Competition Tips from International Dressage Rider Juan Matute Guimón
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This article was originally published in the August 2016 of Heels Down Magazine. Download the Heels Down Magazine app in the iTunes AppStore: http://apple.co/1QicprS or Google Play for Android phones and tablets: http://bit.ly/1sXQV75. Subscribe today to get your first issue for free.
At only 18 years of age, Juan Matute Guimón has a list of accomplishments that many riders only dream about. The “Athlete Performance” section of his FEI profile reads like a novel, or the record of a rider many years his senior. Ranked 2nd on the U25 FEI Youth Dressage World Ranking List, Juan made history winning the Individual Gold medal at the 2015 European Junior/Young Rider Championships (the first Spanish rider to win the title), helped Spain secure Team Bronze in the 2016 Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida and won the Individual Bronze medal at this year’s U25 European Championships in Hagen, Germany. Juan also obtained his personal best score at the CDIO5* in Aachen with a 69.7% and won the U25 Grand Prix at the CHIO in Aachen. With three top international mounts and several up-and-coming horses, Juan is living the dream and making a name for himself.
Despite his age, Juan maintains a calm, businesslike demeanor in the show ring that allows him give 110 percent during every moment of competition. Not all of us have been blessed with nerves of steel, and Juan doesn’t have them either! Even this unusual young professional can get the jitters before a major event. Juan shared his favorite tips for handling nerves before you enter the ring.
1. Get some sleep.
It is very important for me to get the right amount of hours of sleep, usually between 8 and 10, before competition day. I must wake up feeling that my batteries are charged!
2. Try to eat something.
Usually I don’t feel very hungry before competing, therefore I don’t eat much. I’ll try to eat some fruit if I can.
3. Find a way to relax.
I love listening to Classical music while getting ready. Many of my equestrian friends laugh when I tell them this but it helps me focus and mentally prepare for my tests. If I need to feel pumped up, I’ll listen to pop and hip-hop tracks.
4. Embrace the challenge!
I rarely get nervous now. I embrace the responsibility and the challenge. You have to understand that it is your moment to shine and then go and prove your skills and the hard work that happens behind the scenes. Understanding that helps motivate me and fuels me with adrenaline.
5. Avoid distractions.
I am very lucky to have a team of grooms I completely trust to make sure my horses are ready and look sharp. Thanks to them, I can completely focus and enter into my zone with no distractions.
6. Get your stretches in.
I always warm up and stretch before riding. During competitions, I warm up and stretch with my headphones on listening to my tunes. I guess you could say this has become a bit of a routine now.
7. Shine your boots.
I like to have my boots very shiny when at a horse show. I polish them the night before and give them the final touch right before getting on my horse.
8. Keep it simple.
During warm ups at shows, I make sure to keep it as simple as possible. We take many breaks so that we can both breathe and stay relaxed.
9. Happy horse, happy life.
Right before going into the ring, I make sure my horse knows I’m happy and proud of him through many pats on his neck. I intend to transfer my positive vibes and competitive mood.
10. Know your horse well enough to plan ahead.
Before entering the awards ceremony, I MUST be able to do a quick warm up so if my horse gets too excited, he doesn’t get hurt or injured from a bad turn or excessive expression due to the atmosphere and the people clapping.
Bonus: Always love on your horse.
I LOVE giving them apples and carrots when they have done a good job in training or competition.
Read more articles like this in the February issue of Heels Down Magazine.
Download the Heels Down Magazine app in the iTunes AppStore: http://apple.co/1QicprS or Google Play for Android phones and tablets: http://bit.ly/1sXQV75.
