On fire at the 2013 CDI Drachten on 4 - 6 January 2013, Swedish Grand Prix rider Juliette Ramel proved that her horse is worthy of his "ten points" title. Aboard the 14-year old Swedish warmblood Ten Points (by Chapman x Uttini x Curacao xx), Ramel placed fourth in the Grand Prix and third in the Special.
"I was really happy with the competition in Drachten," the 25-year old told Eurodressage. "My horse Ten Points and I had a couple of mistakes, but in general I was very happy with him."
With 68,93% in the Grand Prix the pair finished fourth and they followed that up with a tidy Special score of 68,52%, lifting them to third position.
"The highlight for me in Drachten was that Ten Points was both relaxed and very positive," said Ramel. "However, my performance made me realise that I now need to focus more on the parts inbetween the exercises, during the test."
Currently training with Nicole Werner in Harskamp, The Netherlands, Juliette was originally a student of the renowned Ton de Ridder in Aachen, but Ramel went in search of new tutelage after the Under 25 competition held at the 2011 European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam. Ramel, however, acknowledges that De Ridder taught her a lot about the art of competition.
"With Ton De Ridder's training there is a lot of focus on how to ride a test," she said. " Under his instruction I learned to be more precise in the way I completed and combined the test movements."
Moving to The Netherlands in September 2011 to further improve her riding, Juliette is now learning how to be more concentrated and precise with her attitude and her aids.
"With Nicole I am learning just how important the basic work is, and how big a part that plays in everything you do later," she stated. "I also discovered that I need to be much more attentive to everything that is happening when I am on the horse and more aware of how, why, and when, I use my aids."
Describing the Swedish Ten Points as a super friendly horse who sometimes likes to joke around, Juliette knows that he is very smart, but also a bit reserved.
"If he were human I think he would be Clarence Clemons, who was a member of the E street band," she joked.
With an older sister being the only other family member (Antonia) to have caught the riding bug, Juliette says her love of dressage has sent her far from the family nest, but for now she is happy to stay put and continue her learning.
"Before I trained with Ton I also trained with Pether Markne in Sweden," she explained. "At the moment I am very happy that I can train with Nicole and I would not like to train anywhere else. For 2013 I just hope I will keep on improving."
by Sarah Warne
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Scores 2013 CDI Drachten
Gal and Undercover On Top in the 2013 CDI Drachten Grand Prix