The Performance Project
A Transformational Sports Psychology Course
Kick nerves & anxiety to the curb, train with a whole new level of success & create a joyful connection with your horse.
The Performance Project is designed for dedicated riders who have spent endless hours and poured a ton of money into their passion but still feel they are capable of more.
If you struggle with self-doubt or fear or show nerves and have tried all the things, it's time to finally learn how to...
Overcome The Mental & Emotional Blocks Holding You Back
Get concrete, easy-to-implement strategies that will allow you to progress unencumbered by fear, self-doubt and past negative experiences.
Improve Your Competitive Performance
Learn to use performance nerves to your advantage so you can ignite your full potential as a rider and truly ENJOY competing and training.
Nurture a Relationship of Mutual Trust
Experience perspective shifts that allow you to create harmony and connection with your horse on a whole new level.
Get out of your own way once and for all...
so you can live and ride with confidence
There is no other program like
The Performance Project.
I'm an Instructor and Professional Performance Coach but, as a lifelong rider, I've also been where you are right now, as you read this.
I have a lifetime of experience overcoming self-doubt, handling show nerves, overcoming fear after falls, creating horse/life balance and coming back after disappointment.
Over the last ten years, I've trained thousands of riders, from all disciplines, to access courage and build confidence from self-doubt and fear.
Once I became a professional performance coach, it wasn’t long before my one-on-one coaching practice became so overbooked that I literally could not keep up with the demand.
So I created The Performance Project as a way to help as many riders as possible learn how to love riding again after bad experiences (or just getting older!), break free from fear so they can fully enjoy their horses and/or shake their show nerves for good.
The Performance Project is designed to give you the experience of working with a professional performance coach—at a tiny fraction of the cost and on your own time.
The Performance Project has been created for riders who have tried all the things to overcome their fear or perfectionism or anxiety.
They’ve spent hours reading books, or invested hundreds of dollars working with sports psychologists. They've said affirmations and forced themselves to “push through” fear. Some have probably even tried pre-ride cocktails!
And still, the self-doubt or fear or anxiety persists.
I promise, that if you work this course, The Performance Project will be the last investment you'll have to make in your mental game for a very long time!
On the other side of fear is...everything
Experiencing fear, self-doubt, show nerves, and frustration when riding is normal. Which means...
You are not alone.
Read that again.
You are not alone.
I know you have spent a lot of time, money and energy on your passion.
And you want to reap the rewards of your investment.
I also know you wish you could just get rid of the fear.
But totally eliminating fear is not the answer. Fear keeps us safe.
What you will learn inside The Performance Project is how to overcome fear, self-doubt and anxiety to generate confidence, cultivate a deeper bond with your horse, and ride your very best.
The Performance Project
will transform the way you think, ride & live
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The Performance ProjectĀ
includesā¦
- 35+ easy-to-consume audio recordings. Listen to them while you drive, ride or work out, stay present to your goals and quickly implement what you learn.Ā Ā
- Customizable scripts & worksheets designed to generate deep transformation as you overcome challenges, surpass your goals and create a new standard of excellence for yourself.
- A downloadable , printable PDF of the entire course that you can use to stay organized and easily reference what you want.
- Exclusive membership to the private Performance Project Facebook Group so you can stay connected with a crazy-cool community of relatable riders who share your passions.Ā Ā
- Accountability emailsĀ to keep you on track and inspired.Ā
MeetĀ Your Coach
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Jen Verharen is a professional Performance, Business &Ā Leadership Coach. Sheās the Founder and Creator of Cadence Coaching.
She specializes in helping equestrian athletes and entrepreneurs turn their dreams into goals and their goals into reality.
Jen has over 30 years of experience as a coach and trainer.
Sheās been a life-long student of the human psyche and spirit as well as a rider and horse lover.Ā
Sheās an experienced facilitator and leads popular coaching programs for riders and business owners as well as health and leadership training programs.Ā
Jen coaches youth riders, adult amateurs and internationally competitive riders in mental fitness, emotional suppleness and resilience.Ā
Whether a riderās goal is to complete a trail ride, go to their first show, return to riding after time off or compete in the Olympics, she is equally passionate about facilitating success for them on their terms.
