A letter to the rider who knows there is more.
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Dear Rider,Â
If youâre here, something in you already knows that what youâre looking for isnât another tip, correction, or technique. Itâs not that you donât care enough. And itâs not that youâre doing it wrong.
Itâs that somewhere along the way, riding may have started to feel heavier than it should. More confusing. Less clear. Maybe even disconnected from the reason you fell in love with horses in the first place. You might feel a quiet yearning for something deeper - not more effort, but more meaning. Not more pressure, but more connection. Not to become someone else, but to feel more fully like yourself again when you ride.
I want you to know something right away: You donât need to be âfixedâ. And your riding doesnât either.
Whatâs often missing isnât just skill. Itâs coherence. Itâs knowing who you are and why youâre doing what youâre doing. Itâs being able to show up for your horse from a place that feels grounded, clear, and true.
When you connect better with yourself, you connect better with your horse. And from that place, youâre far more likely to get results (in riding and in life) that feel whole and right.
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I didnât always know this.
For most of my life, I was deeply (Correction: obsessively) devoted to riding. My world revolved around it. I even spent my honeymoon riding with Karl Mikolka. I didnât take vacations. I didnât have much of a life outside the barn.
That was my choice, but it was also unbalanced. And over time, it pulled me away from myself. Without realizing it, I had begun adopting other peopleâs values and ideas of what âsuccessâ as a rider should look like. I stopped asking the most important question: What do I actually want as a rider?
The horse world can be hard. Partnerships and sponsorships that didnât work out left me feeling betrayed and heartbroken. I felt the weight of what I had sacrificed for my passion - and painfully, I didnât feel fulfilled by it anymore. So I stepped back.
I still rode, but I also turned toward other parts of myself - having children, exploring midwifery, gardening, jewelry making, personal development. At the time, it felt like I was leaving something behind. Only later did I realize these werenât detours. They were essential. They helped me become the human I wanted to be - and that, unexpectedly, made me a far better rider.
When I eventually returned to riding in a deeper way, I knew I couldnât go back to being the rider I was. Too much had changed. It was time to recreate the rider I wanted to be. That process changed everything. My riding became richer, clearer, more grounded. And perhaps most importantly, it felt whole.
Students and friends began asking what I had done - and how they could experience something similar.
The Artistic Rider is the container I wish had existed for me then.
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What This Journey Is Really About
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This is a 12-month experiential journey built around 4 natural cycles of growth and development.
Itâs not about fixing you.â¨Itâs not about pushing harder.â¨And itâs not about becoming me.
Itâs about reconnecting with yourself in a way that allows you to be the best partner for your horse.
Throughout this year, Iâll share the approaches that helped me⌠but what matters most is that you discover your own path within this process. Iâm not here as a guru or an authority on who you should be.
Iâm here as a guide. And as a fellow traveler.
Together, weâll explore meditation, journaling, breathwork, somatic awareness, energy work, mindfulness, and reflection - not as things you have to do perfectly, but as tools you can experiment with, revisit, and make your own.
You may find that some resonate immediately. Others may challenge you. Or you may initially resist. I encourage you to meet that resistance with curiosity, because it often guards the doorway to the most meaningful breakthroughs.
And those breakthroughs? Theyâre not always loud.
Sometimes they arrive quietly - like something gently emerging beneath the surface - until one day you realize youâre showing up differently.
More clearly. More calmly. More fully yourself.
Thatâs the work weâll do here.
The Inner Game of Riding
Most riders assume that if something isnât working, the answer must be technical.â¨More instruction. More correction. More effort.
Sometimes that is so. But very often, whatâs actually standing in the way has nothing to do with knowledge or skill (or it is something preventing them from gaining that knowledge or developing that skill).Â
Itâs the Inner Game.
The inner game is the part of riding that determines:
* whether you trust yourself or second-guess every decision
* whether you feel clear or conflicted
* whether you follow through or stall
* whether you feel present and connected, or tense and scattered
When your inner game is off, even good efforts donât land.â¨You might know what to do - but HOW you do it is off. â¨You contradict yourself. â¨You hesitate.â¨You override your intuition.â¨And you lose momentum.
