Hypnotherapy for Horse Riders

Hypnosis for Horse Riders with Lindsay Cook

Lindsay travels the world helping riders with her hypnosis techniques



Born in Auckland New Zealand in 1965 and educated at St Cuthbert's College. After leaving school I worked in Dorset, England as a "Galloping Matron" where I looked after young ladies at Hanford boarding school whilst studying for my BHSAI, a horse management and riding instructor’s qualification.

Upon returning to New Zealand I held Sales and Marketing positions mainly with multi national companies. This gave me good grounding in the world of business.

In the early 1990s I consulted a Clinical Hypnotherapist named Raymond Parker and became fascinated by the amazing results. So I studied with the New Zealand School of Hypnotic Science and qualified in 1994 with a Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy. I am a full member of the New Zealand Society of Clinical and Applied Hypnotherapists, as well as being a member of the committee.

I run a general Clinical practice from Tauranga and conduct clinics throughout New Zealand, Australia, UK and Europe specialising in Sports Hypnotherapy for athletes, particularly equestrian sports athletes. Coupled with my experience in the corporate world I also coach sales and management executives to help achieve their targets, and run stress management workshops throughout the country.  http://nz.linkedin.com/in/lindsaycook

More than 60 % of Success is in the Mind

Why Use Lindsay Jane Cook Equestrian Sports Hypnosis?

Seemingly the only obvious requirement for Equestrian success is Horse and Rider
Physical Fitness, and Horse and Rider Skills Training.

But that is only the start!

In sport 60% of success is in the mind! Only 40% is related to the physical conditioning, training etc of horse and rider.

Equestrian’s minds are critical to their degree of effectiveness. Being able to control your mind is an essential element to being the best rider you are capable of being.
Positive belief in yourself and a positive self-image are two of your most important allies.

Along with a strong desire to do well, and a competitive spirit. But, most importantly it is what lies within a rider’s mind that dictates his ultimate level of achievement and subsequent attainment of goals.

The correct mental attitude is paramount to a top performance.

With the help of Lindsay Jane Cook Sports Hypnosis, Equestrians can learn to positively use their minds in conjunction with physical training.

Many elite athletes have already discovered that their minds are key tools for their success. Often they discover this only after years of frustration and challenges with particular issues.

Lindsay Jane Cook Sports Hypnosis is designed to enhance physical abilities and turn dreams into reality. Riders invest so much time, money and effort in physical training and enhancing technical skills for themselves and their horses. But not so many have considered how great a part their mind plays in their performance. To be a truly successful athlete and in order to perform to the best of their ability the rider requires:

• Relaxation. Tension burns up necessary energy and is so easily communicated to the horse. Tension creates an inability to focus and concentrate. It is easy to make the wrong decisions from a position of tension, resulting in decreased confidence.

• Concentration. In order to concentrate fully we need to be relaxed.

• Confidence. This has a bearing on the overall picture. If Rider and Horse are physically fit, have trained hard, and practiced well, are relaxed, and can concentrate, then the confidence will be very high. Good decision making increases confidence.

More than 60 % of success in sport is in the mind.

There are five primary factors influencing success:

• Physical Fitness
• Skills Development
• Freedom from unnecessary tension
• Concentration on the day
• Confidence in self

Those who have the edge or can cope under pressure or in difficult circumstances have already learned to control their mind.

Lindsay’s role is to help riders gain this control and to reinforce the teachings of the riding coach/trainer. Emphasising here the importance of working with the trainer, not against. The riding coach/trainer teaches the skills required and Lindsay assists by giving positive suggestions directly into the subconscious mind of the rider using Hypnotherapy. The primary and most important point of difference between Lindsay and traditional sport psyching methods is in the use of Hypnosis.

A note for Professional Trainers and Coaches:

As a riding coach you know that successful clients are happy clients. One way to increase your client’s success at home and at competitions is to utilise mind coaching in conjunction with physical skills training. Lindsay Jane Cook designs personalised Sports Hypnosis programmes to work with you and your clients to help them consistently ride at their best and gives you an edge over other trainers. Using this programme will actually make your job easier. You’ll find that you won’t have to consistently repeat yourself with clients so they learn to hear you properly and assimilate your instructions more quickly. Lindsay works with you to bring out the best in your clients.

A note for Professional Riders:

As a horse riding professional the expectations of owners and sponsors can get in the way of best performance.
Lindsay can help you fine-tune your mental skills to handle the most difficult circumstances.
Quickly change your focus from schooling horses to training students, to riding and competing ring to ring. Adjusting to various conditions, different horses, and personalities is crucial to your success. Move seamlessly between your responsibilities making you a more effective and sought after professional.

Key Factors Influencing Success

• Build confidence. Help rider and horse to feel as one.

• Be able to prioritise. Focus on the things that are most important at the time.

• Have awareness of the current situation in order to be in a position to act under pressure.

• Be resilient, resourceful, focused under pressure.

• Setting up to succeed.

• Mental toughness. Being able to “flush it away” if things go wrong.

• Staying in the present. Minimising the effect of any mistakes so they don’t interfere with the rest of the round or test.

• Eliminating bad habits.

• Effectively utilising emotions.

• Undoing fears and previous bad experiences.

• Dealing with personal issues (family problems, or money worries for instance) and not allowing them to interfere with riding focus.


Whatever the type of riding the mind is critical to riding development. Mastering the mental game is the secret to excellence.

Think it. Believe it. It becomes a reality.