Forget Me Not Farm, Stefanie Mazer Lokey

02/22/2026

Dr. Stefanie Mazer, Psy.D., PsyPact | Licensed psychologist and therapist in Wellington FL. Get therapy and mental health counseling in Wellington FL. Call (561) 414-2144

02/18/2026

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Anxiety can surface in many forms for riders: the nerves before walking into the ring, the fear of a particular jump, or the weight of expectations from parents, trainers, and peers. To psychologist and longtime hunter/jumper trainer Dr. Stefanie Mazer, PsyD, anxiety isn’t just something to overcome. It’s an opportunity to grow.

With a private practice in Wellington, Florida, and authorization to provide telepsychology services in 42 states, Dr. Mazer works with equestrians across the country. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: anxiety can be either a barrier or a channel. The key is learning how to transform it into growth.

Dr. Mazer’s path to psychology grew directly out of her equestrian career. A lifelong rider and trainer, she completed a dissertation on equine-facilitated psychotherapy and has always been drawn to the intersection of horses and human well-being.

“We’re all doing psychology all day, every day with horses,” she explained. “Formally studying psychology just gave me another lens to understand it better.”

That combination of training and therapy experience allows her to speak riders’ language and to apply evidence-based tools in ways that make sense both in and out of the ring.

Dr. Mazer describes her practice as collaborative, supportive, and non-judgmental. “The most important thing is that clients feel belonging and acceptance,” she said. “I’m not coming in to fix a problem. I’m here to join somebody in their process and help scaffold them to the next level.”

It’s an approach rooted in respect for the individual—just as a good horseman works with the horse in front of them, not the one they wish they had. “You’re not going to bring out the best in a horse by forcing it to be something it’s not,” she explained. “It’s the same with people.”

Central to her philosophy is reframing anxiety. “Anxiety is either a barrier or it’s a channel to growth,” she said. Whether a rider is struggling with performance jitters, self-doubt, or fear of failure, the first step is recognizing how the body responds: faster heartbeat, shallow breathing, tense muscles.

“Even as I talk about it, my own heart rate goes up,” she noted. “The question is: can you acknowledge what’s happening in your body and still focus on the task at hand?”

This skill, learning to notice, name, and channel anxiety, translates well beyond the show ring. “These growth opportunities are not just to result in a blue ribbon next week,” she emphasized. “They help us in any context: relationships, work, school, anywhere anxiety shows up.”

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/10/01/how-dr-stefanie-mazer-turns-anxiety-into-growth/
📸 © Heather N. Photography

02/15/2026

EQUESTRIAN ATHLETES this one’s for you 🥇

Ever leave the barn feeling confident… until you see someone else’s winning post, highlight reel, or new horse announcement?

That reaction has a name. Psychologist Abraham Tesser called it the Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) Model and it explains why comparison hits hard.

When riding is part of your identity, someone else’s success can feel like a threat instead of inspiration. Not because you’re insecure but because your brain is wired to compare.

Here’s the shift:✨ Focus on your fundamentals that you can rely on and not rankings.✨ Let other riders’ success be information, not a verdict about you.✨ Progress grows through hard work, following through on esteem building daily commitments, repetition and consistency, not silent scorekeeping.

Healthy competition sharpens skill. Constant comparison steals joy.

Stefanie Mazer, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist who offers sport and performance psychology services to equestrian athletes both in office in Wellington or virtually in over 40 states. She is available for free 15 minute consultations 561-414-2144.

For general educational purposes only. This content does not establish a psychologist-patient relationship, does not constitute psychological assessment, diagnosis, or treatment, and should not be relied upon as individualized clinical advice. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, consult a licensed psychologist or qualified healthcare professional in your jurisdiction.

02/07/2026

Ever wonder what sport psychology work with riders might focus on over the course of the professional relationship — whether that work is short-term and targeted or longer-term and performance focused?

