Train with the Grand Prix in mind
Jul 13, 2026
Ever watch a Grand Prix test and wonder how it looks so effortless? It isn't only talent or horsepower. A lot of it is strategy and mindset: how the rider breaks the test down, visualises it, and trains toward it one piece at a time.
In a recent Gold Program live session our coach Brett Parbery unpacked how "training with the Grand Prix in mind" helps every rider, at any level, on any horse.
Train the Grand Prix, whatever level you're at
The core idea is simple and a little bold: every rider benefits from training with the Grand Prix in mind, not just at shows, but every time they train.
Instead of "I'm not good enough" or "my horse can't do that," picture each movement as if you're already there, and ask the only question that matters: how do we get there from here?
Visualisation isn't daydreaming. It's a real tool. Rehearse the lines and transitions in your mind, even on a green horse, and you build confidence, sharpen accuracy, and prepare body and brain for the work to come.
Start with the end in mind
Begin a session by picturing the end goal, then walk the lines, even on a young horse horse. Piece the movements together and ask what your horse needs to know for each part. If something's missing, that's your cue to start teaching it now.
- Can your horse rein-back? Practise a few honest steps. It's a foundation movement.
- Is half-pass a stretch? Start with simple shallow leg yield and build from there.
Make every movement matter
From the entry halt to the pirouettes, every figure in the Grand Prix is a training opportunity. Even a movement that feels out of reach has a simpler version you can ride well now, as long as you keep the principles honest: straightness, rhythm, response to the aids. Less "is it perfect," more "how do I move this closer to Grand Prix quality?"
Mindset over mechanics
The thread through the whole session was mindset: a willingness to experiment, to make mistakes, and to see each ride as progress rather than pass or fail. It's not about a perfect test today, it's about building the pieces that eventually click.
And get particular about accuracy early. If you want the transition at E, make it happen at E. Anyone at any level can start riding like that, and the habit will carry you a long way.
A few lines worth keeping
- Train movements in walk first. Walk pirouettes set up canter pirouettes.
- Don't get stuck at one level chasing a perfect score. You grow by moving forward.
- Teach the movement before you test it. Ride it in parts, then string it together.
You don't have to be literally aiming for Grand Prix to train like this. It's about raising the expectations for yourself. Visualise, break it down, teach the foundations, and treat every ride as one step closer.
