Being a rider based in America, how much preparation and organization of your horses and your team does the travel over to Europe entail?
Living in America, it takes a lot of organization. I have a big team behind me that makes this all possible, so I’m very grateful for that. Obviously flying over and having the horses here, creates a scheduling issue. I have to have the horses here early enough that they can leg up for a big event.
How important are the physical and mental preparations for you to be a top show jumping athlete?
I think being a top-level show jumper, or any athlete, is a combination of all factors. Mentally being prepared, physically being prepared, and in our sport, you have the added element of the horse also being mentally and physically prepared for the event. So, I try to have those in order, and then hopefully we can have peak performance on Sunday.
The arena here in Aachen is one of the biggest in the world, what is it like to ride in?
I think this is the best arena to ride in, but I think you have to have the right horse for the occasion. A lot of horses are really intimidated here, so it helps to come with a brave horse and a horse that has experience.
Yesterday, the class was quite big and presented some tough questions, can we expect the same on Sunday?
The same and more, I think that’s what you expect when you come to Aachen, this is the best of the best, competing for the biggest prize in our sport. I think that we will see everyone put to the full test.
Source: Press release from Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping
Photo: © Rolex / Ashley Neuhof
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Categories: Interviews
Tagged as: Ashley Neuhof, CHIO Aachen, CHIO of Aachen, Equestrian, Horses, Interviews, Jumper News, Jumper News Deutschland, Jumper News USA, Kent Farrington, Rolex Grand Slam, Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, Showjumping, United States Equestrian Federation, US Equestrian, USA, USEF
