My own riding is what first made me curious about why we can know what to do — and still struggle to do it.
That curiosity changed not only the way I ride, but the way I understand myself — and ultimately became the foundation of the work I do today.
From being nervous over 65cm to competing internationally at 1m15.
I was the pony-mad child who would do anything to be around horses, but never had a pony of my own. When I finally bought my first horse at 30, the reality was far more complicated than the dream. We were the classic green horse and green owner combination, and our first few years together involved considerably more stress than fun.
Years later, I loaned a wonderful, experienced horse and imagined that finally I’d be able to do all the things I wanted to do. Instead, I found myself paralysed by fear. I knew I could ride. I had a horse who knew his job. But knowing that didn’t change how I felt.
I refused to accept that this was simply how riding had to feel for me, and that started a fascination with understanding what was happening in my own mind. Over time, I went from being extremely nervous jumping 65cm to competing internationally at 1m15 — and, more importantly, having riding experiences I once wouldn’t have believed were possible for me.
What started as a way to help my own riding became the work I now do with other riders.
There’s more to creating a resilient riding mindset than having another technique to try.
I show you why you think, feel and respond the way you do. Because when you understand what’s actually happening, you can start to do something differently.
I understand riders
I’m an amateur rider too. I understand the ambition, nerves, pressure, frustration and unpredictability that come with trying to do something you love with a horse.
I look for patterns
What happens in one moment rarely exists in isolation. I look at the thoughts, beliefs and patterns influencing how you think, feel and respond — including the ones you may not realise are there.
I give you things you can use beyond your riding
What you learn isn’t just for the situation we’re talking about today — or even just for your riding. You learn to recognise what’s happening, make brave choices and know what to do when something feels difficult, without needing someone else to give you the answer.
Want to get a better feel for how I think and work?
I’ve had some brilliant conversations about riding, mindset and the things that influence how we think, feel and respond. Have a listen to some of my podcast appearances below.
Equiratings Eventing Podcast
Grassroots Show: Mind Over Matter
A practical conversation about how mindset affects amateur riders and competition performance.
This equestrian life podcast
From Self-Doubt to Self-Belief
I talk about self-belief, the stories riders tell themselves and how mindset changes what feels possible.
What I learned about myself through my riding changed far more than the way I ride.
I began to recognise many of the same patterns in the rest of my life — in the pressure I put on myself, the need to achieve, the difficulty switching off and the ideas I had about what a successful life was supposed to look like.
On paper, I had so much of what I’d once thought I wanted. But having those things didn’t feel how I thought it would. Understanding myself better changed far more than my experience with my horses — it changed how I experienced my life.
Before creating this coaching business, I spent 15 years working in Human Resources, including senior leadership roles, where coaching, developing people and understanding behaviour were a significant part of what I did. I’ve continued that work ever since, both through my own business and coaching for other organisations.
Whether we’re talking about your riding or something much bigger, my work starts in the same place: showing you why you think, feel and respond the way you do, so you can use that understanding to do something differently.