We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Nicky Pennie

If you’d like to leave your baggage behind & just have fun with your horse(s) then you’re in the right place. In this course you'll learn how the brain is wired (& why) & you’ll learn proven techniques to address what’s been holding you back in your riding & perhaps in other areas of your life too.

Read more

If you’d like to leave your baggage behind & just have fun with your horse(s) then you’re in the right place. In this course you'll learn how the brain is wired (& why) & you’ll learn proven techniques to address what’s been holding you back in your riding & perhaps in other areas of your life too.

Riding is a mental sport & what you believe about you & your horse's ability affects what you're capable of. The brain is naturally wired towards negativity, this is how humans evolved to survive so it goes very deep. You will automatically focus on the negative without even realising it, because it’s how your brain is programmed for your survival.

The impact this negativity bias has on you & your horse is immense. Learning how this shows up in your riding is a game changer. You’ll understand why it matters, how to use it to your advantage & see just how much your mindset influences your horse(s).

Once you implement the proven techniques in this course you’ll discover that you have so much more control over your performance than you ever realised. You’ll learn how you can become a more confident rider by using these techniques.

Become the riding partner your horse would choose & be the rider you’ve always wanted to be. It’s all possible with Supercharge Your Riding Confidence & your horse will thank you for it.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How the mind is structured so you can understand the automatic responses & how they drive your behaviour in & out of the saddle.
  • The role of the subconscious mind & how it impacts riding confidence.
  • Common rider confidence pitfalls & how to overcome them.
  • Self belief & why it’s so important in riding confidence.
  • You’ll learn proven tools & techniques to enable you to supercharge your horse riding confidence.

Syllabus

Students will learn that I trained my mind for success, banished my debilitating nerves and developed a love of competing.

Meet my supported riders, Emily Dunstan & Meg Elphick, who are amateur event riders based in the UK.

Hear how my competitive riding journey started & learn the progress that’s possible when you have your mind onside.

Read more

The Science Bit (The structure of the mind) - this section covers how the mind is structured, the split between the conscious & the subconscious mind & the role of the subconscious mind, in particular its importance in all that we do.

The Science Bit (How the mind is wired) - this section covers how the mind is wired & what that means for you & your riding confidence.

You’ll also learn how to use the first tool in this course, to start to take control of your mind, to use it to your advantage.

This section covers common confidence pitfalls & why the mind often brings about exactly what you don’t want, until you learn how to address this. How to change that is covered in this section. Students will also learn the importance of language & how it impacts their performance.

Meg shares her experience of how her mindset was her undoing at an important competition, prior to us working together. She shares that with hindsight she can see that she unwittingly created her own downfall.

Mastering your mindset to align your conscious & subconscious mind is key to achieving what you want in your riding. You can do this consciously by feeding your mind with what you want (not what you don’t want), done consistently it will filter into your subconscious mind, which is where permanent change happens.

Emily shares her experience of how she put belief into action from our 1 to 1 coaching session. This was following a disappointing experience at her previous event. You’ll hear how she was able to put that aside & focus on the job in hand.

I share the 3 pillars of my success in becoming a confident rider. I outline how I went from an incredibly nervous rider who was terrified to compete at 80cm, via a psychological barrier of 1m, to confidently competing regularly at 1m10 & above & eventing on a horse who'd never evented before.

The key to riding success is to create in your mind what you want in reality. The future is unknown & when you create what you want to happen in your mind, your body will follow, when you know how! Most people ride whilst focusing on what’s happened in the past, because of the automatic negative bias of the mind.

What you focus on is what you bring about & therefore most people unintentionally bring about what they don’t want, by focusing on the problem. This section teaches you how to focus on what you want to make it happen.

The brain instinctively focuses on what’s familiar & it looks for patterns that have happened before. Therefore it’s natural to imagine something going badly, rather than imagining it going well, because the mind is negatively biased. So if you’ve had a difficult experience with something then your mind is likely to expect it to be difficult again, regardless of whether the circumstances are completely different.

Remember that what you create in your mind becomes your reality, so if you imagine something going badly then you significantly increase the chance of that happening.

I share a proven technique to master your mindset so that you focus on & create what you do want when you do this consistently.

Top athletes have used visualisation for decades to give themselves the edge. It’s a powerful tool to prime your mind for success, done daily it can make a huge difference to your mindset because you’re visualising yourself succeeding. The mind can’t distinguish between what’s real & what’s imagined so this is a great way to train for success without even sitting on a horse!

The riders in my community shared what their riders worries are & the good news is that the tools covered in sections 8-10 address those common rider worries that they raised.

Stepping up a level in competition was one that came in from multiple people. Successfully stepping up a level in competition is covered in detail in this section. This includes how to set realistic goals when moving up a level, as well as how to check whether you’re considering stepping up for the right reasons.

Having completed the course, you now have 3 proven mindset tools & the breathwork technique. This is all that you need to master your mindset & Supercharge Your Riding Confidence!

Also in this section, Emily & Meg share how the experience of 1-to-1 coaching has helped them, both on & off their horses.