Let's get started āYou are not alone!
Join other riders who started out where you are right now and have been transformed by taking this course.
When I started The Performance Project, I knew exactly how to get performance out of myself but I was tired of my self-imposed pressure and I wasn’t having much fun. I had a constant “go, go, go, do more, be better” voice in my head that had served me well but was now getting in my way. I was burnt out on life and I didn’t even know it.
Through participation in The Performance Project, I developed a whole new mindset. “Presence Every Day” became my mantra. I lost that task-master inner voice and shifted my focus to what really matters to me- having fun, learning, and getting better. As a result, not only have I been having more fun, but I have already accomplished two of my major goals this year: I won my first event of the season and I wrote my first book!
Christine Howard-Reagan
I so admire and appreciate your style and effectiveness as a leader, instructor and coach, Jen. It was a great experience going through The Performance Project and then getting to meet you in person and have a riding lesson with you! You are such an asset to our PNW equestrian community and beyond. I ended my season accomplishing a goal that I thought was impossible at the beginning of the year- not only completing, but winning my division at the Spokane Horse Trials.
The most important things I’ve gained though, are having frequent and longer periods of confident, relaxed rides in public, more motivation to practice, a positive attitude change, self-forgiveness, patience, and a coaching model to help my SLP grad students. Thank you for sharing your wonderful skills, time and for just being you!
Alice Burrows
I found The Performance Project when I was really struggling to overcome a past traumatic experience. I had had a very bad fall that left me hospitalized with a collapsed lung. Even with a new horse, I could not get over my fear.
The Performance Project has taught me to face my fears strategically. I now have an understanding of how to get through them. I retrained my brain with concrete tools that my instructor loved. She really bought into the program and we worked it together. I was able to work through the fears left over from my fall and get joy in my riding I hadn’t even realized was gone!
Once I was able to get through that fear, I accomplished a goal I never thought I would have the courage to set. Thunder and I won a Freestyle Championship that brought me even more joy than I could have imagined.
This doesn’t mean everything went perfectly though. In TPP, I learned how to handle things with grace when they didn’t go well. I handled some pretty scary experiences that would have benched me before.
I’ve taken The Performance Project several times now. Learning to work through my fear in the saddle has also helped me begin to honor my own self-worth. I recently made the tough but great decision to move barns and have lost over 100 pounds on what has been an incredible health journey. I really cannot thank Jen enough and cannot recommend The Performance Project highly enough!
Kelly McGillan
The Performance Project was life changing! I was somewhat skeptical but several trusted coaches recommended it to me. I was at a very low point in my equestrian life so I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a try...The information was practical so I could immediately try techniques and ideas and, better yet, immediately see results. My horse and I have already significantly improved our dressage show performance and made huge strides in overcoming significant fear in the jumping phases. I am so impressed with how the seemingly small changes Jen recommends can have such significant, positive impact on performance. I'm pretty sure every equestrian could benefit from this program!
Lorraine Heath
I first signed up for TPP because I wanted to find a way to quiet the questioning voices of uncertainty in my head and gain clarity about how to accomplish my goals. My goals at that time were to find a path to second level dressage by the next show season. And to compete at beginner novice at an event and enjoy it without fear ruining the experience. I was putting tons of pressure on myself to perform well and it was really getting in the way of my progress. Jen gives very specific tools for transitioning from a state of fear into a state of courage.This has had such an impact on me! I realize now, how much my own thoughts were creating my anxiety and pressure. I’ve been able to use the TPP tools to become much more focused while I’m training and competing. I actually feel the difference in my chest- a feeling of lightness and openness. While I was in TPP, I moved up to second level and actually won a couple of events- WHILE HAVING FUN!
Anita Parra
At the beginning of The Performance Project, several people who’d done it before said it was life changing for them. I chuckled then but now I get it. If you do the work and commit to the course it really is! I so wish I had found the Performance Project years ago. It has changed how I approach my rides but also how I approach projects at work. I love how positive this program is and that it’s specifically directed to riders. I paid for several private sessions with a sports coach several years ago and she kept comparing horses to bicycles- THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER! I am much more positive when riding my new horse and I no longer let my fear take me away.
