CHANGING MY MINDSET WITH VLOGGING

“TWO years ago, I hit a low point,” reveals dressage rider and trainer Olivia Towers, 24. “I was so negative, in all areas of my life, and so hard on myself. If anything went wrong I would fall apart, which was detrimental to the horses. My mum said I had to stop competing.”

Olivia’s epiphany came when she realised she could turn her thinking around — using social media.

“I googled ‘mindset’ and studied the subject every day,” she says. “I began ‘vlogging’ — making video diaries — and putting inspirational quotes and practical riding exercises on my Facebook page. It snowballed from there. I documented how it is possible to change your mindset and I started getting loads of followers.”

Olivia’s YouTube channel has more than 2,500 followers and was recently rated fourth best for dressage professionals by Feedspot.

“I’d had severe anxiety and doubted myself, but putting positivity out there has made a massive difference,” she says. “I’m passionate about helping people find their self-belief. Investing in myself has helped the horses, too, as they’ve picked up on the change.”