It has been five long years, but Switzerland finally has a new pony team trainer and chef d'equipe. The Swiss Equestrian Federation appointed German Heidi Bemelmans as team trainer and chef d'equipe of the Swiss dressage ponies. Bemelmans will need to boost pony dressage in Switzerland by structurally managing and coaching talented pony riders.
A first pony seminar took place in October 2008 at Silvia Ikle's dressage academy in Niederhasli, Switzerland. Twenty-three pony riders and their parents attended the two-day event, where the children's potential was analysed followed by instruction to improve their skills.
Bemelmans has trained pony riders in Germany and Luxembourg and is delighted to bring Swiss pony dressage to a new level. During the seminar she stressed the importance of a good basis and quality ponies. "The earlier a child learns the basis, the easier it gets," she said. "It doesn't matter if the European Pony Championships are the goal or if they just want to ride regional tests. You have to ride correctly at any level."
The quality of riding is not totally dependent on the potential and quality of the pony. "The quality of the pony only matters if you have the competitive ambition to participate in the European Pony Championships. Without top quality, well trained and ridden ponies, children have no chance to qualify for the international championships and to be successful there."
Bemelmans stressed that only when parents are willing to invest much time and money in the training of their child and pony, there will be a chance to do well at such competitions. Without high quality ponies, even the most talented pony riders are chanceless. After the seminar, Bemelmans received many inquiries for personal training.
At the moment, Switzerland only has two confirmed FEI pony riders, Estelle Wettstein and Nicole Guillebeau. To widen this small group, more seminars will need to be organized. "The pony seminars will be at the cost of the parents because we can't make our only two A-team riders pay for one national coach," said Peter von Grebel, the dressage director of the Swiss Equestrian Federation.
To be considered for the Swiss pony team, riders have to score at least 62% at L16 level.
Top Photo courtesy: www.media-professional.ch
Related Link
Scores 2008 Swiss Dressage Championships