Birgitta Wanatowski – From pony riding on the stud farms to partner for the Junior Trophy & Pony Freestyle
She has supported young riders all her life. Today, Birgitta Wanatowski is the partner of the DressagePower Junior Trophy and the DressagePower Pony Freestyle classes – a role that for her involves everything that once made her fall in love with the sport: the teaching, the community, and the joy of watching young riders develop. Here she talks about the drive behind her commitment and why the junior years are so crucial.
Birgitta and her show horse Starshine
It started at a stable in Karlskoga
Birgitta takes us back to when she herself was young, to a stable in Karlskoga. She had taken a job there when she noticed children coming by and wanted to ride. She set up pony riding at the stud farm, and when the business was later closed down, the pony parents got so involved that it could be converted into a riding school under Birgitta's direction.
From the pony Kompis to partnership
The connection to DressagePower comes from the fact that she and Kristian von Krusenstierna have known each other all these years. They first met when Kristian was little and came riding into the farm in Norrtälje with his pony Kompis to train for Birgitta.
Filippa Johansson on the cross-country track with Birgitta's horse Katniss
”It’s not easy to jump from a pony to a big horse”
The fact that the investment is directed towards the junior riders is no coincidence. She really emphasizes the importance of the junior classes – they prepare the riders well for the upcoming years as Young Riders, U25 and seniors.
– It’s not easy to jump from a pony to a big horse and at the same time compete against the older horses, says Birgitta.
What distinguishes a talented junior team from the rest?
Drive and the ability to endure adversity, but also the importance of mental coaching. The mental support is needed to handle both adversity and nervousness on the competition course, she explains.
Training children and juniors requires special thought, she emphasizes. A common thread throughout the training is important, as are theory, filming, and analysis. She feels that more teams need a holistic approach to training and mental training.
Community is the driving force
What drives her, year after year? That it’s so much fun to teach, the social aspect and being part of the sport, answers Birgitta. At the DressagePower Horse Show, Birgitta sits there, usually all weekend, watching the competitions. She gets inspired by watching and always learns something, she says – from the riders, the horses, the trainers and the people around her.
International experience at home
The DressagePower International Horse Show, the international competition in May, she welcomes for the same reason. It is so difficult for juniors to gain international experience and championship experience, she says. Therefore, she is especially happy that Sweden has another international competition.