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Will Matthew is the overnight success that’s not an overnight success. Originating from Western Australia he now rides for and trains with Isabel Werth. I caught up with Will fresh from his Louisdor Qualifier win in Hagen beating his trainer Isabell. Riding in the top sport in Europe, Will is definitely the master of making unrealistic dreams come true, putting in the hard yards and making his own luck. We talk about riding smart and with compromise, learning from different systems and we deep dive into training with Isabell, the journey with Belantis and his current two Grand Prix horses.

Australian dressage rider Lyndal Oatley is based in Europe and married to Swedish team member Patrik Kittel. She has competed in two Olympics, London 2012 and Rio 2016 and has her eye on Paris 2024. She has also represented her home country at the 2014 WEG in Normandy and the 2016 World Cup Final in Gothenburg. I caught up with Lyndal just after her win at Hagen Horses and Dreams just a few weeks ago. We talk about her three Grand Prix horses, the Australian team spirit, how Europe is different and how it has challenged her. We touch on competing and not being afraid to push for more.The ups and downs of the journey and riding strategically, watching Isabell, dressage in Australia, Sandro Boy’s half pass….and why are mares are so good?

Team GB dressage rider Gareth Hughes has won over 60 national and international titles including team silver in 2014 and 2022 WEG and 2021 European Dressage Championships and was the team reserve for Tokyo Olympics. We talk about his current superstar Classic Briolinca and the success at Herning. Why did it all work out so well and how do you turn a team of champions into a champion team? We all know how enthusiastic the crowd was and Gareth gives us his perspective from the arena. What makes Lottie Fry and Charlotte so good? The importance of technique and what that actually means. Picking the right trainers. Training with Carl, the “Carl Legacy” and what is good riding? Coping with championships when you first get on a team. The combinations that have changed the sport in the modern era, how the sport has evolved and the importance of sport today. Coping when Olympic dreams are shattered. Being the fourth rider in the new Olympic format. How his motivations have changed and what the future holds.…..and vaulting! www.hughesdressage.com

Today’s interview is with the generous, genuine, insightful and pragmatic Charlotte Jorst. Although on the surface Charlotte’s life might look utopian, she has had her fair share of obstacles but she’s the sort of person who just picks herself up, dusts herself off and gets on with life. Self made, her success in business, as well as the dressage arena is quite impressive. Having founded the watch company Skakgen, it was sold in 2012 for a reported USD237M to Fossil. It was then that Charlotte’s dressage career went full-steam-ahead as she purchased some very capable horses from Europe. She also started her next business project, Kastel Denmark, the beautiful and unique sun protection clothing line born out of Charlotte’s own experience with skin cancer. With her current Grand Prix horse, Nintendo, Charlotte competed at her first Nations Cup in Rotterdam in 2015 where the US Team won Bronze. In 2016 the pair competed in the World Cup Dressage Final in Sweden, and then went on to win the US National Grand Prix Championships in 2018. In 2019, they helped the US Team win Gold at the FEI Dressage Nations Cup in Wellington. I caught up with Charlotte at Aachen where once again she was a member of the US Dressage Team. In this interview we talk about starting a business and starting in the sport of dressage; purchasing super stallion Vitalis; goal setting; the negative that turned into the positive that is Kastel. The importance of grit and hard work and the difficulty on dealing solely on talent. We touch on managing the older equine athlete; the future of her star Nintendo; cloning horses and why you’d do it; rider fitness; handling nerves; coaches; groom; coping with difficult situations and managing your rides for success.

I caught up with Cathrine during her sensational Aachen campaign just before the World Championships at Herning. She’s always so much fun to talk to. We discuss how she manages her horses and how she builds trust with them, their character and Cassidy’s “new job”. Why it’s important to always keep learning and evolving, remaining curious to new ideas, staying motivated, being able to chill at competitions and peaking in the sport. Evolving ideas and keeping curious. She talks a lot about her mental coach Rasmus Bagger and you can hear an amazing interview with him in an earlier podcast we did. He’s a total ball of energy!

Christopher needs no introduction. He’s arguably the best equestrian coach in the world. After a twenty-year gold rush with Germany, Christopher Bartle is well on the way of repeating the same success with his home country eventing riders, Team GB. Having won Gold at the last World Equestrian Games, this year Chris and his squad also took out Team Gold at the Tokyo Olympics, and then few months later achieved the same result at the European Championships in Switzerland, as well as all individual Medals. In this interview we start with a wrap up of Tokyo and what’s next for Team GB. Chris discusses looking outside of the box, motivating athletes and some of the one percenters in the equestrian sport. We look how he takes the rider on the journey of success, how failure is used as a motivator and what makes a champion. Chris explains how he creates mental self carriage in horses and riders….and what does eventing and Formula 1 have in common?

