Will came to Annette with no shortage of drive. He was ambitious, committed, and always looking for ways to improve, especially when it came to the big classes and championship moments.
But the more important the round felt, the more he found himself trying to control every detail.
In those big moments, Will would try to make everything perfect. And while his intentions were always good, the outcome was not always what he wished for. By adding extreme pressure, overthinking the details, and changing up things he’d never changed before, Will began to notice a common trend. In turn, he reached out to Annette.
Very quickly, Will realised his work with Annette was not going to be a quick fix or a simple weekly session. It was going to ask for real commitment and a different way of approaching his riding, his preparation, and himself. At first, that felt overwhelming. But for Will, who has always loved learning, it was also exciting.
Over time, his work with Annette gave him something incredibly valuable: clarity. Instead of trying to focus on everything at once, Annette helped him narrow his attention to the few things that really mattered. Less noise. More direction.
This clarity has made a difference in some of his biggest moments. In Ocala, Will woke up with the flu on the day of a Grand Prix qualifier. He called Annette, unsure how he was going to ride well when he felt so sickly. Her advice was simple – he did not need to feel good to ride well. He needed to focus on his horse and on the job in front of him. Will went on to win the class.
Will also learned something that has stayed with him ever since: nerves are not the enemy. They can be accepted, used, and even welcomed. He now sees pressure as something that can bring out his best riding in the ring.
The results have been strong, with big wins, clear rounds, and championship success. But just as importantly, Will has learned how to respond when things do not go to plan. He recovers faster, focuses better, and sees mistakes as information rather than failure. Perhaps the biggest change has been in the connection with his horses. At home and at shows, he has learned to tune in more deeply, feel what each horse needs, and ride from that place of flow.
For Will, the work has not been about trying harder. It has been about riding with more clarity, more feel, and more trust when it matters most.