Felicitas Hendricks Happy at 2015 CDIO-PJYR Hagen, Family Ties Huge Help

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2015 CDIO-PJYR Hagen

Finding it a great positive to be trained by a family member, German junior Felicitas Hendricks claimed victory in the Junior Riders CDIO Nations Cup with team Germany, and booked personal victories in the Individual test and Kur to Music at the 2015 CDIO-PJYR Hagen on 18 - 21 June 2015. Scoring 72.018% and 76.792% aboard Faible As, Hendricks gives credit to her uncle Christoph Koschel for her success.

Hendricks can benefit from her family ties as huge help in the advancement of her career as a young dressage rider. Her family always motivates her to keep on improving and enjoying her riding life.

“The show in Hagen was great fun,” Felicitas told Eurodressage. “Even though the weather could have been better, the atmosphere was very comfortable and enjoyable. The people were nice and all in all, 'Future Champions'" is a fantastic competition!”

Riding her 11-year old bay gelding Faible-As (by Fürst Piccolo), Felicitas says the horse has a lot of confidence in her, and vice versa.

“When we ride into the arena I always know he will do his best and I'm so happy about that. I could not imagine to have a better or more gentle horse than him," she said proudly.

With the 5-year old gelding Candy Boy also in work, Felicitas has her successor secured for the future. She is certain this one also has the talent to become a super horse.

Hendricks was also victorious at the 2015 CDI Wellington “I train both my horses at 'Hof Beckerode' in Hagen with Jürgen and Christoph Koschel. Both my horses were purchased from them and Jürgen had the vision that Faible would fit me perfectly and he was so right," she said.

Since returning from Florida where she competed at the 2015 Global Dressage Festival during the winter, Felicitas has been working on executing the tests more accurately and getting practice riding in different locations and more difficult places.

“I think Faible trusts me more and more from show to show and I can feel that our relationship is getting closer each day. He's my teacher in many ways and I know I can learn so much from this horse.”

Florida was incredibly helpful and educational as it got the 15-year old Felicitas a lot of show miles under her belt.

“It was an amazing experience to ride our first international shows in Florida and to be allowed to ride in such impressive arenas," she explained. "I could feel Faible's motivation every show and I can still feel this motivation and fighting spirit during our training and shows here in Germany. It's good to know that Faible has fun in what he's doing with me. We are a good team!”

Biased or not, Felicitas gives credit to her uncle for being a great coach as he can explain the movements and finer riding techniques very well.

Felicitas and Faible As "He knows exactly what he's talking about when he's standing in the middle of the riding arena. He has an incredibly large know-how and he himself is a fantastic rider," she said. "It’s not only the horse and the rider who have to match, but the trainer and the rider have to match as well. Our relationship is a very good one, and the great thing about it is that I know he and my whole family are very proud of me when I do a good job with Faible in the ring. They would never be angry when we had a bad day. They just motivate me to do it better the next time and that helps me a lot.”

The family connection, according to Felicitas, was never a topic of discussion as she grew up with this and would never argue with anything her uncle says in relation to her training.

“The family tie is, from my point of view, a huge positive, because I can always ask anything at any time and I get a great support from my family including the Koschels," she confessed. "I'm looking forward to riding the German Championships in Zeiskam in September and to more international competitions in the near future."

by Sarah Warne - Photos © Feldhaus - Astrid Appels