Not even because something is wrong with you - â¨but because youâre not aligned.
The Artistic Rider isnât here just to help you align.â¨Itâs here to help you actualize and advance all the while staying true to yourself and your horse.Â
The 4-Phase Journey
Re-Connect - Re-Envision - Re-Claim - Re-Juvenate
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This work unfolds through four natural cycles of growth and development.
These phases mirror how real change happens - not in straight lines, but in seasons. Each phase builds on the one before it, and together they create a process you can return to again and again.
When you connect better with yourself, youâre able to connect better with your horse.â¨When you know who you are and why youâre doing what youâre doing, you show up clearer and better - for your horse and for yourself.
And from that place, youâre far more likely to get results that feel whole and right.
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Phase 1 - Re-Connect
Every meaningful change begins with a pause. This phase is about slowing down enough to create space - to listen, feel, and reconnect with parts of yourself that may have been drowned out by pressure or habit. As you restore grounding, safety, and clarity, your horse begins to feel a steadier presence in you.
Phase 2 - Re-Envision
Once space has been created, something new can emerge. This phase invites curiosity and possibility as you begin to question inherited narratives and consciously envision the rider and relationship you want to create going forward. Inspiration returns naturally, without force.
Phase 3 - Re-Claim
Here, you begin to step fully into yourself. This phase is about building embodied confidence and self-trust - learning to trust your perception, regulate your responses, and lead from clarity rather than doubt. Your presence becomes steadier, your communication clearer, and your horse feels someone they can rely on.
Phase 4 - Re-Juvenate
The final phase is about integration, renewal, and sustainability. You slow down again - not to stop, but to reflect, celebrate, and allow what youâve built to settle into your system. This isnât an ending, but a renewal you can return to whenever you need it.
The Artistic Rider
A 12-month experiential journey into the inner game of riding.
Guided by Shana and Thomas Ritter.
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Enrollment includes:
đ 12 months of guided participation through the 4-phase journey
đ Regular mindset teachings and inner game trainings woven through each phase
đ Guided meditations, affirmations, and audio practices
đ Somatic, breath, nervous system, and awareness-based practices
đ Riding explorations designed to deepen awareness and connection
đ Journaling and reflection prompts
đ Live group coaching twice monthly
đ Access to the private community space (participation is optional)
đ Lifetime access to all materials
Join the JourneyâŚ
Full PaymentÂ
1 payment of âŹ1200
*Other currencies available.Â
6-Pay
6 monthly payments of âŹ220
*Other currencies available.Â
12-Pay
12 monthly payments of âŹ125
*Other currencies available.Â
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You donât need to be certain. You donât need to feel confident yet. You only need a willingness to listen and stay present as the work unfolds.
What this is / What it isn't
What This Is
The Artistic Rider is a 12-month experiential coaching container built around 4 natural cycles of growth and development.
Itâs a guided process of reconnecting with yourself so you can reconnect more clearly with your horse.
â¨Itâs about learning how to regulate your nervous system, work with your body and breath, and develop the kind of inner coherence that allows clarity, confidence, and connection to emerge naturally.
Itâs reflective, embodied, and practical.â¨Itâs personal, but not isolating.â¨Itâs deep, but not dramatic.
Itâs designed to help you become a steadier, clearer partner for your horse - and a more grounded, self-led version of yourself.
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What This is Not
This is not a "technical" riding course, although there is definitely riding involved.Â
This is not a program where youâre told what kind of rider you should be.â¨
This is not about fixing whatâs âwrongâ with you.
This is not about chasing peak experiences or dramatic breakthroughs.â¨
This is not a linear before/after transformation.
And itâs not about becoming me.
This is about helping you hear yourself, trust yourself, and build a relationship with yourself that allows everything else - including your riding - to fall into place.
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The Rider this Process Creates
This program doesnât create a âperfectâ rider.
