Equestrian Performance Mindset

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 completely transform how you ride, train, and live. Inside this episode, we talk about: The gift of saying no, and why every “yes” costs you something How people-pleasing drains your energy and quietly pulls you away from your goals Why self-trust (or trusting your process) changes everything, especially when things feel messy The freedom that comes from allowing yourself to make mistakes Why mistakes are rarely as bad as your mind predicts, and how they actually speed up progress The importance of being kinder to yourself, especially if you’re driven and ambitious How high expectations can motivate you and exhaust you at the same time The role of consistency, and why it looks different for different riders Knowing when to push… and when to give yourself permission to rest The overlooked power of being present, particularly during busy or emotional seasons This episode isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about awareness. About noticing the patterns that no longer serve you, and choosing to give yourself what you actually need to move forward with more ease, confidence, and enjoyment. As you head into a new season, a new year, or simply a new week, this episode will help you ask a powerful question: What gift do I need to give myself to become the rider, and person, I want to be? We’d love to hear your answer. Share the gift you’re giving yourself and use the hashtag #gifttomyself or keep it somewhere visible so it becomes more than just a nice idea. Resources Mentioned: 🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

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 doing what nobody expected him to do. But the REAL power of this episode? It shows that elite-level mindset is not magic. It’s a skill. A skill ANY rider can learn. Inside, Esteban shares: How he stayed certain about the Olympics even when everything went wrong Why he hired a sports psychologist before he needed one How he dealt with a season full of injuries, pressure, and travel The exact mindset shift that kept him focused instead of overwhelmed His process for shutting down negative thoughts instantly How he used visualization to ride a 160cm course before he ever rode it Why belief must come before evidence How he built a relationship with a horse he barely knew, days before the Derby Why treating the moment as a “gift” removes fear The mental routine that kept him calm, grounded, and razor-focused How he created a “tunnel” of focus in front of a stadium full of spectators And the one thing every rider should stop apologizing for when competing This episode isn’t about talent or luck. It’s about mindset, belief, consistency, and the courage to think bigger than your circumstances. If you’re a rider who: ✔ overthinks every mistake ✔ doubts yourself more than you admit ✔ feels like you’re not progressing fast enough ✔ wonders if you’re ever “good enough” ✔ freezes under pressure ✔ dreams big but feels small …this episode will show you what’s possible when you back yourself; fully, unapologetically, and consistently. And more importantly: It will show you how your mind becomes your biggest advantage when you train it like athletes in every other sport do. Resources Mentioned: 🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks 🧠 Be a part of the Mindeq Community: https://www.mindeq.eu/offers/djg9H2Bf Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/ Esteban's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebenitezeventing/

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 illusion we keep chasing, then beating ourselves up for not catching. Inside this episode, we explore: Why riders don’t actually have a time problem, they have a thinking problem How overwhelm isn’t failure… it’s the abundance of everything you once wished for The link between your to-do list and your limiting beliefs Why your mind becomes a “washing machine” of pressure, and how to stop feeding it The REAL reason you procrastinate (hint: it’s not laziness) How to recognize when your subconscious is trying to protect you Why some days you glide through 80 tasks and others you can’t handle five The secret difference between an “incapable rider” and an “incapable state” This episode gives you the awareness, the metaphors, and the mental models to finally understand: why you feel overwhelmed why your brain spirals why you keep recreating the same stress patterns and how to start shifting out of them with compassion instead of criticism Whether you’re riding six horses a day or squeezing in one evening ride after work, this conversation will help you stop fighting your mind and start working with it. Resources Mentioned: 🧠 Learn more about the Mindeq Community: https://www.mindeq.eu/offers/djg9H2Bf Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

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. We dive into: Why dressage riders struggle more than they realize How to build confidence as a rider (the real way) Creating a warm-up that actually works Her unusual secret to staying present Why fun and relaxation must come before results You’ll learn how self-talk: Reduces tension Keeps you in the moment Helps you respond to your horse Stops the “little men running around in your head Resources Mentioned: 🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/ Sara's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saravangool_dressuurcoach/

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 memories How past criticism can shape your confidence today And most importantly, how to change the emotional impact of those memories so they stop controlling you You’ll learn the exact process Lorna uses with clients to release old judgments, shift the “submodalities” of a memory, and take back control of how you feel. This episode isn’t just helpful, it’s transformational. If old comments, past trainers, or past mistakes still hold space in your mind… this one is for you. Tools & Techniques You’ll Learn: How to alter visual “sub-modalities” (size, color, distance, speed) How to reduce the emotional charge of a memory Auditory techniques to silence or soften a trainer’s voice Kinesthetic tools to remove unwanted tension from the body The simple but powerful act of disassociating to reduce overwhelm Anchoring a new emotional state to replace the old one (And yes, I literally walk through an example with my own memory; you’ll learn a lot just listening to the process.) Quotes Worth Remembering: “You created the memory, that means you can also change it.” “You’re not changing the past. You’re changing the emotional meaning of it.” “Disassociate, change the picture, remove the feeling, and suddenly the memory loses its power.” “The moment you shift the sub-modalities, the memory cannot stay the same.” Resources Mentioned: 🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks 🧠 Apply for coaching/discovery call: https://www.mindeq.eu/coaching Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/