Claiming victory in the Junior Riders team championeship test and kur to music at the 2012 CDI-W Kaposvar as well as the 2012 CDI Fot last month, Hungarian Réka Kristof is a young gun in dressage with a good feeling. The 16-year old had an after summer peak at these two Eastern European CDI shows after having been the best performing Hungarian junior at the 2012 European Junior Riders Championships in Berne, Switzerland.
"Of course it was a really good feeling to have won the two classes in Kaposvar, but it was also really good feedback for me to see that the international judges were satisfied with my tests," Kristof told Eurodressage. "I was judged by Wojtek Markowski, Victoire Mandl, Eddy de Wolf van Westerrode, and Maja Stukelj," says the 17-year old.
Having to travel and compete often in other parts of Europe, Réka is sad to say that there are very few competitions in her home country, but hopes that riders like herself will help dressage in Hungary to grow.
"There is a new generation growing up, like me, who have been inspired to take up the sport of dressage," she said. "Here in Kaposvar CDI-W, for example, with one exception, all Hungarian riders competing were below the age of 40. And we now host two international competitions annually, one in Fot and one in Kaposvar."
As a result of the economic crisis, Réka admits it is difficult for Hungarian riders to buy good horses and she knows how lucky she is to have found one particularly great partner.
"For all my victories I know that I owe a lot to my very special horse, ’Josi’ (Josephine), my junior horse," she explained. "It was an amazing end to the 2012 season for us, standing as our national anthem was played out across the arena."
Taking up dressage as a "small and naive 7 year old" Réka was quickly introduced to her first ever trainer, with whom she has now been working for over 10 years.
"I have been training with the same trainer, Peter Pachl, from my very beginning," she said. "He has a lot of pony, junior and young riders competing internationally and I am in a very lucky position because when my family saw how much I loved riding and horses. They built a riding centre just for me! The centre 'Unikornis Lovarda’ is 28 km from Budapest, the capital of Hungary. It is because of my parents' support that I am able to ride and train there every day."
Acknowledging that it is more difficult for a Hungarian dressage rider to access top level dressage competitions than someone from say Germany or the Netherlands, Réka believes that regardless of nationality anyone can indulge in what riding is really all about.
"I don’t think riding is all about competition and success and when I am competing I’m not thinking about these things. Training the horse is the rewarding part and together with Pachl we focus on improving my riding skills, so we are able to reach good percentages, even on average skilled horses. We also organise and take part in a lot of courses held by international trainers to continually expand our knowledge."
Following a range of 'popular’ riding styles Réka has learnt from her horses and knows that each one has to be trained according to their own temperament and ability.
"I have two young horses, a pony, and a junior horse, and one older young rider horse, that all have to be ridden differently. Also, as all of them are mares, I really have to pay attention to their daily needs. In the past I have had very difficult horses most of the time, and I have learnt to pay particular attention to the horse’s feelings. Of course most of my training sessions are focused on improving the horse and then doing the exercises. We don’t only need to prepare for a competition, we also need to get there!"
Sponsored by MOL, which supports a range of young talents in Hungary, Reka is also lucky to have team sponsors, BASF and SYNGENTA, who help get the riders to international competitions.
"I hope that with their help I can take part in as many international competitions in 2013 as I did this year and hopefully even more," she said. "My plan is to definitely take part in the European Championships again, win the national championships again, and also get involved in as many training camps as possible."
Proving to be a very successful 2012 season for the Hungarian youngster, Réka is proud of her accomplishments this year and her ability to train hard and get good results. Reka produced incredible successes at the CDI's in Fot, Kaposvar, Radzionkow, Hagen and Stadl Paura.
With a lot of successful Hungarian riders before the Second World War, Reka explained that it is now 100 years since competitive dressage came to Hungary. She remembers hearing about riders such as Hazslinszky Géza, who trained many successful Dutch riders.
On her way to being part of Hungary's dressage future, this young gun is just enjoying her time for now doing what she does best!
"I have always really enjoyed the sport of dressage and the most important thing to me is that everyday I get to do what I love, and work with horses," she said.
Young Guns in Dressage - Reka Kristof
Date of birth: 01 November 1995
Nationality: Hungarian
Place of birth: Budapest, Hungary
Sign/horoscope: Scorpion
Profession: Student
Hobbies: Horses of course
Best personal quality: cool-headed
Favorite book: David Safier: Bad Karma
Favorite film: Shutter Island
Favorite actress: Meryl Streep
Favorite actor: Pierce Brosnan
Style of music: Pop, Rock
Favorite singer or band: Florence and the Machine
Favorite car: Range Rover
An unforgettable holiday: Mexico
Favorite dish: Pancakes
Related Links
Hungarian Team Selected for 2012 European Junior/Young Riders Championships