Hello everyone!
Today, I want to share with you my tournament routine that has developed over time, which is designed to ensure that everything runs stress-free and smoothly for everyone involved, especially the horses, so that the fun of tournament riding is not lost.
Already the day before, I clean the leather gear—in my case, saddle, double bridle, and boots—and pack all the other necessary items into our transporter. This way, on the day of the tournament, I only need to double-check that I haven’t forgotten anything—which is especially helpful when you have to leave very early!
The most important part of the routine for me is getting my horses ready. From the hooves to the coat, and all the way to the mane and tail, everything should of course be clean and shiny. My must-haves for this are wet wipes and the SuperStar-Shine from Effol, which I use not only to spray the long hair but also to make the entire coat shine. It’s especially important to me to braid the mane myself because I always braid exactly the same number of braids, and it’s nice to have a relaxed moment together with the horse before the tournament. For this, I always use the colorless Niemals-Reißer-Einflechtgummis from Effol, as I have had only good experiences with them for years.
Since the M and S dressage tests are usually ridden from memory, it’s important to memorize the tests well. I usually go over the test several times in my head during the drive and focus once more on the key movements and lines.
At the tournament itself, I’m very grateful that my parents and my trainer usually accompany me. While my mom mainly provides mental support, my dad helps with getting the horse ready, and my trainer is especially there during warm-up, giving me last-minute tips to prepare the horses perfectly for the test.
While I put on my boots, stock tie, helmet, and jacket or tailcoat, I take a brief moment to breathe deeply, and then we’re ready to go. Before mounting, I polish my boots once more with the Effax Leather Instant Shine sponge—it’s super quick and gives a final shiny gleam!
Just before we ride from the warm-up area to the competition arena, the Brushing Boots are taken off, and my horse gets a piece of sugar to encourage chewing and give a little extra motivation. After the test, I always cool down with a few laps at a trot and then ride back to the transporter, where, if the weather is suitable, we rinse and cool the horses’ legs.
When, after the ride, you are rewarded not only with the fun itself but also with a placing and come home with a ribbon, it’s of course even more exciting. Otherwise, the ride is analyzed afterward via video and the protocol, so I can learn from my mistakes and know what to work on at home in training for the next tournament.
