‘The pressure to keep performing’
THE ups and downs that come with horses are no secret; from dealing with illness, injury and the financial burden to the joy and elation they can bring. But for those making a living out of their passion comes the added challenges; getting the results, dealing with owners and sponsors, plus public perception.
Like any individual, riders are not immune to mental health challenges – and while it is agreed that stigma around mental health is changing, seeking support is more important than ever.
Sports psychologist Leonie Lightfoot of Chimp Management provides support to riders on the British Equestrian World Class and Podium Potential programmes and explains there can be specific stresses within equestrian sport, including large amounts of travel, taking individuals away from their home support network.
“One of the most unique things with this sport is often riders are running a business, so it’s hard for them to have that downtime because the horses are always there,” she says.
“Then there’s the expectation; if someone has