One common concern riders bring into sessions is anxiety about finding the “perfect distance” to a jump. When anxiety takes over, riders often overthink, overadjust, lose rhythm, or make last-second panic decisions (kicking or pulling) that create more tension for both horse and rider.

One evidence-based approach sport psychologists may use is called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). In simple terms, it helps riders gradually become more comfortable with uncertainty while reducing habits that anxiety tries to use to stay in control.

A simplified example of how this might look:

• Goal: Build confidence and adaptability when distances are not perfect.• Exposure: Practicing riding lines where the rider allows the distance to develop naturally instead of micromanaging every stride.• Response Prevention: Learning to resist the urge to pull, kick, overcorrect, or mentally replay every ride trying to find mistakes.• Processing: Reviewing what the rider predicted would happen versus what actually happened, and recognizing their ability to recover, adjust, and stay effective.

Over time, many riders notice their fear response to an imperfect distance decreases. They become more comfortable accepting the distance that shows up instead of reacting out of panic. Riders develop the ability to stay organized, balanced, and responsive without last-second tension or urgency.

Strong performance rarely comes from chasing perfection. It comes from track, balance, rhythm, feel, adaptability, and trust in both horse and training.

Educational content only and not a substitute for professional care. Riders experiencing significant anxiety or performance blocks may benefit from working with a licensed mental health professional trained in sport and performance psychology

02/04/2026

Sport and Performance Psychology for Equestrian Athletes focuses on the psychological and physiological factors that influence riding performance under pressure.

Interventions target motivation, goal-setting, routine development, stress and arousal regulation, and cognitive processes that affect attention, decision-making, and consistency in the saddle. Emphasis is placed on nervous system regulation and the interaction between rider/horse and rider/trainer comprehension and responsiveness.

These principles are applied across training, competition, injury recovery, confidence disruption, and other performance-relevant contexts.

Book a consult with Dr. Stefanie Mazer, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist and horse trainer in Wellington, FL to learn more
561-414-2144

12/02/2025

This week my feed is full of farewell’s to Junior riding careers. For some it may feel like a graduation. For others it may feel like a scary time, and for others a transition to be navigated with curiosity, tenacity, and grace. Everyone’s path and process is unique.

The “aging out” transition often evokes a wide range of emotional responses: for some, a sense of accomplishment; for others, uncertainty or loss. These mixed emotions reflect the reorganization of identity and shifting roles within a familiar community.

Developmentally, it’s a meaningful shift, and it’s expected that individuals will experience it in different ways depending on their history, opportunities, and support systems.

A junior’s career accomplishments, limitations, or set backs do not determine an equestrian’s long-term place in the sport or in the broader world of horses. Engagement naturally changes across life stages.

The connection to horses often remains, even when participation changes. There is space and time to evolve into an amateur or professional, there is time to return to the world of horses or re-engage in the sport, or redefine your role at different stages in life.

Transitions can be challenging and can also be times of hope.

Cheers to hope, and a near or distant future with horses that might be more meaningful than perhaps you may have ever imagined.

10/16/2025

10/16/2025

Dr. Stefanie Mazer, Psy.D., PsyPact | Licensed psychologist and therapist in Wellington FL. Get therapy and mental health counseling in Wellington FL. Call (561) 414-2144

10/16/2025

10/16/2025

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Wise Mind Wednesday with Big Sky

This afternoon, Big Sky reminds us of the power of staying present — even when life feels busy or chaotic. She’s soaking up the sunshine, feeling the breeze, and simply being in the here and now. Just like Big Sky, we can find calm moments by slowing down, taking a deep breath, and noticing what’s around us.

Take a mindful pause today — step outside, feel the sun on your face, and let yourself just be for even just a moment.

09/21/2025

Congratulations to sale graduate My Lord Versace and his team!

459 likes, 16 comments. “angel pony does it again…jumping an incredible round + flat to take the WIN in maclay regionals, my first ever regionals and 3’6 final 👼❤️”