Equestrian Performance Mindset

By Jocelin Lillienau

The Equestrian Performance Mindset podcast is teaching equestrians how to get the most out of themselves by training their mind alongside their riding skills. It provides actionable tips on how to: Im... more

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FAQs about Equestrian Performance Mindset:

How many episodes does Equestrian Performance Mindset have?

The podcast currently has 231 episodes available.

Equestrian Performance Mindset episodes:

January 12, 20266 Things You Need to Know Before Reviewing Your Goals - #219
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
...more
28min
January 05, 2026The Pressure No One Talks About in Equestrian Sport with Sophie Joan Alexander - #218
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/
...more
1h 10min
December 29, 2025If Money Wasn’t the Problem… What Would You Do? - #217
“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/
...more
21min
December 22, 2025The Most Important Gift You Can Give Yourself as a Rider - #216
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/
...more
23min
December 15, 2025From Olympic Dream to Derby Miracle & The Mindset Behind It with Esteban Benitez Valle - #215
This episode isn’t just a story, it’s a masterclass in mindset, belief, resilience, and refusing to give up on a dream even when everything around you says don’t bother.
In this conversation, Esteban Benítez Valle takes us behind the scenes of qualifying for the Olympics, navigating heartbreak, dealing with insane pressure, and then - somehow - stepping into the legendary Hamburg Derby and doing what nobody expected him to do.
But the REAL power of this episode? It shows that elite-level mindset is not magic. It’s a skill. A skill ANY rider can learn.
Inside, Esteban shares:
How he stayed certain about the Olympics even when everything went wrong
Why he hired a sports psychologist before he needed one
How he dealt with a season full of injuries, pressure, and travel
The exact mindset shift that kept him focused instead of overwhelmed
His process for shutting down negative thoughts instantly
How he used visualization to ride a 160cm course before he ever rode it
Why belief must come before evidence
How he built a relationship with a horse he barely knew, days before the Derby
Why treating the moment as a “gift” removes fear
The mental routine that kept him calm, grounded, and razor-focused
How he created a “tunnel” of focus in front of a stadium full of spectators
And the one thing every rider should stop apologizing for when competing
This episode isn’t about talent or luck. It’s about mindset, belief, consistency, and the courage to think bigger than your circumstances. If you’re a rider who:
✔ overthinks every mistake
✔ doubts yourself more than you admit
✔ feels like you’re not progressing fast enough
✔ wonders if you’re ever “good enough”
✔ freezes under pressure
✔ dreams big but feels small
…this episode will show you what’s possible when you back yourself; fully, unapologetically, and consistently. And more importantly: It will show you how your mind becomes your biggest advantage when you train it like athletes in every other sport do.

Resources Mentioned:
🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks
🧠 Be a part of the Mindeq Community: https://www.mindeq.eu/offers/djg9H2Bf
Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau
Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/
Esteban's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebenitezeventing/
...more
1h 1min
December 08, 2025The Real Reason You Never Feel “Caught Up” - #214
If you’re an ambitious rider trying to juggle horses, work, family, goals, money, fitness, and your sanity… this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.
Today, I and Lorna dive into one of the biggest struggles riders face: How do you manage everything without feeling overwhelmed, guilty, or constantly behind? And the honest answer? You don’t “balance” it. Because balance is a myth, an illusion we keep chasing, then beating ourselves up for not catching.
Inside this episode, we explore:
Why riders don’t actually have a time problem, they have a thinking problem
How overwhelm isn’t failure… it’s the abundance of everything you once wished for
The link between your to-do list and your limiting beliefs
Why your mind becomes a “washing machine” of pressure, and how to stop feeding it
The REAL reason you procrastinate (hint: it’s not laziness)
How to recognize when your subconscious is trying to protect you
Why some days you glide through 80 tasks and others you can’t handle five
The secret difference between an “incapable rider” and an “incapable state”
This episode gives you the awareness, the metaphors, and the mental models to finally understand:
why you feel overwhelmed
why your brain spirals
why you keep recreating the same stress patterns
and how to start shifting out of them with compassion instead of criticism
Whether you’re riding six horses a day or squeezing in one evening ride after work, this conversation will help you stop fighting your mind and start working with it.

