Equestrian Performance Mindset

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/

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 pushes yourself hard. Because here’s the truth: Most people don’t achieve their stretch goals. And that doesn’t mean they didn’t grow.

This conversation dives into the difference between results and progress, why outcome goals can be motivating and dangerous, and how to reflect on your season without falling into the “I failed” spiral.

Inside this episode, we explore:

Why most riders don’t achieve their goals, and why that’s not a problem

The danger of measuring your worth purely by results

How stretch goals are meant to drive growth, not self-criticism

Why progress often isn’t visible on a results sheet

The difference between outcome goals, performance goals, and process goals

How to review what was actually within your control

Why flexibility is a strength, not a setback

How stepping back can be the fastest way forward

The role ego plays in goal-setting and decision-making

Why kindness, patience, and trust are essential parts of progress

You’ll also hear real, honest examples of:

• Letting go of outcome goals mid-season

• Choosing long-term development over short-term validation

• Staying resilient when things feel like they’re falling apart

• Learning to measure success from the inside out

This episode is for you if:

You feel disappointed when reviewing your season

You struggle to separate progress from results

You’re afraid to set goals again after missing them

You want to grow without burning yourself out

You’re ready to build confidence that isn’t dependent on scores or placings

Progress doesn’t always look impressive on paper, but it’s always happening if you’re willing to look for it.

Resources Mentioned:

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

🧠 Apply for Coaching: https://www.mindeq.eu/coaching

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

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

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

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 more than riding. It’s about self-worth, emotional regulation, trust, and learning how to be present again, both in the saddle and in life.

Inside this episode, we talk about:

Growing up with high expectations and tying self-worth to achievement

The hidden pressure high-achievers put on themselves (often without realizing it)

What happens when success comes early, and then disappears

Burnout, emotional lows, and feeling lost away from the sport you love

Why many riders struggle with fear of failure and fear of success

How your mind can get in the way even when the talent is there

The shift from results-driven riding to process-led performance

Learning to release judgment and soften self-criticism

How subconscious work and hypnosis can unlock confidence and clarity

The power of presence, slowing down mentally so time feels slower in the saddle

Moving from control to connection with your horse

Why flow state can’t be forced, only allowed

Finding inner peace, trust, and enjoyment again after pressure and pain

This episode is for the rider who:

• Feels stuck in their head

• Is tired of being hard on themselves

• Knows they have potential but can’t access it consistently

• Wants to enjoy riding again, without losing ambition At its core,

This conversation is a reminder of something many riders forget:

You don’t need to prove your worth through results. You don’t need to be perfect to be good enough. And confidence doesn’t come from control, it comes from trust. If you’ve ever felt like your mind was holding you back, this episode will help you feel less alone, and show you what’s possible when you finally stop fighting yourself.



Resources Mentioned:

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

🧠 Apply for Hypno: https://www.mindeq.eu/hypnoapplication

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

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

Follow Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjaequestrian/

“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 explore the idea of the “money tree”, the fantasy that if money suddenly appeared, everything would finally be possible. And then we ask the uncomfortable (but powerful) question: If the money appeared tomorrow… would you actually step up?

Inside this episode, we unpack:

Why “I don’t have the money” is often a protective story, not the full truth

How fear hides behind practical excuses

The difference between dreaming and acting like the person who believes it’s possible

Why belief must come before evidence

How your upbringing shapes your money mindset (and how to shift it)

The danger of waiting for “perfect circumstances”

Why progress comes from focusing on who you’re becoming, not what you lack

How small, consistent actions compound over time

Why doing something today beats doing nothing perfectly

The mindset shift that turns excuses into opportunities

This episode is not about shaming anyone for not having resources. It’s about honesty. Honesty about the stories we tell ourselves. Honesty about where fear is quietly in control. And honesty about what might be possible if we stopped waiting for permission.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or frustrated because you believe your circumstances are holding you back, this episode will challenge you, motivate you, and remind you of one important truth: Progress starts the moment you decide to act like the person who believes it’s possible.

If this episode hit a nerve, that’s a sign, not a problem. It means you’re ready to grow.



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/

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/