Tips from our ambassadors for a successful competition season

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.

1- In your opinion, what are the key elements to prepare in advance to start a competition season under the best possible conditions?

Before starting a season, it is essential to ensure that the horses are in top form, both physically and mentally. The choice of the first competition is also crucial, particularly in terms of the level of the event, in order to ease back into competition gradually under good conditions. Finally, it’s important to set medium- and long-term goals, then structure your season in a consistent and progressive way to achieve them.

2- How do you manage your horse’s physical and mental preparation throughout the season?

In eventing, the diversity of the work is an integral part of the preparation. Having to train horses in three disciplines naturally requires a wide variety in the training sessions, while incorporating essential recovery phases. Each program is tailored to the horse, its age, and its goals, but the foundation remains the quality of the relationship. A high-performing horse is, above all, a horse that wants to cooperate and takes pleasure in its work. We structure the season around two main goals—one midway through and another at the end of the season—using intermediate competitions as preparation stages to fine-tune the final details.

3- Do you have a specific routine on competition days to optimize your performance and that of your horse?

The most important thing is to know your horses well, as each one reacts differently. For the more sensitive ones, I prioritize physical and mental comfort beforehand, with, for example, massage or stretching. Conversely, for the more reserved horses, I slightly increase the level of intensity in the days leading up to the event to get them more engaged. On the day of the competition, I take the time to tune in to them to adapt to their current state and adjust my preparation accordingly.

4- How do you handle unexpected events or poor performances during the season?

It’s essential to maintain a mindset of progress, both in training and in competition. Things rarely go exactly as planned, so the ability to adapt is crucial. This comes with experience. I try to be as rigorous as possible in my daily routine so I have no regrets, while keeping in mind that we’re working with living athletes, with all their ups and downs. Even though some moments can be difficult, I remind myself that this is a choice and I strive to fully enjoy the successes.

5- What advice would you give to a rider who wants to improve and maintain consistency in competition throughout an entire season?

In my opinion, surrounding yourself with the right people is fundamental, regardless of your level. It’s also important to rely on a horse suited to your experience, discipline, and goals. Consistent training and attention to the horse’s well-being on a daily basis are essential. Finally, setting a primary, achievable goal—along with intermediate milestones—helps you track your progress and stay motivated throughout the season, even during the tougher times.

1. In your opinion, what are the key things to prepare in advance to start the competition season off on the right foot?

The priority is to ensure the horse is in good health, with a comprehensive veterinary check-up (physical exam, blood tests, etc.). It’s also essential that the horse is in good enough physical condition to tackle the season with confidence, particularly by working on cardio to prepare it for the sequence of courses.

2. How do you manage your horse’s physical and mental preparation throughout the season?

I place a lot of importance on variety in training to maintain both physical condition and morale. This involves outdoor rides, such as in the forest, but also simple technical exercises, like small combinations, to build the horse’s confidence.

3. Do you have a specific routine on competition days to optimize your performance and that of your horse?

Yes, I like to take the time to walk them thoroughly in hand on the morning of competitions to help them relax. I also ride them before starting to loosen them up and check how they’re feeling. Finally, I always do a thorough check of the equipment to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

4. How do you handle unexpected events or poor performances during the season?

If I run into trouble, I go back to the basics to reinforce what we’ve learned. I also don’t hesitate to step down a level if necessary, to restore the horse’s confidence and start over on solid ground.

5. What advice would you give to a rider who wants to improve and maintain consistency in competition throughout the season?

It’s essential to listen to your horse and plan your competition schedule carefully. You need to know how to adapt that schedule based on results and the horse’s condition. Finally, staying positive—even when performances aren’t up to par—and paying constant attention to the horse’s well-being are essential keys to making lasting progress.

1. In your opinion, what are the key elements you need to prepare in advance to start a competition season under the best possible conditions?

Of course, it’s essential to train and continue improving technically. But in my view, the most important factors are the horse’s physical condition and overall health. These are essential foundations, not only at the start of the season, but throughout the year.

2. How do you manage your horse’s physical and mental preparation throughout the season?

It’s an essential part of our sport. My main goal is to constantly stay attuned to how my horse is feeling. With the guidance of my trainer and mentor, Leslie Howard, as well as my experience and daily work, I try to manage my horses as best as possible so they can reach their full potential and perform under the best conditions.

3. Do you have a specific routine on competition days to optimize your performance and that of your horse?

It really depends on the horse. In my stable, every horse is different, with its own needs and way of functioning. To perform well, it’s essential to tailor a specific program to each one, so they can give their best. So I have a different routine on competition days, depending on which horse I’m riding.

4. How do you handle unexpected events or poor performances during the season?

Everyone has off days. The important thing is to learn from them, understand what didn’t work, and identify areas for improvement to progress in the future.

5. What advice would you give to a rider who wants to improve and maintain consistency in competition throughout a season?

Working hard and listening to your horse are essential. You also have to push yourself to learn every day, stay motivated, and maintain that constant desire to improve.