But we came back for the Grand Prix and he jumped really well. It was nice that I got to bring my speed horse, Sampson, and he placed in three classes. After the first World Cup class I felt low and my confidence was damaged, but to come back and pull out a solid round in the Grand Prix against all the same top riders was a nice way to finish. I have to learn to not allow my nerves and the other things I'm thinking get in the way of my concentration. I have to be able to put all those other things out of my mind, because I often let them sidetrack me, which often negatively effects my riding.
Riding requires a very different kind of concentration than most sports.
It's a very mental sport. It does not require the same adrenaline and concentration of some other sports. In those team sports, where we got pumped up, tougher and wanted it more for the big games, I always played better for it. However, it was a different type of psyche than is required to ride. In riding I have to learn how to focus better and not let nervous energy get the best of me.