Eventing, an Olympic equestrian sport combining dressage, cross-country, and show jumping, provides a unique lens to study learning
under uncertainty. Based on extensive fieldwork including 187 systematic observations and 25 interviews with riders at national
through Olympic levels, this research identifies how expert riders use competition as structured practice rather than as opportunities
solely to win. They construct detailed pre-event plans including contingencies for varying course conditions, while fostering the horse's
confidence and trust.
Findings highlight the coexistence of flexible and stable mindsets among elite performers. Top riders demonstrate growth-oriented
thinking that allows adaptive responses to unexpected challenges, grounded by a stable performance foundation. Importantly,
riders hold a strong growth mindset toward their horses, viewing errors as valuable learning opportunities to enhance mutual confidence.
This study illustrates how learning from mistakes, reflective planning, and mindset regulation underpin excellence in high-risk environments.
The findings have strong implications for applied psychology, suggesting parallels for leadership and team learning in
organizational contexts, where growth mindsets and constructive error cultures enhance adaptive performance