Why I Created The Self-Taught Rider

Can You Really Teach Yourself to Ride and Excel At It?

Let’s start with the question every independent equestrian has asked at least once:

“Is it really possible to successfully teach and coach yourself in the horse world?”

The short answer is yes — but it’s not the right path for everyone.

Becoming a self-taught rider takes determination, discipline, and a deep desire to learn. It requires patience, consistency, and the willingness to make mistakes, reflect, and keep going. Self-taught riders thrive on independence and learn to stay accountable without

needing constant direction.

However, being self-taught does not mean being alone.

That understanding, along with my own experiences of rebuilding confidence after injury and loss, is what inspired me to create The Self-Taught Rider.

My Story: From Coached to Completely on My Own

Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. The first time I was on a horse I was five years old, I then spent all my time and effort immersed in almost every discipline, from dressage, jumping, and eventing to barrel racing, roping, trail riding and more, I tried everything and wanted to learn anything I could. In 2015, I became a Certified Equine Canada Coach and began teaching riders in both English and Western disciplines.

Everything changed when I suffered a serious riding accident and broke my back. The recovery process was long and painful, both physically and emotionally. My confidence disappeared, and for the first time, I had to learn how to rebuild without relying on lessons, coaches, or competition goals.

I have always been an independent learner, and when I was terrified and scared of horses and riding, I found comfort in working through those things on my own.

Through that experience, I learned something that no instructor had ever taught me: real progress comes from self-awareness, consistency, and compassion. I had to learn how to coach myself — not by striving for perfection, but by staying patient and connected to myself and my horse.

That experience reshaped how I saw horsemanship and inspired a new approach to

learning: one based on structure, reflection, positivity and trust rather than pressure and comparison.

What It Really Means to Be Self-Taught

When I first began riding, I took regular lessons at a local barn. My family couldn’t always afford them, so I worked to pay for my training — mucking stalls, grooming, feeding, and learning everything I could about care and horsemanship. Those years gave me a solid foundation that made self-teaching possible later on.

That foundation is what I encourage every rider to build before taking the independent path. Self-teaching works best once you understand the basics of safety, balance, and communication. After that, it becomes a journey of discovery and growth — one where you learn to problem-solve, experiment, and take full ownership of your progress.

Being self-taught isn’t a shortcut. It’s a commitment to lifelong learning and constant curiosity and a willingness to always be better and improve yourself.

The Self-Taught Rider Mindset

The self-taught journey isn’t defined by doing everything alone; it’s defined by resourcefulness.

Modern riders have more access to knowledge than ever before. Online courses, clinics, videos, and virtual lessons allow us to learn from world-class professionals right from our own barns. The key is learning how to use those resources effectively and apply what works for you and your horse.

A self-taught rider:

• Learns from every experience, both good and bad

• Uses video analysis and reflection to improve awareness

• Keeps a training log or journal to track growth

• Remains open to new ideas and adaptable in approach

• Balances independence with mentorship and accountability

It’s not about knowing everything. It’s about being willing to learn from anything and everyone.

Why I Created The Self-Taught Rider

As I returned to coaching, I began to notice a pattern among many riders. They wanted to improve, but they often felt lost or unsure of what to focus on between lessons. They were motivated and capable, yet they lacked structure and clarity.

That’s where The Self-Taught Rider  began — as a way to help independent equestrians find confidence, direction, and connection in their riding.

It’s built around three guiding principles:

1. Confidence is built, not born. Like any skill, it can be trained and strengthened.

2. The horse always comes first. True progress never sacrifices welfare or partnership.

3. Every rider deserves structure and support. You don’t need weekly lessons to feel capable and proud of your progress. Sometimes you need to work with what you have within your means.

Through digital guides, self-coaching workbooks, and online courses, The Self-Taught Rider helps riders find structure, measure progress, and rebuild trust in both themselves and their horses.

Overcoming the Challenges of Self-Teaching

Self-teaching comes with its own challenges. Without an instructor’s feedback, it’s easy to develop habits or miss subtle signs from your horse.

That’s why I always encourage riders to seek professional input whenever possible, whether through clinics, regular or virtual lessons, or video reviews.

The most successful self-taught riders combine independence with reflection, accountability, and community support. They approach each ride as both a learning opportunity and a conversation with their horse.

The Power of Community

One of the biggest misconceptions about being self-taught is that it means being isolated. In reality, the strongest riders build supportive communities around their independence.

That’s exactly what I wanted The Self-Taught Rider to become — a positive, encouraging space where riders can share experiences, celebrate progress, and continue learning together.

Negativity and judgment have no place here. Growth happens when riders feel supported and safe to learn at their own pace. We rise by lifting each other up and by sharing what we’ve learned along the way.

The Heart of the Journey

Being a self-taught equestrian isn’t about doing everything alone. It’s about taking responsibility for your learning, your growth, and your horse’s wellbeing. It’s about curiosity over comparison, and progress over perfection.

Every independent rider has a story. Mine began with a lack of resources and access to coaches as well as fear and injury, but it evolved into a calling to help others rediscover confidence, structure, and joy in their own journey.

If you’ve ever doubted whether you can do this on your own, let me assure you — you can. And you don’t have to do it completely alone.

Welcome to The Self-Taught Rider. Let’s redefine what it means to learn, grow, and ride — together.

If this message resonates with you, subscribe to my newsletter for free learning resources, self-coaching tools, and mindset tips. You can also explore the Free Resources section to begin your own self-taught journey today.