Resources Mentioned:
🧠 Learn more about the Mindeq Community: https://www.mindeq.eu/offers/djg9H2Bf
Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau
Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/
...more
19min
December 01, 2025Dressage Mindset Secrets with Sara Van Gool - #213
In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Sara, a dressage coach who blends technical training with mindset work to help riders show up with confidence, clarity, and calm.
Sara shares how her own struggles with pressure, frustration, and self-doubt led her into mental performance work, and how she now teaches riders to overcome the exact challenges she once faced herself.
We dive into:
Why dressage riders struggle more than they realize
How to build confidence as a rider (the real way)
Creating a warm-up that actually works
Her unusual secret to staying present
Why fun and relaxation must come before results
You’ll learn how self-talk:
Reduces tension
Keeps you in the moment
Helps you respond to your horse
Stops the “little men running around in your head
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/
Sara's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saravangool_dressuurcoach/
...more
1h 3min
November 23, 2025Releasing Old Judgments So You Can Ride Freely - #212
In today’s episode, I and Lorna take a deep dive into one of the most emotionally charged struggles riders face: caring too much about what other people, especially trainers, think.
A listener asks how to move on from a negative trainer experience in the past that still affects her riding years later. And that’s where this episode gets powerful.
I and Lorna unpack:
Why your mind holds onto old memories
How past criticism can shape your confidence today
And most importantly, how to change the emotional impact of those memories so they stop controlling you
You’ll learn the exact process Lorna uses with clients to release old judgments, shift the “submodalities” of a memory, and take back control of how you feel.
This episode isn’t just helpful, it’s transformational. If old comments, past trainers, or past mistakes still hold space in your mind… this one is for you.
Tools & Techniques You’ll Learn:
How to alter visual “sub-modalities” (size, color, distance, speed)
How to reduce the emotional charge of a memory
Auditory techniques to silence or soften a trainer’s voice
Kinesthetic tools to remove unwanted tension from the body
The simple but powerful act of disassociating to reduce overwhelm
Anchoring a new emotional state to replace the old one
(And yes, I literally walk through an example with my own memory; you’ll learn a lot just listening to the process.)
Quotes Worth Remembering:
“You created the memory, that means you can also change it.”
“You’re not changing the past. You’re changing the emotional meaning of it.”
“Disassociate, change the picture, remove the feeling, and suddenly the memory loses its power.”
“The moment you shift the sub-modalities, the memory cannot stay the same.”
Resources Mentioned:
🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks
🧠 Apply for coaching/discovery call: https://www.mindeq.eu/coaching
Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau
Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/
...more
19min
November 17, 2025Conquering Fear, Expectations, and the 'What If' Chatter with Maeve Foley - #211
How do you find your way back when intense fear and self-doubt take over your riding?
In this deeply moving episode, Maeve Foley opens up about her journey, from being the fearless amateur who’d sneak off to jump bigger tracks, to facing crippling nerves after years away from the sport.
She shares how a single bad stride changed everything, how grief shaped her riding, and how she slowly found her way back to courage, confidence, and joy.
Together with I and Lorna, Maeve explores what it really takes to overcome fear, build true mental resilience, and learn to trust yourself, and your horse again.
You’ll Learn:
The hidden fears that can derail even the most experienced riders
How one “bad stride” can anchor deep-seated fear, and how to rewire it
The real reason nerves take over (and how to stop them from controlling you)
Why bravery isn’t the absence of fear, it’s acting in spite of it
How to move past setbacks, grief, and self-doubt to rediscover your love of riding
Maeve’s powerful mantra: “I never want to leave anything on the table.”
Key Quotes:
“You haven’t lost your confidence, it’s still there, waiting for you to rebuild trust.”
“Fear doesn’t mean stop. It means you’re stretching your comfort zone.”
“Do the thing you’re scared of, that’s how you prove your thoughts wrong.”
“When you stop fighting yourself, that’s when the progress starts.”
Resources Mentioned:
🧠 Receive our weekly mindset & performance hacks: https://www.mindeq.eu/weeklyhacks
🧠 Be a part of the Mindeq Community: https://www.mindeq.eu/offers/djg9H2Bf
Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau
Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/
Maeve's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foleymaeve/
...more
1h
November 10, 2025Riding Under Pressure, and Rising Above It - #210
"Pressure". Every rider feels it, whether it’s from expectations, money, owners, parents, or the quiet voice inside saying “you have to prove yourself.”
In this powerful and honest conversation, I and Lorna unpack where that pressure really comes from and how much of it is self-created. We explore how fears of failure, financial strain, self-worth, and identity all tie into the invisible weight riders carry, and how to start letting it go.
You’ll learn to recognize when pressure is helping you perform and when it’s holding you back, how to find your own “ideal pressure zone,” and how to reconnect with the real reason you ride: because you love it.
You’ll Learn:
Why pressure isn’t real, and how you’re actually creating it
The difference between healthy pressure and destructive pressure
How your self-worth and identity fuel performance anxiety
Why “doing your horse justice” often adds emotional pressure, and how to reframe it
How to find your optimal mindset state for peak performance
The secret to enjoying the sport again, even when stakes feel high
Key Quotes:
“Pressure isn’t something you can touch, it’s something you create in your own mind.
“You are a worthy, good human being right now, success is just a bonus.”
“Pressure is a privilege, but only when you learn to manage it.”
“Challenge the story you’re telling yourself, it’s often not reality.”

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/
...more
27min

FAQs about Equestrian Performance Mindset:

How many episodes does Equestrian Performance Mindset have?

The podcast currently has 231 episodes available.

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