Equestrian Performance Mindset

Falling off is part of riding.   But for many riders, it's not the fall itself that keeps them stuck, it's the story they tell themselves afterwards. In this episode, we answer a listener's question about returning to competition after a fall while preparing to move up a level. If you've ever questioned whether you're ready, wondered if you've lost your confidence, or found yourself replaying...

Have you ever left a competition feeling disappointed because the scoreboard didn't reflect how hard you've been working? You're not alone. In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest mindset traps riders fall into: becoming obsessed with results instead of trusting the process. Whether you're chasing MERs, qualifications, clear rounds, better dressage scores, or simply trying to prove you're...

Many riders believe they need more confidence before they can jump bigger fences, move up a level, or perform well under pressure. But what if confidence isn't actually the problem? In this episode, we dive into why riders often become overwhelmed when something matters, whether that's stepping up a level, riding in a busy warm-up arena, or jumping a bigger track than they've tackled before. We ex...

Do you keep telling yourself you'll start when you feel more confident, more prepared, or more ready? Whether it's entering your first competition, moving up a level, coming back from a break, riding after an injury, or finally tackling a goal you've been putting off for months, many riders find themselves stuck in the same place: Waiting . In this episode, we explore why getting started often fee...

Have you ever found yourself wondering: Am I good enough? What will people think? Am I ready for this level? What if I mess up? You're not alone. In this episode, I and Lorna dive deep into one of the most common struggles riders face: the fear of not being good enough. But here's the surprising truth... This isn't actually a confidence problem. It's a nervous system problem. Many riders spend yea...

Have you ever walked out of the arena thinking: “Why did I do that? I KNOW better.” Maybe you tense up in a showjumping round, lean forward at fences, hold your breath cross-country, freeze hacking out, or fall straight back into old riding habits the second pressure appears. In this episode, we dive into why riders revert to automatic patterns under stress, and why it’s not because you’re a “bad...

In this honest and powerful episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, I and Lorna dive deep into something so many riders experience… but rarely talk openly about: 👉 anger, frustration, and the self-judgment that follows. This episode was inspired by a listener question about losing patience with her horse after a difficult moment crossing a bridge, and the emotional spiral that foll...

Why do so many riders stay trapped in the same cycle of fear, self-doubt, and frustration… even when they’re working hard? In this episode, we dive deep into the hidden mental patterns that keep riders stuck, from overthinking and perfectionism to fear of failure and losing trust in yourself. We talk about why confidence isn’t something you magically “find,” but something you build through awarene...

What if the reason you're struggling in your riding… has nothing to do with your riding? In this powerful and honest episode, we sit down with Kerry, who went from nearly quitting horses altogether to stepping up levels, competing again, and completely transforming how she thinks, rides, and lives. This is not a story about “just pushing through fear.” This is about doing the deep, uncomfortable w...

Have you ever had a serious fall that completely changed how you feel in the saddle? In this episode, we dive deep into the fear that lingers after a traumatic riding accident, especially the kind that leaves you shaken, injured, or even questioning your confidence entirely. Because here’s the truth: It’s not always the fall itself that creates fear… it’s everything that comes after. From hospital...

Do you keep telling yourself: “I don’t have enough money” “I’m behind” “I’m not ready” In this episode, we break down how these “reasons” are actually reinforcing a limiting identity, and keeping you stuck. Because here’s the truth: It’s not your circumstances holding you back. It’s the belief system you’ve built around them. We dive into how to shift your thinking, break the cycle of negative sel...

Ever felt like everything was working… and then suddenly it’s not? In this episode, I and Lorna dive into something every rider experiences (often more than once): A slump . When confidence drops, things that felt easy suddenly feel impossible, and you start questioning everything - your riding, your ability, even your horse. We break down what’s actually happening during a slump, why it’s no...

