Mental Training Techniques for Equestrians

Not just better riders, but more centered, capable humans.

The path to equestrian excellence rarely follows a straight line. For Barbra Schulte, it wound through speech therapy classrooms and cutting horse arenas before leading to a profound discovery: the secret to exceptional riding isn't just in our hands and seat—it's in our heads.

I prefer hiding safely behind my producer's desk, but in December 2023, I found myself in the interviewer's chair. The guest? Barbra Schulte, whose journey from speech therapist to cutting horse champion is quite the career pivot.

As we head into 2025 in a world where "just get back on" still passes for psychological support, her systematic approach to mental toughness feels as refreshing now as it did then.

Rethinking Mental Toughness

Forget the image of the stone-faced competitor. Mental toughness, according to Barbra, isn't about suppressing emotions or maintaining a poker face. Instead, it's about accessing what she calls the "ideal performance state"—a zone where focus, enthusiasm, and adaptability converge. This state isn't some mystical condition; it's measurable in our physiology, from brainwave patterns to heart rates.

The revelation that should shake up every riding instructor's lesson plan? This mental edge isn't a gift bestowed upon lucky few. It's a skill we can develop as systematically as we perfect our rising trot.

Building Your Mental Toolkit

The foundation starts with seemingly simple practices: controlled breathing, an open posture, and an elevated gaze. But the real transformation happens when we combine these physical anchors with deliberate mental training.

Consider the inner monologue that accompanies your riding. Most of us have mastered the art of self-criticism—every imperfect transition or missed distance becomes ammunition for our internal critic. Barbra advocates for a radical shift: transforming that critical voice into your most supportive coach. Through techniques like performance scripting, riders learn to replace the usual spiral of doubt with strategic, encouraging dialogue.

Beyond Blue Ribbons

Competition nerves and the compulsion to measure ourselves against others plague riders across disciplines. These challenges might seem like inevitable parts of equestrian life, but Barbra's framework suggests otherwise. By developing mental toughness, riders discover something more valuable than a strategy for managing show day jitters—they find a path to genuine presence with their horses.

This presence transforms more than just performance scores. When riders cultivate emotional regulation and mental clarity, they develop a heightened awareness of their horse's subtle communications. The partnership deepens beyond the mechanical execution of aids to something more nuanced and reciprocal.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

A year after our conversation, Schulte's insights feel more relevant than ever. One element stands out: her three-tiered approach to development that completely challenges the traditional hierarchy of training priorities:

First, master your internal landscape through mental and emotional regulation. Then, deepen your understanding of equine nature and build genuine connection through thoughtful horsemanship. Only then, she argues, should you focus on the technical demands of your chosen discipline.

This sequence might seem counterintuitive in a world obsessed with quick results. But it reflects a fundamental truth about horsemanship that too often gets lost in the pursuit of ribbons and rankings: technical excellence without emotional intelligence and genuine connection is just sophisticated mechanics.

A Different Kind of Horsemanship

Barbra's perspective challenges us to reconsider what constitutes true horsemanship. In an era where training discussions often focus on techniques and equipment, her emphasis on mental preparation and emotional awareness offers a refreshing alternative. It suggests that the path to exceptional riding might not lie in adding more tools to our physical toolkit, but in developing the mental acuity to use those tools more effectively.

The implications extend beyond the arena. The skills Schulte describes—emotional regulation, focused presence, adaptability under pressure—serve riders as much in their daily lives as in their horsemanship. Perhaps that's the most compelling argument for her approach: it develops not just better riders, but more centered, capable humans.

Schulte's insights remind us that true excellence isn't just about what we do in the saddle—it's about who we become in the process. That December evening in my home recording studio might have started as an unusual departure from my usual behind-the-scenes role, but it evolved into something far more significant: a conversation that continues to reshape how we think about the mental game of horsemanship.

For more horse rider mindset conversations check out this playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRp8BN5z5bNlULSEPtVWa2qXtdDiSqcly&si=0e7X4m4dYdOfUvKX