The Mindful Equestrian

The Mindful Equestrian Performance coaching for equestrians wanting to achieve more positive results in all aspects of the Hunter/Jumper lessons and clinics.

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in every moment, not worrying about what was or what might be. A mindful rider is able to focus on what is happening right now with themselves and their horse, maintaining low stress and a higher ability for top performance. My clinics combine my 35+ years of experience in the hunter/jumper industry (AHSA/USEF, IHSA, Equine Science Professor Hunt Seat M

orrisville State College), mindfulness training and coach training and certification (International Coach Academy) to give riders strategies and tools for better mental focus and riding success. Each rider is considered individually and supported with the tools that will work best for them. The benefits from the performance coaching can also be carried into day to day life since we mirror the same issues in our riding that we do in other areas of our lives. Mindfulness then becomes a whole life practice and success tool. Performance coaching for riders of all disciplines who want more a positive experience whenever riding and competing. Group seminars available as well as private phone coaching sessions. Add a performance coaching seminar to your riding clinic. Over 35 years experience training hunters/jumpers and students.

Before you read this make sure to check out part one that was posted on TuesdayOnce you have taken time to bring awarene...
11/22/2025

Before you read this make sure to check out part one that was posted on Tuesday

Once you have taken time to bring awareness to what triggers your confidence problems you should eventually discover what the root cause is. Be patient, as this can take time and requires you to be vulnerable and open to your limiting beliefs.

Don’t judge yourself about having limiting beliefs. We all have them. All they are, are just that, beliefs. Beliefs are not true 100 % of the time, nor do they define who we are. We take on beliefs throughout our lives from the people around us and from media and society as a whole. They are hard wired as habits in our brains. Some beliefs are limiting and don’t serve us well. The exciting thing is that you can rewire your brain to more empowering beliefs.

Once you have determined the belief that is holding you back, you can see how the belief limits you and gets in your way. Really connect to this not, just mentally, but physically. How does it make you feel to believe this and what is it you can’t achieve because of the belief? Then think of how you would feel and what you would achieve if you didn’t have this limiting belief. Connect to this mentally, emotionally, and physically as well. The brain has a rewards center and when it recognizes something beneficial it will begin to create a new habit to gain that reward.

This takes time and is easier done in small steps. If you can pick a small issue that is controlled by the limiting belief and practice with that first, it will be easierto build your confidence when you address the bigger issue in your riding. Remember to do all this without self-judgment and with patience. If you need more support, contact me at [email protected] to learn more about how you can work with me.

Limiting beliefs are taken on through the opinion of others. They are beliefs and not true 100% of the time. Limiting be...
11/21/2025

Limiting beliefs are taken on through the opinion of others. They are beliefs and not true 100% of the time. Limiting beliefs can be replaced by empowering beliefs through patience and hard work.

I always feel that when I am stuck or confused my mind is percolating and brewing new things. When I take a breath and l...
11/20/2025

I always feel that when I am stuck or confused my mind is percolating and brewing new things. When I take a breath and let go of trying wonderful ideas begin to flow!

Don't be afraid of making a mistake. Mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow. Without trying there will be no oppor...
11/19/2025

Don't be afraid of making a mistake. Mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow. Without trying there will be no opportunities at all!

✨ Ready for a confidence reset before the holidays?I’m hosting two relaxed Mindful Equestrian Q&A Coaching Sessions this...
11/19/2025

✨ Ready for a confidence reset before the holidays?

I’m hosting two relaxed Mindful Equestrian Q&A Coaching Sessions this December — one for equestrian professionals and one for riders. These small-group sessions are your chance to get real-time coaching, ask questions, and walk away with practical tools to bring more awareness, balance, and confidence into your riding and your business.

