I never promote myself based on my placings. For me, it is far more important to ride well and develop together with my horse.
Tight turns and increased speed come later, when the horse and I are truly in sync. Building that partnership takes a great deal of patience.
Norway has achieved remarkable success in many areas of elite sport, even without putting pressure on children to achieve results from a young age.
Equestrian sport is about partnership between horse and rider. We should neither jump ahead of the horse nor be left behind. This balance is one of the most difficult aspects of riding, and it must be developed over time through correct training and experience.
There is a great deal of discussion about animal welfare. That is why we should also ask ourselves: Is it really good welfare to push for placings and results when the horse and rider are not yet functioning as one?
Many of the best horse-and-rider combinations are not necessarily those who win the most when they are young. More often, they are the ones who have been given time to develop correctly, without unnecessary pressure. A horse cannot be rushed into gaining experience and confidence. Building strength, balance, trust, and understanding between horse and rider takes time.
I also believe that parents need to be part of this conversation. They usually want the very best for their children, but well-intended comments about placings and results can sometimes create unnecessary pressure.
Many young riders compare themselves to others. They often see only the successful day another combination has in the ring, but not the hours, months, and years of training, challenges, and development behind that success. Every horse and every rider has their own journey, and progress cannot be measured solely by placings.
When we give both riders and horses the time they need to learn, we create the foundation for a more sustainable sport, better animal welfare, and more partnerships that can perform at a high level for many years.
Perhaps we should spend more time talking about good horsemanship, animal welfare, and development than about placings and results. Results lists show who was fastest on a particular day—but they do not show who has done the best job of educating and developing their horse.
The most important competition is not against the other riders on the results sheet, but against the person you were yesterday.
For me, the focus should be on education, development, patience, and building a strong partnership between horse and rider. Results usually come naturally when the foundation has been built correctly.