The 2025 Badminton Horse Trials cross-country phase was a showcase not only of elite riding—but elite mindset. While fans watched world-class athletes like Ros Canter and Oliver Townend conquer one of the toughest courses in eventing, what stood out even more was their mental strength under pressure.
If you’re a competitive rider looking for mental preparation strategies for eventing, here are powerful mindset lessons you can steal straight from Badminton’s biggest stage.
Mental Preparation Starts Long Before the Start Box
Top riders don’t leave their mental game to chance. Before galloping out of the start box, they’ve already visualised every fence, planned every response, and trained their brain to stay calm.
Mental rehearsal, visualisation, and breathing techniques are the hidden tools behind clear rounds.
Ask yourself:
- What will I think if something doesn’t go to plan?
- How do I want to respond emotionally, not just technically?
These are critical equestrian mindset questions every rider should practice answering before the competition starts
How to Stay Focused During Unexpected Penalties
At Badminton 2025, both Oliver Townend and Ros Canter received provisional flag penalties mid-round, only to have them later rescinded. That moment could destroy focus. But they rode on, anchored in process over panic.
Mental strategy takeaway:
When the unexpected happens, control what you can—your breathing, rhythm, and next step.
This is a key principle of sports psychology for equestrians: Stay in the present, not the outcome.
Pressure vs. Presence: Choose the Right Energy
What separates top riders from the rest isn’t just skill. It’s how they handle pressure.
- Pressure is future-focused. It whispers, “What if I mess up?”
- Presence is now-focused. It asks, “What do I do next?”
Ros Canter’s ride was a masterclass in presence. She didn’t ride to prove anything—she rode from a foundation of confidence, preparation, and flow.
The reminder? Presence beats pressure. Every time.
Recovering From Score Changes: The Emotional Reset
Badminton reminded us how quickly results can shift. One penalty can drop you from first to tenth. The elite riders don’t suppress their emotions—but they don’t act from them either.
✅ Step 1: Acknowledge how you feel.
✅ Step 2: Reset and ask:
- What’s still in my control?
- What’s the next chance to ride well?
- What did I learn about myself?
This is emotional resilience in eventing—and it’s a major driver of consistent performance.
Micro-Mindset Habits: Small Routines, Big Impact
It’s not just the big competitions that shape great riders—it’s their daily mental routines:
- Ros Canter journals weekly about her training.
- Oliver Townend walks the course alone to mentally commit to his plan.
- Grounding rituals—like how you put on your gloves—can help your brain feel safe under stress.
These small, repeatable habits create mental muscle memory—critical for cross-country riding under pressure.
Blocking Out the Crowd and Camera
With thousands watching and every move broadcast online, Badminton is no place for distraction. Yet the best riders create what mindset coaches call a “private mental bubble.”
How?
By shrinking their focus to just three things:
“My rhythm. My line. My horse.”
This focused attention is key for riders asking how to stay calm in competition—especially under public scrutiny.
Your Mindset Challenge of the Week:
When something goes wrong in competition, how do you speak to yourself?
Is your inner voice critical… or constructive?
Journal about it. Reflect on it. Even better—share your answer in the Neil Foster Rider Mindset Podcast Facebook Group.
Final Thoughts: From Judgement to Growth
After your next event, take five minutes to reflect:
- What did I do well mentally?
- Where did I wobble?
- What would I coach myself to do differently?
Because true champions don’t just review performance—they review mindset