'Get out of the goldfish bowl'

Katie Jerram-Hunnable on training classes and preparing for bigger rings

- Alex Robinson

THE 2023 season is under way and it’s lovely to see fellow competitors out and about again. The qualifiers for the Royal International are now upon us and while it’s great to see combinations gaining their tickets, I would advise riders to think about their preparation for this show well in advance.

Many of the shows around this time of year are held in equestrian centres, which have fabulous surfaces when the ground is still so wet, but we need to remember that the bigger shows have large grass rings, and I don’t think enough people are prepared for this until it’s too late.

My advice is to get out of the goldfish bowl and use the fields and other open spaces around you. All too often I’ve seen riders freeze in terror when they come out of the smaller arenas and onto the grass at shows. They need to replicate this type of open environment beforehand – whether that’s going on a fun ride or possibly cross country schooling.