Mental Performance Coaching for Jockeys
1,000+ athletes coached since 1991. Amateur through Professional. Worldwide via Zoom
The horsemanship is there. You have the skills. What changes from works to races is mental. Work one-on-one with Peaksports certified mental performance coaches via Zoom from anywhere. Learn the same mental performance skills we’ve taught to competitive jockeys, exercise riders, and horse racing professionals for 40+ years.
What is Mental Performance Coaching for Horse Racing?
Horse racing mental performance coaching is one-on-one virtual training that helps jockeys and exercise riders overcome the mental barriers, such as race anxiety, loss of focus in the gate, fear after falls, and overthinking riding decisions, that prevent them from performing to their potential. At Peak Performance Sports, certified mental performance coaches work with horse racing professionals using the Athlete’s Mental Edge Framework and the Athlete’s Mental Aptitude Assessment (AMAP) to build a personalized mental game plan. Programs are available for amateur and professional riders worldwide.
Trusted by horse racing professionals since 1991 · Worldwide via Zoom
Prefer to talk? Call a coach directly: 407-909-1700 · Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm ET
What’s Holding Your Riding Back in Competition?
If you ride with confidence in the morning works but lose it in races, your mental game is what needs work. Do any of these sound familiar?
→”I lose my focus and composure in the gate and it affects my ride.”
→”After a fall or incident, I ride with more caution and fear than before.”
→”I second-guess my riding decisions in races instead of trusting my instincts.”
→”I can’t seem to ride with the same confidence in races that I have in works.”
→”I get frustrated with results and it carries into my next ride.”
Real Results from Racing Professionals
“I Was Able to Perform with Confidence and Shine”
“WOW!!! What a week I had. I was able to perform with a confidence that allowed my style to shine through–no more entering the arena with that “deer in the headlights” look or feeling. I stopped evaluating myself while I was performing, and I actually left the arena after my patterns feeling like I had experienced a lot of fun. Thank you so much.”*
~Julia Dreyer, National Champion Equestrian
“The Best Show I Have Ever Had”
“I came across your website and ordered the Equestrian Confidence CD program. My competition yesterday was amazing and probably the best show my horse partner and I have ever had. I targeted reasonable objectives and broke things down. It was just us; no noise getting into my brain and creating those storms.”*
~Susan Mong, Equestrian
“Gave Me the Competitive Edge to Win”
“Your program helped me to regain focus and confidence. Our sport is all mental. I am very proud the last two races of the year. I was able to get back to enjoying what I loved to do-RACE. Your program gave me the competitive edge that I needed to win races. Thanks so much again.”*
~Chip Ellis, Pro Stock Motorcycle Racer
Ready to Ride with Morning Works Confidence in Every Race?
Schedule a free introductory Zoom session with a mental coach and find out exactly what mental skills are holding your race riding back:
How Our Horse Racing Mental Coaching Works
Step 1: Assessment
Take the Athlete’s Mental Aptitude Assessment (AMAP) to identify mental game strengths and weaknesses specific to your race riding. Your results and performance patterns provide a baseline for measuring improvement.
Step 2: Strategies and Tools
Learn mental performance strategies tailored to racing, pre-race mental routines, gate focus techniques, strategies for trusting riding decisions in the heat of a race, and composure tools for managing fear after falls or incidents.
Step 3: Review and Preparation
Work through the Athlete’s Mental Edge audio and workbook program between sessions to reinforce mental skills and apply them directly to your next race day.
Step 4: Application
Apply customized pre-race mental preparation, guided imagery for race scenarios, gate focus routines, and strategies for riding confidently after falls, incidents, and disappointing results.
What You Get with Horse Racing Mental Performance Coaching
- Your morning works confidence and instinctive riding carry into every race
- A pre-race routine that keeps you focused from the paddock through the wire
- Trust in your riding decisions in the heat of a race instead of second-guessing
- Composure after falls and incidents, ride with confidence instead of caution
- Resilience through losing streaks and disappointing results without carrying them forward
Every program includes: the AMAP assessment, a custom weekly Mental Game Plan, weekly Zoom coaching sessions, unlimited email correspondence, and the Athlete’s Mental Edge audio and workbook. Call us at 407-909-1700 with your questions.
Work with a Certified Mental Performance Coach via Zoom
Every mental coach on our team is certified, experienced, and ready to meet you where you are via Zoom. Visit the bio pages of our certified mental performance coaches.
