Competition rhythm: how to prepare the week before

Why that final week matters so much

Many riders train too hard in the lead-up to a competition, fearing their horse won't be sharp enough otherwise. The opposite is true: muscles and tendons need 5 to 7 days to recover from an intensive training stimulus. If you push your horse hard in the week before the competition, you'll be starting with tired legs. A deliberate tapering week ensures your horse arrives at the start fresh and motivated. This applies to dressage, show jumping, and endurance alike.

Day-by-day schedule for competition week

A concrete daily schedule provides structure. Adapt it to your own discipline and the travel time to the competition.

• Monday: normal training intensity — this is your last 'heavy' day
• Tuesday: technical repetition at 70% effort, focus on correctness
• Wednesday: light work or lungeing, 30–40 minutes, no new exercises
• Thursday: short warm-up session or rest day, pay close attention to your horse's wellbeing and behaviour
• Friday: go through the checklist — saddle, bridle, transponder, clothing, competition licence
• Saturday/competition day: arrive at least 90 minutes before your start time

Nutrition and supplements in the lead-up

Change the diet as little as possible during competition week. A sudden switch to higher energy feed or a new supplement can cause digestive problems or unsettled behaviour. Make sure your horse is well hydrated: check the water bucket daily and offer electrolytes via the drinking water in warmer weather. On the competition day itself, give the last large feed at least 3 hours before the start, so the stomach isn't full during exertion.

Mental preparation for horse and rider

Your horse feels your tension. Riders who are anxious in the week before a competition unknowingly pass that anxiety on to their horse. Deliberately plan moments of calm: a short walk along the paddock, quiet grooming without time pressure. Visualise your test or course for 5 minutes every day: imagine riding through each element correctly. This reduces adrenaline on the day itself and helps you react more quickly when things don't go exactly as planned.

Logistics: get this sorted by Thursday

• Entry confirmed and start cards checked (KNHS portal or competition website)
• Trailer or transport booked and checked for tyres and lights
• Stable box or overnight accommodation at the venue booked if you're staying over
• Emergency kit stocked: bandages, Betadine, pain relief, thermometer
• EquiSight horse profile updated with current vaccination passport and medication overview

Use EquiSight for your preparation

In the EquiSight app you can store all your competition preparation in one place. Add training notes to the horse profile so you can look back later and see whether the tapering worked. Use the calendar to schedule your training plan from Monday to Friday with reminders. Not sure whether your approach suits your horse? Ask EquiCoach: based on your horse's history, it will give targeted feedback on training load and recovery.

The morning of the competition itself

Get up in good time so you're not rushing. Give your horse roughage as soon as you stable up, check the legs for heat or swelling, and warm up quietly in the first half hour — no harder than on a regular training day. Save the real energy for the arena. Stick to a familiar warm-up routine your horse already knows; surprises just before the competition tend to backfire. And don't forget: competitions are also information. Write down your impressions in the horse profile straight after, while everything is still fresh.