Russian youth riders were on fire during the two weeks of competition at Bernadette Brune's Domaine Equestre des Grands Pins in Vidauban, France on 26 February - 2 March 2014. Junior Anna Mazur, Young rider Ekaterina Melnik, FEI rider Inessa Merkulova, Under 25 rider Ivan Antochika and Grand Prix rider Marina Aframeeva each represented the Russian nation with pride and hope for the future of Russian dressage.
Eurodressage caught up with Under 25 star Ivan Antochika and Grand Prix rider Marina Aframeeva to pick thir brain on training life and dressage in Russia.
Fifth in the Under 25 Grand Prix with 62.023%, Ivan Antochika and Zingaro were very happy with their results, particularly as they don’t have a lot of experience at international level.
“My horse likes to take part in these bigger tournaments and he felt really good in the new place. He ate plenty and slept well,” said 24-year old Ivan.
His 15-year old PRE stallion Zingaro is a typical but very friendly stallion, which Ivan hopes to start in the open Grand Prix by the end of the year. "I train with Zingaro at the Moscow equestrian club “Otrada" and my trainer is Valerii Tishkov who was a member of the National team of the USSR and Russia in dressage for 13 years. He was also a silver medalist at the first ever World Equestrian Games on the Russian team," Ivan explained.
Riding Zingaro for three years now, Ivan also has some younger horses and one small tour horse in training. He says the riding level in Russia is very different.
“The level of riders is different and ranges from amateurs up to the riders of international level," he said. "There are two disciplines in my club, dressage and jumping, and I feel it is really not a problem for me trying to be competitive in dressage on a world scale, as long as you have support, and dedication. I think it is necessary to participate more often in the international shows, so of course the greatest difficulties are experienced by the horses, because they have to go very long way from Moscow to Europe.”
Aiming very much to take part in the under 25 Grand Prix program at the CDIO Aachen, Ivan has big hopes for his dressage future and feels that Russia is presenting a united front that will help lift the sport into the future.
The 23-year old Grand Prix rider Marina Aframeeva took her 9-year old Hanoverian Vosk for his first ever competition abroad in the outdoor and felt that the second week was really their most successful!
“In the first week we didn’t have good results because my horse was very nervous, but in week two Vosk calmed and relaxed a lot and we had the very good score of 67% in the Grand Prix tour," Aframeeva told Eurodressage.
Ending the Grand Prix 5 star in 6th place with 66.490% in a very competitive field, Marina was delighted just to be competiting amongst such famous and excellent riders. “It is a staggering event," said Marina.
Her second younger horse, 8-year old Asteriks, was born in Latvia and is competiting at Prix St Georges level. “Unfortunately 10 days before the competition he had a colic, and was not at his very best," she explained.
Trained by Inessa Merkulova at the Russian stable “New Country”, former Russian Young rider team member Marina works seven horses each day. Her plan for the year is to keep on competing and achieving better results! “Dressage. It's my life," she stated.
Text by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © LL-foto
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