Equestrian Performance Mindset

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 keeps you stuck, why your brain naturally defaults to negativity, and how to turn unhelpful thoughts into constructive feedback that actually improves your riding.

You’ll learn how to move from judgment to curiosity, from emotion to data, and from pressure to progress, so you can start riding with more confidence, clarity, and feel.

What You’ll Learn:

Why saying “I am…” shapes your identity as a rider

The difference between criticism vs. constructive feedback

How to stop replaying mistakes and start extracting useful data

The 3 hidden mindsets behind every ride: Riding to learn - Riding to judge - Riding for results

How to recognize when you’re stuck in a negative mental loop

The concept of “red brain vs. blue brain” (threat vs. solution mode)

Why narrowing your focus makes performance worse, and what to do instead

How to shift from seeing distances → feeling your horse

Practical steps to regain control after a frustrating round

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“A belief is just a thought you’ve repeated enough times.”

“You’re not improving, you’re just reinforcing the same story.”

“Criticism keeps you stuck. Data moves you forward.”

“Out of judgment and into curiosity, that’s where growth happens.”

Resources Mentioned:

✉️ Register for 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/

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 criticism, and most importantly, how to handle it without letting it ruin your performance.

Because here’s the truth:

It’s not what people say that impacts you the most… It’s the meaning you give it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why you often think people are judging you (even when they’re not)

The difference between facts vs. the story you create in your mind

How to stop spiraling after someone makes a comment

A powerful 3-step framework to process criticism quickly

How to decide whose opinion actually matters

Why discomfort (riding with top riders, competing higher) is actually a GOOD sign

How to turn criticism into confidence and focus before competition

Real Story From This Episode

After being told to drop from 3-star all the way back to 1-star, I share how I:

Broke down the comment objectively

Separated fact from emotion

Reframed the situation

Regained focus before cross-country

Delivered a strong performance anyway

This is a must-listen if you’ve ever doubted yourself before going into the ring.

Resources Mentioned:

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

✉️ Register for 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/

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.

Because here’s the truth:

It’s not that you’ve suddenly lost your ability.

It’s that your attention has shifted to the wrong place.

Whether it’s:

Worrying about what others think

Trying too hard to fix something

Obsessing over distances

Or focusing on the result instead of the process

All of these create narrow, rigid focus, and that’s what actually causes mistakes.

In this episode, we break down:

Why riders develop “tunnel vision” under pressure

How focusing on results destroys your feel

The difference between process vs outcome focus

Why “don’t think about it” NEVER works

How to quickly reset your focus mid-round

Practical tools to expand your awareness instantly

The connection between your eyes, nervous system, and performance

Because the best riders aren’t the ones who never lose focus… They’re the ones who know how to shift it back, fast.

Resources Mentioned:

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

✉️ Register for 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/

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 in a competition round where my horse felt strong, unresponsive, and completely out of control.

The first thought?

“I’m simply not good enough to ride this horse.”

Sound familiar? But what happened next became one of the biggest breakthroughs in my riding.

Instead of staying stuck in judgment, I chose curiosity, asking better questions, seeking feedback, and experimenting with a completely different approach to riding my horse. And the results were powerful.

In this episode we dive into:

Why progress in riding is never linear

The dangerous trap of the “I’m a bad rider” story

How your belief system (paradigm) shapes your performance

Why the solution that worked before can suddenly stop working

The difference between fighting your horse vs riding with them

How stepping into curiosity instead of judgment unlocks growth

Why feeling “out of control” might actually mean you're riding at the next level

Because sometimes the moment that feels like failure… Is actually the beginning of your next breakthrough.

Resources Mentioned:

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

✉️ Register for 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/

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 linked.

And when expectations rise, pressure follows.

We talk about:

Why the word “season” creates hidden pressure

How expectations silently increase tension (in you and your horse)

Why your brain treats competition as a threat

The difference between outcome-based thinking and process-based riding

How to shift from “test mode” to “experiment mode”

Why measuring emotion ruins reflection

How to reflect using data, not feelings

The power of intention over expectation

Why staying present is your biggest competitive advantage

If you’ve ever:

Felt sick before your first show of the year

Questioned why winter training “didn’t work”

Got stuck replaying a dressage score before showjumping

Felt like you had something to prove…

This episode will completely shift how you approach competition season.

Your first competition of the season isn’t a test of your worth. It’s information.

Resources Mentioned

✉️ Email us your mindset questions: [email protected]

📲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/