What makes a top event rider?

A touch of talent, a particular personality or just lots of hard work Luz Wollocombe finds out what needs to be in the melting pot for a rider to become a five-star winner or eventing world number one

LAPPING the Badminton arena waving to the cheering crowd is a fantasy most horsey people have allowed themselves. For some, it’s just a fantastical dream, for others it’s a genuine ambition and for the very few it becomes a reality.

But what does it take to become one of this elite group?

World number two Jonelle Price calls them a “rare breed” and they are an eclectic bunch – different shapes and sizes and ages, with backgrounds as varied as their riding styles.

But the one thing that unites them all, in former British performance manager Yogi Breisner’s words, “is that they have a hunger – a hunger for learning and a hunger for developing themselves and a hunger for doing things the right way”.

This hunger is less glamorously known as an extreme work ethic. It is what will get you to the top and keep you there – according to experts.

British eventing team coach Chris Bartle says that while the will to win is important, “it’s the work ethic supporting the will to win that is crucial”. He cites Bounce, a book written by Matthew Syed, which says that someone can only be an expert at something after putting in 10,000 hours of practice.

Once we’ve put our heads down, what is it we should be working on improving? Of course, fitness and riding ability is important but, according to Jonelle, it isn’t physical prowess uniting the top riders, it’s character.