "I'm not good enough for my horse."

• "I’ll never get better."

Here’s the scary part: Your brain treats those silent thoughts as facts.

But what if I told you that speaking your thoughts out loud—especially positive ones—could literally rewire your brain for confidence?

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The Science Behind Mantras and Your Brain

1. Silent Negatives Stick Like Glue

• Research shows (Kross et al., 2014) that when you think negative thoughts, your brain processes them as truth—even if they’re irrational.

• Why? The amygdala (your brain’s fear centre) can’t tell imagination from reality. So "I’m a terrible rider" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

2. Spoken Words Have Superpowers

• A University of Michigan study found that verbalising thoughts activates different brain regions than silent thinking.

• Out loud your brain goes, "Wait, is that really true?"

• Example:

  • Silent thought: "I always mess up." → Brain accepts it.

  • Spoken aloud: "I always mess up." → Brain questions it ("Do I, though?").

3. Positive Mantras Rewire Neural Pathways

• Repeating phrases like "I am calm and capable" out loud:

  • Strengthens prefrontal cortex activity (the rational, confident part of your brain).

  • Weakens fear pathways (University of California, 2018).

• It’s like strength training for confidence.

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Why Horse Riders Need to Hear Themselves

The "Whispered Negatives" Trap

• Scenario: You’re about to canter. Your brain whispers: "What if he bolts? You’ll fall."

• Result: Your body tenses → Horse tenses → Spook happens.

The "Spoken Positives" Fix

• Same scenario, but you say aloud: "I’ve cantered before. I can do this."

• Result: Your brain registers it as external input (not just fear chatter) → Body stays relaxed → Better ride.

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How to Use Mantras That Actually Work

1. Ditch the Fluff (Be Specific)

• ❌ "I’m an amazing rider!" (Your brain won’t believe this yet.)

• ✅ "I handle spooks calmly."

• ✅ "My seat is secure in trot."

2. Say Them Like You Mean It

• Add mantra to an existing habit (habit stacking):

  • Grooming your horse ("You’re safe with me").

  • Driving to the yard ("Today will be fun").

  • At the mounting block ("I ride with confidence").

• Pro tip: Say them to your horse—it feels less awkward and doubles the bonding!

3. Pair With Physical Cues

• Touch your horse’s neck while saying "We’ve got this."

• Pat your own chest before riding: "I am brave."

  Why? Physical actions anchor the words in your brain.

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Real Rider Example: Sarah used positive mantras, said out loud throughout our time together.....

"I didn’t think it was possible to change the habits of a lifetime, but you showed me that I could in fact do that & move forward with a much more positive & realistic approach to problems/issues." Read the full story here.

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Your Challenge: 7 Days of Spoken Mantras

1. Pick one mantra (e.g., "I ride with calm energy").

2. Say it aloud 3x daily (morning, before riding, at night).

3. Notice the shift in your mindset by day 7.

Want to dive into this in more detail? Sign up to my full 7 day Rider Confide Challenge here.

Final Thought

Your brain is always listening—not just to your thoughts, but to your voice. So stop whispering doubts… and start speaking confidence into existence.

Say it until you believe it. Then keep saying it until you don’t have to remind yourself anymore.