The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast

Breathing Patterns to Stay Calm Under Pressure

In this empowering episode of The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast, equestrian mindset coach Neil Foster reveals how your breathing patterns can transform your confidence, calm, and connection with your horse, especially under pressure.
Discover how the autonomic nervous system affects your riding performance, why nasal breathing helps you stay grounded, and learn science-based breathwork techniques you can start using today.Neil guides you through practical breathing exercises like the 4-6 pattern and Box Breathing to help you regulate nerves, improve focus, and ride with calm confidence.
Whether you’re preparing for competition or simply want to enjoy your rides more, this episode will help you breathe better, think clearer, and ride with purpose.
FREE GIFT: Download your Free Breathwork Guide for Riders with step-by-step breathing techniques and exercises mentioned in this episode at 
FREE Download

Is Dressage Facing a Crisis or a Mindset Reset

Is dressage really in crisis, or is it simply calling for a mindset reset?
In this thoughtful 10-minute episode, equestrian mindset coach Neil Foster explores the challenges facing modern dressage, from welfare concerns and falling spectator numbers to rising costs and shifting rider habits. But rather than focusing on the negatives, Neil dives deeper into what the sport truly needs to evolve and thrive: a change in mindset.
You’ll discover how perfectionism, pressure, and performance culture have disconnected many riders from the joy and harmony that define classical dressage. Neil discusses how shifting focus from control to connection, and from perfection to progress, can reignite both passion and purpose in the arena and beyond it.
Whether you’re a grassroots competitor or a professional rider, this episode will help you:
Reconnect with why you fell in love with dressage in the first place
Understand how your mindset shapes your confidence, your partnership, and your performance
Learn simple mental strategies to overcome pressure and rediscover joy in your riding
Explore how compassion and authenticity can rebuild the culture of the sport
Dressage isn’t dying, it’s evolving. And that evolution starts with you.
Tune in now to The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast and explore how mindset, mindfulness, and connection can reshape the future of dressage, one ride at a time.
Click here to download your FREE 10 minute Rider Confidence Audio 
To continue the conversation join The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast Facebook Group

Hypnosis for Riders - Busting the Myths & Finding the Truth

Hypnosis for Riders - Busting the Myths & Finding the Truth
Discover the truth about hypnosis and how it can transform your riding confidence, focus, and performance. In this powerful episode of The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast, equestrian mindset coach Neil Foster explores the science, psychology, and neuroscience behind hypnosis for riders, and busts the biggest myths that keep many equestrians from unlocking their full potential.
Learn how hypnosis helps riders overcome fear, rebuild confidence after a fall, manage nerves, and ride with calm connection. Backed by real-world research and rider success stories, Neil explains how this natural mental state can rewire your mind for success, both in and out of the saddle.
What you’ll discover:
What hypnosis really is (and what it isn’t)
How hypnosis affects the rider’s brain and body
The neuroscience behind calmness, confidence, and focus
How top athletes use hypnosis and mental rehearsal for peak performance
Real stories from riders who have used hypnosis to regain trust, courage, and joy
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Free 10-Minute Rider Confidence Audio - Click to sign up for yours
The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast Facebook Group
Coming soon: Free Rider Confidence Workbook & Hypnosis Recording
If you’re ready to understand the truth about hypnosis and harness your subconscious power to become a more confident, connected rider, this episode is for you.
Don’t forget to like, follow, and share the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean to help more riders discover these powerful mindset tools.

Resilience in Riding: Staying Strong Through the Ups and Downs

Every rider faces tough days, setbacks, refusals, fear, frustration, or simply feeling stuck. In this empowering episode of The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast, equestrian mindset coach Neil Foster dives deep into the power of resilience, the emotional strength that helps you stay calm, confident, and motivated through the ups and downs of your riding journey.
You’ll learn how to train your mind just like you train your horse, with patience, kindness, and consistency. Neil shares real coaching insights, NLP techniques, and hypnosis strategies to help you bounce back from challenges, reframe negative thinking, and rediscover your love for riding.
In this episode:
What true resilience means for riders
How to transform frustration into learning
Simple NLP tools to manage nerves and self-doubt
How hypnosis helps rebuild confidence and calm
Why mindset matters more than perfection
Perfect for dressage, eventing, and leisure riders who want to develop mental stamina, emotional balance, and unshakeable confidence in and out of the saddle.
Join the conversation:
👉 Follow Neil on social media @NeilFosterEquestrianMindsetCoach👉 Join The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast Facebook Group for rider discussions, support, and extra mindset tips👉 Keep an eye out for Neil’s brand-new Free Ride Confidence Workbook and Hypnosis Recording coming soon!
⭐ If you enjoy the show, please like, share, follow, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, and help more riders build unstoppable confidence.

