Olympic Rider Lea Siegl: Eventing, MagnaWave PEMF and the Journey from Dreams to Daily Stable Life

Lea Siegl is one of Austria’s most prominent figures in the world of eventing. The 27-year-old lives in Upper Austria, near Linz, and has made a name for herself with impressive achievements such as a 15th place finish at the Tokyo Olympics and several top placings at 5* competitions. In this interview, she shares insights into her daily life as a professional rider and explains how she uses MagnaWave PEMF technology to support her horses in training and recovery.

Lea, could you briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Lea Siegl, I’m 27 years old and come from Hargelsberg in Upper Austria, close to Linz. Some of my biggest achievements include 15th place at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, 6th at the CCI 5* in Pau last October, and most recently, 5th place at the CCI 5* in Luhmühlen this June. I’ve also competed at European and World Championships, placing within the top 20, and I’ve been Austrian national champion in eventing. In addition to that, I’ve secured many placings and some wins at CCI 4* level.

Lea Siegl: Olympic Eventing Rider from Austria

What does a typical day in your life as a professional rider look like – from the stable aisle to the competition arena?

I spend pretty much the entire day at the yard – from early morning until evening. I absolutely love working with the horses, and I’m very grateful to have been able to turn my passion into a profession. I usually ride around six horses a day. In summer, I often start as early as 5:30 a.m. when it’s cooler for the horses.

If I have some spare time, I like to groom them myself or just spend time with them. I also use MagnaWave a lot on myself. During my lunch break or after riding, I try to take a bit of time for myself – doing some cross-training, stretching, or mobility work – just to stay fit myself. The whole day really revolves around the horses.

During the season, I’m away at competitions about every two weeks. In between, there's little downtime – it's all about preparing for the next show, unpacking, repacking, and getting the horses ready. It never gets boring, and every day with the horses is a good day.

What has been your most emotional moment in the saddle – win or loss?

Definitely Tokyo – jumping the final fence in the showjumping round. That feeling was a mix of relief, happiness and pride. Competing at the Olympics had been a dream of mine since I was a child. To actually realise that dream – and finish 15th, which was the best result for Austria to date – was simply incredible. I was especially proud of my horse, who gave his all, even though the road to get there wasn’t always easy. It was a very special moment for me – and I think it always will be.

What advice would you give your younger self regarding equestrian sport?

To have the courage to follow your own path earlier. To explore new perspectives, gain your own experience – I sometimes wish I’d had that confidence a bit sooner.

MagnaWave PEMF was able to provide excellent support for one of her horse’s tendon injuries.

Was there ever a moment when one of your horses completely surprised you?

That happens quite regularly – both in a positive and a negative sense. You never really know how a horse will be on a particular day. At competitions, I’m often positively surprised – many of my horses perform even better than they do at home, especially in dressage. They become so focused and give their best, even with all the distractions and noise around them.

But of course, it can also go the other way – where they’re more affected by the environment and can’t quite focus. There are so many moments when horses surprise you – and that’s exactly what makes working with them so exciting.

Was there a specific moment when you felt MagnaWave PEMF really made a difference?

Yes, absolutely. A few years ago, one of my horses had a tendon injury. It was diagnosed via ultrasound, and the horse was put on box rest. I used the small loop with MagnaWave twice daily on the tendon for two weeks. When we re-scanned it after that time, the vet was amazed at how much better it looked – usually, recovery takes much longer. That was a moment where the impact of MagnaWave was really clear to see.

What specific challenges in training or recovery do you aim to address with MagnaWave?

I work very closely with vets and physios, and I find that MagnaWave allows us to target specific issues or weaknesses. Whether it's a past injury or muscular tension, we can apply PEMF therapy in a very focused way. For example, if the physio tells me a horse is a bit tight in the right shoulder area, I’ll use MagnaWave more frequently there to loosen things up.

I also use it straight after training sessions – if I feel a horse is a bit stiff on one rein, I’ll run the small loop over the affected area and watch how the horse responds. You can often see them relax, chew or show signs of release. I really think it helps us as riders respond more directly and individually to what our horses need.

How do the horses respond to MagnaWave PEMF – and how can you tell it’s helping them?

Almost every horse starts licking or yawning shortly after I apply the loop – and they visibly relax. You can clearly see that they enjoy it and that it’s doing them good.

Thank you, Lea, for giving us such a personal insight into your daily routine and how you use MagnaWave PEMF in your equestrian life. We wish you all the best for the rest of the competition season – lots of success, but above all, good health for you and your four-legged athletes!

Would you like to learn more about how MagnaWave PEMF can support your horse’s wellbeing?Get in touch with us at office@magnawave.eu or call us on +43 680 3070497.