Are training and competition compatible?
A friend of mine explained that she won’t compete because of how it changed her behaviour and compromised her riding in her desire to win. She felt this happening both at the event and in the last few weeks leading up to the event. The message is that competition is bad.
I don’t have the same point of view. Competition is fine as long as we do not behave competitively, and allow that to compromise our principles of training. Top riders on teams must feel the need to achieve NOW at all costs but we ordinary riders don’t have this pressure given to us – we choose to place it on ourselves.
The pressures of competition are undeniable. However, we can all make a choice about how we respond to these pressures. I feel that if we know that we can’t make good choices when faced with these pressures, then it is better not to put ourselves in that situation. If, however, we do feel an ability to make good choices for ourselves, and our horses, then I think that competition can be enormously rewarding and an educational experience for both horse and rider. Competitions are an opportunity to gain important feedback on our training and its future direction.
I'm not saying that I can do this. I'm just saying that this should be possible. I think we all know well the negative aspects of competition but there are some positives too - balance in everything eh?
What do you think?
Things to remember
The way you feel before your ride will influence the quality of your riding so don’t forget your dismounted preparation.
Lunging is a valuable way of warming up, assessing and preparing the horse before riding or instead of riding.
Warming up and cooling down are vital components of every training session.
Assess what the horse, and you, need in the moment. Avoid mechanically repeating the same exercises in the same places.
Feel, diagnose, choose a suitable exercise, try it, feel the response.
Commit to understanding the movements in your head – not just how to do them but what they do for you and the horse. Only then can we make the best use of movements.
Work in all 3 paces to develop the whole.