Welcome to the
Forging Ahead Academy
Mental Skills for Equestrians
Overcome self doubt and lack of confidence, discover and embrace your full riding potential and thrive in equestrian sport!
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the mental demands of riding?
Struggling to stay calm at competitions or manage the pressures of horse show life?
Or maybe you’re ready to set bold goals but have no idea how to turn them into reality?
If you’ve ever felt like this, you’re not alone. The world of equestrian sport is as mentally demanding as it is physically.
But here's the good news:
You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. The Forging Ahead Academy is here to support you, guide you, and help you grow—mentally, emotionally, and strategically.
For 2025, we’re taking it up a level.
Our brand-new structure will provide you with even more resources, support, and guided learning opportunities to help you master the mental side of riding.
From live courses to weekly toolkits, and meditations designed just for riders, this is the most complete equestrian mental skills program available.
Why Join the Forging Ahead Academy?
If you’ve ever asked yourself…
“Why do I always feel anxious before a competition?”
“Why do I struggle to stay calm when things don’t go to plan?”
“Why can’t I stick to my goals and make lasting progress?”
“Why do I keep doubting myself, even after all the training I’ve done?”
Then the Forging Ahead Academy was made for you!
This isn’t just about “thinking positive.” It’s about building mental strength, emotional resilience, and practical strategies that you can actually use when you need them most—in the saddle, at competitions, and in your everyday life as an equestrian.
What’s Included in Your Academy Membership?
When you join the Forging Ahead Academy, you gain access to an ongoing, ever-evolving library of mental skills resources and live support. No more guessing, Googling, or wondering if you’re doing it right. This is your step-by-step plan for success.
Here’s what’s waiting for you inside:
🔥 4 x 10-Week Guided Courses in 2025 🔥
Each quarter, we’ll dive into a brand-new 10-week live, online course designed to help you grow in key areas. These courses aren’t fluffy webinars—you’ll get expert guidance, practical tools, and real coaching support to apply everything you learn. Here’s the 2025 Line-Up
:🗓️ January–March: Mental Health, Stress & Overwhelm (Inspired by the Alignment Challenge)
Master the tools to manage anxiety and stress in your riding life.
Learn to prioritize mental health and build resilience.
Discover techniques like mindfulness, breathing exercises, and the enneagram to better understand yourself and your reactions.
🗓️ April–June: Happy Horse Shows (Support for Riders and Parents/Partners)
Make horse shows a happier experience for the whole family.
Learn how your enneagram style affects show-day stress and family dynamics.
Support parents/partners and riders to feel calm, connected, and prepared.
🗓️ July–September: Dreams to Reality: Strategy & Goal-Setting for Equestrians
Turn your wildest dreams into clear, achievable goals.
Create an action plan with step-by-step guidance on how to make it happen.
Build systems for motivation, accountability, and follow-through.
🗓️ October–December: Grief, Failure & Difficult Times
Learn how to navigate loss, disappointment, and setbacks.
Build the emotional tools to handle tough times with grace and courage.
Explore techniques to turn failure into growth and strength.
Every week, for 10 weeks, we'll all meet up in the online coaching class, and work through the course material together. There will be opportunity for group and individual coaching, as well as practical exercises to do at home.
All courses are recorded and available in your member dashboard—watch anytime, as often as you like!
🧰 Weekly Toolbox Talks
Sometimes you don’t need a whole course—you just need a quick, actionable idea to shift your perspective or boost your performance. Each week, I will release a short, practical “Toolbox Talk” to help you handle real-life challenges as they come up. Examples of past Toolbox Talks include:
How to refocus after making a mistake.
What to say to yourself when you feel like you’re failing.
How to shift from perfectionism to progress.
These mini-trainings are short, powerful, and designed to get you back on track, fast.
Its like having your mental skills coach in your pocket!
🎧 Monthly Audio Meditations & Mental Skills Practices
When you’re in the middle of a competition or just trying to get your head right before a ride, sometimes you need a voice to guide you. Exclusive monthly meditations are here for exactly that moment. Each month, a new audio meditation is released to support your growth and calm your mind. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, preparing for a competition, or just need to feel more focused, you’ll have a meditation designed just for riders. Examples of meditations include:
Overcoming show-day nerves.
Confidence-building visualization.
End-of-day reflections to process stress and set goals for tomorrow.
💪 On-Demand Support & Resources
As an Academy member, you’ll have immediate access to all recorded courses, toolkits, and meditations. That means you’ll never miss a course or lose access to materials. Work at your own pace, revisit key lessons, and build a mental skills toolbox you can use for life.
What Makes the Forging Ahead Academy Different?
There are lots of mental skills courses out there, but the Forging Ahead Academy is different because of the holistic approach I use with every rider. Here’s how:
🔍 PST vs. MAC
Most sports psychology focuses on skills like goal-setting, visualization, and focus (that’s PST - Performance Skills Training). I go deeper with MAC (Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment), which includes mental health, mindfulness, and emotional resilience.
