If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why do I lose confidence at horse shows?” or “How do I stop my riding nerves from taking over?”, you’re not alone. In this blog, based on Episode 13 of the Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast, we explore how to build rider confidence, bust common myths, and give you science-backed strategies to improve your mindset in the saddle.
4 Confidence Myths Holding Equestrians Back
Whether you’re a beginner or competitive rider, your equestrian mindset matters. But too many riders are operating under these outdated beliefs:
1. “You’re born confident or you’re not.”
False. Confidence is a skill. Like riding, it can be developed through training and repetition.
2. “You just have to ride through the fear.”
Ineffective. Suppressing fear doesn’t rewire your brain, it reinforces it.
3. “Winning will make me feel confident.”
Backwards. Confidence doesn’t come from success, success comes from confidence.
4. “Fake it till you make it.”
Superficial. Faking confidence can crumble under pressure. True confidence is built from the inside out.
Real Rider Story - From Competition Anxiety to Confidence
Hannah, a coaching client, was an excellent rider at home but froze up in the show ring. Shallow breathing, frozen legs, racing thoughts, classic signs of performance anxiety in equestrian sports.
We discovered her brain linked showing with emotional danger: fear of failure, judgment, and letting others down.
Through subconscious mindset coaching, we helped her rewire her response to pressure. Six weeks later, she reported:
“Confident and I trusted myself. And it was fun again.”
That’s not magic, that’s mental conditioning.
How Rider Confidence Works in the Brain
Understanding the science of confidence helps you train it. Your brain’s amygdala acts as a threat scanner. Under stress (like horse show pressure), it can’t distinguish between real and imagined danger.
It triggers:
Tension in muscles
Shallow breathing
Mental fog
Fight-or-flight response
But here’s the key: You can retrain your brain using tools like visualisation, emotional memory, and language. The more your mind feels safe under pressure, the more naturally confident you’ll become.
Top 5 Tools to Build Rider Confidence That Lasts
Want to feel calm and capable at your next show or lesson? These tools are part of my proven equestrian mindset toolkit:
1. Hypnosis & Visualisation
Use guided mindset audios before riding or before sleep to access the subconscious mind.
👉 [Download your FREE “Ride with Confidence” hypnosis track — link in show notes]
2. Posture = Programming
Before you even mount:
Shoulders back
Eyes up
Deep breath
Small smile
Body language feeds back into brain chemistry — posture shapes mindset.
3. Reframe Nervous Energy
Instead of saying, “I’m nervous,” say, “I’m activated.”
This tells your brain it’s energy, not danger.
4. Anchor a Calm Cue
Pick a cue, like pressing your thumb and middle finger together, and associate it with calm. Use it to reset before you ride.
5. Post-Ride Debrief
Ask after every ride:
What went well?
What was challenging?
What will I do differently next time?
This rewires your brain to focus on progress over perfection.
Your Horse Feels Your Confidence, or Lack of It
Horses are prey animals, tuned into subtle shifts in energy, breath, and posture. If you’re tense, they feel it.
Confidence isn’t just about you, it creates emotional safety for your horse. That’s why training your mindset isn’t extra, it’s essential.
Rider Inspiration - Harry Meade’s Mental Comeback
Top British eventer Harry Meade suffered a devastating fall in 2013, crushing both elbows. Doctors doubted he’d ever ride again.
But Harry didn’t just rehab his body, he retrained his mind using mental rehearsal, incremental goals, and resilience training.
He returned to Badminton Horse Trials and represented Team GB. Proof that confidence is rebuildable, no matter what you’ve lost.
Fast Confidence Myths - Debunked
“Confidence is loud.”
→ No. It’s calm, quiet, and steady.“You need to feel ready before you act.”
→ False. Confidence comes through action.“Just breathe and it’ll go away.”
→ Breathing helps, but mindset beliefs must align too.“I just need more lessons.”
→ Lessons help, but under pressure, mindset beats mechanics.
Ride-Along Confidence Visualisation
Use this mental exercise before your next ride:
Close your eyes. Feel your seat in the saddle. The breeze on your face. The steady rhythm of hooves.
You’re not overwhelmed. You’re prepared.
You say: “I’ve done the work. I trust myself.”
Your horse flicks an ear, calm, connected.
You enter the ring, bold, capable, and grounded.
That’s your new mental blueprint for riding success.
Weekly Rider Mindset Challenge
Every day this week, after your ride:
List one thing you did well
One challenge you faced
One thing you’ll do differently next time
This simple routine will rewire your brain to see progress instead of perfectionism.
Reflective Prompt. Ask Yourself…
“If I truly trusted myself, how would I show up differently at my next ride?”
Would you breathe more deeply?
Ride more forward?
Stop apologising for taking up space?
Let that question guide your next ride.
Join the Rider Mindset Community
Confidence grows faster with support.
Join the Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast Community on Facebook. Inside you’ll find:
Weekly mindset prompts
Coaching tips
Q&A sessions
Supportive riders like you