Equestrian Performance Mindset

It’s that time of year again, reviewing your goals. And for many riders, this process doesn’t bring clarity or motivation… It brings disappointment, self-judgment, and the feeling of “I didn’t do enough.” In this episode, we unpack how to review your goals in a way that actually builds confidence instead of breaking it, especially if you’re the kind of rider who sets big, ambitious goals and pushe...

What happens when your identity becomes tied to performance? When results decide your worth? When trying harder stops working, and your mind becomes the biggest obstacle in your riding? In this deeply honest and emotional episode, we explore what it looks like to lose yourself in pressure, expectation, and fear, and how true confidence is rebuilt from the inside out. This conversation is about mor...

“It’s too expensive.” “I don’t have the money.” “I could do it if I had more resources.” Sound familiar? In this episode, we tackle one of the most common and most limiting beliefs in equestrian sport: that money is the reason your dreams feel out of reach. Yes, this is an expensive sport. And yes, money matters. But what if money isn’t the real thing holding you back? In this conversation, we exp...

As the year winds down, this episode invites you to pause, not to plan more, do more, or push harder, but to reflect. Because what if the most powerful thing you could give yourself this season isn’t a new piece of kit… but a mental shift? In this special, end-of-year conversation, I and Lorna explore the idea of non-material gifts; the internal qualities, permissions, and mindset changes that can...

This episode isn’t just a story, it’s a masterclass in mindset, belief, resilience, and refusing to give up on a dream even when everything around you says don’t bother. In this conversation, Esteban Benítez Valle  takes us behind the scenes of qualifying for the Olympics, navigating heartbreak, dealing with insane pressure, and then - somehow - stepping into the legendary Hamburg Derby and...

If you’re an ambitious rider trying to juggle horses, work, family, goals, money, fitness, and your sanity… this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. Today, I and Lorna dive into one of the biggest struggles riders face: How do you manage everything without feeling overwhelmed, guilty, or constantly behind? And the honest answer? You don’t “balance” it. Because balance is a myth, an illusi...

In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Sara, a dressage coach who blends technical training with mindset work to help riders show up with confidence, clarity, and calm. Sara shares how her own struggles with pressure, frustration, and self-doubt led her into mental performance work, and how she now teaches riders to overcome the exact challenges she once faced herself....

In today’s episode, I and Lorna take a deep dive into one of the most emotionally charged struggles riders face: caring too much about what other people, especially trainers, think. A listener asks how to move on from a negative trainer experience in the past that still affects her riding years later. And that’s where this episode gets powerful. I and Lorna unpack: Why your mind holds onto old mem...

How do you find your way back when intense fear and self-doubt take over your riding? In this deeply moving episode, Maeve Foley opens up about her journey, from being the fearless amateur who’d sneak off to jump bigger tracks, to facing crippling nerves after years away from the sport. She shares how a single bad stride changed everything, how grief shaped her riding, and how she slowly found her...

"Pressure ". Every rider feels it, whether it’s from expectations, money, owners, parents, or the quiet voice inside saying “you have to prove yourself.” In this powerful and honest conversation, I and Lorna unpack where that pressure really comes from and how much of it is self-created. We explore how fears of failure, financial strain, self-worth, and identity all tie into the invisible weight r...

What do you do when life or your body keeps throwing setbacks your way? When pain, injury, or frustration make it feel like you’re right back at square one? In this heartfelt and empowering conversation, I and Lorna tackle a listener’s question about dealing with chronic back pain and the feeling of discouragement that comes when progress keeps getting interrupted. We explore what to do when your...

Have you ever felt frustrated that people have the wrong image of you, that they don’t see how hard you actually work? Maybe they assume you’re lucky, spoiled, or that things just come easy… when in reality, you’re grinding every day. In this honest and eye-opening episode, I and Lorna unpack why we care so deeply about what others think, and how to let go of that need for approval so you can focu...

