My Finals Season Reflection

Finals season. These two words could either make you think of the happiest memories, the most anxiety filled moments, or maybe a combination of both. Over the last two months, starting in September with Maclay Regionals, ending more recently with EAP Nationals, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs as I tackled my busiest finals season yet. This time of year, despite it being arguably the most exciting time in the show circuit, is without a doubt the most exhausting: hours of travel for both horse and rider, weeks upon weeks of unfamiliar venues and early mornings, and days filled with frazzled nerves. It’s quite a relief for both Flay and I to finally be home together, and it’s also a relief to report that my finals season truly couldn’t have unfolded better; and I’m not really talking about the ribbons. Yes, I did walk away with some notable prizes that I’ll be sure to mention, but this year specifically I feel like I’ve taken home with me so much priceless knowledge about myself, and how to calmly work through these high intensity competitions. 

I’ll be the first to admit that finals really truly do feel like the “end all be all.” After gathering countless amounts of points and spending hours upon hours training for these specific days, it’s hard not to think of these finals as anything other than career defining events, when they truly are just a small snapshot of your riding and skill. One thing I’ve come to love about finals is how long they seem to last, spanning the autumn months from August to November. The girl who competed at Capital Challenge in October seems so different compared to the person I am now. I learned this year to manage expectations, stay positive and calm in the height of my stress, and to enjoy each and every moment.

I think it’s fair to say at some point we all visualize ourselves with those pretty neck ribbons, galloping around that victory lap, full of pride and joy. While it’s always important to stay inspired and chase your dreams, it’s also important during times like finals season, to gain perspective and remember that whatever the judges decide that day is not entirely in your control. The elements that are in your control are your mindset and attitude 

Mindset: what’s going through your head? Is it positive, encouraging thoughts, or negativity that will bring down your performance? MentalHealth.com explains that replacing negative thoughts with words of encouragement can actually impact the brain and body, and therefore improve performance. While some people say these things in jokey, playful manners, it’s as simple as changing your words from “I’m definitely going to pop chip the first jump” to “I will ride forward and support whatever distance appears to the first jump.” These subtle changes are so important to practice prior to and during finals to lead to a healthier mindset and, I believe, a healthier relationship with yourself when it comes to intense show settings. If you can begin to be conscious of your thoughts and feelings, you will begin to be able to manage them better, and in turn create a more positive, less stressful showing experience. If you can get really good at that, you can even use your residual nerves to challenge yourself and push you forward, rather than hold you back. 

Attitude: it’s not just about how you're feeling, it’s how you showcase those emotions. What separates good sportsmanship from great sportsmanship is the ability to smile, support others, and continue to spread positivity throughout the day despite how you may be feeling on the inside. Obviously much easier said than done, and it’s important to acknowledge those feelings and not bottle up your emotions, but it’s also important to challenge yourself and try to improve your showmanship and sportsmanship. My trainer and I have developed a system this year to help me strengthen my sportsmanship while also allowing me time to process my feelings. After my rounds, particularly when I’ve made a mistake, or after I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself, instead of immediately getting into the “nitty gritty” details in the peak of my emotions after exiting the ring, I take a quick lap to get in touch with how I’m feeling. This gives me a second to take a deep breath, overlook some of the smaller mistakes to think of the big picture, and return to my trainer ready to discuss what I can do next time to improve my performance. This has allowed me to walk away from the ring no matter the outcome feeling ready and excited to challenge myself and improve. Believe it or not, the weekend before The National Horse Show where I finished reserve champion, I had missed the cutoff at two finals because of an unfortunate rail in both classes. Sitting less than four points from the second round, knowing exactly what mistake led to that, I was definitely frustrated. Instead of getting mad though, I took my trainers feedback, took all the good riding that I had done, and moved onto the next show ready to challenge myself. This mindset and attitude, as well as the support from my barn allowed me to grow from my mistakes and take what could have been a disappointing weekend and turn it into a learning moment for my next show.

Lastly, “Enjoy the moment.” I can bet that at least one trainer or fellow equestrian has reminded you of this, but it is just so true. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve caught myself holding my breath until the round was over, almost as if I was wishing for the moment I've dreamed of for years to end. Like most of the things I've mentioned, it took me some personal experience to acknowledge and change how to stay fully present when walking into an intense show. For me, it starts at the coursewalks, not just walking the course but noticing that I’m inside this ring, alongside other passionate riders, preparing for a class of my dreams. As I’m warming up, I am looking around, taking in the scene of all my fellow competitors and trainers getting ready, as well as myself. And for the actual course, when stepping into the ingate, I look around, notice something on the walls, capture that moment like a picture before the rush and excitement. Another huge aspect that’s let me enjoy the whole round inside the ring is being prepared. While it may seem obvious, it has been another key factor to my success this year. For me and my trainer, this means knowing the course and plan before coursewalking, and when coursewalking, looking for specific turns, things to look at, and checkpoints around the course to make me feel the most confident and secure with my plan. Of course, I always like to watch a few rounds, perhaps picking a rider that I think will execute the course well, or ride similarly to me, or a fellow barn-mate with the same plan, but I also learned that for me and my success, watching more than a handful of riders is not helpful. Instead of stressing myself out by watching too many rounds, I head back to the barn, polish my boots, grab a bite to eat, and allow myself some calm before I show. This I feel has really been the bow that tied my show success together this fall. Instead of letting these long, intense days become stressful and chaotic, I find my own peace and set myself up to be as prepared as possible so I can enjoy it when it really counts.

While I feel I’ve grown a lot in and out of the ring this year, there is always more you can do to learn and develop as a person and rider. In order to be the best version of yourself for your horse, barn, trainer, and self, it’s vital to focus on the mental aspects of this sport as much as the physical. While the chaos of finals might be over, mental strength is just like physical strength and requires practice and commitment. I challenge you all, as well as myself, to head into this new year with a refreshed mindset, prioritizing being present, exhibiting sportsmanship, and embodying positivity!