Recently I connected with Darci in a Facebook group looking at marketing of digital products. She was kind enough to answer some questions about her horse related work. See below.

How much of your day/week is related to horses?
I run our small, private 6 stall stable and 30 acre facility so my days begin at 4:45 with am stables and then I head off to teach high school science for the day. I used to coach riding lessons but now only work with a few clients as I am really focused on building my mental performance coaching business.

I also ride a few days of the week, although as an upper level competitor I rode in a day as much as I now ride in a week. Life changes and I am thankful to still be involved in the equestrian world.

What is it exactly that you do?
I am a certified mental performance coach, specializing in the mental aspect of equestrian sport. I work with equestrians 12 years of age and up, regardless of their tack, the sport they love or the level they currently ride at. With a background in education and counseling, in addition to having been both an upper level equestrian and coach for almost 3 decades, I love helping riders develop the skills I really could have used when I was competing.

The aim of a mental performance coach is to help you understand and manage yourself better. This includes your thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Through being able to control yourself and your mind, you will then allow the physical talents you’ve worked hard to develop shine through during competition.

It’s no secret that the mind and body are deeply connected. My mission is about helping riders learn about the huge impact their thoughts have on their biology, physiology and somatic experience. A mindset is a set of underlying beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions that serve as the foundation for how you view, engage with, and interact with the world.

Mindsets are powerful: They create your realities, and shape your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in important ways. They can also create blind spots, fuel biased thinking, and when left unchecked, can be hard to change. For many, aspects of your mindset remain outside of your consciousness.

From enhancing focus and managing stress to building resilience and boosting confidence, the impact of mental performance coaching on equestrians and the relationship they have with their horse, is an untapped opportunity for growth, connection and performance.

What an athlete thinks, believes, and feels can have a significant impact on their physical performance. For peak performance and a harmonious connection with your horse, mastering the mind is as crucial as mastering physical skills.

Skills I help Equestrians Develop:

• Enhanced Focus and Concentration: In sports, split-second decisions and unwavering focus can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Mental performance coaches introduce techniques like mindfulness and visualization to help athletes improve their ability to concentrate. Through guided imagery and meditation, athletes learn how to eliminate distractions and stay in the present moment, enhancing their performance under pressure.
• Stress Management: The pressure of competition and the demands of training can lead to elevated stress levels that hinder an athlete’s performance. Mental performance coaching equips athletes with stress management tools, such as deep breathing exercises and positive self-talk. These techniques not only help in managing pre-game jitters but also aid in maintaining composure during high-stress situations.
• Building Resilience: Athletes face setbacks and failures throughout their careers, which can impact their confidence and motivation. Mental performance coaching teaches athletes to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, fostering mental resilience. The ability to bounce back from disappointments and setbacks is a hallmark of successful athletes, and this skill is honed through mental coaching.
• Confidence Boost: Self-confidence is a cornerstone of peak athletic performance. Mental performance coaches work to build an athlete’s self-belief by reinforcing positive self-assessment and encouraging a growth mindset. When athletes trust their abilities, they are more likely to take risks, seize opportunities, and perform at their best.
• Goal Setting and Motivation: Mental performance coaching aids athletes in setting clear, achievable goals that align with their aspirations. Coaches help athletes break down larger objectives into smaller, manageable steps, creating a roadmap to success. This process not only enhances motivation but also provides a sense of accomplishment as milestones are achieved.
• Emotional Regulation: Emotions can influence an athlete’s performance, either propelling them forward or holding them back. Mental performance coaches teach athletes how to recognize and regulate their emotions, preventing emotional fluctuations from negatively impacting their performance. Emotional stability enables athletes to remain level-headed, make better decisions, and maintain consistent performance.

Profile On: Darci, E-Pops Performance

In this field of work, is it possible to be a full-time professional and earn a liveable income?
This area in equestrian sport is relatively new although I have colleagues in my mental performance coaching cohort who work with athletes in sports that have HUGE buy-in ( IE. 26 of 29 professional baseball teams in the US have FT mental performance coaches on staff) so I am confident that equestrian sport will see the incredible value of mental performance coaching. Afterall we have two brains and two bodies to regulate and align!

What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
I think a wide range of equestrian experience is crucial in addition to experience coaching, would be a starting point. There are some really good mental performance coaching certification programs in addition to sports psychology degrees that would be really beneficial.

Favourite horse memory?
So many…from adventures with my first pony, to the birth of my first foal, to competing internationally with my own home bred. There are too many precious horses I’ve shared my life with to narrow it down to one.

Future goals?
To continue to build my business and increase awareness of the mental game for equestrian athletes. I KNOW these skills will:

• Improve the fate of complicated horses because their riders can manage their own frustration and problem-solve solutions to help those horses rather than resorting to abusive, angry, frustrated tactics we sadly see way too often in the horse world
• Allow equestrians returning to the sport they love after decades away, to thrive
• Help riders regain confidence after struggles or injury, to re-enter their sport
• Help youth manage difficult emotions and be better partners for their mounts
• Assist all equestrians reconnect with the joy of being with their partner, regardless of what they do or what level they compete at.

Best thing about your sport/profession?
Seeing clients reconnect with their horse and their sport because they have tools and skills to manage the brain based emotions like fear, stress, anxiety that change who they are as riders. With these skills, equestrians can problem solve, and improve the relationship of being a leader for their horse because they both recognize what happens to their brain and body when struggles and challenges arise, and have tools and skills to manage those situations. And I LOVE seeing the satisfaction my clients get and the smiles on their faces when things finally click!

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