Even the world’s elite riders aren’t immune to competition nerves. Martha Terry discovers how they channel their jitters into a winning performance
Nerves happen to the best of us. When Emily Philp was contesting her first Burghley, in 2019, she passed Pippa Funnell’s lorry en route to the cross-country. Bear in mind Pippa has a dozen Olympic, world and European medals, six five-star trophies and 30 five-star starts under her belt. Pippa leaned out of her lorry window to wish Emily good luck and check she was OK.
“I said, ‘No, I feel dreadful,’” Emily says. “And Pippa laughed, and said, ‘Trust me, it gets worse, not better.’”
Pippa went on to win, proving that nerves are no barrier to success. But how familiar her angst is to so many riders, whether we’re at British novice or Badminton.
On online equestrian forums, discussions about how to cope with competition nerves abound. Instant solutions such as gin, Rescue Remedy and Human Kalm Cookies (a human version of the equine ones) are suggested, alongside hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming and performance psychology.
{"content":"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"}
You might also be interested in…
Credit: Peter Nixon
Do you suffer from competition riding nerves? Find out how to take control and use nerves to improve your performance
Credit: Rachel Fraser
There is a wealth of tips on how to combat competition nerves online, but do they work for everyone? Rachel
Sport psychologist Inga Wolframm — who specialises in equestrian sports and offers advice across the disciplines — gives her 10
Sports psychologist Inga Wolframm gives her expert advice for coping with competition day