Edwina Tops-Alexander: “Go down from heaven to earth and do not think that you are better than others”

Edwina Tops-Alexander is one of the most successful international riders in the world. Australian show jumper, participant of three Olympiads and repeated participant in the World Cup Finals. In this interview, Edwina Tops-Alexander says:

• about how to properly build the training process;
• about his attitude towards horses and other riders;
• about errors and how to fix them.

Edwina Tops-Alexander / Source jumpernews.com

How to succeed in equestrian sports?

It’s probably a cliché, but you can’t succeed in equestrian sports unless you’re willing to work hard. Good results in competitions, of course, motivate. However, you must understand that it is not only about them. If my horses learn something new in training and gradually progress, I am already satisfied. After all, this is a sign that we are moving in the right direction. When you’re baking a cake, you need all the ingredients on the list to get the perfect result – it’s the same in equestrian sports!

Know how to build a training process

All horses are different: some are nervous in a new place, some catch on the fly, and others learn slowly. But all this does not mean that the horse has no talent. It is important that you know your horse well and build the training process based on his characteristics.

We are all equal

Come down from heaven to earth and do not think that you are better than others. I treat everyone equally – no matter who is in front of me: a young rider or an Olympic champion. If a person works hard, I have great respect for him.

Stay optimistic even when you make mistakes

Mistakes are a great boost to development, so I don’t see bugs as something bad or negative. Many riders don’t want to admit they’re wrong and put the blame on the horse. But if you can’t analyze and understand where this or that mistake came from, you will never be able to fix it.

love what you do

I don’t believe that someone can be really good at what they do if they don’t like it.

Treat all horses with respect

Horses are very generous and vulnerable, but don’t take their kindness for granted. If you love and respect them, you will get the same in return.

Team Help

It is always important to stay open and accept help from your team. I was lucky, I feel tremendous support from sponsors, my husband and the team. I couldn’t have handled all of this alone.

Source: FEI