DARIA BURTSEVA

It has been quite a while since my last post here... It’s all for @lilsimsie and her Shell Build Challenge. Unfortunately, I don’t have neither the Gallery nor Twitter and can’t upload the house as all normal people do for this challenge, but hopefully, this way will work as well.

Kayla, I really, really hope that you’ll manage to see my house (I’ve spent almost a week on it lol). Just unzip the archive and throw the files into your Tray in The Sims 4 folder. There’s no CC, but still tick “include custom content” box in the filters (otherwise it may not show up). 

England has a long tradition of the equestrian sport. It is a perfect place for top-class sportsmen and horses. No surprise then that this talented rider has found her home here. Janet Sevujar is a French-born British dressage rider. Together with Valegro, a Dutch warmblood stallion, she has trotted her way into the history books as the National Champion in individual competition and played their part in Team GB’s latest European Championship gold. As a reporter of Horse & Hound, I had a unique chance to spend a day with Janet and share my experience with the readers.

I have arrived at Harbledore Acres, a prestigious equestrian centre not far from Windsor. It offers a wide range of services for riders and horses of all levels and is the training facility for Janet and her pupils. Together with the photographer, we head to the VIP barn, where the most prestigious horses are boarded. We find Janet with Valegro — they are getting ready for the workout.

Horse & Hound: How did your story with Valegro begin?

Janet Sevujar: I bought him when he was four. I’ve never ridden a horse with a power like his. As a youngster, he had a massive canter beat which he literally couldn’t control. Four strides — and he has already made it to the other end of the arena. It took me a while to improve his canter. I still remember those judges saying that he won’t be successful with such paces.

H&H: How wrong they were!

JS: Yes, he is a local superstar now (smiles). But we still treat him like other horses. I mean, he is a stallion but has windows in the stall. He communicates with other horses and goes to the pasture with them. This way he doesn’t think of himself as somebody more managed than the rest. But having such a talented horse doesn’t mean that I don’t look through the sales threads. I’m always looking for a future star. I have high hopes for the horse called LMEC Lametta. She’s a lovely black mare by Dimanche du Tussock. She has great paces and a competitor attitude.

At the same time, as she talks to me, Janet keeps grooming and tacking the horse up.

H&H: Not every day you see a Grand Prix rider doing everything herself. What is it: the attempt to control everything or…?

JS: When I can, I prefer to spend as much time with my horses as possible. But this can be very difficult when you get torn apart teaching, your own workouts and administrative responsibilities (Janet is the Head dressage trainer and facility manager of Harbledore — Ed.). It all takes a lot of commitment and dedication. Of course, I have a team that I fully trust. It is crucial. I know that they will do everything exactly how I want.

In a few minutes, we are back outside walking towards the main dressage arena. The territory of Harbledore can be divided into two parts. The show area has bigger arenas surrounded by cafes and bleachers. The training area is hidden behind the buildings so that the sportsmen can peacefully work at competition days. As we reach our destination, Janet begins the warm-up.

JS: I work on different things with my horses depending on their age and level. A dressage rider should have the mentality of a kindergarten teacher: be patient and make the instructions easy to understand. Then the horse will work with its rider as one unit. Otherwise, they won’t stand a chance. You can always tell when a bond is strong. If there’s lack of harmony, the quality will be poor. Things go wrong when a rider and horse don’t work together.

Watching Janet and Valegro dance in the arena, one will never think that this rider has nearly lost everything.

JS: At the age of 20 I had a nasty fall. I had multiple complicated fractures of both arms. I couldn’t do anything myself for six months. The pain was unbearable. The doctors said that I would never ride again but I decided not to put up with it. I started riding in secret, overcoming pain and psychological barriers. Slowly I went from walking to cantering. The more I got into, the more hooked I became. My goal was not to get back into the saddle but to compete in Grand Prix. William Thompson, my trainer, has influenced me a lot. She built a new version of me and didn’t let to give up. He played a crucial role in having such a successful first season when I came back to shows. He taught me that life is about challenges. We don’t know what’s going to happen but we must pick ourselves up after every failure. If you follow your path, you’ll eventually get where you want to be.

The workout with Valegro is over, but it’s not the time to rest yet. Grabbing some take away from Harbledore Cafe, we join Janet’s pupils in the indoor arena.

H&H: If there was a motto for your teaching, what would it be?

JS: “Perfection is mandatory”. dressage is the most technical sport of the equestrian sports. It is a unique mixture of ballet, athletics and weightlifting. Yes, perfection is above all. Every rider, every judge is a perfectionist. I don’t think anyone has ridden a perfect test yet in dressage. There’s always room for improvement. Any rider, especially at the top level, should have this attitude. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be there. The psychological side is very important too. A rider should remember that they perform in a partnership. There’s a horse to rely on. Support the spirit of your horse and he will fight for you.

