Chatting with Charlotte Snape

  This week I’m chatting with young international dressage rider, Charlotte Snape. Based at her family owned yard in East Yorkshire, Charlotte has already represented team GB at Junior level and hopes to represent the team again at Young Riders this year. Read on to discover more about Charlotte, her ambitions, and top tips for success

Tell us about you and your horses

My name is Charlotte Snape, I am a twenty year old dressage rider. My main Horse is Camealot III (Coco) we have competed internationally at junior level and hope to continue our journey to young riders in this coming year. I also have DaVinchi 299 (Vinci) we are mainly concentrating on training at the moment to help progress up the levels together.

How did your horses come into your life?

I have been incredibly lucky my parents bought me both horses. Coco came into my life when I decided I wanted to pursue dressage, we found Coco rather locally after searching all over the UK to find me a horse that was suitable for me to learn on and compete internationally on. Vinci came into my life a few years later when I was ready to start training a younger horse to hopefully take me through to Grand prix.

How long have you been riding?

I have been ridding all my life.

When and where do you ride?

I am incredibly privileged to say that they are both stabled at home with me, my family owns a small yard in east Yorkshire.

How did you start riding?

I started riding as my mum has ridden most her life and had a horse when I was born. I was brought up around horses, my sisters asked for riding lesson at the local riding school and I suppose I just followed in their footsteps.

What you and your horses currently working on?

Both of my horses are currently working on inter 1 and above I am hoping to compete inter 1 this year.

What do you love about riding?

The feeling when all the training starts to pay off and a movement clicks even if it is for a few steps. The feeling of being in complete sync with your horse like you are one, were all you must do is think and your horse knows what you’re asking. The feeling is unmatched.  

 

 

What you would you like to be doing in the future and do you have any goals?

In the Future I hope to be a Grand Prix Dressage rider. I hope to be able to make dressage my career, a dream of mine is to ride at a Europeans.

Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding? 

Yes! I have suffered badly with nerves in the past, I used to get so stressed out about every little thing, I could never ride my best when it mattered.

 

How do you deal with them?

I have found several ways to help manage, but one of the main things I have learnt is that I go into an arena and ride for me and my horses not for the score, this attitude towards competitions has helped me become a rider in the arena not just a passenger like I use to.

Your Top Tip

My top tip would be focus on the test you’re riding not past or future tests

 

Down the Centre Line

 

Who would be your dream horse to ride?

I would love to ride Everdale and Valegro as I’m sure every dressage rider would

Who is your equestrian hero?

Lottie Fry

If you could have 5 people to dinner, who would they be?

Emma Watson, David Attenborough, Lottie fry, Ellen Pompeo and Gordan Ramsey

Favourite colour horse?

Bay or Chestnut

Favourite horse event?

Deauville CDI

Favourite food?

Pasta (any type)

Favourite way to relax?

Curling up with a hot chocolate watching TV

Favourite film?

Can’t say I have a favourite film, but favourite series has got to be Grey’s Anatomy

Want More?

If you enjoyed meeting Charlotte you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here    You can keep up with Charlotte’s progress and check out her instagram page here