How Standing Beside a Horse Can Make You a Stronger Athlete
I used to believe that submission was weakness. That if I gave in, softened, or let go, I would lose.
I grew up very poor, in a house that was not safe, and surrounded by a religion that made me feel that submission was evil. That belief stayed with me for years. I thought I always had to control, always had to be strong, always had to survive.
As an athlete, that mindset can work for a while. You push through pain, perfectionism drives you, and you win. But deep inside, the body and mind are tense, constantly alert, always ready to fight or run. That tension limits focus, speed, recovery, and creativity.
This is where the horse changes everything.
The Old Brain and Safety
Our old brain—the part that controls survival—does not care about medals or goals. It only asks:
Am I safe?
Can I relax?
Who is leading, and can I trust them?
When it feels unsafe, it tightens the body, speeds up the heart, and shuts down creativity. Even top athletes choke under pressure, not because they aren’t skilled, but because their body is stuck in fight, flight, or freeze.
Submission Is Power, Not Weakness
Standing beside a horse teaches the truth: submission is not weakness.
A horse will never submit out of fear or weakness. It only stands with you when it feels safe.
When you choose to submit, to soften, to trust, you are exercising real power. You are saying: “I am strong enough to let go. I am safe enough to be present.”
True submission requires control, awareness, and courage. It is not collapsing. It is not giving away your power. It is strength in flow—strength that lets your body perform at its best.
How Horses Teach This
When you work with a horse, you learn:
How to lead without forcing
How to yield without fear
How to stay grounded under pressure
The horse mirrors your body instantly. If you are tense, it reacts. If you are scared, it feels that. If you are calm, present, and aware, it relaxes.
That feedback teaches your old brain what safety feels like. And when the body feels safe, performance rises: focus sharpens, energy flows, and decisions become instinctive and powerful.
From Survival to Performance
As athletes, we are trained to push, fight, and dominate. But the real edge comes from knowing when to release control. Choosing submission is choosing power.
It is not weakness. It is strength. It is focus. It is flow.
Horses do not fix you with words. They heal by teaching your body to feel safe, grounded, and powerful. And when your body learns that, your mind and performance follow.