In this episode, I and Lorna tackle a struggle that every ambitious rider knows too well - trying too hard. We pour our hearts, time, and energy into riding, believing that working harder must lead to better results. But what happens when pushing more, training more, and wanting it more actually holds you back? Together, we explore why over-effort often blocks progress, both for you and your horse...

In this episode, I and Lorna dive deep into one of the most crucial, yet often misunderstood parts of equestrian sport: how to prepare yourself and your riders for competition. Whether you’re stepping up to your first event or pushing for that next level, this episode helps you discover your ideal performance state and understand how to manage nerves, pressure, and preparation so you can truly get...

Falling off isn’t just a physical setback, it can leave deep marks on a rider’s confidence and mindset. In this episode, we dive into practical strategies for both riding instructors and riders themselves on how to rebuild trust, overcome fear, and take small but powerful steps back into the saddle. Together with Lorna, we unpack: Why getting back on quickly matters (and when it doesn’t). How to i...

Are you a riding instructor; or working with one, and wondering how to get the very best out of your lessons? In this episode, we dive into the essential mental strategies that can transform the way you teach (and learn). Together with Lorna, we explore why one size never fits all when it comes to coaching, and how awareness, curiosity, and asking the right questions can unlock true progress. You’...

Finding the right trainer can feel overwhelming. Do you stick with the one you’ve got, or is it time to move on? Is there even such a thing as the perfect trainer? In this week’s episode, I and Lorna dive into one of the most common, and often tricky - questions riders ask: How do you know if a trainer is right for you? Together, we explore: Why “perfect” doesn’t exist (and why aiming for 80% is a...

In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, I and Lorna welcome Noora from Dubai to share her powerful journey as a young rider. From her first pony rides to endurance racing, showjumping setbacks, and breaking her leg just as her confidence was growing, Noora’s story is one of resilience, courage, and transformation. She opens up about the fears, doubts, and setbacks that nearl...

In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, I and Lorna dive into one of the most thought-provoking questions we’ve received: How can you feel proud of where you are, yet never truly feel “pleased”? Together, we explore the balance between confidence and growth, the seesaw of being proud of your progress while still striving for more. You’ll discover why “never pleased” doesn’t...

Ever had one of those weeks where everything feels heavy? One thing goes wrong, then suddenly the whole week feels like a downward spiral. In this milestone, the 200th episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, I and Lorna open up about being stuck in a “funk”, those tough stretches where self-doubt, disappointment, or fatigue creep in and knock you off balance. This episode is raw, re...

In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, I and Lorna dive deep into one of our favourite topics: the growth mindset,  and how to hold onto it when challenges threaten to knock you off track. From cross-country training breakthroughs to frustrating moments in the saddle, we share real-life riding experiences that reveal how easily old habits creep back in and how quickly...

What do you do when your biggest goal slips through your fingers? When something that should be easy just falls apart? In this raw and real episode, I share a personal story after a surprise elimination at a 2* event that derailed my path to the 7-year-old World Championships. Alongside Lorna, we unpack what it really means to reframe a “failure” and keep moving forward with clarity and confidence...

Are you stuck between riding for growth and riding for results? Not sure when it’s the right time to push your performance without sacrificing your mindset? This episode is for YOU. This week, I and Lorna dive deep into one of the biggest mindset dilemmas riders face: 👉 When do you stop just focusing on the process and start showing up to be competitive, on purpose? Whether you’ve been playing it...

Why is riding so freaking hard sometimes? Why do we keep showing up, even when it feels impossible, unfair, or downright soul-crushing? In this raw and real episode, I and Lorna had a heartfelt conversation on the mental toughness it takes to be an equestrian, and why the sport can feel so emotionally loaded compared to things like running or gym work. We explore why the dopamine hit feels delayed...

Welcome back to another episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, where we help ambitious riders make real strides in their mindset, so they can make real strides in the saddle. This week, I and Lorna dive into a deceptively simple yet deeply transformative topic: the power of your words; especially the ones you say to yourself. From self-talk during tough training sessions to the lim...