Dressage rider Amy Stovold swaps horses for racecars to improve her riding

Dressage rider Amy Stovold will be swapping horses for a racing car next week in a form of sports psychology.

Amy, who is hoping to compete for Britain at London 2012, currently competes with four horses and is based in West Sussex.

During the training session, Amy will be put through her paces behind the wheel of a high performance racecar, during which she will learn skills that can be transferred to her dressage.

Strict control, refined reactions and sharp perception will be focused on during the session.

Amy told H&H: “My sponsor Nick Jacobs from Rowen Assett Management came up with the idea as he believes there is a parallel between motor racing and dressage — you have to prepare for things in a certain way and be extremely focused.

“So the skills I learn in the car will help me on my horses.”

Amy will be getting behind the wheel next Tuesday, 8 July, at the Bruntingthorpe Race Track in Leicestershire.

Amy added: “I can’t wait to have a go, I’m interested to see if there really is a parallel between the two sports.”

She will be driving with motor sports trainer Rob Wilson who has trained top drivers including Kimi Raikkonen and the Red Bull team.

Rob said: “Unless you’re in harmony with all the sensations that tell you why you’re going fast or slow, which is part input, part machine/animal, it’s not a great deal of use. I look forward to using my expertise on the track to help Amy achieve her goal of gold in 2012 in the dressage arena.”

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