Now that the 2026 eventing season is underway, we know lots of our supporters will be filling their calendars with competition dates, outings as spectators and days volunteering at their local events. For riders, those dates are when months of winter training turn into entries, start times and long days of competitions. It doesn’t matter what level you ride at, eventing is a big commitment and there’s something else every single rider knows – that the sport rarely unfolds exactly as planned.
You might have had a brilliant run of training at home, your horse feels fantastic in the warm-up and then something unexpected happens once you’re in the arena or out on course. In a sport that combines three disciplines, a living, thinking partner and outdoor conditions that can change by the hour, there are always variables, and that means that setbacks are an inevitable part of the journey. It’s easy to feel upset and frustrated, but what matters most is how you respond to those moments.
In this blog we’re sharing a few practical ways you can build mental resilience, along with some simple tools from sport psychology that we hope will help you stay focused and get back on track when things don’t quite go to plan. Let’s get started…
Focus on what you can control
There are lots of blogs, magazine articles, clinics and videos to help you work on fitness, schooling and preparation, but the mental fitness needed for eventing often gets less attention. One idea widely used in sport psychology is the concept of ‘controlling the controllables’. In eventing, there are many elements we can’t control (think weather and ground conditions, judging, your horse having an off day, getting a stinking cold just before an event…) but plenty that we can influence through preparation and experience. These include:
- How prepared your horse is for the level you’re competing at
- Your own fitness, balance and effectiveness in the saddle
- Your warm-up routine and competition preparation
- How thoroughly you walk and understand a course
- The decisions you make during a round
When something goes wrong it’s very easy to focus on the list of things you can’t control, but shifting your attention back to the things you can influence helps a lot. It means you start to move the situation away from frustration and towards constructive thinking. Instead of asking “why did that happen?”, you will find it’s more helpful to ask:
- What can I learn from that round?
- Is there anything I would ride differently next time?
- What could I adjust in my preparation?
Approaching setbacks in this way helps turn them into useful feedback rather than something that dents confidence.
Give yourself space to reset
Immediately after a disappointing round or competition, emotions tend to run high. Most riders will recognise the feeling of replaying every stride and decision in their head on the journey home. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is give yourself a little space before analysing everything in detail.
Many athletes use a simple reset period, allowing themselves time for the initial emotion to pass before reviewing what happened more objectively. Sometimes that reset can be as simple as:
- Walking the horse to cool them down and letting the adrenaline settle
- Talking things through with your trainer or support team
- Stepping away from score sheets or social media for a while
Once the immediate emotion has eased, it becomes much easier to look back at a round calmly and identify what can be taken forward.
Use simple breathing to steady your focus
When nerves, pressure or frustration build, our breathing often becomes shallow and quick. This is part of the body’s natural stress response, but it can make it harder to stay focused and ride clearly. Controlled breathing is one of the simplest tools athletes use to regain focus.
A straightforward technique is:
- Breathe in slowly for four seconds
- Hold for two seconds
- Breathe out steadily for six seconds
Repeating this a few times helps slow your heart rate and calm the body.
Many riders find this particularly useful before entering the dressage arena, while waiting to start cross country or after a moment during a round that didn’t quite go to plan. It only takes a few seconds but can make a noticeable difference to concentration and composure.
Visualise more than just the perfect result
Visualisation is something many riders already use instinctively. Walking a cross-country course and imagining how each fence will ride is a form of mental rehearsal. What can also be helpful is visualising how you will respond if something isn’t perfect, for example:
- Regaining rhythm after a slightly sticky fence
- Rebalancing after a turn that didn’t quite come off
- Staying calm and riding positively if your horse loses confidence
Thinking through these situations in advance can help you feel more prepared if they arise during a competition.
Keep reflection simple and constructive
After a competition it’s very easy to focus only on what went wrong. A more balanced reflection can be far more productive. One simple structure many athletes use is to ask three questions:
What went well?
Perhaps your horse warmed up beautifully, you rode a particular line exactly as planned or your partnership felt stronger than it has before.
What could be improved?
This might be something technical such as pace, preparation or a particular turn on course.
What will I do next time?
This is the most useful question of all because it turns reflection into a clear next step.
Some riders find it helpful to keep short notes in a training diary or on their phone. Looking back over these entries over time often reveals steady progress that might not have been obvious to you at the time.
Remember the bigger picture
Eventing asks a lot of riders. There are horses to care for, early mornings, travel, financial pressures and for many, the challenge of balancing riding with work and everyday life. On difficult days it’s easy to lose perspective and let one result feel far more significant than it really is. Taking a step back and remembering why you ride in the first place can help restore that balance. For most people it’s the partnership with the horse, the satisfaction of gradual progress and the enjoyment of being part of the eventing community.
Progress in any sport rarely follows a perfectly straight line, and that’s particularly true for equestrian sports like eventing. Difficult competitions and frustrating moments are part of the journey for riders at every level.
Don’t hesitate to ask for support
Finally, it’s worth remembering that you don’t have to deal with challenging periods on your own.
Talking things through with a coach, a friend at the yard or someone who understands the sport can make a real difference. Sometimes a fresh perspective is exactly what’s needed to regain confidence and direction.
The British Eventing Support Trust exists to support British Eventing competing members when they face challenges, whether those are physical, financial or related to mental health.
If you ever find yourself struggling, reaching out for support is never a sign of weakness. In many cases it’s simply the first step towards getting things back on track. You can learn more and apply for support here.