Ruth Boozer
Here’s How We’ll Work Together To Achieve Your Goals
Fear to Power: Flip the Script
Gain an understanding of how fear, uncertainty and self-doubt develop, how they impact your horse and how to consistently shift into a powerful, confident state both in your life and while you’re in the saddle.
Laying the Foundation: Purpose Through Passion
Learn about the neuroscience of goal setting and how to make this time different! Make a strategic plan for your riding and experience the power of having clarity about your BIG WHY. Stay motivated for the long haul, get mentally tough and truly learn to enjoy the ride!
Mindset Mastery: Harness the Power of Your Mind
Learn to leverage neuroplasticity to improve you riding and retrain your brain. Learn to access courage, stretch your comfort zone and get more joy from your riding. Convert your limiting beliefs and nix self-sabotaging behaviors that have been holding you back.
Mindset Mastery:
The Tools!
Learn practical, easy to implement strategies that you can use both in the saddle and in your life to transform your experience and build trust and confidence in your horse. This is a tool box that will last you a lifetime.
Emotions are Meant to Move
Become resilient, emotionally supple and learn to move through fear or self-doubt rather than let it keep you stuck. Gain an understanding of cultural and industry norms that can contribute to keeping you stuck and how to overcome them. Transform fear into inspiration!
Expand Your Capacity & Your Comfort Zone
Learn the basics of how the nervous system works and why this is so important for riders to understand. Train your nervous system like you train your horse so that you can expand your comfort zone and develop the capacity to do all the things you want to do with your horse.
Who Doesn’t Love a Good Bonus?
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TPP Pre-Ride Guided Meditation
A 6 minute audio recording you can upload to your phone and listen to anywhere.
This Mindset Mastery Meditation will be an invaluable part of your riding routine!
Listen while you tack up, warm up or during your pre-ride mental rehearsal.Ā
This meditation is specially designed to help you flip the switch from fear to power.Ā
It will help you transition from your crazy busy day into a powerful state of calm and presence so you can be who you need to be for your horse during every ride.Ā
This is not a fluffy, elevator style meditation- it is artfully crafted to help you use principals from The Performance Project to retrain your brain and your nervous system.
Itās simple and practical and will empower you to shift your emotional state, access courage and develop confidence.
With The Performance Project you will...
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Make massive progress with your riding and feel proud of how far youāve comeĀ
Become willing to take chances inside and outside the ring
Bounce back from setbacks faster than ever before
Transform pressure into the motivation and excitement to perform at your best
Rediscover your Big Why, the reason behind your passion for ridingĀ
Obtain the competitive success andĀ confidence you desire
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And experience more confidence in all areas of your lifeāincluding career, relationships, health & fitness as well as riding.Ā
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GET $100 OFF REGULAR PRICE THROUGH JANUARY 31ST
I began working with Jen in 2015...Over the years, I have created a personal vision for myself…twice…set goals and strategies for my riding and my life, and have experienced the power of believing in and accomplishing those goals. I could not have achieved what I have without Jen’s insight and skill as a coach and guide. She helped me see the only person getting in my way was me. And even when I could not always see the way, I believed in myself and trusted the end result would be a foregone conclusion. I can say without reservation, Jen’s system works, and it works fast because, with her encouragement, I was willing to do the work and take the action, even though it was challenging at times. My work with Jen is gift I gave myself. And, in turn, Jen gave me the gift of believing in the power of me!
Debbie Berry
Winter Enrollment Window isĀ OPEN!Ā
Start 2024 with a new level of commitment to your horse, your riding and your partnership!
Your Riding Life Before This Program
- Feeling frustrated by your inability to kick fear, self-doubt, and performance anxiety
- Investing endless time and money into more training, new equipment, and even different horses or coaches but don't see much progress
- Looking around and believing other riders are better, more confident or more talented than you
- Experiencing your anxiety spill over into other areas of your life
- Lacking a consistent bond with your horse because fear keeps you disconnected
- Feeling your stomach sink and body fill with dread before shows, cantering, clinics or trail rides
Your Riding Life After This Program
- Make steady progress and feel excited to ride unencumbered by fear and self-doubt.
