Noticing a huge improvement in her horse's attitude, Charlotte Defalque was in charge of the young riders division at the 2015 CDI Lier World Dressage Masters in Belgium on 3 - 8 November 2015. Her 9-year old KWPN gelding Botticelli (by Vivaldi x Koss) finally showed off his potential and won both the Individual test and Kur to Music with 70.578% and 72.775% after placing third in the team test.
“At both the CDI Le Mans and Lier Botticelli was much more concentrated and we could ride the tests with elasticity and self carriage. He was brilliant and our tests were fluent, meaning I could actually ride him during the tests,” Charlotte told Eurodressage. “I was so satisfied after so many years of work. Botticelli is a very good horse but is not always easy to manage. He now reaches an age of more strength, maturity and experience.”
Charlotte's parents acquired Botticelli as a 5-year old and Charlotte began competing him in the 6 years Young Horse tests in 2012. He has been slowly gaining his confidence ever since.
“In 2013 we rode the Junior tests and won the Belgian Championship. We went to Compiègne for the European Junior Riders Championship. In 2014 it was our first year in the Young Riders category and our results were rather inconsistent because of an obvious lack of maturity, strength, concentration, and a 'teenager temperament'," Charlotte explained. “We participated this year at the European Young Riders Championship in Vidauban and Botticelli wasn’t concentrating hard enough.”
However, the long legged chestnut rose up for the challenge at the Belgian Championship, where the pair won both the Team and Individual Tests.
“Botticelli has a lot of character and is really clever. All the exercises are easy for him but he is not always well mannered nor listening to me during competitions, which causes errors and sometimes for him to become short in the neck," she said.
A horse with two homes, Botticelli stays part time at Jeroen Devroe's dressage stable in Aarschot and part time at Charlotte’s home in Nalinnes. Defalque is trained by Jeroen Devroe and Carmen De Bondt.
“The routine depends on my studies and on my University schedule. I’m studying a Masters of Science in Business Engineering, currently in my 3rd year at Louvain-La-Neuve. It is not so easy to manage sport, international competition and study, but it’s a challenge and certainly a very good experience for the future," she said.
Charlotte hopes that 2016 will bring good results, consistent success, and scores above 70%.
“My dream for next year would be to gain a spot in the top 10 at the European Championship; as I did with my pony Epiascer in 2010.”
by Sarah Warne - Photos © Chris Coessens
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