Picture this…..you’re one of the world’s top dressage rider. Tokyo is just around the corner. You are at a Nations Cup representing your team and your horse just says no. This is where Danish dressage star Cathrine Dufour found herself at Compiègne, just two months out from the Olympics when her horse Bohemian, who had been consistently scoring over 80%, decided the arena wasn’t for him and refused to enter for the Special, resulting in elimination for both her and her Danish team. That must shake the strongest of nerves. So what did Cathrine do? Went home, did some soul searching and called on her long time mental coach Rasmus Bagger who guided Cathrine back to the top of her game resulting in an individual fourth place finish at the Tokyo Games and then just a few weeks later, a team bronze an individual bronze and silver at the European Championships. Wow! I had to talk to Rasmus! He’s such an enthusiastic and generous person. His passion is totally infectious. In this chat Rasmus talks about building confidence, knowing how much of the game is mental and taking from other sports. Dancing with horses and the beauty of changing your mental interpretation of a situation. Seeking out gurus, his “Five-Three-One” Rule and why your mental state is more important than 10,000 hours. Balancing heart and head and Rasmus digs deep into focus, emotions and body language and how important it is with horses and in the ring: choosing it, showing it, feeling it, giving it. How your horse interprets you and our responsibility to our horse as well as making horses greater. And in regards goals, what’s realistic anyway?

Eight time Olympian Andrew Hoy and I had a fabulous catch up over Zoom (how good’s technology?!) just before he heads off to Tokyo. Here’s your chance to get to know one of those rarified individuals who is just uber successful; one of the elite. We learn about the influence of Andrew’s parents when he was young, the importance of having great people around you. Making mistakes. The important parts of the learning process. The undeniable importance of passion. Learning from losing and learning to focus. Making things work and being solution based. We find out how Andrew is living his last week before training camp. We debrief Luhmuhlen and talk about the phenomenon that is Vassily de Lassos and his brilliant owners and what Andrew looks for in a horse. And his take away? Controlling what you can control and not worrying about the rest.

Do you want to ride like Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl? So do I. Well….I can’t promise her fitness programme will achieved that…she does a lot of hard work on the horse as well. However, it will help you be the best rider you can. You don’t want to be the weak link in your training! In this podcast, I talk to Jessica about the fitness programme used by her and her brother Benjamin and that’s now available for you to do as well! Jessica and Benjamin are both top level dressage riders in Germany. As a senior, Jessica has been on the podium at the World Cup Finals, Aachen CHIO, the Europeans and World Equestrian Games both as a German team member and individually. She also won the German Championships last year on her mare Dalera. Jessica talks about the DressurFit system, why extra fitness training is needed for all riders, the importance of good breathing and what got her into extra fitness training in the first place. She also talks about the need for riders to keep up with the more athletic horses being bred. We also discuss handling pressure and the importance of always learning and updating your knowledge.

This is one of the most fabulous interviews I’ve had the privilege of being part of. Andreas Hausberger. He’s a chief rider at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. He is beautiful, friendly, learned, generous and has a great sense of humour. His passion is infectious. Andreas is a genius with work in hand and is in high demand from some of the top riders of today to help with the high school movements of piaffe, passage and pirouettes. In this all encompassing interview, Andreas talks about the history and tradition of the School and what it has to offer the modern sport. He starts with his journey up the levels of the Spanish Riding School and we get deeper into the flexibility of the School, the masters who went before and their influence….there’s a lot of fascinating history in this. For years Andreas has worked with German dressage royalty: the Werndls and Rothenbergers and he gives us some insight into this work and talks a little bit about Cosmo and Dalera. It’s reassuring to know the top riders have their ups and downs as well! Andreas emphasises the importance of patience, consistency and having good eyes on the ground; the importance of the rider’s seat; taking the fear out of training, not forcing the horse and seeing the horse as a partner as well as focusing on doing the exercises correctly. We go on to discuss Classical versus Rollkur as training methods as well. All I can say is…listen to this podcast! Due to travel restrictions, it was conducted over WhatsApp rather than face to face so the quality isn’t as great as I’d hoped for. You might have to sit down and pay close attention, but that’s hardly a bad thing.

