With the Summer Olympics coming up this year in Paris, France there will be countless young riders around the world tuning in to see the very best go through their paces in the equestrian events. Many of the competitors will have begun their own journeys after watching previous Olympic broadcasts.
Many riders get involved at a young age but not everyone can end up battling for Olympic gold, of course. Expert knowledge is everywhere when it comes to horses. From knowing how to treat a jumper to finding the best odds on the Preakness Stakes, equestrian and racing requires expertise and an innate understanding of horses. But even that may not be enough to make it as a professional at the top of the profession.
Talent is obviously important. But there are many other aspects of top equestrianism that need to be understood and perfected if you are to make it to an Olympics. Making sure you know all of what we are able to share with you will guarantee nothing, of course. But you won’t find many top riders who don’t possess all of these.
A Good Team
Before we get into what an individual needs to become an Olympic rider, we thought we would acknowledge that anyone who ends up on a podium has not got to that position on their own. Perhaps more than most sports, equestrian riders will have depended on a range of people to succeed.
Getting the devoted support of your family is just the beginning. Once you begin competing properly you will also need to rely on the groomers and the home riders that keep your horse at the top of its game. If you do ever end up accepting a gold medal at an Olympic Games you should remember all the people that got you to that point.
Bravery
But what about the mental traits needed to compete at the highest level? Bravery is definitely up there at the top of requirements, in our book. When you are starting out you will need to be willing to try the more trickier rides to show the important people that you are there to learn and become the best you can be.
As in any sport, trainers and coaches want to see that young riders are willing to do things that will benefit them in the long run and believe in the process. This idea of bravery doesn’t mean being foolhardy though. A sensible approach to riding is required at all times and that sometimes means putting yourself out of your comfort zone.
Investment
Although anyone can become an equestrian champion, it is obvious that there has to be some considerable investment. Keeping and training horses is not a cheap way to lead your life and even if you do not own the horses yourself, you will find that a bulk of your income will then go into the horses.
Make sure that your own budgeting and financial planning are top tier, as you will want to concentrate as much as you can on the practice needed, rather than how much it all costs. This is where your team will also be vitally important. Equestrian is not a cheap hobby and you need to be fully committed to reach the top.
Learning Strategies
Being the most naturally gifted rider is all very well but you are not going to become an Olympic champion if you are not able to learn the strategies that go into achieving that level of success. Equestrian events require a lot of mental strength and not everyone is cut out for life at the top of the sport.
Working on your memory is key – whether it is jumping a course or remembering a vaulting program. Find out how you best remember the steps and work on that process. You can then work on your focus during events and the visualization needed beforehand to see yourself becoming a champion.
A Sense of Calm
High-level sports come with a high level of intensity. Dealing with the competition can sap your energy levels – both physically and mentally – and that can be a real test for even the most talented of riders. That is why it is absolutely necessary for you to also be able to retain a sense of calm.
You will need to remember that your horse will feel the same kind of nerves that you do, so you need to be calm for them as well as for yourself. Being able to remain as calm as possible in the throes of competition is not easy but you will need to develop processes to do that, whether it is visualization techniques, deep breathing, or even listening to music.
Becoming the best takes a lot of hard work apart from everything else.
Compassion
Becoming a true champion sometimes means knowing how to lose gracefully – or knowing when it is best for you to stop trying. You need to remember that it is not just you that is competing, that your horse is just as important – if not even more so. You need to feel compassion for your horse above all else.
But that compassion should also be extended to your fellow competitors. If you watch any equestrian events at the Olympics this year (and you definitely should if you harbor dreams of competing at a future games) you will see that no matter how competitive the events are, the participants are all in it together and cheering on each other to do well.
Putting in the Hard Work
When it comes down to it, if you want to be an Olympic rider you will just have to put in the hard work. No champion ever got to where they are the easy way and a big part of the satisfaction of accepting that gold medal will be knowing how hard you have worked over the years to get to that position.
