Most of our beliefs are formed by all the information we get from the people around us as a child. Up to the age of 6 for instance, we don’t have the experience or the knowledge to compare that information or those stories with other information, so when we hear the same stories a few times, we believe them. These beliefs can be helpful but can also be limiting and, growing up, they often become subconscious. So when we go trough our lives with limiting beliefs that are holding us back, we often don’t realize it is just the belief that is blocking us from succeeding or improving. Therefore, I have listed a few common limiting beliefs that might be holding you back. In case you find it hard to turn these beliefs around on your own, it might be a good idea to find a mental coach or therapist you trust to work on them together.

For the Noelle Floyd Magazine I have been interviewing top ranked riders to find out how they got to succeed in this mentally challenging sport. What can we learn from those who have been climbing the Equestrian ladder and have already succeeded? For the summer issue, I asked Lorenzo de Luca if he had any advise to aspiring young riders trying to make it to the top. He did not disappoint. Lorenzo shares three important lessons he learned himself along the way:

Have you ever been at a show or in a situation where you had to perform, and then suddenly, out of the blue, disaster strikes? Perhaps one of your friends got involved in an accident or maybe one of your horses just passed away? On a few occasions my clients have reached out to me asking for help as they had just got some very bad news, whilst at a show. How to stay focused under the most difficult of circumstances? Here are a few ways for you to let go of all the thoughts racing through your mind and to focus on the task at hand.

So back in January 2016 I set a New Year resolution. It was to read more often and more consistently. As I know that no resolution sticks unless I make it a habit, I made a plan and started reading every evening before bed. This has resulted in me reading and listening to 23 books in 2016 and so far, 27 in 2017. In addition, I also released my very own book this year, “Keep calm & enjoy the ride”. Good enough reasons to share my top 10 reads to train your brain over the holidays.

As I’m sure you all know by now, I am currently working on writing my second book and, for that, I am having the pleasure of interviewing some of the most successful riders in showjumping. Perhaps most known for his ability to manage everything to perfection, Cian shared so many wise lessons with me during our hour-long conversation back in early 2018, I don’t really need to add anything at all! So, for this blog, I will let Cian do the talking. Here are 5 lessons I learned from Cian which I hope will also be valuable for you.

As you probably know by now, I love learning from the best, and Peder Fredricson is definitely one of the best equestrians active today. So, eager to talk to the well-rounded, ever charming, eventer-turned-showjumper, I asked Peder about his journey in the sport, his learnings and, of course, his mental skills. As it turns out, he has a whole lot of insights to share with us in this area! I have summarized these into 5 steps you can also take right away to sharpen your mental skills.