WHEN Lottie Fry and Glamourdale trotted down the centre line for their gold medalwinning test at the 2022 World Dressage Championships, that moment represented months of preparation and hard work, all timed to come together at just that moment.
Gold medals are borne out of skill, bravery, a lot of practice and a bit of luck. But, perhaps most of all, they are won through timing; precisely, the ability to time both the rider and the horse's peak performance to the exact moment it is needed.
“It is critical to be able to peak at just the right moment, and it's a crucial aspect of any athlete's preparation, for themselves and the horsef,” says Chris Bartle, the British eventing performance coach, who engineered the team's Olympic gold in 2021.
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Timing an athletic peak is something the wider sports industry is starting to throw weight behind, and
