Anastasia Bondarieva is a talented show jumper from Ukraine, now based in Belgium. Through disciplined training and focus, she aims to compete at the highest levels. In her previous interview with us, she explained that she values the ups and downs of the sport and finds motivation in both. So, who better to ask for some tips on how to stay motivated? 

Let’s start from the beginning. What inspired you to get into show jumping? 

– Initially, I was inspired by my sister, who had loved horses growing up. These days it’s of course totally different – I’m fully in the sport now. I can’t see my life without it. I also believe that I’m quite a goal-getter so for me, it’s very rewarding to achieve the goals that I set for myself. 

The last time we talked, you mentioned that both the ups and downs of the sport keep you motivated. Could you share some more about that?

– I guess the difficult days just make the good days that much better. Every rider would agree that unfortunately, in our sport, there are more bad days than good ones, but at the same time, it’s totally worth it when you finally reach your goals. 

“The relationship with my horses and the love for them helps me remember why I do this sport.”

– Anastasia Bondarieva

You also mentioned that strengthening your mental game made a big difference in your riding. Do you have any tips on how to train your mind to be strong?

– Mental game is the most important factor in our sport. We all have our own thing that we do to get into the zone, but it’s important to find what works for you and be consistent with it. For me, working with a mental coach really helped. Every person has their own challenges, but what I worked hard on was minimizing my expectations on the horses. They are not always going to be the same; they can have a bad day or a good day, and that’s okay. 

How important is the relationship between you and your horses in keeping you motivated?

– When I’m in a rough patch with my riding, or just struggling in the saddle a bit, the relationship with my horses and the love for them helps me remember why I do this sport. It also reminds me that it’s temporary and that I can feel down today and be back up again tomorrow, so I have to keep going.

“I really believe in dedication over motivation – that’s my motto in life.”

– Anastasia Bondarieva

Do you have any tips for maintaining motivation even when things don’t go the way you hoped?

– My tip would be to always have that big goal in mind. Even though things don’t work out some days, you still have to keep going toward that end goal. There’s always going to be ups and downs, but as long as you’re progressing, that’s all that matters.

Do you have a routine that you follow on a day when you don’t feel super motivated and want to keep it simple?

– Yes! On those days, I try to focus a bit more on myself and my horse and less on everything else that’s going on around me. If it’s a show day, and I feel like my motivation is slipping, I’ll most likely limit my time with other people and try to sit with myself before my classes, just to have a clear mind and a good plan. I really believe in dedication over motivation – that’s my motto in life. Things are very straightforward then: if you want to achieve big things, you have to work hard.