Hans Heinrich is a household name in Germany when it comes to the training of young riders and young horses. If you go to any of warmup arena at the big shows like the Bundeschampionate, Hans Heinrich is everywhere, warming up and preparing many combinations. The German has been the director of the Hoya National Riding School since 1986 and in 2001 he became the national dressage coach first for the Junior and later the Young Riders. His responsibilities also include training the auction horses for the Hanoverian Verband and heading the licensing commission. In this podcast we chat about why Hans Heinrich’s focus has mainly been on young horses and young riders. We discuss the super young Germans…why are they so good? The importance of the support of families. Taking the time to learn the ropes. Rider fitness and the extra work needed these days including new technology and a different approach to training. How tough the top sport is today. Concentration and helping the rider mentally. Preparing a horse mentally for a show. Finding the best way for each horse. The dedication needed. The importance of a good groom! Hans Heinrich gives an insight to Sönke Rothenberger and his superstar Cosmo and what’s really needed to manage such a horse. The difference between riding horses and wanting to be a winner. Why riding is so good for young people.

Hans Heinrich is a household name in Germany when it comes to the training of young riders and young horses. If you go to any of warmup arena at the big shows like the Bundeschampionate, Hans Heinrich is everywhere, warming up and preparing many combinations. The German has been the director of the Hoya National Riding School since 1986 and in 2001 he became the national dressage coach first for the Junior and later the Young Riders. His responsibilities also include training the auction horses for the Hanoverian Verband and heading the licensing commission. In this podcast, Hans Heinrich talks about the improvement in rider fitness over recent years and the importance of concentration and patience for the rider. The importance of downtime and the reason it’s necessary for the concentrated work needed to coach well. The problem of not training a horse from the lower levels up. Being self motivated and knowing what your dream really is. And….do the basics ever change?

So, I wasn’t 100% sure to put this one up as a podcast or not because the quality isn’t great. It was done on Skype, which is not my favourite form of interviewing. I’d rather do it face to face, but it is Ingrid..one of the greatest equestrians ever!! I was in Sydney and Ingrid was loading horses and driving her truck in Germany, so in that sense, modern technology is awesome. And Ingrid is absolutely worth listening to. She always has so many positive and motivating things to say. This might not be a podcast for the car. You might need to take a little 20 minute break with a cup of tea or coffee, but it’s very well worth it. I spoke to Ingrid just after her 2019 European eventing individual and team gold in Luhmühlen. Ingrid talks about competing as an older athlete, Bobby and how he’s changed over the years, what he’s like cross country and his one times changes! How to build trust and a good partnership with your horse. How her training varies between her eventers and dressage horses. Franziskus and his big personality. Advice for young riders. Her famous helmet cam. The importance of fairness to the horse. AND having a balanced life and an open mind! She’s just awesome!

Judy Reynolds is a German based, Irish Olympic dressage rider. She’s really been a quiet achiever, creeping up the world rankings and winning top level shows. Success was put on hold a few years ago when her star gelding Vancouver K sustained an injury, but they’re back better than ever. At the Europeans last year, the pair scored personal bests and helped Ireland qualify the first dressage team ever for an Olympic Games. In this interview, Judy talks about how the Irish won their Olympic spot, her superstar Vancouver, what he’s like at 17 years of age and how he came back from injury. Daily management of the horses as well as the daily training. How she got into dressage in the first place and her rude awakening in Germany. Teaching riders…including a few pretty well known jumpers and how she enjoys the crazy horses. Judy goes into detail on how she transforms the “problem” horses that come to her and her aim that anyone can ride her horses once she’s trained them and the importance of really knowing the horses. What’s it like warming up with Isabell, she tells us her show routine and her plan towards Tokyo. Judy explains how “normal” people can make it in the sport but why it’s important to be on the continent. And how did Vancouver get his nickname, JP?

This podcast we have Danish dressage star Cathrine Dufour. I caught up with Cathrine at the Europeans in Rotterdam where she and her “pony” as she likes to call him, Cassidy won bronze in the Special with an amazing comeback from injury for the 16 year old gelding who has been Cathrine’s partner since Junior rider days and has partnered her through to Olympics and senior championships. The pair most recently won the Saab Top 10 beating the likes of Isabell Werth on Weihegold….not a bad way to finish the year! Cathrine also has another star ready to break through, Bohemian. She showcased the nine year old gelding in the 5* at Aachen this year where she finished top five in all three tests. In this interview, Cathrine talks about managing her older horse. What it comes down to on the day of competition and why it’s so important to know each other so well. She discusses her competition prep; the importance of corners, rider fitness and being an athlete and the importance of having a tough trainer. We talk about what it’s like working with Andreas Helgstrand and how that arrangement came about. Also, how the dressage scores are getting higher and higher and why there seems to be so many PBs at Championships. She tells us what it’s like working with Princess Nathalie and Kyra Kyrklund and Kyra’s creative solutions and training without force. And who will she take to Tokyo?

Horses have been part of Jessica’s life from the very beginning, riding in her first big championships, the Bundeschampionate at age 12. By 16 she rode in her first Europeans and has never looked back. Jessica’s won six gold at Junior and YR Europeans as well as been three times German Junior/YR Champion. As a senior, she’s been on the podium at the World Cup Finals, Aachen CHIO, the Europeans and World Equestrian Games both as a German team member and individually. Her most successful senior partners have been the stallion, Unee BB as well as the two mares, Zaire and Dalera BB. Having trained with Isabell Werth in the past, the German now works with her brother Benjamin, also a successful rider, as well as Jonny Hilberath, and Andreas Hausberger from The Spanish Riding School. I interviewed Jessica at the Europeans in Rotterdam where she had a rollercoaster of a show with Dalera. From an uncharacteristic miscommunication in the Grand Prix, which brought tears of shock to the rider, she stormed back for a glorious Special, and a Personal Best freestyle, which saw her with a team gold and individual bronze, beaten only by her team mates, also with PBs. She might be softly spoken, but Jessica has a real competitiveness and passion for bringing out the very best in her highly intelligent, if a bit crazy, four legged proteges. We talk about keeping it natural for the horses and learning to surrender as well as working with each unique personality. Training without force, giving horses a reason to work and the importance of routine. Jessica is really into rider fitness as well so we talk about what she does and her new “Dressurfit” course which she has developed with brother Benjamin…which is coming soon in English! So, yay! We then talk about the advantages and disadvantages of being on the German Team, relaxing at shows and we discuss her new goals.

I love talking to Laura Graves. She’s articulate and thoughtful which makes for super answers and a great conversation and we’re lucky to have another chat with her. Just to recap, Laura, burst onto the international dressage scene in 2014 at WEG in Normandy where she finished 5th in the Freestyle with her gelding Verdades. Two years later at the Rio Olympics they were part of the bronze medal winning US Team as well as just missing the podium to finish 4th individually. More recently she won silver in the Special at the WEG in Tryon as well as team silver. Laura was out in Australia earlier this year to give a brilliant Masterclass at Brisbane CDI. This interview touches a little bit on the themes she raised, so I’d really recommend that you read the Masterclass notes, the link to which are below. In this interview, Laura talks about US Dressage and what that actually means, the high scores we’ve been seeing recently in the dressage arena, the importance of experience, competitiveness, what exactly is rider fitness, the elusive half halt, the importance of having high expectations, how she likes to obtain her horses…….and fomo! Link to Masterclass notes: http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2019/08/laura-graves-a-masterclass/

German dressage rider Helen Langenhanenberg is as delightful to talk to as she is to watch ride. After Grand Prix successes with Responsible, she took over the ride of Damon Hill from her then trainer Ingrid Klimke. The chestnut stallion and Helen went on to win team silver and finished fourth individually at the London Olympics in 2012, win the World Cup Final in 2013 and then individual silver and team gold at WEG in Normandy in 2014. Her partner in the top sport today is the 17 year old stallion Damsey. With numerous successes under their belt, their third place test at this year’s World Cup Final, will perhaps be talked about for many years to come. That final centreline! We talk about that test and what the future holds for Damsey before discussing riding while pregnant and riding while recovering from chid birth. You might be surprised how quickly Helen was back on a horse! Helen discusses what makes a podium rider and what her non-negotiables are with her horses. We get into her training philosophies and how someone so petite rides those big horses without force, her super up and coming stars and how she copes when horses get sold. She’s really good fun…there’s a lot of laughing.

Michael Jung needs no introduction. The eventing superstar won individual and team gold at the London Olympics and individual gold and team silver at Rio on his super horse, Sam. He’s won at Kentucky, Badminton, Luhmühlen and Burghley and has been inducted into the Eventing Rider Association Hall of Fame. In this interview he talks about how he manages all his horses, why he does so much show jumping, the different types of eventing horse and what makes a great rider. We find out how the German champion remains so cool and calm in the start box, what he does on the day of a competition and how to manage the eventing season. We also talk about past and future champions. The background music is courtesy of Hagen Horses and Dreams!

Although starting in the world of eventing, Spencer turned to dressage in his 20s. He’s won 13 national titles and with is partner in the arena Super Nova, helped bring home team silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and team bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018. As a trainer and rider, Spencer comes up with the best exercises….and lots of them! In this interview he breaks down his process for us. We talk about what the hardest thing is to achieve in dressage, the importance of transitions AND discipline as well as trying to balance your training and test riding at home and we also touch on how dressage is evolving. Spencer also delves into mental preparation and his crazy lead up to WEG at Tryon which was really interesting because sometimes you just don’t realise what’s been going on behind the scenes when you see the perfect combinations step out at the big shows. And speaking of shows, what does Super Nova think about prize givings?! …and is why Charlotte, “so annoying.” ;-) Spencer was brought out to Australia by Dressage Masterclass and I was lucky enough to watch him teach at the IRT Future Stars Clinic in Sydney.