Be Kind Month: The impact of burnout

In part three of the Be Kind Month burnout series, Megan Lane presents her research on the topic, explaining the impacts and exploring the connection with equestrianism. 

Burnout in equestrian athletes doesn’t just affect performance, it affects lives. For many riders, burnout isn’t just feeling “a bit tired”. It’s a slow erosion of motivation, health, and identity. While the experience of burnout can vary from person to person, there are some key impacts to be aware of. Recognising these signs is crucial in understanding when you might be burnt out, and what kind of support could help. 

Emotional and Physical impacts 

Physical and emotional exhaustion is often the first and most recognisable sign of burnout. It can be exacerbated in equestrian athletes, due to the constant and non-negotiable nature of horse care. The physically demanding tasks needed can lead to an increased recovery need, which is often not met. When someone is burnt out, sleep often suffers. There is often a reduction in hours of sleep, as well as sleep quality. The stress the body is under when someone is burnt out, combined with the often never-ending mental to do lists, can interfere with the body’s ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, leading to waking up in the morning and not feeling rested, which can lead to a vicious cycle. 

Emotionally, it can feel like you are running on autopilot. You might feel disconnected from reality, and might experience reduced motivation, enthusiasm and enjoyment in doing the things that you usually enjoy. Burnout can interfere with our ability to view our achievements positively, and it can often feel that we are not doing enough. This can lead to feelings of guilt and self-pressure to continue despite feeling exhausted, particularly when we always put our horses’ needs before our own.  

Experiencing burnout over a prolonged period has the potential to lead to both physical and mental illness, which can persist beyond the onset of burnout too.  

The role of identity 

In my master’s research, an unexpected finding came in the form of burnout leading to a type of identity crisis. When we put such a large amount of time, money and effort into something, that we begin to dread or enjoy less, it can leave us wondering why we are putting so much effort into it. A quote from my research project really highlighted the almost existential impact burnout can have; ‘it is a huge commitment and so if I’ve lost my purpose, then what am I doing? Why am I doing it?’.  

Perhaps the most important impact of burnout to be aware of is the longer-term impact it can have on mental and physical health. Left untreated, experiencing burnout over a long time can lead to a wide range of physical illness, including chronic fatigue syndrome, cardiovascular problems and weight gain. Mentally, it can lead to anxiety and depression, which can sometimes outlast the period of burnout.  

Burnout can be deceptive. Many riders are high functioning even when they are burnt out, as their demands are simply non-negotiable, and they feel they need to carry on. It has been likened to being on a hamster wheel and not being able to get off. It is this hidden nature of burnout that makes it so dangerous, and why is it so important to be aware of the impacts and warning signs, so you can seek support and make a change before you experience any of the long-lasting impacts. 

The link between impacts and equestrian

Burnout doesn’t happen in a vacuum. While it’s often driven by personal demands, expectations, and workload, the environment we’re in, especially the culture around us, plays a significant role in how burnout develops, and even more so in how (or whether) it’s addressed.  

The equestrian world can be deeply rewarding, but it’s also known for its toughness. There’s a longstanding mindset, often passed down through generations and reinforced in riding schools, livery yards, and competition settings that you just carry on. Whether you're exhausted, injured, or mentally drained, there’s an unspoken expectation to push through, not complain, and not show weakness. Rider’s fear being judged, being seen as less dedicated, or even being accused of not caring enough about their horses. This mentality, drilled in from a young age, teaches riders to override their own needs, sometimes even when their mental health is at stake, which means many may never talk about burnout, even when they may be really struggling. 

Social media adds another layer. Few talk openly about the hard days, the vet bills, the emotional toll of setbacks, or the mental fatigue that can build up. This lack of visibility makes it even harder to speak up. If no one else seems to be struggling, riders may assume that it is just them, and push themselves further. 

Changing the culture starts with making space for honest conversations. Burnout isn’t rare, and it certainly isn’t a failure. It’s a response to prolonged stress, high demands, and a lack of recovery, all of which are common in the equestrian world. 

Riders need to know that taking care of themselves doesn’t mean they’re letting anyone down. In fact, protecting your mental and physical health makes you a better rider, better for your horse, and more likely to stay in the sport long-term. 

The culture of the equestrian industry is changing, as being open about mental health is becoming more common, but there’s still more to be done. We need to move away from the mindset that burnout is weakness and toward an environment that values rest, recovery, and honesty. Burnout thrives in silence. By speaking up, sharing our experiences, and supporting one another, we can begin to rewrite the story, so that future generations of riders don’t feel they have to suffer in silence, too. 

I hope that my series of blogs on burnout have provided some useful information and have increased awareness of this important topic. If you think that you are burnt out, it is important you seek support from professionals who can help you.