Spring MET 2026: From Consistency to Competitive
- Mia Lerchl
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 24
Two weeks at the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour (MET) in Oliva, Valencia (Spain) – a journey that once again showed me how much this sport is about adaptation, mindset, and continuous development.
Coming from Cape Town, I arrived without any prior training with my two horses King and O’Brian van Rinsma State. Both horses are based in Mallorca, and I usually ride them only between August and December. The last time I had been in the saddle with them was December 2025 – which meant going from the plane straight into competition mode after a four-month break.
Weekend One: Back in the Arena
The first weekend was all about solid, consistent riding – focusing on clear rounds and building a good rhythm again. And that’s exactly what we achieved: 6 out of 6 clear rounds.
A solid start. No rocket science at 1.10 m and 1.20 m – but even those rounds have to be ridden clear first, especially under these circumstances. Coming back after several months without riding the horses, finding the right feeling again, re-establishing communication, and performing on a big stage all at once comes with its own challenges.
With King, I competed in the 1.20 m classes on all three days, improving from round to round. With O’Brian van Rinsma State, I stepped up to the 1.20 m level on the third competition day – only my fifth competition round with him overall.
Between the Weekends: Learning from the Best
To make the most of the days between the two competition weekends, I had the opportunity to train for two days with Charlie Bays, a famous professional South African show jumper..
We met last year in São Paulo – a chance encounter that turned into a very valuable connection. Seeing him again at the MET, completely out of the blue, was a real stroke of luck.
Charlie is currently in Europe, preparing for the upcoming World Championships in Aachen this August. Training with a rider competing at that level brings a completely different perspective and intensity.
Since we wanted to avoid overworking the horses between the competition weekends, we focused on flatwork. These sessions were all about refining communication, improving responsiveness, and strengthening the basics - elements that are essential for performance in the arena.
Weekend Two: Progress Beyond the Results
The second weekend told a very different story – at least on paper.
While the first weekend resulted in six clear rounds, the second weekend looked like this: 1 clear round, 4 rounds with one pole, 1 round with two poles. But what might sound like a step backwards wasn’t one at all. In fact, I improved my riding on every single one of the six competition days – across all twelve rounds. I have never ridden as consistently in rhythm and flow as I did during this tour, which was also clearly reflected in the feedback from my coaches.
At the same time, there were challenges to deal with: King had one particularly difficult and stubborn day, and O’Brian completely lost his temper twice in the warm-up arena (resulting in the need for a new helmet and two new cartridges for my safety vest), and to top it off, a British rider accidentally cut into one of my rounds before I could start it.
Not everything goes according to plan – and that’s part of the sport.
A Fourth Pillar: Competitive
Throughout these two weeks, I kept coming back to the three key principles I learned a few weeks earlier during a clinic in Plettenberg with my new South African trainer team: Contact. Rhythm. Distance.
But in Valencia, I realized that there is a fourth pillar that is just as crucial: Competitive. Speed, efficient turns, riding the right lines, making decisions under pressure – all while maintaining contact, rhythm, and distance. This is where results are ultimately decided.
Raising the Bar
The two weeks at the MET were an absolute turbo boost for my development as a rider. Not perfect. But incredibly effective.
I’m leaving Valencia with a stronger foundation, a clearer focus, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to become consistently competitive in this sport. And most importantly - with even bigger ambitions for what’s next.
These moments wouldn’t be the same without the people who share them with me. Thank you to my family and friends for being there throughout the MET - your support, both in and outside the arena, means everything.
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