Tips from Camille at Pamfou Dressage
1- In your opinion, what are the key elements to prepare in advance to start a competition season under the best possible conditions?
To start a competition season off right, the key is to plan ahead realistically and methodically.
First, create a manageable competition schedule by competing at a level you’ve truly mastered. The idea is to build confidence in the horse (and the rider) from the start: for example, if training at home is at the Amateur 1 level, it may be wise to start at Amateur 2. In competition, many disruptive factors come into play, so it’s rare to be at 100%: it’s better to stay within your comfort zone.
Next, it’s essential to present a horse in good physical condition, ready to sustain sustained effort.
Finally, a comprehensive check-up beforehand is key: vet, osteopath, farrier… Ensuring everything is in order allows you to approach the season with peace of mind and maximize the chances of consistency and performance.
2- How do you manage your horse’s physical and mental preparation throughout the season?
A horse’s preparation is built up throughout the year, with particular attention to its overall well-being.
Physically, it’s essential to rely on a team of professionals and ensure regular monitoring, as the horse is subjected to significant exertion. Nutrition also plays a key role in supporting these demands.
Mentally, variety is paramount. Alternating sessions, stepping outside the confines of the arena, incorporating outdoor work, and allowing daily time in the paddock help keep a horse motivated and calm. The goal is to avoid routine by offering different days, to maintain both its engagement and its balance.
3- Do you have a specific routine on competition days to optimize your performance and that of your horse?
My competition routine relies above all on consistent reference points.
Being surrounded by the same people, especially a groom who knows me well, makes all the difference: he knows when to talk to me, help me relax, or, conversely, let me focus. This consistency is reassuring, both for the rider and the horse.
I also place great importance on mental preparation, using visualization to approach my routines with greater calm.
Finally, I try to find a balance: spending time with my horse, but also surrounding myself with my loved ones. This helps me stay relaxed and in the right frame of mind to perform.
4- How do you deal with the unexpected or poor performances during the season?
When faced with the unexpected and poor performances, the key is to know how to accept and come to terms with them.
They are an integral part of the journey, so you have to expect them and be ready to embrace them. When they happen, the important thing is to understand why: identify the cause, honestly reflect on your own role, and analyze the situation with perspective.
You then need to make peace with that failure, without dwelling on it, and use it to bounce back by setting new goals. It’s a real catalyst for progress.
This ties into preparation beforehand: the more solid it is, the better you’re able to handle these moments. Because ultimately, it’s often failures that drive the most progress. Successes are reassuring, but they encourage less self-reflection, whereas difficulties force you to evolve and grow.
5- What advice would you give to a rider who wants to improve and maintain consistency in competition throughout an entire season?
The main advice is to commit to long-term progress.
Having the right support is essential: a coach you trust, but also a solid team around the horse (veterinarian, farrier, etc.). The key is to stay consistent, even during tougher times, without questioning everything at the slightest setback.
Progress is never linear. You have to accept periods of stagnation, move forward step by step, and not rush toward the final goal.
Finally, the horse must remain the focus: it is the horse that dictates the pace, the level, and the frequency of competitions. By respecting this, you gain peace of mind and consistency throughout the season.
