Equestrian Performance Mindset

Jocelin Lillienau
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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: Improve performance, Reframe failure, Build courage & confidence and how to Achieve success, happiness & fulfillment in and out of the saddle. Tune in today to start making strides towards your dreams! Inspired by my own two favorite podcasts The Mindset Mentor and EquiRatings Eventing podcast! Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau/

  1. 21 HR AGO

    The Moment Every Rider Hates (But Needs) - #228

    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/

    31 min

  2. 8 MAR

    Preparing For The First competition of The Season - #227

    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: info@mindeq.eu 📲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/

    24 min

  3. 2 MAR

    Why Riders Still Doubt Themselves - #226

    We coach riders on mindset every single day. But here’s the truth: We’re still doing the work too. In this episode, we invite you inside our own heads;  unfiltered, unscripted, and completely honest. We talk about: The limiting beliefs we’re still working through Why “I’m not talented enough” can exist even when results improve How self-doubt shows up at higher levels Ego vs growth in competition What happens when performance unravels Why confidence isn’t something you chase How to respond when things get uncomfortable Why discomfort is actually a sign of growth If you’ve ever: Stepped up a level and questioned whether you belong there Felt like everyone else is improving except you Worried you’re not talented enough Struggled with imposter syndrome as a rider Wondered why confidence doesn’t “stick” This episode will feel like someone finally saying the quiet part out loud. Because mindset work isn’t about eliminating doubt. It’s about recognizing it faster, and responding differently. 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/ Eileen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eileengu?igsh=MXYydmFndDJ0bjhveQ%3D%3D

    24 min

  4. 23 FEB

    Composure at 5* Level, What It Really Takes with Mohamed Ashraf Abdallah - #225

    You can be experienced. You can be ambitious. You can be performing at a high level. And still feel like you don’t belong there. In this episode with Mohamed, we dive deep into something many driven riders quietly struggle with: The gap between external performance and internal belief. We explore: Why high achievers often feel like imposters Why results don’t automatically create confidence The hidden pressure of being “serious” about your sport How fear of judgement impacts performance Why comparison keeps you stuck The difference between ambition and self-criticism How to build confidence that isn’t dependent on outcomes If you’ve ever: Felt like everyone else is more talented Questioned whether you’re good enough for the level you’re riding Feared stepping up because “what if I mess it up?” Worked incredibly hard but still doubted yourself This conversation will hit home. Because confidence isn’t something you earn from results. It’s something you build internally, deliberately. Resources Mentioned: 📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset 🎁 YouTube Launch Competition: https://www.mindeq.eu/youtubelaunch Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/ Follow Mohamed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mohamedashraf_a92/

    1h 2m

  5. 15 FEB

    Winning Doesn’t Guarantee Confidence - #224

    You won the class. You rode well. You hit your goals. So why does one piece of feedback still hit so hard? In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, we unpack something almost every competitive rider experiences: Winning doesn’t automatically create confidence. Success doesn’t fix insecurity. And feedback can feel threatening, even when it’s positive. After winning two dressage tests and placing 1st and 2nd in show jumping, Lorna shares a powerful realization: Her brain deleted all the positive feedback… and zoomed in on the “improvement” points. Sound familiar? We dive into: Why your brain distorts feedback (and how it links to survival) Why winning doesn’t equal confidence Red brain vs blue brain (threat vs challenge thinking) How to receive feedback without spiraling How to rewire negative interpretation patterns Why mindset work is about accurate interpretation, not fake positivity The difference between enjoying success and tearing yourself apart If you’ve ever: Won and still felt “not good enough” Focused on the 1% that went wrong Struggled with trainer feedback Felt your confidence drop after comments Questioned yourself despite good results This episode is for you. Because confidence isn’t built from results. It’s built from how you interpret them. Resources Mentioned: 📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset 🎁 YouTube Launch Competition: https://www.mindeq.eu/youtubelaunch Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

