French young rider Anne Chapron swept the board at an international young riders competition held for the first time at the Salon du Cheval in Paris, France, 7 - 8 December 2010. Aboard her 15-year old Belgian warmblood gelding Sweltmeyer (by Weltmeyer II x Sudan), Chapron won both rounds with high scores.
Chapron and Sweltmeyer were on form from the start of the event. On the first day they won the Prix St Georges with 67.421% which raised hope for the Kur to Music. "My horse was a good boy," Chapron told Cavadeos. "He wasn't impressed by the surroundings. He behaved himself really well."
The next day, Chapron made it a double by winning the Kur to Music with an impressive 73.100%. Her freestyle was highlight by nice half-pirouettes.
The double victory in Paris was a great closure of the season, which started slowly for Chapron and Sweltmeyer. "I couldn't do many shows at the beginning of the year so he wasn't in top shape straight away," said Anne. "Often he gets better towards the end of the season. Then he knows his job."
Chapron, who celebrated her 20th birthday the day before the PSG class, is a biotechnology student in Angers and trains with Philippe Limousin at the National Equestrian Centre in Saumur.
"I try to train as much as possible," she said. "I try to go to my coach minimal one time a week. Sometimes I also go on the weekends. It's not easy but fortunately Philippe Limousi takes care of my horse."
With one more year to go at Young Riders' level Chapron will certainly to return on the French Young Riders' team, like she was this year, and compete at the 2011 European Young Riders Championships in Broholm, Denmark.
Interview © Cavadeos.com
Related Links
Scores 2010 CDI-YR Paris
French Teams for 2010 European Junior/Young Riders Championships Announced
Marc Boblet, 2008 French Dressage Champion