The art of a successful performance review

Results verses Performance – Are you your own worst enemy?

I’ve just come back from the British Showjumping Spring Championships at Addington Equestrian and whilst I had a great day it has got me thinking about how we analyse our competition outings and whether the performance review process can have a negative effect rather than a positive one. It’s well known in sports psychology that we should focus on our performance during the reflection process rather than the results that we achieved. But as there are many so different ways you can look at the same thing, which method is best?

I finished 9^th in my class as the fastest 4 faulter. A great result given that:

* This is the first time jumping at this height in an outdoor arena.

* The last time I competed was 3 weeks ago and I haven’t jumped a fence since then
  (I have been on holiday and Rodney has been in the very capable hands of my trainer).

* I am obviously riding more efficiently across the track given we were the fastest 4 faulter
  as I didn’t take any turns or gallop to make up time.

* We popped the baby open water fence as if we jump these types of fences all the time
  (this was the first time we have met this type of obstacle).

* Rodney was happy and confident and well within his comfort zone.

But if we look at the performance side it’s not so positive. Here’s why:

I am extremely fortunate that Rodney has had an exemplary upbringing – he does as he is asked without question with very few ad lib or freestyle moments. He is Mr Predictable. As a rider this is possibly the best trait a horse can ever have. But the downside to this is that the rider must do their job properly and at all times. It is an added pressure that I am having to learn to cope with, along with the fact that as an amateur I feel like an intruder at these more prolific competitions. I know my role as a rider and yet I still approached the first fence without being completely organised. And so, we “did a Rodney”- he dropped his shoulder on the approach, wobbled and left a leg on the back rail. The 4 faults came from the first fence and it was entirely my fault. I am still kicking myself for it.

There are clearly many positive elements to take from this outing and I mustn’t dwell on the one mistake that I made, although I am finding that tricky. Perhaps our default review basis should be Nelson Mandela’s famous quote:

“I never lose. I either win or I learn.”

I did pull myself together and the rest of the round was a corker! Moving on from here my homework is to learn how long 45 seconds really is. Is the panic of hearing the bell an old habit raising its ugly head? My little graded horse Smartie Sometimes had a delightful habit of stopping at the first fence. Was this his way of telling me that I had started before I was completely ready? Probably. I’m glad that Rodney is not as wilful.

One thing that I have no doubt about however, is that I am incredibly lucky to have a horse like Rodney. I treasure every moment with him and if I am going to have a ‘sack the jockey’ moment, it is better now in an ordinary class than in our second round competitions where the results have a slightly different meaning.

Onwards and upwards!