    25 min

  6. 8 FEB

    Regaining confidence after crashing into a fence - #223

    What do you do when a distance doesn’t appear… and everything falls apart right before you go in the ring? In this episode of the Equestrian Performance Mindset Podcast, I and Lorna dive into a real-life competition moment many riders fear: a jumping warm-up disaster, and how your mental recovery routine determines what happens next. After a dramatic warm-up moment that ended in the middle of an oxer, I break down exactly how I reset my mindset, rebuilt confidence in minutes, and still delivered a strong round at 1.30m. This episode isn’t about perfect distances. It’s about trust, focus, and learning how to ride forward after something goes wrong. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why you should fix your head before fixing your horse How negative self-talk destroys confidence, and how to stop it fast What to focus on instead of distances when nerves take over The power of giving your brain a simple job under pressure How elite riders mentally recover when mistakes happen Why most riders think they’re “bad”, and why that belief is wrong How imposter syndrome and people-pleasing sabotage your warm-up Why you rarely see mistakes on social media (and why that matters) If you’ve ever: Missed a distance and spiraled mentally Felt embarrassed after a warm-up mistake Questioned whether you’re good enough to ride at your level Carried one mistake into an entire round This episode will change how you handle pressure, permanently.   Resources Mentioned: 📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset 🎁 YouTube Launch Competition: https://www.mindeq.eu/youtubelaunch Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

    28 min

  7. 2 FEB

    How to Set Goals Without Letting Them Control You - #222

    At the start of a new season, goal setting can feel exciting… and overwhelming. In this episode, I and Lorna unpack how to set ambitious goals that guide your season, without letting them become a source of pressure, self-doubt, or fear of judgment. Drawing from our own recent competitions, we explore why zero expectations can sometimes unlock peak performance, why many riders either play too small or aim unrealistically high, and how fear of judgment often stops us from speaking our goals out loud. This episode dives into the balance between big vision and grounded action, showing you how to use goals as information and data, not as a measure of your worth. If you’ve ever struggled with goal pressure, moving goalposts, or feeling like you’re failing even when you’re progressing, this conversation will help you reset your approach. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why having no expectations can lead to better performances How mindset can carry you through breaks in training or time off The difference between goals that guide you and goals that control you Why many riders are afraid to speak their goals out loud How fear of judgment, failure, or success shapes goal setting Why goals should be treated as data and information, not ego How to tell the difference between stretching yourself and setting yourself up to fail Why breaking big goals into short-term actions builds confidence The danger of constantly moving the goalposts How to be proud of progress before you reach the end goal Why mistakes, setbacks, and “bad days” are still steps forward Who This Episode Is For: Riders setting goals for a new season Anyone feeling pressure, fear, or resistance around goal setting Riders who feel they’re never “doing enough” despite progress Those struggling with comparison, judgment, or expectations Riders who want to play bigger without burning out mentally Resources Mentioned: 📲Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EquestrianPerformanceMindset 🎁 YouTube Launch Competition: https://www.mindeq.eu/youtubelaunch Follow Jocelin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau Follow Lorna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lornahogarth_coaching/

    26 min

  8. 26 JAN

    Breaking Free from Self-Doubt - #221

    Self-doubt is one of the biggest mindset challenges riders face, at every level of the sport. In this episode, I and Lorna dive deep into what self-doubt really is, how it differs from confidence, and why it has far more to do with the stories you tell yourself than your actual ability. You’ll learn why even top riders experience imposter syndrome, how identity shapes performance, and why stepping up a level often feels so uncomfortable, even when you are ready. Using relatable examples from eventing, show jumping, and everyday training, this episode breaks down how story-thinking hijacks your focus and what to do instead. If you’ve ever thought “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t belong at this level,” or “I’m going to mess this up,” this episode will help you shift out of self-doubt and into action; without pretending confidence you don’t yet feel. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The key difference between self-doubt and confidence Why self-doubt is usually a story, not a fact How identity (“I am an amateur,” “I’m not that kind of rider”) limits performance Why stepping up a level always feels messy, and why that’s normal How story-thinking ruins rounds in the moment A simple trigger-word technique to refocus instantly after mistakes Why learning “on the job” is unavoidable, and essential How to collect real evidence of progress instead of reinforcing negative beliefs What riders can learn from young horses when it comes to learning and mistakes   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/

    22 min
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About

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: Improve performance, Reframe failure, Build courage & confidence and how to Achieve success, happiness & fulfillment in and out of the saddle. Tune in today to start making strides towards your dreams! Inspired by my own two favorite podcasts The Mindset Mentor and EquiRatings Eventing podcast! Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocelinlillienau/

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