The sisters Antonia and Juliette Ramel will form the Swedish team in the competition for under 25 young Grand Prix riders which will take place in Aachen for the first time this year.
Bo Jena, Chef d’Equipe of the Swedish dressage team is convinced that Antonia and her younger sister Juliette are the best choice: “For Sweden it was not that easy to find appropriate young riders. Thus I arrived at the conclusion that Antonia and Juliette are the ones who have an adequate level and who gathered sufficient experience on the international ground.”
Both sisters started riding at a very early age when they shared one pony. These times are gone: In Aachen 23-year-old Juliette will present Ten Points. She bought the gelding at the age of seven and she has been riding that horse for four years now. Three years ago the pair had their Grand Prix debut.
“He is a very tough and ambitious horse,” said Juliette describing him. “He has a lot of experience, is reliable and does not tend to spook.” Together they participated in European Junior Championships and the World Cup for Young Riders.
The nomination for the U25 in Aachen was none of a surprise for the younger Ramel sister. “Bo Jena addressed me relatively early, thus I knew that I would go,” she said. Since December Juliette is also located almost door-to-door to the arena in Aachen as she started training with Ton de Ridder.
“I train as usual,” Juliette explained about the way she prepares for competition. “And I will simply do as good as I can.”
Her 25-year-old sister Antonia remained in Sweden where she trains with Rasmus Bondergaard. Before her coach had been Pether Markne for a few years. Antonia will present Insterburg TSF, a horse which will definitely raise a lot of interest among the German audience. Under his rider Carola Koppelmann the black Trakehner stallion was kind of a “rising dressage star” in Germany before he was sold to Antonia Ramel in May this year.
Due to the fact that Antonia has been riding Insterburg TSF no longer than two months she was astonished that she got the ticket for Aachen. “We have been training and trying to get to know each other. So far we only participated in two competitions.” Nevertheless the young professional rider is pleased with the nomination: “It’s a great opportunity to ride in Aachen, I’m very happy about the nomination but of course I am as well a little bit nervous because I know my horse only that short.”
by Irmgard Peterek for Eurodressage.com
Photos © Goran K Josefsson - Ridehesten.com
Related Link: Mortensen and Seierskilde To Represent Denmark in Aachen Under 25 Competition
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