Thursday, June 15, 2023
Charlotte Slosse is 19 years old and part of a promising new generation of French riders. We are extremely proud to count her among the ambassadors of the Seaver brand. In this article, find out more about this young rider. From her first pony Grand Prix to Nations Cup selections, Charlotte Slosse continues her quest for the top level.
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Charlotte Slosse began riding ponies simply by taking them for rides, then progressed to a pony club. Caught up in her passion, she became the proud owner of her first pony Ora du Durzon and started competing at the age of 7-8. Her passion for horses, sport and adrenalin led her to pursue this sport.
"I've really become a big fan, of horses, sport, adrenaline and the whole environment."
Her pony years were marked by some great experiences, particularly with her favorite pony, Rubis d'Epuisay. "I started out with him in Pony 4, then finished in the World Cup stage in Lyon".. Today, Rubis is ridden by Charlotte's little sister.
Sa progression vers le haut niveau a poney a été constante et régulière. Elle a énormément travaillé, elle s’est entrainée à la fois seule et avec son papa. Charlotte a commencé par les plus petites épreuves et grâce à son travail et sa persévérance, a rapidement gravi les échelons jusqu’aux épreuves poney excellence. Elle a eu la chance de monter différents types de poneys, ce qui lui a permis d’évoluer plus rapidement et de commencer les grands Prix vers l’âge de 13-14 ans. « Dès mes premiers Grands Prix, Rubis a été très performant et m’a permis de rentrer un petit peu dans cette “cour des grands”.
Other ponies soon joined Rubis, such as Boticelli de Rohan. He came under Charlotte's saddle at the age of 6 and she trained him to the highest level. These different ponies helped prepare him for the transition to horses.
“Ils m’ont tous permis de progresser et m’ont donné l’expérience nécessaire pour faire mon passage à cheval de la meilleure des manières possibles« .
Even though Charlotte wanted to stay in pony riding and not leave the experience behind, she knew right away that her future lay in horse riding. From her very first session, she felt very comfortable. "So it's kind of funny because it's true that at first... I think it's the same for everyone... but you don't really accept switching to a horse".
« Je pense que je ne pouvais pas rêver mieux comme premier cheval” dit-elle en rigolant. Sa transition a été adoucie par l’arrivée d’un cheval « idéal » : Uzel de Kens. Ensemble, ils ont rapidement obtenu de très bons résultats en compétition, évoluant jusqu’à des hauteurs de 1m30-1m40. ”Il me semble que j’étais 2e ou 3e de mon premier Grand Prix 1m40”.
Charlotte currently has an excellent piquet of horses, including Drakar de Riverland and LB Zornell II. Her goal is simple: to reach the highest level. His hard work with trainer Michel Robert is bearing fruit. Zornell is already performing at 1.45 m after only a few months in the saddle.
"I'm lucky enough to have a great piquet of horses, I have partners who follow me and really make sure I reach the top level."
For Charlotte, it's an opportunity to be guided and coached by Michel Robert. They work together on "the little details that go a long way and it's a real boost to her career.
Il a toujours été évident pour Charlotte de continuer vers le haut niveau en raison de son esprit compétitif et de son désir d’aller au bout des choses. ”Je ne suis pas une personne qui va se contenter : « je fais de la 1m30 – 1m35 ». Mon objectif final est vraiment d’aller atteindre le plus haut et de continuer de former des chevaux”.
Her sporting ambitions have always been supported by her parents. That's why they decided to trust Charlotte and let her pursue her studies in distance learning during high school. This enabled her to get organized and work on her horses every day. She obtained her scientific baccalaureate, specializing in mathematics, physics and biology... "so as to have a background just in case", she laughs. Charlotte also enjoys teaching. That's why she took her DE exam, so she can teach when she has the time. Today, Charlotte devotes herself entirely to horses and competition.
Her first selection to represent France in the Nations Cup with Drakar de Riverland last year was a real moment of pride for her. Taking part in the Nations Cup with a horse she had trained entirely was a fine achievement of all the work she had put in upstream. For Charlotte Slosse, the quest for the highest level also begins with training.
"The horse jumped magnificently and he's faultless all weekend, he placed all his tests so it was really a superb first experience."
To prepare for this specific event, Charlotte has kept her horses in shape before each deadline. So she hasn't changed her daily routine. When her horses are fit and in good condition, Charlotte rarely jumps at home. She prefers to concentrate on the flat, constantly reworking the basics.
"When the couple is doing well and the results are there on the track, I don't add extra work".
Beyond her hard work, Charlotte is fortunate to have the support of her parents and coach, who help her to achieve her goals. As a young rider, the pressure of top-level competition is not a problem for her. She knows her horses by heart and knows how to handle the pressure by remaining focused and constantly attentive to their state of fitness. "When I'm under more pressure, I'm someone who might even ride better, be that much more precise".
For Charlotte, the high level is a real enhancer of progress, because "you really learn a lot on each course, especially when you're competing against great riders, even the best riders in the world". The most important thing on international 2* and 3* level courses is precision, in terms of layout, rhythm, distance and tempo. You can't leave anything to chance.
Charlotte's vision for the future is ambitious and passionate. Her goal is to reach the pinnacle of her discipline, joining the ranks of the best riders:
« L’objectif premier pour moi est d’atteindre le haut niveau et faire partie des meilleurs dès que possible. Je compte bien travailler dur pour arriver à ce niveau là. »
She shows infinite determination to achieve her ambitions.
Alongside her sporting achievements, she also wishes to devote herself to training young horses. She is aware of the importance of passing on her knowledge and expertise to prepare her horses for the future. She is also considering a commercial approach to the horse industry and is keen to explore these opportunities.
Charlotte est alors prête à consacrer son temps et ses efforts pour réaliser son rêve : faire partie de l’élite équestre. L’équipe Seaver n’a aucun doute à ce sujet : il est certain que sa détermination et sa volonté de travailler dur la guideront sur le chemin de la réussite en lui permettant ainsi de laisser une empreinte durable. Comme elle le souligne elle-même, « il est important et en même temps très intéressant de former l’avenir ».
