The 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/