An easy-to-implement framework proven to grow rider confidence, tested by the world’s leading equestrian athletes.

Without confidence, achievement in competition is unattainable. When confidence is lacking in any sport, equestrian included, chances are your career will be short. Renowned performance coach John Haime has written the book to counter this challenge, providing the mental tools riders need to be better under pressure of all kinds and consistently succeed.

Equestrian sport is a partnership: there’s an equine athlete, and there’s a human athlete. Haime notes that often, there is an investment in world-class training for one partner (the horse), but not the other (the human). This compromises the potential effectiveness of the horse-and-rider team. It just makes sense for equestrians to develop their own skills—mental and physical—and bring more to the partnership.

Haime explains that there is what he believes is a crisis of confidence in modern equestrian sport. This has a variety of causes, including: a lack of fundamental mental/emotional structure and development, the presence and prominence of technology in the rider’s life, and the constant comparisons inherent in social media and a technically “connected” existence. Addressing this crisis enables equestrians of all ages and abilities to: communicate better with their horses, both in day-to-day interactions and competition; absorb more in valuable learning situations, such as lessons and clinics; and perform their best when the stakes are high, as when heading into the jump-off or approaching the last fence on the cross-country course.

Haime invites readers to dive into three clear and informative areas of exploration:

• The Confidence Base: Firm up the fundamentals.
• The Confidence Builders: Systems and tips to help you build confidence.
• The Confidence Threats: An inside look at what to watch out for in riding and in competition.

Throughout, those who have reached the highest levels on horseback in a number of disciplines share their stories, including Michael Jung, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Laura Tomlinson, Harry Meade, Oliver Townend, Mattias Tromp, Casey Deary, Beth Underhill, Fred Mannix, Jarred Zenni, Beth Underhill, Jonathon Millar, and Kelly Soleau-Millar. These Olympians, champions, and medalists explain what they do in the saddle and how their techniques for performing under world-class pressure might help other riders develop a similar kind of confidence. Perhaps even more valuable are the struggles these top competitors share, giving readers the rare opportunity to see how even “the best of the best” are human, too.

The way riders develop confidence in their equestrian lives is transferable to everything they do: a confident rider can be a confident business person, confident worker, confident spouse, confident parent, and confident friend. In this way, Ride Big!™ instills a skill of worth and promise that extends far beyond the show ring.

John Haime's profile page

John Haime is a former tournament professional golfer who left his life as a professional athlete to first produce workplace learning programs and eventually blend his areas of experience and knowledge into an innovative system of performance coaching. He has helped some of the world’s top performers in sports, business, and entertainment build mental and emotional muscle so they can maximize their abilities, creating a winning formula of sport psychology, emotional intelligence, performance psychology, neuroscience, and executive coaching. His company, New Edge Performance, has generated breakthrough results for clients in major professional sports leagues, including the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLS, and Haime has counseled athletes in a variety of other sports—golf, tennis, and equestrian. For the past seven years, he has worked with dozens of equestrian clients, from young hunter riders and adult beginners to the world’s top show jumping, dressage, and eventing athletes. He has coached Nations Cup winners, Grand Prix winners, and national champions, and has worked individuals competing at top events like the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida, the American Gold Cup in New York, and the Badminton Horse Trials in England. Haime is the author of You Are a Contender! Build Emotional Muscle to Perform Better and Achieve More … in Business, Sports and Life and is based in Canada (johnhaime.com).

“This guide from John Haime will help equestrians build their confidence, handle their emotions, and deal with pressure. I highly recommend it to competitors looking to take their riding to the next level.” —Beezie Madden, Olympic Gold Medalist, Show Jumping

"SUCH a brilliant book and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know—there’s such a lovely balance of theory with case studies on famous riders. So much variety in the structure that I’m sure will make it really engaging for whoever picks it up!” —Rebecca Philpot, Editor, Horse & Rider Magazine (UK)

“Equestrian sport is complex and individual for all riders. Ride Big will help you be better equipped to solve problems, be more confident when confronting challenges, and better enjoy your experiences with horses. Read this book.” —Michael Jung, Individual Olympic Gold Medalist 2012 and 2016 in Eventing

“Equestrians spend hours riding and training amazing athletes—their horses. But we know that nothing great can be accomplished without rider confidence. And, we know riders spend little time developing it. Ride Big provides the rider with the tools to build that confidence.” —Gary Carpenter, Commissioner, National Reining Horse Association (NRHA)