It creates a rider who is:
đ  grounded instead of rushed
đ  clear instead of conflicted
đ  responsive instead of reactive
đ  present instead of performative
đ  confident without being forceful
đ  consistent without pushing
đ  intuitive without being vague
This is a rider who understands that horses want to work - and that their own internal state is one of the most powerful aids they bring into the saddle.
This is a rider who knows who they are and why theyâre doing what theyâre doing. And because of that, they show up clearer and better - for their horse and for themselves.
Not because they try harder.⨠But because theyâre aligned.
A Different Way to Think About "Breakthroughs"
Youâre about to experience a breakthrough.
But not the kind that announces itself loudly with fireworks and fanfare.
Real breakthroughs are often quiet.â¨They emerge gradually - like something sprouting underground before you ever see it above the surface.
You might notice:
đ that youâre less reactive than you used to be
đ that you recover faster when things donât go to plan
đ that your horse feels more settled and focused with you
đ that youâre clearer in your decisions
đ that you trust yourself a little more
đ that you can access, trust, and rely upon your intuition with increasing awareness
These shifts can feel subtle - until one day you realize everything is different. "When did that happen exactly?" you ask. It didnât happen at one key moment. It happened gradually as a part of this process.
This program is designed to support that kind of emergence.â¨
Not to force it. Not to rush it.⨠But to create the conditions where it can happen naturally.
Because when you connect better with yourself,⨠you connect better with your horse -â¨and youâre far more likely to get results in life and riding that feel whole and right.
Whatâs Included & How the Year Unfolds
The Artistic Rider is designed as a 12-month experiential container, not a course you rush through or try to âcomplete.â
Each part of the program is there to support you in experiencing the work - not just understanding it intellectually.
Youâll move through the four phases: Re-Connect, Re-Envision, Re-Claim, and Re-Juvenate over the course of the year, allowing each one the time and space it needs to unfold naturally.
There is structure here, but no pressure.
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The Rhythm of the Year
The year is divided into four phases, each representing a different season of growth and development.
Each phase lasts roughly three months, giving you time to settle in, explore, revisit, and integrate whatâs emerging - without feeling rushed or behind.
Unlike a linear checklist, this a cyclical process youâll likely return to many times - even after the year is complete.
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Your Ongoing Weekly & Monthly Experience
Throughout the year, youâll be supported through a blend of guided content, live connection, and personal reflection.
Guided Meditations, Affirmations & Audio Practices
Each phase includes a growing library of guided audio practices - meditations, affirmations, and embodied exercises - designed to support where you are right now in the cycle.
Some practices will build forward. Others will intentionally revisit earlier concepts with new layers of depth and understanding.
Youâre encouraged to work with the practices that resonate most - and gently explore the ones that challenge you.
Riding Explorations & Experiments
Rather than prescriptive exercises which are primarily about the horse, youâll be offered invitational riding explorations that allow you to observe, feel, and experiment in the saddle - without pressure to âget it right.â
Some are riding exercises you may already be familiar with, and some will be new explorations. These are designed to help you notice how changes in your internal state affect your horse, your communication, and your experience of riding.Â
Live Mindset & Coaching Sessions
Youâll have two live group sessions each month, focused on mindset, reflection, and coaching.
These sessions provide:
* guidance on the current phase
* space for questions and discussion
* shared learning from others on a similar path
Replays are always available if you canât attend live.
Mindset & Inner Game Trainings
Youâll receive regular mindset-oriented teachings that introduce key concepts for each phase - including nervous system regulation, emotional self-regulation, breathwork, somatic awareness, energy work, mindfulness, and heart coherence.
These are designed to be practical, grounded, and applicable to your real riding and life.
Journaling & Reflection Prompts
Reflection is a core part of this work. Youâll receive journaling prompts throughout the year to help you:
* notice patterns
* track shifts
* clarify intentions
* integrate insights
* make meaning of your experience
This is not about writing well or for others - itâs about listening honestly to yourself.
