For the Noelle Floyd Magazine I have been interviewing top ranked riders to find out how they got to succeed in this mentally challenging sport. What can we learn from those who have been climbing the Equestrian ladder and have already succeeded? For the summer issue, I asked Lorenzo de Luca if he had any advise to aspiring young riders trying to make it to the top. He did not disappoint. Lorenzo shares three important lessons he learned himself along the way:
1. Stay really open-minded and learn form everyone
Probably the most important lesson and tool Lorenzo used himself to keep improving and get better is to keep learning, from everyone! Open your eyes to watch great riders at big shows, even if you are not riding there yourself. You can learn by watching how they work their horses, flat work and if possible, watch how they manage everything in the stables. I think that’s very important.
‘Open your eyes to watch great riders at big shows,
even if you are not riding there yourself.’
2. Don’t get over excited to ride in the big class every weekend
This might come as a surprise, but I learned this myself last year. I managed to get 2 very good horses into the top 20, even though I only showed at ten 5 star shows. But I knew they were ready. So my advice is to not push too hard to only ride at the highest level. Give yourself and your horses the chance to take a breath during the season and to work on the things you want to improve on. Last week I went to a 2 star show with some younger horses and I loved it. I think you need to do that so you can bring up the other horses as well.
3. The more you want the results, the less you get the results
Lorenzo’s last take away is not to focus too much on the results. I asked him if this was something he had to learn himself too. He admits while chuckling, “before when I reached the jump-off, I would really want to do well and then the over-motivation created too much tension and pressure. It would always destroy what I’d built up. So yes, I learned the hard way to let go of the results and focus on the horse. When you do that and trust the process, everything will come together because you and your horses are ready to do it!”