Forging Ahead Coaching

ZERO TO HERO 🐴

My friend, landlord and now coach .fox.equestrian .fox.169 has offered me the schooling ride on this talented young horse.

I’m not going to lie, I’m feeling quite chuffed about it. He’s bright, sharp, athletic and has opinions about life. Lots of them.

We’ve only just started working together, but I already have one important observation:

When I say he’s “terrified” of the white bag…

What I actually mean is that he appears to think it’s the greatest invention since carrots.

I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us. Hopefully somewhere beyond supervising his recreational plastic bag activities.

For now, I’m taking it as a huge compliment that his owner thinks I’m capable of helping with the education of such a clever youngster.

Wish me luck. 😆🐴

In my Zero to Hero quest, I’ve been exploring new ways of thinking about horses, riding, pressure, and performance.

Today I caught up with another of my gurus—friend, horseman, and mentor, Glyn Redgrave.

We spent an hour playing with polo ponies… and no reins.

At one point, Glyn asked me a simple question:

“When you let go of your reins, what goes through your mind?”

It’s a fascinating coaching question.

Because what shows up in that moment says a lot about trust, control, confidence, and the stories we tell ourselves when things feel uncertain.

So, what goes through your mind when you let go?

Redgrave

Mental Health Matters: On the couch with Linda in May

Identity after Struggle.

We’ve covered grief, loss, loneliness, burnout, foundations, resilience and emotional wellbeing this month. But one thing many riders silently wrestle with is:

“Who am I when I’m not performing well… when I’m injured… when I’m not competing… when life changes?”

Mental health isn’t just about coping.
It’s also about rebuilding identity when life no longer looks the way you expected it to.

Learning to separate your worth from your performance may be one of the most important mental skills you ever develop.

Because you are still valuable on the days you’re struggling.
Still worthy when you’re uncertain.
Still enough when you’re not achieving.

Performance matters.
But the human underneath it matters more.

If you’d like support, you’re welcome to schedule an introductory call:
https://forgingahead.co.za/schedule-an-appointment

I had to scratch the show today.
Al came up lame.

One minute you’re building momentum, making plans, feeling hopeful… and the next, everything changes. Again.

That’s the thing about horses.
About sport.
About life, really.

We want certainty. We want progress to look neat and linear and rewarding. We want the “zero to hero” story.

But sometimes it’s more like:
zero to hero… and back to zero.

And maybe that’s not failure.
Maybe that’s the work.

Learning how to stay grounded when the outcome changes.
Learning how to care deeply without trying to control everything.
Learning how to begin again, over and over, without losing yourself in the disappointment.

So today we pause. We regroup. We look after the horse in front of us.
And then… we start again.

Because resilience isn’t built in the victory lap.
It’s built here. In a dark stable. With non-matchy bandages.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

In this video, I’m talking about grief, loss, loneliness, and how to begin finding meaning again when life feels empty or uncertain.

Healing is rarely linear. It’s not about “getting over it” — it’s about learning how to carry what has happened while still creating a life that feels purposeful.

If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward, support can help.

Schedule a call here: https://forgingahead.co.za/schedule-an-appointment