Day 4 - Jan Bemelmans

Jan Bemelmans took time out of his busy day as French team trainer to speak with us on Friday. He clarified for us that the six best teams from the European Championships will earn qualifying spots for the Olympics. 

We asked Jan about a the background on a lovely mare on the French team, Badinda Altena ridden by Pierre Volla. We all thought she was lovely in the Grand Prix and wanted to know more. We learned that Pierre was a jumper rider and began riding dressage. Badinda Altena was bought as a young horse and was extremely hot and explosive, especially in the changes. However, she showed great potential when she began to work piaffe and passage. This is her first year competing Grand Prix and they have all been impressed with her and how well she has been doing. They were a lot of fun to watch and it was really interesting learning their back story. They will definitely be a pair to keep an eye on!

When asked about preparation for the championships, Jan explained that it starts months before. They start by looking at strong and weak points of horses and riders during the winter and doing clinics to improve. It is a delicate balance as team trainer to not overstep each individual riders trainer. It is impossible that they find a way to work together. At the beginning of the year the riders picked out which shows they were going to and Jan was at each of them. The a week before Aachen the team came together and then traveled to Germany three days before competition. When riders are warming up at competitions only their individual coaches help them, however Jan will speak with the individual coaches. It is important that they all trust each other and are able to work as a team. 

When asked what Jan looks for in young riders he said; body control and how a rider reacts when a horse is not going well. He recommended riding bareback, riding without stirrups, and riding without reins to truly develop a good seat and go develop feeling. So often people use so many pads that they can't feel a horses back under them. Riding bareback can allow you to really feel the mechanics of the horses back. He also explained what a big jump it is from young rider to U25. Typically you don't see the same horses in the U25 that you see in the young riders because the movements are so different, you add in passage, piaffe, zig-zag, and one tempis, the style of horse needed is different. 

When discussing young horses it is important to see the horse to decide if it is what your looking for. Many top horses are difficult starts but mentally and personality wise they have what it takes to make it to the top. He also emphasized learning bloodlines and what they are known for producing.