This week I’m chatting with the very talented Spanish FEI dressage rider, Diego Martinez. Read on to discover more about Diego, his horses, ambitions, and top tips for success.
Tell us about you and your horses
Diego riding his beloved Foggy during their first competition this year in the U25 GP at Le Mans
I am a GPU25 dressage international rider. I started my riding career when I was five and until now I have dedicated my life to the horses, at the beginning just the weekends but now I’m fully dedicated to them. I have many horses, some of them are to sell, others to compete and some are from clients that I have to train and try to make them be as competitive as they can .
How did horses come into your life?
Both of my parents have had horses, my mother was a dressage rider and my father is a national judge and a big lover of these animals, so they introduced me in this world… until now!
How long have you been riding?
I started when I was 5 years old with little ponies every weekend, so I have spent more of my life riding than not riding.
When and where do you ride?
I ride at my stables, I dedicate my whole day to train my horses and my students at home and around home, it’s such a pleasure to have your own place with your own team.
How did you start riding?
Diego and Foggy looking fabulous.
I started doing some lessons with little ponies and other children of my age. Then I moved to other stables to improve more and then I took my first horse and I started riding focusing also on competitions.
What you and your horses currently working on?
Well, I have many horses in training, some of them are young ones and they are just growing and learning the moves of their age, then I have my GP ones that are trying to improve all the exercises and I’m trying to keep them happy, in shape and positive.
What do you love about riding?
I love the relation between horse and rider, I really love to see the improvement of every horse and I love to see how they try their best. I honestly think that all the horses have something good so I really love to work hard to can show the best from each horse.
What you would you like to be doing in the future and do you have any goals?
Dedicating my whole life to horses, surrounded by the people that I love, being healthy and enjoying every day of my life. Sportive goals are for sure to compete in some Olympic games and then to achieve the best results possible.
Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding?
Yes of course, but I think that it’s something that happens and you have to learn how to manage them. I think that nerves isare something good and natural but can turn into something bad if you don’t know how to manage them correctly.
How do you deal with them?
I try to find the positive way in every situation. I try to believe in myself and use the nerves to push myself more and try even harder and trying to ride with more concentration and precision.
Your Top Tip
My top tip it’s to be patient, to trust in your own work and to know how to wait for the results to arrive!
Down the Centre Line
Who would be your dream horse to ride?
Habana Libre from Morgan Barbançon
Totilas
Mount St. John freestyle from Charlotte Dujardin
Who is your equestrian hero?
I like many things of many riders, but for sure I love Morgan Barbançon, Edward Gal, Charlotte Dujardin, Jose Antonio García Mena, Jessica Von Bredow
If you could have 5 people to dinner who would they be?
With my 5 best friends
Favourite colour horse?
Chestnut
Favourite horse event?
CHIO AACHEN, Indoor Brabant, London Olympia, Doha
Favourite food?
Italian
Favourite way to relax?
Spending time with my loved people going to have lunch or dinner and laughing with them
Favourite film?
Secretariat, the story of the racing horse
Want More?
If you enjoyed meeting Diego you might like to view more dressage rider chatting with interviews here You can keep up with Diego’s progress and check out his instagram page here
