The person
Emotions, motivation, self-confidence and perception of risk. Recognise how you feel and how this affects your riding.
PERSON · HORSE · RELATIONSHIP
Confidence is built. So is connection.
Understand the person. Understand the horse. Improve the relationship between them.
Psychology, sports coaching and equine behavioural science to move forward with greater confidence, balance and wellbeing.
Applied Equestrian PsychologySports coachingEquine behaviour
PSICOHÍPICA
An integrated view of riding
Riding involves more than technique. Emotions, expectations and experience interact with a horse’s temperament, learning and needs. Understanding the whole picture helps us work on what is actually happening.
The horse
Temperament, experience, learning and welfare. Understand responses without assuming human intentions.
The relationship
Clear cues, realistic expectations and shared experiences. Communication that both partners can understand.
Explore the services
Three areas. One shared approach.
Support tailored to you, your horse and where you are in your journey.
Rider psychology
Rebuild confidence and enjoy riding again
A fall, an unexpected reaction or a recurring difficulty can change how you experience riding. We explore what triggers insecurity and develop resources to move forward at your pace, with safety in mind.
Fear of riding
Cantering, jumping, hacking or riding a particular horse. Distinguish useful caution from fear that disrupts your riding.
After a fall
Understand memories and anticipation of another accident, and gradually return to activities.
Anticipatory anxiety
Recognise worry, tension and negative thoughts before riding, and address avoidance.
Confidence and self-efficacy
Develop realistic confidence from your own resources rather than comparison or constant approval.
Motivation and frustration
Adjust expectations, recognise progress and rediscover meaningful goals.
Emotions and concentration
Regulate tension and frustration and regain attention while riding.
We begin with an interview and initial assessment. We agree goals, explore thoughts and expectations and practise self-regulation and gradual coping strategies. Learning is transferred to riding and progress reviewed, considering the horse and the environment.
“Confidence means developing resources to approach risk more realistically and safely.”
I want to rebuild confidenceSports coaching and equestrian performance
Training the mind is part of training
Mental preparation complements technical, physical and tactical training. We work on pressure, expectations and fear of mistakes to help you express your abilities in training and competition.
TechnicalPhysicalTacticalPsychological
Motivation and goals
Process, performance and outcome goals to guide everyday practice.
Self-confidence
A realistic view of your abilities and your horse’s preparation.
Concentration
Focus on useful cues and regain attention after distractions.
Managing pressure
Breathing and arousal regulation to meet competitive demands.
Self-talk and imagery
Useful thoughts and mental practice of movements, courses and situations.
Mistakes and routines
Recognise errors, refocus and continue with a pre-competition plan.
Before: goals, routines and contingency plans. During: attention, decisions and reading the horse’s responses. Afterwards: analysis, learning and revised goals. Support may include online sessions, video reviews and coordination with your coach.
“The aim is to develop resources and consistency, without promising competitive results.”
Improve my mental preparationEquine behaviour and learning
Understanding the horse changes the relationship
Every horse has individual characteristics and a learning history. We observe behaviour in context to understand needs and make handling, education and training clearer.
Temperament and personality
Reactivity, sensitivity and sociability inform an individual approach without rigid labels.
How horses learn
Habituation and sensitisation; classical and operant conditioning; generalisation and discrimination. Positive reinforcement adds something rewarding; negative reinforcement removes pressure and is not punishment.
Behavioural difficulties
Fear of stimuli, loading, handling, lunging and defensive or avoidance responses: understand before intervening.
Human–horse communication
Clear, consistent aids, observation of signals and understandable learning experiences.
Environment and welfare
Social contact, movement, feeding, housing and routines are part of the assessment.
Horse–rider suitability
The needs, experience, abilities and expectations of both partners.
We gather the horse’s history, observe antecedents and consequences, develop hypotheses and plan strategies. We support the owner and review progress. Signs of pain or illness require a veterinary assessment.
“Understanding causes and protecting welfare guide every decision.”
Ask about my horseOur approach
A clear process. Your own path.
Initial conversation
Understand your situation, needs and goals.
Assessment and understanding
Identify psychological, behavioural and environmental factors.
Your plan
Agree realistic goals and tailored strategies.
Practice and review
Apply skills, observe changes and adapt.
Consolidation
Transfer learning to everyday riding and build independence.
Applied Equestrian Psychology
Science put into practice
Riding simulator
Posture, balance, body awareness and psychological skills in a controlled setting.
Virtual reality
A complementary resource for representing situations, mental practice and coping exercises.
Questionnaires and self-monitoring
Understand thoughts, emotions, motivation and response patterns.
Video analysis
Review training and interactions to turn observations into practical actions.
Psychology and coaching
Goals, imagery, attention, self-regulation and action plans.
For every way of enjoying horses
Leisure ridersAthletes and competitorsOwners and carersCoaches and instructorsEquestrian centresSports teams
ABOUT ME
Josep Closas Compte
Psychology, education and equestrian experience.
I am a psychologist and qualified equestrian sports instructor, with training in sports coaching and high-performance psychology. My background brings together equestrian practice, teaching and the development of technological tools. This perspective helps me connect human psychological processes with equine behaviour and learning, turning knowledge into practical resources.
Author of HERD Diagnostic
I designed HERD, Human and Equine Relationships Diagnostic: a project focused on understanding people, horses and their relationship.
Explore the HERD project ↗
THE BOOK
Psicología y Equitación: Cognición, Emoción y Aprendizaje en la Relación Humano-Caballo
A book exploring the human–horse relationship through cognition, emotion and learning. It connects scientific foundations with education, training, performance and personal development with horses.
Spanish-language edition
Buy the book on AmazonBefore taking the first step
Do I need to compete?
No. Support is also for leisure riders who want to enjoy riding with more confidence.
Can I rebuild confidence after a fall?
We can explore what happened and plan gradual work suited to you, without fixed deadlines or guaranteed outcomes.
Can fear of riding be addressed?
Yes, by identifying triggers, resources and safety conditions. Where clinical healthcare is needed, referral to an appropriately qualified professional is required.
Rider psychology or sports coaching?
Rider psychology addresses psychological difficulties and skills related to riding. Coaching focuses on goals, preparation and performance.
Are online sessions available?
Yes. We agree the format according to your goals, using self-monitoring and video where helpful.
How many sessions will I need?
We assess this after understanding your situation, agree a plan and regularly review its usefulness.
Do you work with equine behaviour?
Yes, through observation, learning and welfare. Possible physical causes require veterinary assessment.
Should my coach take part?
Coordination can help, always with your agreement.
Can we review videos?
Yes. Training and competition videos help identify patterns and practical improvements.
What happens in the first consultation?
We discuss your situation, gather information and explore goals and suitable support.
Contact
Let’s talk about your situation
Tell me what you would like to change. We will explore the right support together.
PsicoHípica
By appointment · In person and online
Orient, 78–84, Floor 3, Office 1508172 Sant Cugat del Vallès
Barcelona · Spain
(+34) 607 208 043info@psicohipica.com Open location in OpenStreetMap ↗