Every Sport Requires Significant Commitment and Physical and Mental Preparation
Practiced at a very high level, any sport requires significant commitment and preparation—both physical and mental. If it seems unusual, Charlotte Ponsard, Horse Pilot ambassador and cousin of Antoine Tichit, left wing for the Castres Olympique rugby team, offered an interesting comparison. After one of the many victories of the season, the player spoke with Charlotte, trying to adapt his rugby perspective to riders. While the main difference lies in team sport versus individual sport, we will see that the line is not that far apart…
Game On
To get into a match, players use a short phrase that has a galvanizing effect. "Game on." It’s a starting point, a signal like the start of a 100m race. "This phrase gets us into the game." Do your coaches have a catchphrase to bring you back on track before entering the arena? Who hasn’t been reminded to start a course in a working canter, a little too carefree? Perhaps it’s a way to adopt the right canter and maximum focus before the start?
Understanding Mistakes to Correct Them
"Next job, literally the next task. It means 'move on'; sometimes it’s a way to take a step back after a defeat, a collective or individual mistake for which nothing more can be done." In a course or throughout a season, "making a mistake should not stop you from moving forward. Understand your mistakes to correct them, yes, but having regrets, no. Next time, the score resets."
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to overcome it. The brave man is not the one who feels no fear, but the one who conquers that fear."
Nelson Mandela
We Are Capable of Succeeding
"In sport in general, fear must not outweigh motivation. Athletes will always experience fear at some point, even if they don’t admit it. Fear varies from one person to another." For riders, it can involve a particular obstacle, an unfamiliar horse, or a major event… "Never forget that if you are there at this moment, it means you are capable of succeeding. It is important to have good self-esteem and to know how to set your goals. You have to know how to take your place. If you leave it, someone else will take it."
During a match or a course, it is important to enjoy yourself, but that’s not all:
"You must imagine yourself winning so that victory becomes real."
In daily practice and training, Antoine Tichit emphasizes self-discipline, which naturally extends to teammates—or to the horse, in the case of riders. "Give 100% in every training session! This allows you to reap the rewards of your work during important events."
So… is this comparison really so far-fetched?
"Discipline, rigor, and mental preparation apply to all sports. They provide courage and self-confidence—two essential points to excel in your field." Concludes the Castres player, to whom we wish good luck for the Top 14 final on Saturday, June 2! As for seeing him one day on a show jumping course… first, someone will need to find the horse!
Photo credit: S. Moronval – Unsplash – Wikipedia – C. Ponsard
