Israeli international dressage rider Anna Guseynova has previously enjoyed considerable success as part of the Russian national team where she represented her former country at six European championships and won a silver medal in 2015 and became European champion winning gold in 2016. Still only twenty two and having been trained by some of the best trainers in the world including Isabel Werth, Anna is certainly a name to watch out for.
Tell us about you and your horses
Anna and Lauda winning a CDI in Aachen in 2018
My name is Anna Guseynova I am twenty-two years old, and I am a professional dressage rider. As a part of Russian National team, I have competed at 6 European Championships and became a silver and absolute gold finalist in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Recently I have been competing for the Israelian national team.
Throughout the years I was fortunate enough to have an amazing string of talented horses – staring with my first every horse Abe fan it Hiem (Frysian, 2008), Lauda (Westphalian, 2005), Delano (KWPN, 2008), Just Mickey (KWPN, 2014) and most recent addition to that string my future star Flagship (Oldenburg, 2018).
How did horses come into your life?
Anna with Lauda after the test on EC 2018
I was obsessed with horses from very young age and begged my parents to bring me to the riding school and at the age of five they did. Since then, horses are my whole life.
When and where do you ride?
I first started riding ponies in a private club in Moscow, but soon enough my parents decided to purchase my first horse Abe, he was 6-month-old, and I was six years old. He was saddle broken at 2 years old and after two weeks I have started riding him myself, which is now crazy to think about since we both were so small.
Who do you train with?
My whole journey in the Netherlands, where I have lived for eight years already, has begun with me getting noticed by Adelinde Cornelissen and this acquaintance has led to five great years of training. But it would only be fair to say that without the help of Joyce Lenaerts in 2016 season I wouldn’t be where I was.
At some point the realisation came that it is time to try something new and that led to amazing times with Helen Langehanenberg in Germany. Therefore, our performance has been noticed by Isabell Werth, who took me on for training with Aachen Campus Excellence program which has been an absolute blast.
But over the years I always had Philip van Ommen by my side who has given me an unconditional support regardless the circumstances and I am forever thankful for that.
What you and your horses currently working on?
Anna and Mickey looking fabulous at Le Mans in 2021
At the moment with Mickey we are working on a transition to U25 and Grand Prix level, since my days as a young rider are over now. With Flagship, focus is not really on the exercises since he can do them quiet easily, but on connection, relaxation and building trust between us two.
What do you love about riding?
It might sound silly, but for me riding and in general being around horses is all about the feelings and the strongest one would be love, I just simply love doing everything with my horses.
What would you like to be doing in the future and do you have any goals?
After many years of high intensity competitions and challenges right now I am focusing on smaller goals, but of course they are all related to horses.
Besides training myself I also have great students and their horses to teach on daily basis and it has brought lots of joy.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
Anna and Delano competing at CHIO Aachen 2021
I am happy to say that I have the best team around me! First, it’s my parents and close friends. Secondly my horses stay at an amazing facility of EFM centre in Moergestel which is owned by an amazing veterinarian and a good friend of mine Veronique Swagemakers, everyone in the team of EFM are doing their absolute best for my horses. Moreover, I have amazing farriers, dentists, internal medicine specialists and last but not least Phillip van Ommen and Jorg van den Akker by my side to help at all times.
Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding?
Yes of course, it is a natural process when you start competing.
How do you deal with them?
Over the years I have learned to turn nerves around into positive energy that keeps me sharper and more concentrated with help of self-regulation techniques.
Do you have any rituals before competing?
I do listen to music while I’m platting the hair of my horse and getting ready, it helps me to get In the right mindset.
Your Top Tip
Learn to control your emotions whenever you are on or around horses because they are our great mirror.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Best advice I have received regarding horse riding is that you must build the connection based on trust with your horse teach it anything.
Down the Centre Line
Who would be your dream horse to ride?
Dante Weltino from Therese Nilshagen
Who is your equestrian hero?
Definitely Isabell Werth
If you could have five people to dinner, who would they be?
It for sure would be my Aachen Campus team, those dinners were such a blast I would give anything to do them again.
Favourite colour horse?
Black is the colour!
Favourite horse event?
CHIO Aachen
Favourite food?
I would name my favourite cuisines: Turkish, Italian/Spanish and Japanese.
Favourite way to relax?
I am a type of a person who just likes quiet time at home reading or spending time with my family, friends, my dogs.
Favourite film?
“Now you see me”.
Want More?
If you enjoyed meeting Anna you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here . You can keep up with Anna’s progress and check out her instagram page here
