In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by former 4* event rider and sports psychology consultant Abigail Lufkin.

Abigail Lufkin is a former US Team Equestrian athlete who transitioned from the role of competitor to the role of sports psychologist for top athletes in the sport. Abigail was fourteen when she competed in her first CCI three-day event and sixteen when she won her first national title. Abigail was short-listed for the US Olympic team in 1992 and 2004, and was selected in 2000, but an injury to her horse kept her from being able to compete. She has competed in the World Championships and won both gold and bronze medals at the Pan American Games. Abigail currently resides in Idaho, where she remotely runs her sports psychology consulting business.

In this episode, Abigail discusses topics related to her riding career and work in the sports psychology field, including:

• Learning to change her competitive mindset from individual to team oriented.

• The untapped resource of sports psychology in a team setting.

• How her experience as a top-level competitor has served her in the sports psychology field.

• How she approaches helping riders with show nerves or fear of getting injured.

• Identifying the patterns and daily practices that help people get closer to their goal.

Join Abigail and Sinead in this exciting conversation about the value of sports psychology.