🧭 The Enneagram Approach
Your personality matters. How you react under pressure, how you cope with failure, and how you handle your horse’s unpredictability—these things are unique to you. That’s why I incorporate Enneagram coaching into my work, helping you understand your core motivations and triggers.
🤝 It Complements Your Riding Coach
This isn’t “instead of” riding lessons—it’s an essential addition to them. Mental skills coaching works with your technical riding coach to provide a more complete and holistic approach to your development as an athlete.
Ready to get started?
Who is the Academy For?
This space is for equestrians who are:
Tired of riding with self-doubt and anxiety
Ready to start believing in themselves again
Committed to building mental strength, not just physical skill
Wanting to perform with confidence in high-pressure moments
Looking for a calm, supportive space to grow and experience the joy of riding again
looking to challenge themselves, overcome self-doubt and develop focus skills
Young, ambitious junior riders
"more mature", passionate riders
Semi-professional riders and trainers
If this sounds like you, then welcome. You’re in the right place.
How Much Does It Cost?
You can join the Forging Ahead Academy for just £50 per month.
SPECIAL OFFER: Join during our 12 Days to Christmas Campaign for just £25 per month
(yes, that’s 50% discount!)
Stay as long as you like and leave anytime—there are no long-term contracts.
Here's what you get:
4 x 10 week guided courses in 2025
Weekly Toolbox Talks
Monthly Meditations
1 FREE one on one session
Total value: £1041
From 14 to 25 Dec Just £25
"Best purchase ever!"
"Linda and the Forging Ahead Academy has had a massive impact on my life." Fiona
Here's what you get:
4 x 10 week guided courses in 2025
Weekly Toolbox Talks
Monthly Meditations
1 FREE one on one session
Total value: £1041
From 14 to 25 Dec Just £25
"Best purchase ever!"
"Linda and the Forging Ahead Academy has had a massive impact on my life." Fiona
You can join the Forging Ahead Academy for just £50 per month.
SPECIAL OFFER: Join during our 12 Days to Christmas Campaign for just £25 per month
(yes, that’s 50% discount!)
Stay as long as you like and leave anytime—there are no long-term contracts.
South African friends and clients - I have your back too! You can also join the Academy for a special discounted rate for the 12 Days of Christmas: Usual Price R500
SPECIAL PRICE: R350
Pssssst: Use the COUPON code - CHRISTMAS - to claim your special offer.
You will keep this price monthly for as long as you stay a member.
What Members are saying:
Janice
"It's been a journey of self-discovery, revealing aspects of myself I'd denied. As a private person, sharing in this safe space has been a growth experience, benefiting not just my riding but also managing work-related stress.
I really look forward to our fortnightly meetings with Linda and the rest of the gang - they are the little carrot which keep me going forward through what could have been a really rough patch."
Louise
"I have been going through your course material and it has helped me tremendously.
I am my own worst enemy as I am very critical of my riding and tend to get very tense when I am being watched.
I have to say though that after working through some of the academy material, my show last weekend was really great.
Also as I am now more positive and motivated, my horse is more motivated and he is focusing on what I ask of him.”
Fiona
"Linda and the Forging Ahead Academy has had a massive impact on my life. I joined the program in the hopes of becoming a braver and less anxious rider. What I have gotten out of the course so far is so much more.
My coach, staff, friends, as well as family have noticed and benefitted from my growth as an individual. I will be forever grateful for the tools and knowledge I have gained from working through the Forging Ahead program!"
"The Academy gave me tools I didn’t know I needed. I ride with more calm and connection than ever before." – Sarah
"Knowing I have support every month keeps me grounded. I love the Toolbox Talks—they’re like a mental reset button!" – Rachel
"I used to feel anxious every competition day. Now, I have rituals that calm me and I actually enjoy competing!" – Emma
MEET THE FOUNDER & CEO
Hey, I'm Linda!
As a passionate amateur rider and professional mental skills coach, I help equestrians master their mindset so they can ride with confidence, clarity, and calm.
With over 14 years of experience, I’ve supported riders of all levels to overcome fear, manage pressure, and achieve their goals—both in and out of the arena.
My approach blends PST (Performance Skills Training) with the deeper MAC (Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment) model, offering a holistic pathway to growth, mental wellness, and peak performance.
Here’s what I offer:
One-on-One Mental Skills Coaching – Personalized support to help you overcome nerves, doubt, and performance pressure.
The Forging Ahead Academy – Access weekly Toolbox Talks, guided 10-week courses, and monthly meditations to develop your mental strength.
Holistic Rider Development – Build self-awareness, emotional control, and mental resilience so you can ride with purpose, passion, and presence.
Results. If you put the work in, you will see the benefits. Guaranteed.
Still have Questions?
Feel free to email Linda directly on [email protected]
or
Schedule a 30 min FREE call to discuss your needs
or
ask in the Forging Ahead Facebook group - tag @Linda Hennings
UNLOCK YOUR FULL POTENTIAL.
ACHIEVE YOUR RIDING GOALS.
Join the Forging Ahead Academy today and unleash your true equestrian potential