"In equestrian sports there are so many variables making it easy to find an 'out' or an excuse for failure. But when the rider chooses to take responsibility, Ride Big, and all the athletes in it, will share the secrets and home truths that allow equestrian athletes to unlock their full potential. And on those occasions when things do go wrong, they will know how to genuinely learn from their mistakes and do better in the future.” —Laura Tomlinson, Olympic gold medalist, Dressage

“I LOVE this book! Confidence is everything. It’s the key ingredient that makes a winner a winner! This book is a ‘must-read’ for every serious rider and coach—it is a treasure to reread and process before each competition. It will get your head in the game!" —Julie Winkel, Hunter/Jumper trainer and competitor, USEF R-rated judge, and sport horse breeder

"A confident rider is vital to the overall performance of the horse/rider partnership and John Haime’s Ride Big is a great tool for any rider to help improve their confidence in equestrian sport.” —Oliver Townend, FEI #1 World-Ranked Eventer

"I'm looking forward to recommending John Haime's Ride Big to all of my students. The book is a fantastic read and will give all riders tools to help them reach their top potential in their chosen discipline. These tools will help riders increase their confidence in the competition arena and get the most out of every training ride. They will also teach riders how to create a positive voice that will transfer to your equine partner." —Reese Koffler-Stanfield, USDF Gold Medalist and FEI Certified Instructor & Co-host of the Dressage Radio Show

“A fascinating and insightful look at the performance mind of the rider and the critical importance in the rider/horse relationship. A must for equestrian athletes looking to improve confidence and gain insight into their own emotional state." —Dr. Sarah McKay, Neuroscientist, Speaker and Author of The Woman’s Brain Book: The Neuroscience of Health, Hormones and Happiness

"John Haime's new book Ride Big is a must-read for all equestrians, regardless of their chosen discipline. Haime's step-by-step program will help you strategize your mental approach to the sport and give you the tools to handle the inevitable ups and downs. Haime's insights into the challenges equestrians face, and his comprehensive collection of exercises and techniques will have you reaching for this book again and again. I particularly enjoyed reading the perspectives of some of the great athletes in our industry, and the mechanisms and mindsets they use to stay consistently at the top of their game.” —Beth Underhil, Olympic Show Jumper, Jump Canada Hall of Fame Inductee

"I believe that the rider is only as strong and as successful as the mind allows him to be. If an equestrian athlete is not 100% confident in what he is doing, then the chance of not reaching objectives is much greater. John Haime’s Ride Big will give you the tools to grow your confidence and improve your mental game both on and off the horse." —Jared Zenni, Professional Polo Player, US Open Champion

“John Haime's new book Ride Big is a well-researched exploration of riders’ minds and is both thought-provoking and educational. The processes that he describes are well explained and provide an insight into the challenges riders face and ways to overcome them. Confidence and mindset are vital in any sport, but particularly relevant in one where a horse is involved. As creatures that are reliant on a flight of freeze instinct, and who’s training is entirely communicated through the silent body language of the human partner, it is paramount that the rider is able to control their own thoughts and emotions when under pressure.” —Harry Meade, Eventing World Championships Silver Medalist

“Reading Ride Big, by John Haime, will benefit all polo players, from the weekend warrior to the top-level professional. Equestrians from all disciplines have a shared passion of the horse/rider connection and its mental and emotional benefits to us as humans. Young riders, in particular, will not only see a benefit in the saddle, developing trust and confidence while riding, but also out of the saddle, developing these interpersonal skills key to a high emotional intelligence.” —Justin Powers, Executive Director, United States Polo Association – Polo Development Division

"Haime offers an easy-to-implement system proven to grow rider confidence and unlock your performance potential." —Polo Players' Edition

"Haime’s “self-help” book is all about helping riders build and keep confidence to achieve the results they want—regardless of riding discipline. Throughout the book he includes snapshots of featured equestrian athletes, e.g., McLain Ward, Laura Tomlinson, Michael Jung, Oliver Townend, Beezie Madden and Fred Mannix." —Mid-South Horse Review

“Haime’s book serves as the ultimate guide that helps equestrians assess and reflect on themselves as individuals and riders, and addresses the root causes behind shaken confidence. It stands out among other books on sports psychology and managing your mind…. The book’s structure and language ease the transmission of information in such a way to fully digest it, and prompt a holistic approach on how one behaves on and off the horse, during training, competitions, and at the stables, too.” —Horse Times Magazine

"If you are an aspiring professional with huge dreams, then this is the book for you." —Horse & Hound Magazine