On this unique, subscriber-only interview, Paris Olympics group bronze medallist Becky Moody seems again on her journey to the highest to replicate on the highs, lows, and classes discovered alongside the way in which.
Becky Moody might have captured the hearts of followers on the Paris Olympics with a group bronze on her homebred 10-year-old, Jagerbomb – however her journey to that podium was something however an in a single day success.
Over her greater than 25-year profession, she’s competed three horses – Jagerbomb, Carinsio, and Famke PF – on the worldwide grand prix stage, bringing a number of others to the very best stage nationally. She’d represented her nation on 5 youth groups and on senior Nations Cup groups all whereas amassing greater than 30 nationwide titles.
But till Paris, she’d by no means secured a spot on a senior championship group, and she or he admits she had almost accepted that such a second may not come for her.
“With the change from 4 riders to a few on a group, and with the core riders we have now on this nation all having such an unbelievable string of horses I knew the opportunity of breaking into that group was very, most unlikely,” she explains.
From the archives: considered one of Becky Moody‘s first appearances in Horse & Hound from June 1999.
“I suppose I’d hoped possibly a Europeans or a worlds, the place that additional group spot offers you a bit extra leeway, however I don’t assume I even thought that was going to occur till we realised how good Bomb was.
“You realise the extra you do that, that it’s essential have a reasonably particular horse to have the ability to get to that stage – and that’s what he’s.
“There’s a component of luck concerned, I’ve to be reasonable about that. With Bomb, I’m fortunate I bred what I did, I by no means got down to breed a celebrity – I’m simply fortunate he’s was one.
“I’ve had some actually gifted horses prior to now however for one motive or one other, it simply didn’t fairly work out. However they’ve all made me the rider I’m now.”
Important curiosity in Jagerbomb
Jagerbomb is now among the many most recognisable and beloved horses in worldwide dressage and, understandably, there’s been vital curiosity in him ever since he was tapped as travelling reserve ultimately summer time’s Europeans. However Becky has by no means entertained any of the numerous monetary gives.
“I’ve labored my arse off all my life to have a horse like this, I’m not going to cease right here,” she says.
Becky Moody and Jaegerbomb pictured at house with the bronze medal they gained on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Credit score: Steve Dawe
And the pair have embraced the ambassadorial roles which were thrust onto them with grace. At this summer time’s nationwide championships, Becky drew crowds, fortunately pausing for pictures with and inspiring phrases with younger followers.
“It’s taking me longer to get wherever as a great deal of individuals need to say good day,” she laughed on the time. “Nevertheless it’s so cool to really feel the love and I’m hoping we will encourage the era of tomorrow.”
By all of it – and amid the extreme scrutiny surrounding dressage on the Olympics – Becky’s remained calm and approachable, refusing to get to swept up within the feelings of the second.
“So many individuals have stated to me, you have to be on cloud 9 after the Olympics, and I’m like, ‘Nicely, no, not likely,’ as a result of considered one of my philosophies is definitely to attempt to keep fairly level-headed no matter occurs. Meaning I don’t get so excessive when it’s nice, however I can also shield myself by not getting so low when it’s unhealthy.”
Why psychological resilience issues
This psychological resilience is one thing she’s developed through the years with the assistance of her long-time coach, David Hunt.
“He’s helped me enormously to turn into a stronger particular person, and to consider in what I’m doing,” Becky provides. “However generally you simply don’t, after all you don’t, and that’s one of many hardest components of what we do, and other people want to speak about psychological well being extra.
“I’ve undoubtedly had my share of ups and downs, each with my confidence and mentally. I had quite a lot of success at junior and younger rider ranges, we acquired a group bronze and I used to be the highest-placed British rider on the final couple of Europeans I did.
“The horse I used to be using was a implausible small tour horse, he gained on the nationals, and we have been placed on the World Class scheme, however he ended up not being a grand prix horse.”
