We all know the type of physical prowess required to even think about competing at a CCI4*, much less successfully complete one. Leaving behind the athleticism of the horse, I want to consider the mental strength of the riders, and how I believe it is the most important factor in our sport. As mere mortals, we naturally tend to look up to riders like Mary King or WFP who casually compete multiple horses at each 4* every year, and beat the pants straight off us every time. ‘What do they have that I don’t, and how do I get it??’, we ask ourselves. My proposed answer is this: their mental game is so well honed that they have the ability to compete at a higher capacity than pure physical adeptness would allow.
Bear with me for a moment while I explain how I got to this conclusion. I spend almost every hour of my day on the back of a horse, and because I often ride alone, I have to entertain myself. Hello, podcasts. A favorite of mine is Radiolab (a show about curiosity, basically. Sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience, etc), and recently I was listening to the “Deception” episode. One of the proposed ideas was that the ability to lie to oneself can actually be a really beneficial talent, especially for athletes.
Self-deception can be defined as holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time, and allowing one of them into consciousness because you have a motivation for allowing to rise to the surface. “Self-Deception and Its Relationship to Success in Competition” by Joanna Starek and Caroline Keating from Colgate University investigated the relationship between competitive performance and individual ability towards self deception. Overall, the results were consistent with the proposition that self-deception enhances motivation and performance during competition.
I found this pretty significant, because I consider myself a very rational and occasionally excessively logical person. I work my butt off in order to put myself in a position to climb one rung of the ladder at a time, to learn little bits and bobs along the way, and slowly but surely gain the skills that I imagine are just outside of my reach. But what if what I really need to do is practice lying to myself?
Let’s take a first time Rolex competitor. What makes the difference between a really awesome cross country round and one that reveals the greener aspects of the athlete? Nobody goes to Kentucky the first time, walks their cross country course, and says, “Yeah, totally“. However, perhaps the riders that have polished rounds at their first attempt at this level are the ones who can consciously move the “this IS possible” thought into the forefront of their mind, and make it happen out of more than a little willpower.
Rolex is different than any other competition, purely because it is the most prestigious and difficult event in North America, and with the advent of internet live streaming, you literally have thousands of eyes upon every move you make in all three phases. No pressure. How much mental strength do you think Caitlin Silliman had when she was cruising around cross country, and out of almost nowhere had a stop at the Hollow? Caitlin had to firmly place that moment in the back of her head, and continue with the rest of her course without dwelling on the negative. Or how about Allie Knowles who performed so beautifully in the Dressage phase, only to have a mishap early on in her cross country, and be forced to retire? Allie knows that the only way from here is to persevere, and go out again at Jersey Fresh to prove to herself and to the world that it IS possible.
I also admire the fortitude of the two riders who retired mere fences from home. Both Boyd and Mary were so close to the finish line they could see it, and yet they realized they had reached the end of their horses, and made the better decision. As soul crushing as this would be for any competitor, you can bet that they won’t let it get them down for too long. Eventing is one of the biggest emotional roller coasters available in the world, and you better have the courage for the ride.
You can bet Andrew Nicholson was imagining his foot perfect round before he went in the arena and delivered it. Don’t get me wrong; he had the ability, the training, the horse and the opportunity, but without his confidence and mental capacity for single minded domination, all would be lost. Mental tenacity is the secret ingredient to any top level rider, and despite countless disappointments, eventers who are truly successful manage to keep coming back, optimistic and determined as ever. That quality is what makes our community strong and more amazing than can be quantified.