🗓️ For Professionals: Tuesday, December 9 at 8 AM (ET)
🗓️ For Riders: Wednesday, December 10 at 7 PM (ET)

💻 Hosted live on Zoom
💰 Only $20 per session

Each session includes:
✅ Real-time coaching and discussion
✅ Simple mindset tools you can use right away
✅ Access to the replay for 2 weeks

👉 Save your spot here: https://mindfulequestrian.thrivecart.com/tme-unleashed-conversation/

When I teach a clinic, I ask riders what types of mindset blocks/struggles they have. A common answer is lack of confide...
11/18/2025

When I teach a clinic, I ask riders what types of mindset blocks/struggles they have. A common answer is lack of confidence. Lack of confidence is often seen as a problem in riding, and this is my approach on how you can build your confidence.
I always ask a second question of riders when they say confidence is a problem. I ask them what is it that is causing their lack of confidence. Because lack of confidence is really a symptom of another problem. Lack of confidence can be caused by one of many things. It could be from a physical fear from falling off, a fear of being judged by others, a fear of making mistakes and not being perfect or a fear of losing control to name a few.

Before you can build your confidence, you need to peel away the layers and discover what it is that is the root of your confidence problem. To do that, you need to become mindful and aware of what is going on when you feel that lack of confidence. It is important to do this without self-judgment. Just notice what is happening and what is triggering the lack of confidence. It will take time, patience, and self-compassion to figure out what is going on. Once you figure out the root of the problem you can then work towards creating a change and a shift in perspective around your trigger.

I will talk about how to begin to create that perspective shift to start to grow your confidence in part two of this mindful tip in the next Mindful Equestrian Tips post. Hope to see you there!

Mindfulness work is a practice. It helps us work with our fears and struggles. Fears and struggles still happen, but wit...
11/17/2025

Mindfulness work is a practice. It helps us work with our fears and struggles. Fears and struggles still happen, but with practice you can get better at managing them and getting through to the other side.

It is important to have coaches, mentors, teachers and trainers to support you on your path to whre you want to go. But ...
11/16/2025

It is important to have coaches, mentors, teachers and trainers to support you on your path to whre you want to go. But ultimately is your choices and your work that will get you there.

An exercise I work on with my students is relaxing and feeling the horse while riding. We do shortening, lengthening and...
11/15/2025

An exercise I work on with my students is relaxing and feeling the horse while riding. We do shortening, lengthening and transitions. I have riders concentrate on sitting deep and communicating with their seats first before they go to their hands. I encourage them to stay elastic the whole time. In order to do this the riders have to fight their muscle memory so they can change old habits. They will sometimes say to me something like, I feel it, but I can't maintain the feel. That is probably the toughest thing about riding and definitely the toughest thing about life. We finally get this awareness about something we need to change. We know it is right and it is what we need to do, but we keep slipping back into old habits. That is okay. It takes time to change something we have done as a regular habit. It took time to create the bad habit so it definitely has to take time to change it. I acknowledge my riders for finding those moments of feel and encourage them to work on recognizing what is happening at that time and how they have come to that moment. They need to be mindful and in the moment to fully recognize what is going on. Letting go of self-judgement also allows the process to occur and it will help them discover the feel again and stay with that feeling longer each time. Give this a try and have fun with it!

Life is all about perspective. We can choose to celebrate all of it and grow and learn from our ups and downs or to stay...
11/14/2025

Life is all about perspective. We can choose to celebrate all of it and grow and learn from our ups and downs or to stay stuck in misery. Celebration seems like a better choice!

Hone your skills on the basics and work on one thing at a time. Create a good foundation and steadily build from there. ...
11/13/2025

Hone your skills on the basics and work on one thing at a time. Create a good foundation and steadily build from there. Let go of trying to manage too many things and making things more complicated than they need to be. Our brains do best working on one thing at a time.

Take time to enjoy the process every day. Don't get so caught up in your long trem goals that you forget to enjoy the jo...
11/12/2025

Take time to enjoy the process every day. Don't get so caught up in your long trem goals that you forget to enjoy the journey and learn as you go!

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