Is Your Coaching "Stoic" or Just "Strict"?

The term "Stoic" is often misused in the equestrian world to mean someone who is "unfeeling". In reality, Stoicism is an ancient "operating system" for thriving in high-stress environments.

As Ryan Holiday (author of The Obstacle Is The Way) explains, Stoicism is about the "mental game." It teaches athletes to maintain inner tranquility by focusing exclusively on what is within their Sphere of Control. In coaching, this means moving away from a focus on "winning" (which is an external result) and focusing on the rider's "reasoned choices" and "virtue" (internal actions).

A key principle shared in a previous Centre10 Workshop is “Practice Difficulty on Purpose.” Most riders avoid what scares them, but a Stoic coach helps the rider "lean into" the discomfort of a scary corner or a difficult transition. This builds "Antifragility" - the ability to not just survive a challenge, but to grow because of it.

At Centre10, our coaches have access to specialised tools to help their riders "Control the Controllables."

• Member-Only Resource: The 12 Stoic Principles Essential to Sport PDF - a step-by-step guide to applying Marcus Aurelius’s wisdom to the modern arena.

• The Hub Technique: Learn the "View from Above" journaling exercise to help your riders reduce the significance of their perceived failures.

Want to see the full 12-rule framework and watch the replay of our "Obstacle is the Way" webinar? 

Find out about Centre10 Courses and Membership below!