Christine Crawford talks on finding motivation, Ankys and following your heart.

For me, dressage is about ‘top sport’ – being the best you can be and at one with your horse. To do this, you need to develop a relationship with your horse that becomes like a bond. When you ‘click’ with that special horse it is an indescribable feeling…

“Kaludah Renoir” (Donkey) was that special horse but sadly passed away from colic on the operating table at Randwick Equine Centre in May this year. The previous week, he had just competed in first CDI at PSG and Advanced level at only seven years old. I had so much to look forward to as he was working through most of the Grand Prix work at home… on my last ride on Donkey, he showed some incredible steps of piaffe in the warm up just before the freestyle in the final of the Advanced Freestyle and gained the attention of international judge, Mary Seefried.  He had talent to burn and the right temperament to succeed... it is so sad that he never got to show Australia what he was really capable of.  

I was devastated. The loss of Kaludah Renoir at the beginning of his FEI career was like losing a limb. My reason for riding was gone….there was no meaning left. My riding became a struggle and motivation was zilch.  Without that bond with your special, top horse and motivation, you can’t do sport “dressage” or whatever your passion is.

After weeks of feeling sorry for myself, I decided it was either ‘sink or swim’. I wrote an email to a friend asking if I could find a place training at Anky van Grunsven’s stables in Holland. For a while I heard nothing until one day I received an email from Anky’s saying there was an opening in August and would I be interested? Wow…reality really hit! What do I do? Do I go or not go? It is an opportunity almost every competitive rider dreams of and I have always wanted to spend time in a top stables. Anky was my all time favourite rider. So I decided to go for it!

There was so much planning in a short time. I had competition horses in work, State and National championships looming around the corner and a large number of students (including over eight FEI riders) to train. My partner, Jeremy Janjic, and fabulous groom, Megan Riley, were willing to keep the ‘fires burning at home’ and what an amazing job they did. Between the two of them, they were working nineteen horses a day plus lessons. Jeremy kept all my students and top horses going with great results while I was away. This wasn’t a mean feat at all. They were amazing and I thank them both so much.

Honestly, when the opportunity to Ankys came up, I didn’t think much. I just followed my heart, went to Holland and wow, what a journey! It was incredible. I was surrounded by the best of the best every day. There was Salinero, Painted Black, Bonfire (now retired) as well as three other WEG horses in the stables.  I was able to watch Anky and Sjef ride and they are brilliant. Working with Sjef and watching this master at work (teaching and training) was just what the doctor ordered…hoorah, my mojo was back!!

Small things can really make the biggest differences to your motivation and confidence. I remember saying to Sjef one day that I wasn’t sure what I was allowed to do here. He said “Christine, you can do almost anything you want around here.”  I will treasure this comment as it built on everything, but mainly my confidence and belief in myself. I was feeling on top of the world again and ready to conquer my dressage world once more.

Don’t get me wrong though… I worked bloody hard over there! Working days went from 7am to 6pm plus a 9pm check every night. I was absolutely exhausted but I loved it.  Lots of things stood out in the dressage training but speed control and reactions was the number one priority. There are lots of things I will do differently. The most important thing that I have reinforced from my trip is to believe in your system and work hard.

The work from training with Anky and Sjef is already paying off. Only a week from returning overseas, I rode Jazzsong (owned by Madeline Swan) in the Advanced classes and the advanced freestyle at the NSW State Dressage Championships in Tamworth. Jazzsong placed 2^nd in the Advanced 5C with 66.7%, 5^th in the Advanced 5B with 66% and 6^th in the Advanced Freestyle with 67%. We are very excited about Jazzsong’s future as an FEI horse as his performances are getting better and better as he goes up the grades.

I believe the most important thing I have learnt from Anky is to believe in yourself. Anything can be possible…just don’t give up and keep working hard. My goal is to stay in contact with my Dutch friends and travel back, maybe with my competition horse Jazzsong, who is owned by Madeline Swan and is currently on the NSW Talent Development Squad. I will do some more training there at least once a year and try to make another horse for ‘top sport’.

Most importantly, whatever keeps you motivated, you need to find that. It needs to come from an inside drive to really succeed. Passion, mojo, motivation, whatever you want to call it. Take the moment to find what it is and treasure it. Just love what you do, be happy with your horse and enjoy them as you never know what is just around the corner.

Happy Riding,

Christine

(Source: Kathryn Crofts)