At major horse shows, the difference between making the top ten and landing in the top three is rarely one dramatic thing. More often, it comes down to a series of smaller, less glamorous things done at a higher level, with more intention, more consistency, and more belief.
Most riders in the top ten are talented. They have put in the work. They can get through the pattern, present a horse well, and manage the pressure that comes with showing at a high level. But the riders who consistently rise into the top three tend to separate themselves in a few specific ways. They are more committed to the basics, more aware of what their horse needs, more willing to trust their preparation, and more determined to keep growing after success.
According to leading professional trainer Ryan Cottingim, that separation starts long before anyone walks into the pen. It starts with the fundamentals.
Cottingim said a huge part of his program, both for himself and for his clients, is becoming “so fundamentally sound” that when it is time to show, the work feels automatic. In his view, confidence in the arena does not come from hoping things hold together under pressure. It comes from building such a strong foundation at home that the basics become muscle memory.
That mindset is especially clear in an event like Trail. Cottingim said he likes to break things down into “individual pieces and individual pole work,” then spend time mastering those maneuvers one by one. Instead of only practicing full patterns, he focuses on sharpening each element until both horse and rider understand their jobs completely. That kind of repetition may not be glamorous, but it gives competitors something invaluable when the pressure rises: reliability.
At the biggest shows, riders often want to think about the wow factor. They want more expression, more style, more difficulty, more polish. But, none of that matters if the base is shaky. Riders who want to reach the next level have to be honest about whether they are really prepared to push, or whether they are still trying to cover holes in their foundation. Cottingim’s approach makes it clear that you cannot skip steps. Before you can ask for brilliance, you have to build consistency.
Once that preparation is in place, the next challenge is knowing when to go for it.
Cottingim admitted this can be one of the hardest parts, because his focus on fundamentals is so strong. But, he also understands that top-level competition demands more than just accuracy. To truly contend for the top, he said, “there needs to be theatrics, there needs to be a presentation, there needs to be an eye appeal.”
The riders who break through are usually the ones who trust what they have practiced at home. They know they can push because they have already tested that edge before they ever get to the show. They do not abandon the basics in the pen. They rely on them so fully that they are free to add expression, confidence, and style when it counts.
That willingness to stretch also applies after the ribbons are handed out. Reaching the top is difficult, but staying there may be even harder.
Cottingim called that “ultimately the toughest piece,” describing the retention of remaining at the highest level as one of the greatest challenges in any field. By studying professional athletes and businessmen, he has seen the same pattern repeatedly: getting to the top takes tremendous effort, but maintaining that standard takes even more. Success can make people comfortable. It can tempt them to protect what they have already achieved instead of continuing to evolve.
In the horse industry, that mindset can quietly stall progress. A rider wins a major class, has a great season, or finally reaches a long-sought goal, and it becomes easy to settle. However, the competitors who remain at the top are usually the ones who keep asking harder questions. Where can I improve? What still needs to get better? What can I sharpen before someone hungrier passes me?
For riders stuck in the top ten and hungry for more, the message is clear. Going further is not about chasing something flashy. It is about becoming better where it counts most. Better in the basics. Better at knowing your horse. Better at trusting your preparation. Better at taking the kind of calculated chances that create presence, polish, and separation.
Good enough may keep you competitive. But good enough will not get you into the top three.