Community & Ongoing Support
Youâll have access to a private community space where you can:
* share reflections (as much or as little as you like)
* ask questions
* receive support
* witness othersâ journeys
You are never required to participate more than feels right to you.
The Arc of the Experience
As the year progresses, you may notice:
đ that what once felt confusing becomes clearer
đ Â that your reactions soften
đ Â that your confidence grows quietly
đ Â that your horse responds differently
đ Â that you recover more easily when things donât go as planned
Near the end of the year, we slow down again -to reflect, integrate, and celebrate what has emerged.
There is space to acknowledge your growth. Space to name what youâve reclaimed.â¨And space to decide how you want to carry this forward.
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A Journey You Can Return To
When the 12 months are complete, you wonât be âdone.â You keep lifetime access to all the materials.
Youâll have:
đ tools you can return to
đ practices you can revisit
đ a process you understand
đ and a deeper relationship with yourself to guide you
If you choose to begin again at the beginning, youâll find the work meets you differently - with more depth, clarity, and self-trust each time.
The Full 4-Phase Journey
This work unfolds through four natural cycles of growth and development.â¨They reflect how real, lasting change actually happens - not in straight lines, but in seasons.
This is not mindset work merely from the neck up.â¨This is whole-system work: mind, body, breath, nervous system, and energy.
And you will find that you donât move through this journey once. You will spiral through it⌠each time with more depth, clarity, and self-trust.
Phase 1 - Re-Connect
(Stabilization ¡ Safety ¡ Listening)
Re-Connect is a deliberate pause.
This phase is about slowing down enough to create space - space to feel, notice, and listen again. We focus on grounding, nervous system regulation, breath, and awareness, not to âfixâ anything, but to restore safety and clarity.
As urgency and constant self-correction soften, you begin to hear yourself more clearly.â¨
Your horse feels it too - in your steadier presence, softer communication, and increased patience.
This is where perception returns.
â¨And where real change becomes possible.
Phase 2 - Re-Envision
(Curiosity ¡ Expansion ¡ Possibility)
Once space and stability are restored, creativity naturally follows.
In this phase, you begin to look at your story as a rider - not to judge it, but to question what youâve inherited and consciously choose what you want to carry forward. Old narratives loosen, emotional charge softens, and possibility re-enters the picture.
Through visualization, intention-setting, and gentle experimentation, you allow yourself to imagine the rider (and the relationship) you want to create going forward.
This is where inspiration returns.â¨Not by pushing for it⌠but because there is finally room for it to emerge.
How This Changes Your Riding
When your nervous system, body, breath, heart, and energy align,⨠your riding changes naturally.
You think more clearly.â¨
You feel more accurately.â¨
You respond instead of react.
And your horse feels the difference immediately.
An Invitation
If something in you has been quietly stirring while reading thisâŚâ¨ a sense of recognition, curiosity, or reliefâŚâ¨
You donât need to rush to interpret it.
You donât need to convince yourself.
And you donât need to force a decision.
The Artistic Rider is an invitation into a year of reconnecting with yourself, rebuilding trust from the inside out, and allowing a more grounded, coherent version of you to lead - in riding and in life.
Itâs an invitation to:
đ stop overriding yourself
đ stop chasing external answers
đ stop pushing for outcomes that donât feel right
And instead, to listen.⨠To stabilize. To reconnect. To let something quieter and truer within yourself emerge.
Enrollment
If you feel called to this work, I would be honored to have you join us.
There is space for you here - exactly as you are.â¨
You donât need to be certain. That comes through the process.
You donât need to be confident. That builds over time and experience.
You donât need to have it figured out. (No one really does anyway!)
You just need a willingness to listen and to walk the path of reconnecting with yourself.
The Artistic Rider
A 12-month experiential journey into the inner game of riding.
Guided by Shana and Thomas Ritter.
