By: Erica Fielding
The blue ribbon. The winning round. The moment in the spotlight. These big moments are often what comes to mind when someone thinks about equestrian sport. But what actually goes into making these moments possible? It takes far more than what meets the eye to get a horse and rider successfully into the show ring.
Preparing for the show ring takes careful planning, management, and diligence that starts months – often years, before horses ever enter the show grounds. Trainers,
riders, grooms, and barn managers all contribute to the day-to-day care and fitness of the horse. Veterinarians, farriers, and other equine health professionals work together to keep horses healthy, sound, and feeling their best. Nutritionists and hay growers are the often overlooked players who fuel our horses, allowing them to perform at their highest level. Each member of these teams plays a key role in helping horses to be competition ready. Their work also often overlaps, with changes in training, nutrition, soundness, or overall health requiring communication across the entire team. Keeping everyone on the same page can be just as important as the individual work each person contributes.
Of course, we also cannot forget all of the preparation that goes into riders who also need to be show-fit, both physically and mentally. Training sessions leading up to the competition are for the rider’s preparation just as much as the horse’s preparation. But, lots of rider preparation actually happens outside of the saddle. Rider fitness, focus, recovery, and mental readiness all play a role when it’s time to step into the show ring.
The next time you watch a horse and rider enter the arena, remember that you’re seeing the culmination of countless hours of preparation and dedication. It’s easy to
focus on what happens inside the ring, but look a little closer and you’ll see the team that makes it possible: the groom making final touches at the in-gate, the trainer at the early morning warm-up, or the barn manager holding things down at home. The ride may be what we see, but it takes a team to make it happen.
Athletux is an equestrian athlete management and brand partnership agency representing elite riders across various disciplines. Learn more at athletux.com or reach out directly at info@athletux.com.
