What an Equestrian Game Taught Me About Being a Beginner

A note from 2026: I wrote this in 2022 after trying FEI Equestriad while I was exploring what the metaverse might make possible for equestrian learning. I was very much a beginner in the game which turned out to be rather useful. Reading it again now, I’m struck by the questions I was already asking about technology, learning and our connection with horses.

There is something useful about becoming a beginner again. When we know very little about something, we expect to learn, ask questions, make mistakes and occasionally feel frustrated. We also get to experience the satisfaction of working something out for the first time.

In 2022, my curiosity about technology and equestrian learning led me somewhere unexpected: into an equestrian computer game.

What is a Beginner’s Mindset?

Think about learning something new and the steps we go through as we begin to develop competence. We can be challenged and still find the experience fun. We accept some frustration when what we want to do is just out of reach. When we need help, we ask for it.

There is an openness to learning in those early stages. We work at something, notice ourselves becoming more competent and appreciate the progress we are making. Somewhere along the way, as we become more experienced, it can be easy to forget what being a beginner feels like.

I had a rather entertaining reminder of this one weekend.

FEI Equestriad

I don’t play computer games. I had read about FEI Equestriad and, because I was curious about how the metaverse might add value to equestrian learning online, I downloaded the app.

It was fairly easy to register and choose a horse to partner and befriend. No stable chores yet, perhaps they came later? For my first round, I seemed to be responsible for riding and paying for “shoes”. The game took the form of a three-day event.

If you ever tried the design-your-own freestyle routine computer programme from around 2005, you would have been amazed at how easily I could now steer my horse. Unfortunately, I still failed miserably at navigating my way through the three-movement dressage test.

Awkward!

I did really well riding the line and adjusting the tempo, but I had totally missed the memo about the test I was riding. There was no time to apologise to my horse, who I swear was rolling his eyes, because it was time to go cross-country.

No nerves here as I cantered strongly on my line. The fence got nearer. I let it come.

How do I jump, though?

Turns out it’s a button tap.

Off we went again and I started to enjoy myself. It had been a while since I had ridden cross-country, and I did laugh that it proved to be my best phase.

Showjumping was more of a struggle, but I later learned that my horse was running out of energy. I wondered how to help him. How could we have run into a fitness issue when I hadn’t even galloped the whole cross-country course? I was clearly missing something.

Lost, I wanted a coach!

It turned out that my horse wanted an in-game care pack, which seemed to cost around £4.99. I wasn’t ready to commit to that particular entry fee while I was still feeling completely out of my depth, so I investigated the resources instead and found an apple. I exchanged some shoes, which I think I had won with my fifth place, and hoped my horse would soon be able to have a snack.

What a curious world.

I’m sure many hours went into creating the game, but what interested me most was what I noticed about myself while playing it. I wanted the chance to connect with and care for my horse. The Stable Manager in me was desperate to ask questions.

After only a short time playing, I had been reminded how useful it can be to become a beginner again. I had needed to experiment, work things out, tolerate a little frustration and recognise when I needed help.

I had also discovered something about what I valued in an equestrian digital experience. However interesting the technology or appealing the rewards, the relationship with the horse still mattered to me.

Looking back from 2026, I think that may be the most interesting part of this little experiment. Technology has moved on enormously, and so has my own exploration of how it can support riders and coaches. But the question sitting underneath it remains remarkably familiar: what can technology make possible while keeping the horse at the heart of the experience?