- Follow a strategic path that creates energetic shifts in which YOU feel empowered to make the changes you've been craving
- Discover your own unique strengths as a rider and finally enjoy success on YOUR terms
- Manage stress and anxiety in a new, healthy way that allows you to enjoy every aspect of your life
- Experience a partnership and connection with your horse that goes beyond what you ever thought possible.
- Feel excited and confident about doing all the things you want to do with your equine partner — FREEDOM!
Answers To Your Questions
Iām not sure I want to sign up for one more online course that I might not use and I'm really busy right now!
What kind of rider TPP for?
What is the refund policy?
How will I get access to course materials?
When does TPP start?
I'm more interested in 1:1 performance coaching
I have another question about the program...
I am a professional trainer and instructor. Is TPP for me?
Not convinced yet?
Join dozens of other riders on your most rewarding journey yet.
My favorite thing about the Performance Project was the direct input from Jen- it was amazing to see how her involvement and input got the ball rolling for the participants. The group input, positive energy and people lifting each other up was also very powerful. The class material, syllabus, and coaching calls really hit home the strategies and totally changed my frame of mind. The Performance Project helped me zero in on the stepping stones I needed to gain a more positive frame of mind for riding and work through my negativity when it wants to take over. I'd had some traumatic experiences riding in the past and had begun to doubt my capabilities. In an amazingly short time, with the help of The Performance Project, I saw great improvement in my riding with my challenging and sensitive off the track thoroughbred.
Carol Mahoney
Thank you, Jen for putting this program together! It was very helpful and emboldening for me to participate in The Performance Project. Having a homebred, who is now almost four years old has been extremely challenging and rewarding for me. I so appreciate your wisdom as a rider and teacher.
I truly believe we benefit immensely by bringing good mental habits to our horses and The Performance Project is a fantastic way to learn how to do this really effectively.
I am already pretty goal oriented and The Performance Project helped me to clarify specific strategies achieve them.
Onward we go with great expectations!
Evelynn Major
Due to the emotional and physical fallout from a scary fall, I was really struggling with my confidence as a horsewoman, rider, and my overall self-image. During my participation in The Performance Project, I came to understand the negative thoughts I was having about myself (old, floppy, incapable, weak, fragile, undeserving) were not really me and these thoughts were contributing to the anxiety I was feeling surrounding jumping with my new partner. Around week two of the program, I decided I was no longer going to refer to myself negatively, I would own my age, and I developed a set of positive thoughts about my ability to ride (balanced, soft, confident, capable, strong, worthy). At week three, I signed an 18-month contract with a local Burn Bootcamp franchise for 5:45 AM workouts 5 days a week with a friend from the barn making me both financially and socially accountable for my strong desire to be physically fit. At week four, my mare and I participated in an eventing camp where my new found strength and confidence, gained from participating in in The Performance Project, produced some of the most joyful stadium (and somewhat less terrifying XC) jumping I have had in more than two years! I signed up for this program because I thought it would help me overcome the increasing anxiety bordering on fear that I was experiencing when jumping or thinking about jumping. By the end of it, I have come to realize that I am in charge of how I think of me, how I refer to me, and how I project me. I treat myself how I treat my horse.
Erin Ellifritz Lampe
I want to personally invite you to join me.
And here’s why…
The Performance Project is like having a personal trainer for your life.
You’ll learn the basic science behind what it takes to be mentally, emotionally and physically in charge of your own thoughts and emotions.
Not only so that you can ride to your full potential and be who you want to be for your horse.
But so you can acquire an incredible set of skills you’ll be able to use in your career, in fitness, in relationships and so much more.
Remember, inside this program there are no assignments, you go at your own pace and you have access to all materials and coaching calls for six months or more if you choose.
And as a bonus, you’ll also have the priceless opportunity to be a part of an inspirational community of riders who share your passions, goals and challenges.
You have one wild and precious life and this program is all about helping you make the most of it.
See you on the inside!
XOXO Jen Verharen
JUMP IN!
