Videos of athletes competing at every level before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit are available from across the world, offering incredible education opportunities for equestrians in every discipline. And due to the pandemic, FEI.tv has made this content even more accessible with free subscription until the end of June 2020.

We spoke to several experts to learn more about how both athletes and their coaches can use these videos to their advantage:

  • Kyle Carter of Sparr, FL – Canadian Olympic Eventer, EC certified High Performance 1 Eventing Coach
  • Yolande Cornelissen of Saint-Denis-De La Bouteillerie, QC – 2018 EC Coach Developer of the Year, EC certified Western Competition Coach Specialist
  • Deanna Phalen of Geary, NB – Championship Show Jumping commentator for CBC Sports, EC certified High Performance 1 Jumping Coach
  • Helen Richardson – EC Coordinator, Technical Programs – Coaching and Education, EC certified English Competition Coach

Skill Development from the Sofa: Four Coaches on the Benefits of Watching Online Competitions

Clockwise (from top left): Kyle Carter, Yolande Cornelissen, Deanna Phalen, Helen Richardson
Photo Credit (from top left): Cealy Tetley, courtesy of Yolande Cornelissen, © EC, © EC

Keep reading to learn more!


EC: Why is it a good idea to watch videos of other athletes competing as an educational tool?

DP: Watching live or via video gives you a mental picture – a visual. I can close my eyes and imagine what it looks like and then, when I get on my horse, I can recreate that look and feel.

YC: Observation is an integral part of the learning process. By taking the time to observe other competitors, we develop our eye for different aspects. It allows us to notice details on the movement of horses and riders, different techniques used, conformation, the gaits, etc. Subsequently, these observations can help riders have a clearer idea of what is being looked for, either in their discipline or another.

KC: The thing that amazes me when watching is the wide range of styles and horses we see at the top. I think it’s a mistake to try to make a template that does not change or accept abnormalities because we must work on adapting to our horses or riders when coaching. Plus, I’m a fan, so I always enjoy watching competitions anyway!

HR: Watching videos allows me to see a lot of skill repetition. The more I watch, the more I see issues or successful outcomes develop. I usually start watching with the, “How will this course/pattern/test ride,” mindset. After a few competitors, problem areas or technical and tactical challenges emerge and we start noticing common mistakes or errors in judgement that cause repetitive issues. And then the thinking starts to change to, “What made the one who did it easily successful?” As a coach, we only usually get one shot at watching students perform and analyzing their performance. The more we can practice by watching video, the quicker that eye will become.

EC: What do you focus on when watching online videos?

DP: As a coach, you need to be able to analyze position. So, I need to train my eye to look at the overall picture of [the rider’s] position and the form of the horse. But I will go back and replay it several times if I want to study a specific point like their lower leg position or their horse’s jumping style in the air. A rider’s body position and control I tend to study a lot when they are jumping a line – how and when they move up and come back as they answer the test of the line they are jumping.

HR: Watch the good rides, focus on where those riders are. How much do they move? How much does their horse have to do to compensate for them? Look at what the rider is doing when the horse is being great. Where is their leg, where is their hand, where is their centre of balance? Watch yourself on video and see what is different. There’s a reason those riders are good, what are they doing that you can adopt?

KC: There are a few things that stand out with successful riders. The hands are so important; it’s not that they never move, it’s that they move with the horse and situation. 

EC: Do you have any tips or tricks while watching videos?

YC: I suggest watching the same video two or more times: the first is to get a general idea, while the other viewings are to pay attention to the small details. If there is an element that you don’t understand well, take the time to go back and replay the video. If questions persist, share the video with your coach and ask questions to better understand.

DP: For teaching purposes, it is nice to have videos that shows a specific skill being done by three levels of riders. What does it look like to ride a line in six strides? One rider gets down the line too late in six, [the next] too early in six and then finish off with the rider who beautifully executes the striding perfectly. The student can watch, replay and start giving their own critique as they develop their own eye.

KC: It’s easier to see the style of riders when they are tall, I think, as you have longer angels to compare. (Also, they would be more similar to me in size, so I can relate as I try to incorporate what’s going on.) We always find ourselves re-watching competitions from years ago to the most recent. It’s interesting to see the similarity in courses and horses as we watch the evolution. I would say I’ve developed some very strong opinions on course design from this, as well as riding courses.

HR: Don’t just watch the problems, watch what was happening before the problem and what the successful rides did differently to avoid the problem. Watch the three jumps before or the movements leading up to the great or terrifying moment. Usually these things don’t just happen; they are the result of something that builds. Some horses are magnificent and save their riders for a fence or two, but eventually the course unravels – try to find the start of the problem. There are lots of tools out there that coaches can use to slow down and annotate video to really go in-depth with analysis. For example, Dartfish is a good tool, but really, stopping, rewinding and reviewing is the most valuable to me. Also, I always try to find a copy of the competition results to validate what I am seeing.