What Horses Teach Us About Patience and Perspective

In this inspiring episode, equestrian mindset coach Neil Foster explores how our horses quietly teach us the art of patience, perspective, and emotional balance, both in the saddle and in everyday life.
Through heartfelt stories, real-world riding examples, and powerful mindset tools, Neil shares how to stay calm under pressure, rebuild confidence after setbacks, and see challenges as opportunities for growth.
Whether you’re an event rider, dressage enthusiast, or simply someone who loves learning from horses, this episode will help you deepen your partnership, strengthen your mental resilience, and find joy in the journey, not just the results.
You’ll learn:
Why patience is an active skill, not passive waiting
How horses mirror your inner state and emotions
Simple ways to shift your mindset from frustration to focus
How perspective transforms “mistakes” into milestones
Listen now to reconnect with what truly matters in your riding: trust, understanding, and presence.
Don’t forget to like, follow, and share the podcast!
Join the Neil Foster Rider Mindset Facebook Group for exclusive discussions and support.
Watch out for Neil’s Free Rider Confidence Workbook and accompanying hypnosis recording, coming soon to help you ride with calm, clarity, and confidence.

More than Your Riding - Identity Beyond The Saddle

More Than Your Riding – Identity Beyond the Saddle
Do you ever feel like your confidence, mood, or self-worth depend on how your last ride went?  This episode of The NeilFoster Rider Mindset Podcast is here to help you rediscover who you truly are, beyond the saddle.
In “More Than Your Riding: Identity Beyond the Saddle,” Neil explores how to separate your performance from your identity so you can ride, and live  with more balance, joy, and self-belief.
Using powerful NLP techniques, practical Cognitive Behavioural Therapy tools, and a calming guided visualisation, you’ll learn how to:
Reframe negative thoughts and build lasting confidence
Break free from the “Equestrian Identity Trap”
Anchor your sense of self, even when things don’t go to plan
Reconnect with who you are beyond the arena
Whether you’re an eventer, dressage rider, or happy hacker, this episode will help you find peace, purpose, and pride both on and off your horse.
Join the conversation in the Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast Facebook Group, where riders just like you share wins, worries, and wisdom.
You are more than your riding.

Why Riders Quit and How to Build Long-Lasting Motivation

Have you ever thought about giving up riding? This happens to a lot of riders. In this episode of The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast, Neil explores the real reasons riders quit, from burnout, fear, and comparison to unrealistic expectations, and shares practical, proven strategies to help you reignite your passion and stay motivated for the long haul.
You’ll discover:
The psychology of motivation and why it rises and falls
How NLP, hypnosis, and coaching tools can shift your mindset
Simple strategies to build lasting confidence and joy in the saddle
Why reconnecting with your deeper “why” keeps you riding through challenges
Whether you’re a competitive equestrian or a rider who simply loves spending time with your horse, this episode will give you the tools, encouragement, and belief to keep showing up, even when it feels tough.
Subscribe now and join our supportive rider community in the Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast Facebook Group

Mental Stamina For Equestrians - Training Your Mind for Achieving Your Goals

In this episode of the Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast, Neil dives deep into the power of mental stamina for equestrians, and how training your mind is just as important as training your horse.
You’ll learn practical tools and mindset strategies to stay focused, resilient, and confident, whether you’re schooling at home, facing competition nerves, or bouncing back from setbacks. From goal-setting and consistency, to journaling, visualisation, and real-life examples, Neil shares the mental training techniques that help riders achieve their equestrian goals without burning out.
If you’ve ever struggled with riding confidence, self-doubt, or the pressure of competition, this episode will give you the clarity and encouragement to keep going.
Join the Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast Facebook Group for extra support
Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode
Sign up to Neil’s email list for bonus content, journaling prompts, and exclusive mindset tips
This is your reminder that mental stamina is a skill you can build and it might just be the missing piece between where you are now and the rider you want to become.
Perfect for: competitive riders, everyday equestrians, horse owners, and anyone who wants to improve their confidence, focus, and mental strength in the saddle.

The Power of Curiosity in Rider Progress

Are you ready to unlock a new level of confidence and progress in your riding? In this episode of The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast, we dive into the power of curiosity, a mindset tool that helps riders replace self-judgment with self-discovery.
So often, equestrians focus on discipline, courage, and determination, but curiosity is the missing ingredient that transforms mistakes into growth. When you get curious instead of critical, your brain learns faster, your confidence grows, and your connection with your horse deepens.
In this extended episode, Neil Foster, Equestrian Mindset Coach, shares:- What curiosity really means for riders- The neuroscience of curiosity and how it accelerates learning- Real stories of riders who used curiosity to overcome nerves, perfectionism, and fear- Practical tools and journaling prompts to build curiosity into your training and competitions
- Why curiosity builds lasting rider confidence
Whether you’re a dressage rider, showjumper, eventer, or simply love hacking, this episode will give you the mindset tools to ride with more calmness, clarity, and connection.
Join the community:Facebook Group: Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast CommunityEmail list: Weekly mindset tips & resources direct to your inbox

The Distraction Dump - Emptying Your Mind Before Riding

Episode DescriptionIn this episode of The Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast, Neil shares a powerful mental tool for equestrians: the Distraction Dump – a simple process to clear your mind before riding so you can focus fully on your horse. Discover why riders often feel mentally overloaded, how distractions affect your connection in the saddle, and step-by-step strategies to release the noise of daily life before you put your foot in the stirrup. With practical tips, real-life examples, and mindset exercises, you’ll learn how to ride with greater calm, presence, and confidence. Perfect for riders of all disciplines – eventing, showjumping, dressage, or hacking – this episode will help you build a stronger partnership with your horse by first clearing space in your own mind.