28 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
The Blais Tetréault girls, Mathilda and Laurence and their
mother Joane Tetréault, after the Junior dressage freestyle press
conference at the 2013 Adequan FEI NAJYRC.
Photo by Dee Kochensparger/MacMillan Photography
Devoted sisters at the Junior freestyle medal ceremonies during
the 2013 Adequan FEI NAJYRC. Mounted at left is Laurence on
Lowelas and standing at right is Mathilda.
Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
Laurence has had success with two horses at the NAJYRC.
In 2012 in the Junior division, she earned two golds (team and
freestyle) and a bronze (individual) on Pissarro (1997 Westphalian
gelding by Pavarotti v.d. Helle, out of Panja by Patriot) who was
later sold to fellow Canadian Quebec Junior team member Félix
Côté Villenueva. In 2013, she competed at NAJYRC on her
German Trakehner gelding Lowelas (by Hocky 42, out of Lugowen
by Inster Graditz) and together they earned two golds and a fourth
place in the Junior division. At home, she has also started to ride
Michelangelo.
Mathilda, 21, and Laurence, 16, ride with trainer Albrecht
Heidemann. Mathilda has just started college at the University
of Montréal and Laurence has graduated from high school and
is attending the Andre-Grasset cégep (a college prep school).
Besides competing at home in Canada and at the NAJYRC, the
girls are regulars on the Florida circuit in the winter.
Sidelines
caught up with this amazing sister act to find out more about life in
Canada and in the dressage ring.
What is it like having a sister who also competes in dressage?
Mathilda:
It is very nice because we can help each other when
we ride or when we are in the barn! And, we are together a lot so
we have a very good relationship.
Laurence:
Having a sister who also competes in dressage is
actually pretty great most of the time. My sister is obviously one
of my role models. Since we both do dressage, we can give each
other advice.
Do you ever compete against each other at horse shows?
Mathilda:
We’ve competed only once against each other. It
was in Florida two years ago in a test of choice class, so we were
not really against each other.
Laurence:
We’ve never really competed against each other. At
one point we might have to and I’m sure it’s going to be fine. There
is no competition between us and you can’t be mad or jealous of
your own sister.
Were you less nervous competing at NAJYRC this year than
in past years?
Mathilda:
I’m never nervous. I’m always pretty calm at horse
shows, even if I have a lot of pressure. Maybe the first year was
more stressful because it was also my first Young Rider year so
that was a lot, but I was not very nervous.
Laurence:
I think I was more nervous this year than last year
because when you do well the first year people expect you to
do well the second time around, even with a different horse. I
definitely felt more pressure this year than last.
Tell us about the horses you rode at the 2013 NAJYRC.
Mathilda:
Michelangelo is very opinionated about everything.
He’s very nice to ride, but he’s a firecracker and is very, very hot.
He gets easily bothered with the weather. He likes anything that
can be eaten, from sweet peppers to watermelon. He’s been with
me three years and he will now be ridden by my sister, Laurence.
Laurence:
Lowelas is awesome to ride and is a sweetheart
around the barn. He’s really cuddly.
If you had to pick a hero, who would it be?
Mathilda:
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén. I first saw her in Florida
when she had Favourit. She’s an amazing rider. She is one of the
best I have ever seen! And, she has such a good work ethic when
she’s on a horse; she’s so focused and planning her every move.
I wish to ride like her one day.
Laurence:
In the equestrian world, I look up to Edward Gal and
Carl Hester a lot. I love their riding style and technique.
About the writer: A graduate of Purdue University with degrees in Agriculture
Journalism and Animal Science, Kim MacMillan has been writing about horses and
equestrian competition, science, agriculture, history and travel for over 30 years.
Also an accomplished photographer, she and her husband Allen own MacMillan
Photography & Media Services. They live on an 84-acre farm in Northeastern Indiana
where they raise Warmblood horses and sport ponies.
