Building an equestrian business isn’t about overnight success, shiny Instagram launches, or chasing every opportunity that comes your way. It’s about doing the work slowly, intentionally, and sustainably—with the horses at the heart of it all.

In this episode of Taking Back the Reins, Dina Shale shares the real, behind-the-scenes lessons she’s learned over 15 years of building an equine-facilitated learning business and charitable organisation. No funnels, no hype—just honest reflections, hard-earned wisdom, and practical guidance for equestrian entrepreneurs who want longevity, not burnout.

Dina walks you through three things she stopped doing that were holding her business back, and three things she would absolutely do again if she were starting from scratch.

1. Why chasing one-off work and random enquiries isn’t sustainable
2. The importance of relationships over scattered bookings
3. How underpricing leads to exhaustion, resentment, and burnout
4. Charging in a way that reflects your training, experience, land, horses, and emotional labour
5. Why having clear processes and procedures is non-negotiable
6. Letting go of trying to help everyone and focusing on your ideal client
7. Building a business model based on aligned, repeat work (not hustle)
8. Growing slowly and methodically—and why that’s a strength, not a weakness
9. Starting an email list early and building a relationship with your audience
10. Why working with someone who truly understands the equestrian niche matters
11. Finding your voice, refining your message, and speaking clearly about what you actually offer

This episode is for equestrian entrepreneurs, facilitators, and dreamers who want to build something meaningful—without losing themselves in the process.

✨ If you’re ready to stop guessing, start structuring, and build a business that supports you as much as it supports others, this one’s for you.

👉 Learn more about working with the Equestrian Business Strategist in the show notes.

Until next time, keep walking towards what’s calling you—and keep taking back the reins. 🐎

Before strategy.

Before marketing.

Before money.

Your mindset is the real foundation of a sustainable equestrian business.

In this episode of Taking Back the Reins, Dina Shale dives deep into the inner work that must come before growth, visibility, or income. Drawing from her own lived experience of building an equestrian business through major life changes, uncertainty, fear, and expansion, Dina shares honest insights into how mindset can either quietly sabotage your progress—or become your greatest asset.

This episode is especially for equestrian entrepreneurs who lead with heart, passion, and purpose, but sometimes find themselves stuck in fear, overthinking, or self-doubt.

1. Why mindset matters more than strategy in the early and growing stages of business
2. How fear, procrastination, and “I’m not good enough” loops show up for purpose-led founders
3. The difference between making decisions from fear vs intuition
4. How small, practical mindset practices can create big internal shifts
5. Why mindset isn’t about perfection—but about how you meet challenges
6. How focusing on possibility changes your energy, confidence, and direction
7. Simple ways to anchor yourself back into clarity when business feels overwhelming

Dina also shares the mindset tools that helped her move through fear, rebuild trust in herself, and stay focused during some of the most challenging periods of her business—while still caring for horses, clients, and community.

This isn’t about toxic positivity.

It’s about awareness, consistency, and choosing how you show up—every single day.

If you’re building an equestrian business and want it to be sustainable, aligned, and resilient, this episode will help you reset your focus and reconnect with your “why.”

🎧 Listen now and start building your business from the inside out.

Good intentions start charities — but they don’t sustain them.

In this episode of Taking Back the Reins, Dina Shale continues the conversation on the deeper, often unspoken challenges that stop charities and not-for-profits from growing, thriving, and becoming sustainable long-term.

Together with Parvez, Dina explores why passion alone can lead organisations into difficulty, and how clarity, commercial discipline, and mindset are essential — even in purpose-led work.

In this episode, we explore:

The “If we build it, they will come” fallacy — and why community needs must come before new projects

Why charities need commercial thinking, not just goodwill

The danger of “all tears, no hope” storytelling — and how it leads to donor fatigue

How to engage supporters through solutions, skills, and shared ownership, not just funding asks

The risk of the founder becoming the single point of failure

Why leadership mindset directly impacts sustainability, staff wellbeing, and organisational health

This conversation is for charity leaders, founders, and CEOs who feel the weight of responsibility — and are ready to build something that works with them, not only because of them.

☕️ These episodes are designed to feel like a calm, honest conversation over coffee — offering insight, reassurance, and practical reflection for those carrying a lot.

🎧 In upcoming episodes, Dina and Parvez will go deeper into structure, sustainability, and mindset — creating a safe space for leaders to learn, reflect, and grow.