Reflecting on these challenges, Becky explains how every expertise has formed her coaching method as we speak.
“That was partly as a result of I hadn’t skilled him to be a grand prix horse from an early sufficient stage,” she says. “He additionally possibly wasn’t completely lower out for it. However that was actually robust and undoubtedly messed with my head as a result of I’d put strain on myself to have the ability to do as nicely at grand prix as I’d accomplished at each different stage and it’s a very completely different ball sport.”
From the archives: Becky Moody (proper) pictured along with her sister Hannah Moody (left) after a profitable outing at South View Equestrian Centre from November 1999
Becky continues: “Not each great small tour horse makes a great grand prix horse, it’s an entire completely different type of data and expertise that it’s essential prepare them for that.
“I do know that now and I attempt to assist individuals perceive that the primary couple of horses they prepare to grand prix, you’re going to make so many errors doing it since you’ve acquired a lot to study.
“You continue to make errors once you’re coaching your umpteenth horse to grand prix, as a result of each horse is completely different, and it’s a must to continue learning new issues each time you do it. I consider the way you mentally method that’s massively essential – I usually say my position as a coach is 20% technical, 80% counsellor.”
The challenges of social media
She provides that whereas equestrianism has all the time been a tricky sport to be concerned in – by way of harmonising the distinctive wants of elite equine and human athletes – it’s been exacerbated by social media.
“It’s one of many issues that frustrates me essentially the most concerning the sport in the mean time,” she says. “I’m fairly ineffective on socials in some methods, however I do all the time attempt to be myself – for me, that’s actually essential.
“And presently, I’m having a extremely pretty time on social media, it’s been a extremely supportive, and optimistic place for me – however it hasn’t all the time been.
“I believe that as skilled riders it’s very arduous for us to put up something aside from perfection, and I discover that basically irritating as a result of I believe if younger individuals, or anybody else, taking a look at our social media thinks that we stay in a spot the place every thing is ideal and our horses are moving into a flawless body on a regular basis, they then anticipate or assume they need to be capable of that themselves, and that’s not all the time the way it goes.
Becky Moody takes a bow after her grand prix freestyle on Jagerbomb on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Credit score: Peter Nixon
“I might completely love to point out a 3 or four-year-old on social media that’s solely simply beginning to be sat on and remains to be wobbly, the place you’ll be able to see the expertise however possibly they go just a little bit too spherical at instances and lose their stability and rhythm, after which put up one other video in six months exhibiting how issues are getting stronger.
“However I do know the minute I put that video up, the place the horse drops behind the vertical for 3 strides I’m the world’s worst rider, then you definately simply find yourself not doing it as a result of it’s simply too arduous – so, as an alternative, you simply put the actually quick clip on the place they appear actually cool and in an ideal stability.
“I discover that so irritating as a result of there’s a lot worth in exhibiting the method. I want we might share it with out worry.”
Becky Moody: “Our sport is in hassle”
Regardless of these frustrations, Becky believes that dressage should have interaction with its critics to retain its social licence to function.
“Our sport is in hassle, I don’t assume there’s any denying that,” she says. “I can’t faux that I do know precisely the way to get it out of hassle, however I do assume we have now to have a look at how we will turn into extra clear and open.
“There’s a bunch of those who assume horses simply shouldn’t be ridden, and we’d like to have the ability to present them how a lot they adore it, and the way a lot they thrive off of it. Lots of these horses aren’t bred to be discipline ornaments, they’re bred to do a job, and we have now to attempt to discover a approach to get that throughout in a optimistic means.
“It’s actually arduous, we’ve acquired to not attempt to speak at individuals. I believe it’s too simple to get defensive, and we’d like to not be. We have to attempt to perceive what to do and the way to convey them round.
“We have now to speak to individuals exterior our bubble if we need to preserve our sport within the Olympics.”
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Credit score: Steve Dawe
Credit score: Steve Dawe
Credit score: Emma Herrod Pictures