Â
Enrollment includes:
đ 12 months of guided participation through the 4-phase journey
đ Regular mindset teachings and inner game trainings woven through each phase
đ Guided meditations, affirmations, and audio practices
đ Somatic, breath, nervous system, and awareness-based practices
đ Riding explorations designed to deepen awareness and connection
đ Journaling and reflection prompts
đ Live group coaching twice monthly
đ Access to the private community space (participation is optional)
đ Lifetime access to all materials
Join the JourneyâŚ
Full PaymentÂ
1 payment of âŹ1200
*Other currencies available.Â
6-Pay
6 monthly payments of âŹ220
*Other currencies available.Â
12-Pay
12 monthly payments of âŹ125
*Other currencies available.Â
Â
"There is nothing wrong with you, and there never was, no matter what you believe, or were told. You are complete, whole, exactly as you are; perfect even in your imperfections, awesome in your humanness, strong in your fragility. Your flaws are beautiful. Your doubts are sacred."
- Jeff Foster
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a technical riding program?
No.â¨
The Artistic Rider focuses on the inner game of riding - the internal clarity, regulation, and self-trust that make technical work possible and sustainable. While there is riding involved and many riders will experience technical improvements, that is a byproduct, not the starting point.
Do I need to be an advanced rider to benefit from this?
No.â¨
This work applies at every level. Whether youâre feeling stuck early in your journey or have been riding for decades, the inner game remains relevant - often more so with experience.
Is this too âwoo-wooâ for me?
This program works with breath, body awareness, nervous system regulation, energy, and mindfulness - all in a grounded, practical way. Nothing is forced. Nothing is dogmatic.â¨Youâre encouraged to explore with curiosity and keep what genuinely works for you.
What if I donât have much time?
This program is designed to fit into your life, not take it over.
You donât need to do everything to benefit. Even small, consistent engagement can create meaningful shifts. The work is cumulative, not all-or-nothing.
What if I struggle with consistency or motivation?
Thatâs not failure. Itâs information.⨠In many cases, inconsistency is a sign of inner conflict or dysregulation, not a lack of discipline. This program works with that, rather than trying to override it.
What if Iâve tried many things and nothing has really changed?
Most riders who come to this program have.⨠The difference here is that weâre not adding more strategies on top. Weâre stabilizing the internal system those strategies depend on.
Will I be required to share or participate in the community?
No.â¨
Youâre welcome to share as much or as little as feels right. Quiet participation is just as valid as active engagement.
What if I miss live sessions?
All live sessions are recorded and available as replays. You can move through the material at your own pace.
What if I donât know who I want to be as a rider yet?
Thatâs completely fine - and very normal.â¨
This program is designed to help you discover that, not arrive already knowing.Â
Is this a one-time transformation, or something I can return to?
This is a cyclical process. Many riders will find they return to the phases again and again - each time with more clarity, depth, and ease. You'll have lifetime access to all of the materials.Â
About Commitment & Refunds
The Artistic Rider is a 12-month experiential journey designed to unfold over time. The early weeks are about slowing down, reconnecting, and creating space - not immediate certainty or visible change. For this reason, there is no refund window during the first 30 days of the program.
However, I also believe in meeting people with integrity. If after 60 days, youâve genuinely engaged with the process and feel that this journey is not right for you, you may request a refund by contacting us within the designated window (between 30 days and 60 days from the beginning of the program).
This policy exists to balance two important things:â¨
đ your need for safety and trust
đ and the level of commitment this work requires.
The Artistic Rider is best suited for riders who feel ready to say yes to a process, even one in which clarity unfolds gradually.
This is where self-trust replaces second-guessing.
When you become clear on who you are, what matters to you, and why youâre doing what youâre doing, many of the problems that once felt overwhelming simply fall away. They evaporate.
What emerges is your path.⨠YOUR path.
The rider you are meant to be - and want to be.
Iâm not here to âempowerâ you.
â¨Iâm here to show YOU how to empower yourself.
If youâve read this far, something in you already knows.
Thereâs no rush.
Thereâs no pressure.
But if you feel called to walk this year with us,
the invitation is open.
