Equestrian Performance Mindset

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 dressage tests and placing 1st and 2nd in show jumping, Lorna shares a powerful realization: Her brain deleted all the positive feedback… and zoomed in on the “improvement” points. Sound familiar?

We dive into:

Why your brain distorts feedback (and how it links to survival)

Why winning doesn’t equal confidence

Red brain vs blue brain (threat vs challenge thinking)

How to receive feedback without spiraling

How to rewire negative interpretation patterns

Why mindset work is about accurate interpretation, not fake positivity

The difference between enjoying success and tearing yourself apart

If you’ve ever:

Won and still felt “not good enough”

Focused on the 1% that went wrong

Struggled with trainer feedback

Felt your confidence drop after comments

Questioned yourself despite good results

This episode is for you. Because confidence isn’t built from results. It’s built from how you interpret them.

Resources Mentioned:

📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset

🎁 YouTube Launch Competition: https://www.mindeq.eu/youtubelaunch

Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau

Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

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 oxer, I break down exactly how I reset my mindset, rebuilt confidence in minutes, and still delivered a strong round at 1.30m.

This episode isn’t about perfect distances. It’s about trust, focus, and learning how to ride forward after something goes wrong.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why you should fix your head before fixing your horse

How negative self-talk destroys confidence, and how to stop it fast

What to focus on instead of distances when nerves take over

The power of giving your brain a simple job under pressure

How elite riders mentally recover when mistakes happen

Why most riders think they’re “bad”, and why that belief is wrong

How imposter syndrome and people-pleasing sabotage your warm-up

Why you rarely see mistakes on social media (and why that matters)

If you’ve ever:

Missed a distance and spiraled mentally

Felt embarrassed after a warm-up mistake

Questioned whether you’re good enough to ride at your level

Carried one mistake into an entire round

This episode will change how you handle pressure, permanently.



Resources Mentioned:

📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset

🎁 YouTube Launch Competition: https://www.mindeq.eu/youtubelaunch

Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau

Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

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 small or aim unrealistically high, and how fear of judgment often stops us from speaking our goals out loud.

This episode dives into the balance between big vision and grounded action, showing you how to use goals as information and data, not as a measure of your worth. If you’ve ever struggled with goal pressure, moving goalposts, or feeling like you’re failing even when you’re progressing, this conversation will help you reset your approach.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why having no expectations can lead to better performances

How mindset can carry you through breaks in training or time off

The difference between goals that guide you and goals that control you

Why many riders are afraid to speak their goals out loud

How fear of judgment, failure, or success shapes goal setting

Why goals should be treated as data and information, not ego

How to tell the difference between stretching yourself and setting yourself up to fail

Why breaking big goals into short-term actions builds confidence

The danger of constantly moving the goalposts

How to be proud of progress before you reach the end goal

Why mistakes, setbacks, and “bad days” are still steps forward

Who This Episode Is For:

Riders setting goals for a new season

Anyone feeling pressure, fear, or resistance around goal setting

Riders who feel they’re never “doing enough” despite progress

Those struggling with comparison, judgment, or expectations

Riders who want to play bigger without burning out mentally

Resources Mentioned:

📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset

🎁 YouTube Launch Competition: https://www.mindeq.eu/youtubelaunch

Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau

Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

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 up a level often feels so uncomfortable, even when you are ready. Using relatable examples from eventing, show jumping, and everyday training, this episode breaks down how story-thinking hijacks your focus and what to do instead.

If you’ve ever thought “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t belong at this level,” or “I’m going to mess this up,” this episode will help you shift out of self-doubt and into action; without pretending confidence you don’t yet feel.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

The key difference between self-doubt and confidence

Why self-doubt is usually a story, not a fact

How identity (“I am an amateur,” “I’m not that kind of rider”) limits performance

Why stepping up a level always feels messy, and why that’s normal

How story-thinking ruins rounds in the moment

A simple trigger-word technique to refocus instantly after mistakes

Why learning “on the job” is unavoidable, and essential

How to collect real evidence of progress instead of reinforcing negative beliefs

What riders can learn from young horses when it comes to learning and mistakes



Resources Mentioned:

🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks

📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset

Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau

Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

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; how to get it back. Because focus isn’t about blocking everything out or trying harder. It’s about awareness, redirection, and having practical tools you can rely on in the moment.

In this episode, we cover:

Why “trying to focus” often makes things worse

The most common distractions riders face in competition

How comparison quietly pulls you out of the present moment

The difference between story thinking and action thinking

Why your nervous system reacts before you consciously realize it

Practical awareness points you can use mid-round or mid-test

How breath, vision, sound, and feel can anchor you back into the moment

Why your horse needs your presence, not your perfection

How to shift focus without adding more pressure

You’ll hear real, relatable examples from competition environments, from warm-ups to show jumping tracks to dressage arenas, and simple strategies riders can experiment with immediately.

This episode is for you if:

You get distracted by people watching or riding around you

You compare yourself to other competitors

You overthink distances, movements, or outcomes

You feel “too tense” or “too in your head” in competition

You want to stay focused on your ride, not everyone else’s

Focus isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s something you can train, redirect, and strengthen, just like any other skill.

Resources Mentioned:

🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks

📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset

Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau

Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/