Know Your Competition: Getting the Scoop on Rivals
by Jennifer Prince, An EquestrianMag Exclusive Article

There is one common element in every competition, and that element is other competitors. At any level of competition it is important to be aware of the talents you are competing against. It is even more important to learn how you can use your observations of other competitors as a way to strengthen your own competition.

Many riders compete to win, while others compete to strengthen their skills. The first thing you should ask yourself when entering a competition is why you choose to compete. Regardless of the reason, however, knowing what you are competing against can help strengthen your skills as a competitive rider.

It is true that competitors make up a competition. Though this seems like an obvious fact, it is often not given the respect it deserves. A competition is made up of a complex dynamic of talent, personality and passion. Understanding your competition can not only give you a competitive edge, but also provide you with the opportunity to gain knowledge and improve skills.

How can learning about your competitors give you an edge in competition? For the same reason a football coach watches clips of other team’s performances, so that they have an idea of the style and skill level of the competition. Understanding competition is simply a part of good business practice. You would not start a business without developing a plan and researching the market first, so unless you are truly competing for fun, why would you enter a competition without knowing what you are up against?

More often than not when you ask a seasoned rider who has been competing for years for tips, they will advise you not to compete with other competitors, but to compete with yourself. This is good advice. However, without having a measure of comparison how do you know what to aim for? You need a starting point, a point to work toward, and a way to get there. You can get this information through researching your competition.

So how can you get the scoop on competitors? There are many ways to gather the information you need to improve your competitiveness in the ring. A few suggestions include:

Networking

One of the most valuable tools you can have in any discipline includes contacts. You can learn a lot by getting involved in equestrian events, becoming a member of equestrian associations, or simply getting to know other riders in the field. Not only can you share a common interest with these contacts, you may learn riding skills, learn the advantages and disadvantages of different types of equipment, and learn techniques that have worked for other successful competitors.

Media

Though it is a more impersonal approach, researching competitors through the media, such as national sport television stations, magazines or the Internet, is another way to learn about equestrian competitors. Relying on media alone to learn about competitors is not necessarily recommended, though it could be a useful tool. Also, using media as a form of information would be most useful if it pertained to the particular level of competition at which you are competing. Regardless, paying attention to the media can be beneficial by keeping you up to date with changes to equestrian sports.

Trainers

Competitive trainers can be an excellent resource, not only to help develop skills for competition, but to help put into perspective your level of competitiveness. More likely than not a trainer would be able to watch a competition and identify techniques used by competitors. This could not only help prepare you for a competition against this rider, but also help in your overall development as a competitor.

Observation

The power of observation should never be discredited. When you are not training for a competition, or competing yourself, why not attend a competition? Bring a notebook with you, make notes of other riders, unique characteristics, techniques you find interesting or helpful, trainers, the panel of judges and scores. Observing how others handle themselves in the ring may prove to be more valuable than you realize. Not only can it give you an idea of what works, but more importantly, it can help you determine what doesn’t work. The benefits you could gain by observing competitions could be worth the time spent.

Once you have a starting point for your own development as an equestrian competitor, you can build on the skills you already possess. Set goals that are reasonable, measurable, attainable, and come up with a plan of action. If you do not already work with a trainer, consider the benefits you could gain from their experience in competition.

Without competitors, without the desire to improve our skills as riders, there would be no need to compete. By developing a starting point for improvement, observing other competitors, and setting goals for yourself as a rider, you may improve as a rider and competitor. Understanding your competition is not just about wining, it is about developing your skills in the ring.

Reader Comments

Submit your comments

Link to this article

----------------------   It's easy! Just copy code below and paste into your webpage     --------------------

<a href="http://www.equestrianmag.com/article/know-competition.html">Know Your Competition: Getting the Scoop on Rivals</a> ~ EquestrianMag.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your link will appear like this:
Know Your Competition: Getting the Scoop on Rivals ~ EquestrianMag.com