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Supercharge Your Horse Riding Confidence. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Supercharge Your Horse Riding Confidence will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Equestrian Mindset Coach
An Equestrian Mindset Coach works with riders to enhance their mental game, helping them overcome fears, build self belief, and improve performance in riding and competition. This course is specifically designed for individuals aspiring to be an Equestrian Mindset Coach, providing a deep understanding of the subconscious mind's role in confidence and performance. It covers techniques like breathwork and visualization, crucial for helping riders manage nerves and achieve their goals. By learning how to program the mind for success and address negativity bias, you can guide others to become the confident riding partners their horses deserve. This course directly addresses the challenges faced by riders, making it an ideal foundation for this specialized coaching role.
Mental Skills Coach
A Mental Skills Coach works with individuals, often athletes or performers, to develop psychological strategies that enhance performance, focus, and resilience. This course offers an excellent foundation for someone pursuing a career as a Mental Skills Coach. It provides a deep dive into how the mind is structured, the critical role of the subconscious, and practical techniques to address confidence pitfalls and negative biases. Learners discover how to program their mind for success using tools like breathwork and visualization, directly transferable skills for coaching clients to manage pressure, build self belief, and achieve their peak potential in highly demanding environments.
Performance Coach
A Performance Coach guides individuals in various fields, from sports to business, to optimize their mental approach and achieve peak performance. This course provides a robust framework for an aspiring Performance Coach, as it delves into how the brain is wired and the impact of mindset on capability. It introduces proven techniques for addressing internal barriers and leveraging mental control to improve outcomes. The focus on overcoming negativity bias, enhancing self belief, and using tools like visualization to program the mind for success are directly transferable skills. Understanding the conscious and subconscious mind, as detailed in this course, helps you empower clients to master their mindset and excel in their chosen domain.
Public Speaker
A Public Speaker crafts and delivers compelling presentations to diverse audiences, often needing to manage nerves and project confidence. This course can be particularly beneficial for an aspiring Public Speaker, as it directly addresses strategies for overcoming debilitating nerves and building strong self belief, which are crucial for effective delivery. It teaches proven techniques, including breathwork to calm nerves and mental programming to focus on desired outcomes rather than fear of failure. By understanding how the mind is wired and leveraging visualization, one can train their mind for success, ensuring they step onto any stage with composure and conviction, projecting the confident presence necessary to engage and influence an audience.
Professional Speaker
A Professional Speaker earns a living by delivering expert presentations or workshops on specific topics to various organizations and events. This course provides invaluable tools for a Professional Speaker, particularly concerning managing nerves and projecting unwavering confidence, which are essential for captivating an audience. It dissects how the mind contributes to automatic responses and offers proven techniques, such as breathwork and visualization, to take control of one's mental state. By understanding how to program the conscious and subconscious mind for success, learners can overcome internal doubts and consistently deliver impactful, confident performances, ensuring their message resonates powerfully with every audience.
Life Coach
A Life Coach partners with clients to identify goals, create actionable plans, and overcome personal obstacles to achieve greater fulfillment and success in various life areas. This course may be very helpful for individuals aiming to become a Life Coach, as it explores fundamental principles of human psychology and behavior. It teaches how to understand the mind's automatic responses, address what's holding people back, and harness the power of belief to drive change. The techniques for challenging negativity bias, programming the mind for success, and developing a resilient mindset, as taught in this course, are highly applicable to guiding clients through personal transitions and achieving goals in other areas of life too.
Motivational Speaker
A Motivational Speaker delivers inspiring talks designed to encourage audiences, foster positive change, and ignite personal or professional growth. This course provides a rich understanding of human psychology, confidence building strategies, and mental resilience, which may be helpful for an aspiring Motivational Speaker. It delves into the brain's wiring, the impact of negativity bias, and the power of belief, offering compelling concepts to share. The course's emphasis on overcoming personal barriers, programming the mind for success, and achieving goals through mindset mastery provides practical insights and narrative material for engaging presentations. Learning the instructor's three pillars of success offers a powerful testimony for inspiring others.
Sports Psychologist
A Sports Psychologist works with athletes to improve their mental well being and enhance their performance, often dealing with issues like anxiety, motivation, and focus. This role typically requires an advanced degree. This course offers insights into the mental aspects of performance, such as understanding the subconscious mind's role in confidence and developing self belief, which may be useful for an aspiring Sports Psychologist. It introduces techniques for managing nerves, overcoming confidence pitfalls, and using visualization to mentally prepare for success. While not a substitute for formal psychological training, the course's focus on the brain's wiring and the impact of mindset on physical output could help build a foundational understanding of mental resilience in high pressure environments.
Wellness Coach
A Wellness Coach guides individuals towards holistic well being, encompassing mental, emotional, and physical health. This course provides a strong foundation that may be useful for an aspiring Wellness Coach, particularly in the realm of mental and emotional resilience. It offers deep insights into the brain's wiring, the impact of negativity bias, and the crucial role of the subconscious mind in shaping overall confidence and life experience. The practical techniques for managing stress through breathwork, cultivating self belief, and programming the mind for positive outcomes are directly applicable to helping clients improve their mental fortitude, reduce anxiety, and foster a more positive outlook on their health journey.
Entrepreneur
An Entrepreneur conceptualizes, launches, and manages new businesses, a role that demands immense resilience, self belief, and the ability to navigate constant challenges and uncertainty. This course may be very helpful for an aspiring Entrepreneur, as it directly addresses overcoming mental obstacles and cultivating a powerful mindset. It teaches how to confront negativity bias, transform self doubt into conviction, and harness the subconscious mind to program for success. The focus on developing unwavering confidence, understanding the power of belief, and learning to strategize for advancement provides a crucial mental toolkit to persist through setbacks, make bold decisions, and effectively lead a venture to success.
Corporate Trainer
A Corporate Trainer designs and delivers programs to enhance employee skills, performance, and professional development within an organization. This course, with its focus on mindset, confidence building, and overcoming mental barriers, may be useful for a Corporate Trainer. It provides a framework for understanding how individuals' beliefs and automatic responses drive behavior, which is essential for fostering positive workplace dynamics. The course's techniques for managing stress, improving self belief, and proactive problem solving through mental programming can be adapted to help employees cultivate resilience, improve team cohesion, and enhance productivity, ultimately leading to greater organizational success.
Educator
An Educator works to impart knowledge and foster critical thinking in students across various subjects and age groups, often in academic settings. This course may be helpful for an Educator, especially one focused on student well being or performance, as it illuminates the profound impact of mindset and self belief on learning and achievement. Understanding how the brain is wired and its negativity bias can help educators better support students struggling with confidence or facing academic challenges. The course's techniques for mastering one's mindset, overcoming pitfalls, and using positive mental programming could be adapted to help students develop resilience, manage test anxiety, and cultivate a growth mindset essential for successful learning.
Team Leader
A Team Leader guides and motivates a group of individuals towards common goals, often requiring strong self management and the ability to inspire confidence in others. This course may be helpful for an aspiring Team Leader, as it provides profound insights into human motivation, belief systems, and overcoming mental barriers. Understanding how the brain is wired and the impact of negativity bias can equip a leader to better support team members, address their anxieties, and foster a positive, high performing environment. The techniques for enhancing self belief and programming the mind for success, as taught in this course, can be applied to cultivate team resilience and help members collectively achieve challenging objectives.
Human Resources Manager
A Human Resources Manager oversees talent acquisition, employee development, and fostering a positive workplace culture. This course, with its emphasis on understanding human behavior, managing confidence, and overcoming mental obstacles, may be useful for a Human Resources Manager. The insights into the conscious and subconscious mind, and techniques for building self belief and resilience, can inform strategies for employee engagement, performance management, and conflict resolution. By understanding how negativity bias impacts individuals, an HR manager can better support employees through challenges, promote a growth mindset, and develop programs that empower staff to achieve their full potential, contributing to a thriving work environment.
Conflict Resolution Specialist
A Conflict Resolution Specialist helps individuals or groups navigate disagreements and find constructive solutions, requiring empathy, clear communication, and strong emotional regulation. This course, while seemingly unrelated at first glance, may be helpful for a Conflict Resolution Specialist due to its profound exploration of human psychology and emotional regulation. Understanding how the brain is wired and its negativity bias can provide insight into the root causes of defensive or combative behaviors during disputes. The course's emphasis on conscious control over automatic responses, managing nerves through techniques like breathwork, and the importance of language in shaping outcomes can equip a specialist to maintain composure and guide others towards more constructive interactions.

