Chatting with Francesca Cawley

British international dressage rider Francesca Cawley started from a non-horsey background and has already represented Team GB at junior level and looks set for much more success in the future. Currently in a gap year from her studies, the very hardworking Francesca is also focussed on another project. Having struggled to find a dressage planner that has everything she needs in it as an international dressage rider, this entrepreneurial young lady decided to design and create her own. This exciting new dressage planner (Equi Organise) is soon to be launched with the hope that it will help fellow dressage riders organise their competition and training schedules. Francesca looks to have a very bright future both in dressage and business and is certainly someone to keep an eye on.

Tell us about your horses

I am very fortunate to have two dressage horses; Bon Ton (Bam) who is a 17.2H Hanoverian Warmblood who I have had for 5 years. I was around twelve years old when I first got him, and he has been and continues to be the gentlest giant who has taught me so much. Dolly is my Dutch warmblood mare who has recently joined my team. I am still getting to know her, but I have already fallen in love with her and her personality, she is the sweetest and kindest mare I have ever met.

How did horses come into your life?

I come from a non-horsey family however my mum has always loved horses so, when I was five, I went to my first riding lesson. I enjoyed the first lesson however after a fall off a cheeky pony, I didn’t want to go near another horse. After a few years, my best friend decided she wanted to give it a go and I thought I would try again. Fast forward 12 years and it’s safe to say I loved it.

I started in a riding school where I thoroughly enjoyed jumping. Dressage only came into my life because of a very naughty first pony who needed to be taught the basics. When I was then looking for my next pony, I decided I wanted to find a dressage pony that I could learn on. After being bucked off into a fence and travelling around every corner of England, I found my real-life unicorn; Eddie, a 14.2 Connemara. He was one of the coolest ponies i’d ever had and he really boosted my confidence and we both fell in love with dressage even more. Once I’d outgrown Eddie, we went looking for my next dressage horse and we came across Bam Bam. Standing at 17.2, my mum and dad weren’t convinced he’d be the right one but after my first sit on him and a lesson with Jennie Loriston Clarke, I fell in love with him and within a matter of weeks, he was coming home.

Bam Bam is the sweetest gelding and has really taught me so much, from riding my first halfpass to doing my first PSG. In 2022, with encouragement from the U21 Chef D’équipe, Nina Boex, we decided to have a go at Juniors. Our first year was a real eye opener and unfortunately, we just weren’t ready. After some winter training on our own, we went to Vale View High Profile in January 2023 with no expectations. I vividly remember feeling totally out of my depth in the warmup, so I decided to go in and just enjoy it. Little did I know that when I came out of the test, we managed to get our international qualifying score and we finished Third in both the Junior FEI Team and Individual test! I was in complete shock, and little did we know what was in store for us next.

The most exciting email arrived in February telling us that Bam and I had been selected for Addington CDI at Junior Level. It was the most surreal experience riding down that centreline with the GB flag on my jacket and to come Sixth in our first CDI was the cherry on the top. Then, within a matter of weeks, we were told we had been selected to compete in France for the Le Mans Junior Nations Cup. It was a whirlwind two weeks, and I felt so lucky to be able to compete abroad with some amazing people. I had been told by people in the past that Bam wouldn’t make an international dressage horse, so to be able to help the Junior GB Team to a silver medal at the Nations Cup in 2023 was a dream come true. We finished our season with 3 domestic CDIs, 1 abroad CDI under our belt and being long listed for the FEI Junior Europeans 2023! Bam really made dreams come true last year and for that I will be forever grateful. My newest horse Dolly has been with me for only a few weeks and I have been learning so much from her. I am thoroughly enjoying training and getting to know her, and I feel very fortunate to be able to ride her and learn from her.

When and where do you ride?

My horses are based at a competition livery yard near to my house meaning I can ride around 5 days of the week.

Who do you train with?

I train with Justine Sole and Peter Storr on a regular basis. I started training with Justine at the end of 2023 and I have a lesson with her twice a month. Justine is one of the most supportive coaches I have had and has really helped me with both horses, who are totally different to ride. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to train with Peter after my selection for Addington CDI, and I continue to train with him. With Peter being an FEI judge, his attention to detail is second to none which really helped Bam and I with our CDI preparation last year.

What are you and your horses currently working on?

I am working towards Young Rider Level with both the horses, so I am feeling very excited for the future season with them both.

 

What do you love about riding?

I love working with the horses. It is so wonderful to be able to gain their trust and learn and develop with them. It is not an easy process, as most people will appreciate, however it is so rewarding once you get there.

 

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

I would love to continue to have horses throughout the rest of my life, and of course the ultimate dream would be the Olympics. I am also very keen to study and become a lawyer when I am older so only time will tell, and at the moment I am just enjoying the horses and learning from them everyday.

It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?

My wonderful Mum and Dad who sacrifice so much to help me chase my dreams, my two coaches Justine Sole & Peter Storr, our osteopath Rachel Corbett who treats both the horses and I, my saddler Bill Perratt, my knowledgable farrier, the wonderful team at Oakways Equestrian Competition Yard, my lovely (and very talented) sponsor Jennifer Ann Photography and BE Equestrian who I am an ambassador for.

 

Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding? 

Absolutely! It can be a high-pressure situation when competing however I have learnt over the years to focus the nervous energy into something positive which helps my overall performance. I would say it’s totally normal to have nerves but to not let them get in the way of your goals.

 

How do you deal with them?

I like to visualise my test before I compete as this helps me to focus on individual movements as I have trained them with my coaches at home. I always go into a competition with the mindset of setting mini goals and also only competing against myself and my last performance as this really helps me to focus on my riding rather than getting distracted by who I am competing against.

Do you have any rituals before competing?

No! I just like to visualise my test and go over my lesson notes to help me focus on the test and trust the process.

Your Top Tip

Work hard and never give up because if you believe you can do it and you work hard, it will happen. Another really important tip that I follow everyday is to listen to your horse, there is always another competition and another training day; don’t put your competition desires before the wellbeing of your horse.

 

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?

Focus on you and your horses and when you are competing, only compete against yourself and your last competition. This really helped me last year and continues to do so because you can get so caught up in who else you may be competing against and then will end up focussing all your energy on that rather than you and your own horse. Its not easy to do so but it is one of the most effective pieces of advice I have ever been given.

Down the Centre Line

 

Who would be your dream horse to ride?

Without a doubt, Dalera (Tsf Dalera Bb)

Who is your equestrian rider hero?

Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl

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

Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl, Cathrine Laudrop-Dufour, Lottie Fry, Carl Hester,Isabell Werth

Favourite colour horse?

Chestnut

 

Favourite horse event?

London International Horse Show

Favourite food?

Definitely Pizza!

Favourite way to relax?

Spending time with the horses or watching a film.

Favourite film?

Harry potter

Want More?

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