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Who Is Dr. Patrick Cohn?
Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D. is the founder and president of Peak Performance Sports, LLC and one of the world’s most recognized mental performance coaches. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Sports Psychology from the University of Virginia under Dr. Bob Rotella and his Master’s degree from California State University, Fullerton under Dr. Ken Ravizza. Over decades he has coached Olympic Athletes, NASCAR drivers, PGA Tour professionals, and competitive athletes across 35+ high-performance sports. He is the creator of the Athlete’s Mental Edge Workbook Framework, the Mental Game Coaching Professional (MGCP) Certification, and the best-selling Confident Athlete program series.
Why Virtual Coaching Works for Horse Racing Professionals
| Factor | Virtual (Zoom) | In-Person |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Anywhere in the world, including at the track | Local area only |
| Scheduling | Flexible around race meets and travel | Office hours, commute required |
| Session Format | Same structured 1-on-1 coaching | Same structured 1-on-1 coaching |
| Effectiveness | Research-backed, equally effective | Research-backed, equally effective |
| Getting Started | Within 1 week | Depends on local availability |
| Travel Required | None | Yes, drive to office |
| Tools Included | AMAP + Athlete’s Mental Edge workbook and audio | Varies by provider |
FAQ About Mental Performance Coaching for Horse Racing
What does a mental performance coach do for jockeys and exercise riders?
A mental performance coach for horse racing helps jockeys and exercise riders identify and overcome the mental barriers that prevent them from performing their best in races. This includes managing gate anxiety, overcoming fear after falls, trusting riding decisions in real time, maintaining composure through losing streaks, and developing pre-race routines that produce consistent focus from paddock to finish line.
Can horse racing mental coaching be done virtually via Zoom?
Yes, virtual coaching via Zoom is ideal for racing professionals who travel to different tracks throughout the season. Sessions are weekly, one-on-one, and flexible around your race schedule. Most riders start within a week of reaching out.
How much does horse racing mental performance coaching cost?
Self-guided digital training programs start from $79. Virtual coaching programs include weekly one-on-one sessions with a certified mental performance coach, the AMAP assessment, a custom mental game plan, unlimited email support, and the Athlete’s Mental Edge workbook. Contact us for full coaching pricing.
How do I overcome fear after a fall or incident?
Fear after a fall is the most common issue we address with jockeys and exercise riders. We use a structured approach that includes guided imagery, progressive confidence-building, and specific pre-race routines designed to shift your focus from fear of what might happen to trust in your skills and preparation. Most riders notice meaningful improvement within 4 to 6 sessions.
Ready to Ride with Confidence in Every Race?
Schedule a free introductory Zoom session. Tell us your role, level, and the mental challenges you’re facing, and we’ll have you up and running within a week:
Available worldwide · No travel required · No commitment · Zoom · FaceTime · Phone
Prefer to talk? Call us today: 407-909-1700 · Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm ET
What the Research Shows About Effectiveness of Mental Training
Psychological skills training produces measurable performance gains: According to a 2024 meta-analysis published in Sports Medicine (Röthlin et al.), psychological skills training produced a significant moderate effect on athletic performance (effect size of 0.83), based on a systematic review of 111 studies with competitive athletes at the regional, university, and professional level.
90% of reviews confirm mental skills training enhances performance: A 2023 review of reviews published in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology examined 30 systematic reviews spanning four decades of research and found that 90% concluded psychological skills training interventions enhance athletic performance.
Sports Mental Performance Coaching (Select Your Sport)
All Sports | Auto Racing | Baseball | Basketball | Dance & Ballet | Equestrian | Figure Skating | Football | Golf | Gymnastics | Hockey | Horse Racing | Kart Racing | Lacrosse | Martial Arts & Boxing | Motocross | Mountain Bike Racing | Musicians & Actors | Pickleball | Putting Yips | Soccer | Softball | Shooting | Surfing | Skydiving | Swimming | Tennis | Throwing Yips | Track & Running | Trading | Volleyball | Wrestling
Disclaimer
*Testimonials found on this site are examples of what we have done for other clients, and what some of our clients have said about us. However, we cannot guarantee the results in any case. Your results may vary and every situation is different. No compensation was provided for these testimonials.
Last Updated on May 31, 2026