Chatting with Isabel Cool

This week I’m chatting with Belgian international Grand Prix dressage rider, and coach Isabel Cool. Based at her own “Coolhorses” facility in Belgium where she breeds, trains and sells top quality competition horses as well as developing her own horses which enjoy considerable success at competitions all over the world including representing her country at the European Championships and WEG.   Read on to learn more about Isabel, her ambitions, and top tips for success

Tell us about you and your horses

I’m Isabel cool, a Belgian GP rider. I was in the team for the WEG TRYON and the EC Rotterdam. I had several victories and top 5 rankings with different horses in the small tour level national and international shows.   I have a lot of horses in different levels to compete from 4 year olds up to GP.  I like to work and do a lot in one day, I’m busy with riding and teaching. I m a perfectionist in everything I do. And I also really like to match outfits and colours.  Personally, I m a social extrovert kind of person who likes to have people around me.  

How did horses come into your life?

My grandmother bought me my first pony. She was also really fond of horses but in the old days, she used a horse as a transport way to go to the market and sell her vegetables. The love and heart for horses comes from her. There it all started  

When and where do you ride?

  I ride every day, a whole day through in my own stable ‘Coolhorses’ and, I go to a lot of shows of course and I go to my trainer in Holland.  

How did you start riding?

So, my grandmother bought me the pony… but my nephew was riding in a riding school, called Rijbaan Piet, and he brought me there to learn how to ride.

 

What you and your horses currently working on?

  I think it’s really important that my horses have good basics, a good balance and they listen on small aids.

 

What do you love about riding?

I love riding and my horses that much, that I could never live without and cannot imagine another life than the life I’m living now.   I love the feeling horses can give me and the communication between horse and rider that nobody knows, only the combination itself.

 

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

  My goal is going to big shows like World cups, World championships, European championships, and Olympic Games, that’s the big goal. My other life goal is being happy in the work I do, making developments (even the smallest ones) with my horses and I love to see my students grow every lesson.

 

Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding and if so how do you deal with them?  

  Ooo hell yes!! Everybody will have that in life. You really need to learn to control yourself. If I feel I would lose myself, then I just leave the exercise and do something else and try again later when the focus and calmness is better again.  

Your Top Tip

  Always think twice before you make decisions with horses. Try to understand them instead of going into fights. Try to speak the same language as them…  

 

 

Down the Centre Line

   

Who would be your dream horse to ride?

  Salinero (who passed away recently) and for the leading horses at the moment I would take Glamourdale.

 

Who is your equestrian hero?

  Charlotte Fry.  

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

  My best friends and family of course.

 

Favourite colour horse?

  Dark chestnut.

 

Favourite horse event?

  Indoor Brabant and the BC.

 

Favourite food?

  Tomato with mozzarella and balsamic oil.

Favourite way to relax?

  Watch a movie on the sofa with my dogs and husband.  Or do some fitness sport.  

 

Favourite film?

  Funny romantic style of movie like ‘What Women Want.

Want More?

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