What if the reason your horse feels stiff, disconnected, or “not quite right”… has nothing to do with your riding? In this episode, we’re joined by chiropractor and performance specialist Mary Young, who works with both riders and horses to uncover what’s really going on beneath the surface. We dive into the powerful connection between your body, your horse’s body, and your performance, and why so...

Are you riding to learn, or riding to judge yourself? In this episode, we dive into one of the most common (and limiting) mental habits riders face: being your own worst critic. If you’ve ever walked away from a round replaying everything you did wrong, questioning your ability, or feeling like you’re not good enough, this conversation will shift your perspective. We break down how self-criticism...

Have you ever felt completely thrown off by what someone said about your riding? In this episode, we dive deep into one of the biggest mental challenges riders face: dealing with other people’s opinions, whether they’re spoken out loud or just imagined in your head. After coming back from a recent event surrounded by top-level riders, we share real, raw experiences of self-doubt, comparison, and c...

Have you ever had a great warm-up… only to enter the arena and suddenly everything feels harder? You can’t see your distances. Your horse feels strong. You start overthinking everything. And before you know it… your round starts falling apart. In this episode, I and Lorna dive into one of the most common (and misunderstood) performance blocks in riding: 👉 Where your focus goes under pressure. Bec...

Ever had that moment where you feel like you’ve finally figured something out in your riding… Only for everything to suddenly fall apart again? In this episode, I and Lorna spoke about one of the most frustrating moments every rider experiences: when progress seems to disappear overnight. After months of consistent rounds and feeling like things were finally under control, I suddenly found myself...

You’ve trained all winter. You’ve put in the hours. You feel ready at home. So why does everything feel different at your first competition of the season? In this episode, we unpack what really happens in the build-up to your first event, whether you’re an eventer, showjumper, or dressage rider stepping back into the outdoor arena. Because here’s the truth: Effort and results are not directly link...

We coach riders on mindset every single day. But here’s the truth: We’re still doing the work too. In this episode, we invite you inside our own heads;  unfiltered, unscripted, and completely honest. We talk about: The limiting beliefs we’re still working through Why “I’m not talented enough” can exist even when results improve How self-doubt shows up at higher levels Ego vs growth in competi...

You can be experienced. You can be ambitious. You can be performing at a high level. And still feel like you don’t belong there. In this episode with Mohamed, we dive deep into something many driven riders quietly struggle with: The gap between external performance and internal belief. We explore: Why high achievers often feel like imposters Why results don’t automatically create confidence The hi...

You won the class. You rode well. You hit your goals. So why does one piece of feedback still hit so hard? In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, we unpack something almost every competitive rider experiences: Winning doesn’t automatically create confidence. Success doesn’t fix insecurity. And feedback can feel threatening, even when it’s positive. After winning two dressag...

What do you do when a distance doesn’t appear… and everything falls apart right before you go in the ring? In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, I and Lorna dive into a real-life competition moment many riders fear: a jumping warm-up disaster, and how your mental recovery routine determines what happens next. After a dramatic warm-up moment that ended in the middle of an o...

At the start of a new season, goal setting can feel exciting… and overwhelming. In this episode, I and Lorna unpack how to set ambitious goals that guide your season, without letting them become a source of pressure, self-doubt, or fear of judgment. Drawing from our own recent competitions, we explore why zero expectations can sometimes unlock peak performance, why many riders either play too smal...

Self-doubt is one of the biggest mindset challenges riders face, at every level of the sport. In this episode, I and Lorna dive deep into what self-doubt really is, how it differs from confidence, and why it has far more to do with the stories you tell yourself than your actual ability. You’ll learn why even top riders experience imposter syndrome, how identity shapes performance, and why stepping...

Staying focused in competition sounds simple, until you’re actually in the warm-up, the arena, or the start box. Suddenly your attention is everywhere: Other riders. People watching. Results on the scoreboard. Thoughts about what might go wrong. In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, we dive deep into what really steals riders’ focus in competition and, more importantly; ho...