It’s the most wonderful time of the year… after a long and gruelling winter, the event season is almost upon us once again! It’s time to dust off the body protectors, pack the lorry, and get out cross-country schooling. Get prepared with our pre-season checklist!
As we power through the winter just hoping to get to the end relatively dry, the event season can often creep up on us and before you know it, you’re heading out of the start box. Making sure you have a game plan, your horse is fit enough, and you have everything you might need is the key to having a successful season.
When it comes to eventing there are so many things to remember that it’s easy to let something slip through the cracks. And whilst we’re busy preparing and getting the horses back on form after a winter holiday, it’s important not to neglect our own fitness too. And I’m not just talking about our physical fitness, although that is important too. Making sure you’re in the right headspace and are channelling a positive mindset is a vital ingredient for a successful season, so don’t overlook it in your preparation.
With so much to get organised, I thought I’d help you out. Here are a few important things to add to your pre-season checklist to make sure you’re ready to head out of the start box and smash the event season.
- Make a plan for the event season
Having a clear plan and some set goals for the season will make organising where you’re going and what prep you need a lot easier. As the fixture list is released, knowing which events to enter (and when you need to enter by!), the qualifications you might need, and where to go in the event of abandonment can be a bit overwhelming.
Setting yourself some goals for the season means you can work backwards with where you need to be to achieve your targets. So, instead of trying to work through the calendar systematically take a look at your targets and figure out where you need to be, when you need to be there, and how you’re going to get ready.
If you’ve found yourself in a bit of a post-winter slump and are struggling to find your mojo to get out on grass again, having a goal to work towards is a great motivator to get you back on track and focused on the season.
- Packing the lorry or trailer
With three disciplines comes a LOT of stuff. We all know there is so much to remember when it comes to eventing and forgetting something is so easy, we’ve all been there! To avoid any last-minute panics, make yourself a lorry checklist and have the basics packed and ready to go. For all the things that you don’t need in the run-up to an event, keep them in the lorry so you can’t forget them. If you don’t have a lorry or don’t have the storage to do so, keep them in a box all together so that when the time comes to load up the truck or trailer, you can put the box straight in, and rest assured you’ve got everything you need.
Being well-prepared and organised will make such a difference in your positive mental attitude before you compete. There’s nothing like a last-minute rush around the lorry park to borrow something you’ve forgotten to throw you off your game. Make sure you’ve triple-checked your packing list and allowed extra time for traffic or delays. By doing this you will arrive cool and calm, in the right headspace to walk your courses and focus on the competition.
- Getting horse and rider fit
Getting your horse fit to go eventing after their winter holidays needs to start before the season begins and isn’t something you can do last minute. This means you need enough organisation (and a clear plan) to know when to start fitness work and how much to do.
Making sure your horse is fit enough to head out of the start box is pivotal to ensuring they have a successful run and reduce the risk of injury. As your horse tires, they’re more likely to sustain a season-ending injury as they stop using their bodies properly. So, getting them up to scratch before you hit the cross country course is important to avoid derailing all your hard work and planning for the season ahead.
And eventing isn’t just hard on the horse’s fitness, but us too! Eventing requires a lot of physical strength, as well as mental resilience. Find some exercises that work for you to boost your rider fitness so you can be as effective as possible in the saddle. Workouts like Pilates, yoga, spinning, or strength training are great for that all-important core strength which keeps us stable and balanced on the horse.
- Prepare your first aid kit
Hand in hand with organising the lorry is having a well-stocked first aid kit for both horse and rider should anything go awry. Ensuring you have the necessary provisions on board to treat any knocks, cuts, or scrapes will minimise the damage and give you peace of mind should anything happen. Here are a few must-haves to remember:
- Cotton wool
- Antiseptic cream
- A good barrier cream (like MSM or Derma gel)
- Vet wrap
- Gamgee/ fibregee/ bandage pads
- Bute (this is not competition legal so please use carefully)
Don’t forget a few bits for you either! Plasters, disinfectant, antihistamines, and painkillers are all good things to keep in the lorry or trailer should you need them. And don’t forget lots of water to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day!
- Mental preparation
Eventing isn’t for the faint-hearted, it’s a tough sport that requires a lot of mental determination and resilience. With so many aspects and a lot of moving parts, there’s a lot that goes into a good day out eventing, let alone if you have multiple horses running!
Let’s face it, things don’t always go to plan. In a sport that requires so much dedication where emotions are running high, the days that don’t go well can really take its toll on your mindset. A positive mental attitude helps people become more optimistic, resilient, grateful, and accepting so it’s a great thing to prioritise to help you to withstand the rollercoaster that is eventing.
Before you head out of the start box, make sure you’ve warmed up your mindset as well as your horse. Take some time in the lead-up to an event to ensure you’re in the right headspace and are approaching each competition with a great attitude. There are lots of exercises you can do to prep your mindset so here are some of my top picks to build a positive equestrian mindset…
- Visualisation: As you prepare for an event, picture yourself in your mind’s eye smashing each phase with your horse. Imagine yourself tackling every fence on the cross country, and the feeling of galloping home through the finish.
- Gratitude: Allocating a little bit of time each day to reflect on what has gone well, even on a tough day, and all the aspects of your life that you’re grateful for will help to establish resilience. You’re less likely to be derailed when things don’t go to plan, and you should be able to retain positivity and clarity in the face of adversity.
- Build a network: Having a reliable support network around you, whether that’s friends, family, trainers, or fellow competitors that you can lean on when the going gets tough is so important. A network is vital to keep your mental wellbeing in check and support you through the long days of training, competing, and on the road.
- Mindfulness: Pesky pre-competition nerves can really get in the way of all your planning and preparation and take away from the enjoyment of the day. Using mindfulness to check in with your body will help you to move the nerves to the back of your mind and allow you to focus on the task at hand.
And with all of that, remember to enjoy it! Even the pros do this because they love the sport, so don’t forget to live in the moment and appreciate the journey with your horse. And most importantly… don’t forget to keep something bubbly to celebrate the successes and commiserate on the tough days!
As we approach kick-off for the season, now is the time to get on top of your competition nerves or any self-doubt holding you back. Make sure to get in touch and, as a registered sport and exercise psychologist with a wealth of eventing knowledge, I can help you face your fears, tackle your wobbles, and support you from the centre line to finish flags.