A 10-Day Guided Experience for Riders
(no matter what type of riding you do)
Maybe, It Wasn't
Just Your Riding
You're at the in-gate.
Or you're just hacking around your own ring, alone,
and your brain starts running the tape before anything
has even gone wrong.
What if my horse spooks?! What if I freeze?!
What if everyone can see that my hands are shaking.
You tell yourself to relax. That doesn't work.
You tell yourself you're being ridiculous,
that you've ridden a thousand times before and nothing happened —
that doesn't work either.
So you do the thing every anxious rider does:
You grip tighter, you breathe shallower, and you get
through the ride instead of riding it.
Here's what nobody ever told you.
That's not a confidence problem.
It's not even an anxiety problem.
It's that no one ever taught you how your
brain actually works on horseback —
so it's doing the only job it knows how to do, which is protect
you from a threat that isn't there.
The problem was never your riding. It was never even your anxiety.
It was that nobody taught you how your brain works.
That's the entire premise of this challenge.
Starting Monday, AUGUST 10, 2026 to AUGUST 19, 2026
Registration for this event closes 8/9/2026 NO EXCEPTIONS
THE SCIENCE PART
Your nervous system can't actually tell the difference between "I'm nervous" and "I'm excited" — they're nearly the same physical state. Harvard researcher Alison Wood Brooks found that people who relabeled their anxiety as excitement performed measurably better under pressure than people who tried to calm down. Same body. Different instruction to the brain.
That's one tool. There are nine more days like it.
You don't need to eliminate anxiety to ride well — that's actually backwards, and the research on performance and arousal (the Yerkes-Dodson law, if you want the name for it) proves it. You need to know what to do with it when it shows up. That's a skill. Skills can be taught. This one just never was, until now.
Daily emails • Short guided lessons • Ride-ready tools you can use immediately
This program is designed specifically for adult riders (18+).
Created by Dr. Pernilla Nathan
Performance Psychology Consultant • Equestrian Athlete
Helping riders rebuild confidence after fear, falls, and performance anxiety
If You're Still Deciding
This is for you if:
- Show anxiety, ring nerves, or a fear that came out of nowhere is running your rides instead of you
- You're coming back from an injury and your body hasn't caught up to where your confidence used to be
- You don't need a diagnosis to know something is off — you just want to stop overthinking and start improving again
This isn't therapy, and it isn't a substitute for it. It's ten days of the exact tools that took years of digging into the neuroscience to put together — handed to you in the order that actually works.
Yes I'm In! RSVP BEFORE AUGUST 10!
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Amazing Feature
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What You'll Actually Learn, Day By Day
These are the same tools I use one-on-one with private clients — I've never laid them out publicly before now.
Days 1–2: Why This Is Happening
How anxiety actually works in your body, and why what you're feeling makes more sense than you think.
Days 3–4: Tools to Calm It, Fast
Simple techniques to regulate your nervous system before anxiety takes the reins.
Days 5–6: Getting Your Trust Back
Reconnecting with your body and your instincts, so you stop riding defensively.
Days 7–8: Riding Present, Not Perfect
Staying focused and grounded even when pressure or doubt shows up mid-ride.
Days 9–10: Making It Stick
Locking it in, so this doesn't fade the week after the challenge ends.
JOIN THE 10 DAY RIDER MINDSET CHALLENGE
Join the 10-Day Mindset Challenge and get daily emails to help you transform your ride—and your mind.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Morning! Sorry for the early text, I was just so excited to text you. I went back in the meters yesterday and a round I was proud of! Was it the best round of my riding career, no... but it was the first round in this year where I felt like myself. And added bonus I got 5th in the open!.... This year has been an emotional one, but I'm so happy for how it all ended-pretty magical.
Thank you for being there for me! L.F. Jumper
Hi! I had a jumping lesson yesterday and already felt such a big difference... even my trainer picked up on it. He said that my riding is looking 50% more positive. I feel lighter and at ease. Thank you!
D.A.
1.35 International Show Jumper
Pernilla has literally changed my riding and my life. I have overcome fears that I have been dealing with for years (and) the best part was how quickly my riding shifted. It was amazing! I've literally told everyone I know to work with her.
J.R. Oregon, Adult Amateur Hunter/Jumper
"
"Dr. Pernilla Nathan is the talent and vision of Equipsy Performance and I want to take a moment to recognize how she has changed my life. Not only is Dr. Nathan constantly challenging me to look beyond my personal boundaries but more so to expand and grow into my goals. She continues to help me realize the power we have to believe in ourselves and push through the discomforts that bring so much growth and strength. When I first starting working with Dr. Nathan I had a fear of being in the show ring and making a rash decision that could end up hurting my horse, I found that fear was debilitating enough to make me freeze up and void my true passion, which is the connection with the horse. Since discovering this fear and continuing to working through it, I have changed in the show ring and have become, what I feel, is a much more confident rider and always striving to be the best partner I can be for my horse. It's not easy to try and understand fears, nor to work through them, but Dr. Nathan has given me the power to feel empowered to work through them. For that, I am forever grateful and cannot speak highly enough of her and her work."
HELEN ABRAMS (POLLOCK)
Jumper
@life_equestrian
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Does the challenge deep dive into how to ride horses?
A: No, this challenge is structured to help you enhance your mindset. Sports are 80% mindset, 20% physical performance. This is not a challenge that will help you change your ‘ride,’ or your ‘position’ etc.
That being said, each daily task is meant to help you gain enhance optimization in your performance, so you can start seeing results. These daily tasks are scientific-proven based techniques used to enhance performance.
Q: What is the purpose of the challenge?
A: The purpose is
1. to help you learn new ways that can help you elevate your riding
2. so you can have fun riding and not let your anxiety, nerves, mood control your rides
Q: What if I am going on vacation during the challenge? Should I join?
A: I would encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity, I am not sure when I will run another challenge like this. And remember you still have 2 months after the last day of the challenge upon your return to access the information. The challenge is also “portable” and can be “accessed” anywhere at any time. I would say it is still worth joining, because even while on vacation you can begin strengthening your habits. Just make sure, either way you go, to schedule the challenge into your schedule so you get the full benefits.
Q: Why did you create this challenge?
A: It’s supposed to be fun, but also to help support you through your mental uplevel. It’s a short but very strategic challenge to help you stay focused.
Q: Would this work for me even if I don’t compete or attend horse shows on the regular?
A: Yes. This is geared to riders of all disciplines and all levels. If there needs to be a slight “difference” between levels I will indicate this in the task. But, if you have any additional questions about whether or not this challenge is a good fit for you, DM me on IG or shoot me an email ([email protected]) and I’ll reply within 24 hours of receiving it.
Fine Print
© 2017–2026 EquiPsy Performance, LLC. All rights reserved.
This challenge contains proprietary content owned by EquiPsy Performance, LLC and Dr. Pernilla Nathan. Materials may not be copied, shared, reproduced, or distributed in any form without prior written permission.
This program is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychological, therapeutic, legal, or professional advice, nor does it create a clinician–patient or professional relationship of any kind.
Participation in this challenge is voluntary. You understand and agree that:
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Results are not guaranteed
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Outcomes depend on individual factors outside our control
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You are solely responsible for your decisions, actions, and participation
This challenge is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect a medical or mental health condition, please consult a qualified healthcare provider.
EquiPsy Performance, LLC and Dr. Pernilla Nathan are not liable for any direct or indirect outcomes related to participation in this program.