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Explores the relationship between visual perception and the design of effective data visualizations. It covers topics such as visual perception, visual cognition, and principles of design.
Presents a simplified overview of data visualization and covers various types of charts and graphs. It is suitable for beginners.
A classic work on data visualization that has influenced generations of practitioners. provides a deep understanding of the principles of visual perception and how they can be used to create effective visualizations.
A comprehensive guide to data visualization, covering the basics of visual perception, design principles, and best practices. is particularly helpful for beginners who want to learn how to create effective visualizations.
Provides a comprehensive overview of visualization analysis and design, covering topics such as visual perception, data representation, and interaction techniques.
A hands-on guide to creating visualizations with R and Python. provides detailed instructions and examples for creating a variety of charts and graphs.
Explores the psychology of self-justification and how it leads us to maintain our beliefs and behaviors, even when they are irrational or harmful. It is written by two social psychologists who have conducted extensive research on cognitive biases.
Discusses the role of cognitive biases in economic decision-making. It is written by a Nobel Prize winner in economics and provides a unique perspective on the topic.
Collection of papers by two of the most influential researchers in the field of cognitive biases. It provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of intuitive judgment and is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn more about cognitive biases.
Is based on the author's graduate course in behavioural decision-making and provides a detailed overview of the psychology of decision-making. It is written by an eminent psychologist who has made significant contributions to the field of cognitive biases.
Explores the benefits of cognitive biases in certain situations. It is written by the same author as Predictably Irrational and great read for anyone who wants to learn more about the positive side of cognitive biases.
Provides a comprehensive overview of cognitive biases and how they affect our thinking and decision-making. It is written by Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize winner in economics, and is considered one of the most important books on cognitive biases ever written.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser