*Our colleagues at Equnews.fr have interviewed the young Belgian rider Gudrun Patteet. This interview has been translated from French into English by Equnews.com.*
Not long before her 30th birthday, the Sea Coast rider became World Champion for Young Horses in Lanaken in 2013 and participated in last year's most prestigious stages of the Longines Global Champions Tour. In this interview Gudrun Patteet will discuss her horses, her ambitions and her debut to the sport.
How did you start riding?
I got a pony when I was two years old to have fun and then gradually I began to ride larger ponies. I then became affiliated with the LRV, the Belgian federation and I did a lot of national competitions in dressage and show jumping with my ponies. After I went on horseback and I started to go up in junior and the rest is history.
Last year (2014) was the first year that you participated in some of the greatest international events including the Longines Global Champions Tour, can you give us a review of the year?
I learned a lot last year but it was also a difficult year for me. I had mostly young horses and so it's hard enough to compete at this level against the best riders in the world who have older horses. They have more experience compared to me and my horses are very young. But I have changed a lot and I've had some good results. But hey it's not easy every day especially because it's hard to get good results.
[caption id="attachment_70683" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Gudrun and Sea Coast Atlantic during the LGCT in London[/caption]
What are your goals for 2015?
I have two very good eight year old horses who are new and I think they will be very good this year. Last year was hard because it was a pivotal year, now my horses will be more competitive so I hope it will be a little easier to do more competitions and perform better as they get older and more experienced. I think I will continue on the Global Champions Tour, but I'm not quite sure, I'll see how my horses go this winter and if they can get to the highest level or not. Regarding the Nations Cup I do not know, I have made my plan and if ever they ask me to be part of the team I certainly would not say no.
[caption id="attachment_70684" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Gudrun and Sea Coast Ferly during the LGCT of Antwerp[/caption]
Can you tell us about your different horses, including Sea Coast Ferly your top horse?
Ferly is still a young mare, she's only 10 years old. She is on holiday at the moment because I think she was mentally tired. She had to do a lot this year for me. She will comeback this summer for the outdoor season. She is a very courageous mare, she has done a lot for me this year, I gave her a break because I feel that at this moment she fights less than usual when she's competing when normally she is a real fighter. So this holiday will do her well I hope, she is fine physically but mentally not 100%. Then I have my nine year olds , Atlantic and Pebles and three great 8 year olds and that will need a bit more experience this year. If all goes well I will have a great string in a short time and so I think it will be much easier for me. Atlantic won the 7 year old World Championship division with me in 2013. He jumped his first Grand Prix last year in the Gucci Paris Masters. He is a very, very good horse and he always gives everything. Pebles is a very sensitive and hot horse but he has amazing qualities so I think he has the ability to jump Grand Prix's too.
You are still young at this level, what is your best memory so far?
My best memory was in Lanaken when I won the World Championships for 7 year olds with Atlantic. It was really a great time for me especially as I won in front of Jos Lansink and Rodrigo Pessoa, who are incredible legends. I also worked hard with my young horses and I finally started to get results with them so it was the consecration of hard work.
[caption id="attachment_70685" align="aligncenter" width="533"]
Gudrun Patteet (centre), Jos Lansink (left), Rodrigo Pessoa (right)[/caption]
Do you have a mentor or someone you work with?
I always train with Philippe Vandelannoitte, he helped me this year while competing but now he just helps me with the young horses. Sometimes I will train with Jos Lansink, he sometimes helps me during competition. Now I do more things by myself but I still need advice and help. I do not really have a rider that I admire more than others, but when I go to the GCT or major competitions it helps because you can learn by just looking at them ride. All riders can bring you something, when they are at this level they all have good horses and are all very good. So I think we can learn a lot from them.
Finally if you could ride any other horse, who would it be?
That's a hard question. I would like Casall Ask, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson's horse. He is fifteen and I've seen him jump some amazing courses this year; That's incredible. It's not like he just won one Grand Prix, he jumps clear all the time and wins alot. With him it looks so easy, I think he is an amazing horse.
Photos: copyright: Equnews.fr - Maria Guinamant / Léon Maskens / Auriane Tournay
*Our colleagues at Equnews.fr have interviewed the young Belgian rider Gudrun Patteet. This interview has been translated from French into English by Equnews.com.*
Not long before her 30th birthday, the Sea Coast rider became World Champion for Young Horses in Lanaken in 2013 and participated in last year's most prestigious stages of the Longines Global Champions Tour. In this interview Gudrun Patteet will discuss her horses, her ambitions and her debut to the sport.
How did you start riding?
I got a pony when I was two years old to have fun and then gradually I began to ride larger ponies. I then became affiliated with the LRV, the Belgian federation and I did a lot of national competitions in dressage and show jumping with my ponies. After I went on horseback and I started to go up in junior and the rest is history.
Last year (2014) was the first year that you participated in some of the greatest international events including the Longines Global Champions Tour, can you give us a review of the year?
I learned a lot last year but it was also a difficult year for me. I had mostly young horses and so it's hard enough to compete at this level against the best riders in the world who have older horses. They have more experience compared to me and my horses are very young. But I have changed a lot and I've had some good results. But hey it's not easy every day especially because it's hard to get good results.
[caption id="attachment_70683" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Gudrun and Sea Coast Atlantic during the LGCT in London[/caption]
What are your goals for 2015?
I have two very good eight year old horses who are new and I think they will be very good this year. Last year was hard because it was a pivotal year, now my horses will be more competitive so I hope it will be a little easier to do more competitions and perform better as they get older and more experienced. I think I will continue on the Global Champions Tour, but I'm not quite sure, I'll see how my horses go this winter and if they can get to the highest level or not. Regarding the Nations Cup I do not know, I have made my plan and if ever they ask me to be part of the team I certainly would not say no.
[caption id="attachment_70684" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Gudrun and Sea Coast Ferly during the LGCT of Antwerp[/caption]
Can you tell us about your different horses, including Sea Coast Ferly your top horse?
Ferly is still a young mare, she's only 10 years old. She is on holiday at the moment because I think she was mentally tired. She had to do a lot this year for me. She will comeback this summer for the outdoor season. She is a very courageous mare, she has done a lot for me this year, I gave her a break because I feel that at this moment she fights less than usual when she's competing when normally she is a real fighter. So this holiday will do her well I hope, she is fine physically but mentally not 100%. Then I have my nine year olds , Atlantic and Pebles and three great 8 year olds and that will need a bit more experience this year. If all goes well I will have a great string in a short time and so I think it will be much easier for me. Atlantic won the 7 year old World Championship division with me in 2013. He jumped his first Grand Prix last year in the Gucci Paris Masters. He is a very, very good horse and he always gives everything. Pebles is a very sensitive and hot horse but he has amazing qualities so I think he has the ability to jump Grand Prix's too.
You are still young at this level, what is your best memory so far?
My best memory was in Lanaken when I won the World Championships for 7 year olds with Atlantic. It was really a great time for me especially as I won in front of Jos Lansink and Rodrigo Pessoa, who are incredible legends. I also worked hard with my young horses and I finally started to get results with them so it was the consecration of hard work.
[caption id="attachment_70685" align="aligncenter" width="533"] Gudrun Patteet (centre), Jos Lansink (left), Rodrigo Pessoa (right)[/caption]
Do you have a mentor or someone you work with?
I always train with Philippe Vandelannoitte, he helped me this year while competing but now he just helps me with the young horses. Sometimes I will train with Jos Lansink, he sometimes helps me during competition. Now I do more things by myself but I still need advice and help. I do not really have a rider that I admire more than others, but when I go to the GCT or major competitions it helps because you can learn by just looking at them ride. All riders can bring you something, when they are at this level they all have good horses and are all very good. So I think we can learn a lot from them.
Finally if you could ride any other horse, who would it be?
That's a hard question. I would like Casall Ask, Rolf-Göran Bengtsson's horse. He is fifteen and I've seen him jump some amazing courses this year; That's incredible. It's not like he just won one Grand Prix, he jumps clear all the time and wins alot. With him it looks so easy, I think he is an amazing horse.
Photos: copyright: Equnews.fr - Maria Guinamant / Léon Maskens / Auriane Tournay