1% More is a blog series in which we ask World Equestrian Brands-endorsed and trainer team riders to give us one booster tip that will help us to improve our competitive edge by 1%. As any true athlete knows, over time all of those 1%s add up to significant results.
Olympian. Coach. Road warrior. Hawley Awad is a force—on the course and in conversation. But if you ask her what’s making the biggest difference in her life lately, it’s not a new technique or tool. It’s something much simpler, and far more powerful:
Words.
“You can talk yourself into—or out of—almost anything,” Hawley says. “Words really matter.”
That’s where her 1% More comes in. It’s not about chasing perfection—it’s about creating intention, every single day.
Mindset in the Warm-Up Ring
At a recent show, one of Hawley’s amateur students was feeling the pressure before stepping into the jumper ring.
“She looked at me and said, ‘It’s just going to go badly.’ I stopped her immediately. I told her—if that’s what you’re putting out there, that’s what’s going to happen. Your body hears you. And it responds.”
The rider took a breath. Reframed her thoughts. Rewrote the story.
“She sent me a text the next day saying she felt calmer than she ever has in the warm-up. And she had one of her best rounds ever.”
It’s a perfect example of Hawley’s core belief: prepare for success, and you’re far more likely to get it.
Three Intentions a Day
In her own life, Hawley keeps things simple and grounded.
“Every morning I pick three intentions for the day,” she says. “And I check in with them throughout the day. If I get through those three things—whatever they are—it’s a win.”
Some days, it’s a focused training goal: Teach a great flat lesson.
Others, it’s pure humanity: Smile at three strangers.
Sometimes, it’s just: Make a great dinner.
“The point is to be present. You’re not always going to have huge wins, but you can have meaningful ones.”
Want to Start? Start Small.
If you’re wondering how to bring a little of Hawley’s mindset into your own riding life, she offers this advice:
“Pick one thing. Just one. If you’re an amateur working on a correct halt, let that be the goal. Talk it through with your coach, come up with a plan that works for you—and celebrate the win whether it takes five minutes or a full hour.”
Progress doesn’t have to be loud. It just has to be honest.
Next Big Thing: LA 2028
Hawley has her sights on one more major goal: the Los Angeles Olympics—practically in her backyard.
“I’d love to have a horse for LA. I have a couple that I’m bringing along, but I can’t just go out and buy an Olympic horse. That’s not my story. So I’m learning to ask for help, which is a whole new kind of hard.”
In the meantime, she’s doing what she does best: teaching clinics, helping riders grow, and staying grounded in her why.
21 Years and Counting with WEB
Hawley’s relationship with World Equestrian Brands goes back two decades. No contracts. No pressure. Just trust.
“It’s all been a handshake deal. That’s how much integrity they have. I’ve been with them for 21 years. You don’t stay with a brand that long unless the people behind it are good people.”
And that’s what it all comes back to: intention and integrity.
From the mindset in the warm-up ring to the quiet two hours on a day off, Hawley is proof that what you say—and how you show up—matters.
“Good energy attracts good energy,” she says. “What you put out, you get back. What you say out loud becomes real. That’s why I believe in this so much.”
Want 1% More?
Try this: Set three small intentions for your day. Say them out loud. Keep them close. See what shifts.