H&H: But does this perfect test even exist?

JS: Certainly it does. We all have ridden it in our heard many times. Have we achieved it? No! (laughs) I want to be the best in what I do. The night before a competition, I visualise the test in my head when I go to sleep. And once I ride down the centre line, it’s just me and my horse. It becomes an instinct for me.

“Alright girls, - Janet clapped her hands, - now let’s try something more challenging. Why don’t you two ride a pair of circles in a pair? Start with trotting. I want to see how you two look together.”

Elisabeth and Sophie came up to each other and let their horses get used to being together. Lametta was still young and acted cautiously, while Salinero immediately took the lead. At the beginning, the exercise didn’t look well as the mare was always behind.

“No, wait, it doesn’t work. Elisabeth, Salinero dominates and pushes Lametta into the wall. And you, Sophie, are not strong enough to support your horse.Try swapping the places.” - said the trainer.

It was getting better. In a few minutes, the horses finally synchronised with each other. The riders felt more confident and made a few attempts to do serpentines and circles.

“Ok, much better. How about canter?” - Janet sounded mischievous. Sophie knew this voice very well. It meant that the trainer had something up on her mind. Her ideas were always full of challenge. Take, for example, that show when Sophie found out on what horse she was competing right before the warm-up. Janet wanted to test her pupil and didn’t mistake. She took the second place then, and it was not a local but a national show. Elisabeth was also familiar with Janet’s suddenness: one she got a message the night before a show saying that she would ride a different test. Elisabeth had never tried that Fourth level test before and was pretty shocked, but nevertheless placed high.

“A tip for you, Sophie. You’re the inner rider. When going into a corner, a loop or a circle, hold on for one stride, - Janet went on, - Then you won’t jump forward since your radius is smaller. Yes, now have a little rest and pat your horses. Good job!”

The girls were chatting and walking while Janet was scribbling something in her Moleskine. Every dressage rider in Harbledore knew this notebook. The woman carried it with her everywhere and write down anything she found useful: exercises, useful tips from other riders, show results, names of prospective horses on sale. Now she was drawing some lines and murmuring.

“Left, two short diagonals... centre line… two circles… Yes, good, - Janet looked up on her riders, - Ladies, are you ready for a pas-de-deux? I’ve made a test for you. Come up here, I’ll show it. And I’ll tell you where to ride, so you won’t get lost.”

“So are you ready, Sophie?” - asked Elisabeth.

“At least we try this now and not at the show. This is so Janet-like, - laughed the second rider, - Right, let’s have fun, shall we?”

Having said it, the girls began the pas de deux. The beginning was not that scary - collected walk, halt and salute, a quarter of the pirouette.

“Now collected canter, a diagonal towards X” - commanded the trainer.

They were about to begin a circle at X when Salinero tried to rush forward. Elisabeth used all her strength to stop him and ended up over-collecting the canter. She wanted to correct herself but Janet stopped her.

“No, Elisabeth, leave the canter at this speed and do a pirouette. Yes, on a snaffle. Problem? And look where you’re riding. Both of you!”

The second diagonal was followed by a flying change. Salinero nailed it but Lametta was late.

“Sophie, release the reins a bit, give her freedom, - Janet reacted immediately, - here comes a full diagonal with an extension and then repeat the thing with the circle. Don’t rush!”

This time the girls did it better. For some time the horses moved absolutely identically.

“Beautiful ladies, amazing! Do a circle at C and start the diagonal in trot. Remember what’s next? Always think one move ahead, especially when riding in a pair.”

Having finished the medium trot, the girls came on the centre line and parted with leg yields. Lametta was moving a bit faster than Salinero. Of course, it didn’t hide from Janet.

“Sophie watch your teammate. See that Elisabeth is slower? Slow down too. Don’t forget to look at each other from with the corner of your eye.”

The horses met at C again and began walking down the centre line. Finally, the riders could have a breath. They did two half pirouettes and walked diagonally towards K.

“Collected trot again, centre line and a leg yield with a circle at E. Elisabeth, watch out and don’t push Sophie too much. Lametta doesn’t like it on the outer side.” - said Janet while taking some notes. When she looked up, the pair was already in the middle of the diagonal.

“Hey, somebody forgot the circle, didn’t they”, - she shouted at their backs, - It’s the final centre line now. Shoulder ins and halt at G.”

The girls stopped their horses, breather out and smiled at each other. They kept patting the horses and gave them treats as Janet spoke.

“That was really good for the first time. I liked it, really liked. The test itself needs some improvement, I want to change the second leg yield. But anyway, if we practice it for a few weeks, we may enter a show. I’ll think about it. Now cool the horses down, groom them and take to the pastures. Call Me Casual is already waiting for her friend, and Salinero can make a company for Quetsch.”, - on saying that Janet gave each horse a sugar cube and went to the barn to take her own horses for a workout.