Swedish international Grand Prix dressage rider Rebecca Maulèon is based in the south of Sweden. Thirty-seven-year-old Rebecca lives with her fiancé Cia on their farm together with five dogs and their horses. The couple run the stable together with Rebecca working as a full time rider and trainer while Cia has her own dental practice.
How did your dressage journey begin and transpire to where it is now?
Horses came early into my life; I think I was born to be a horse girl! I got happy whenever I saw a horse (or a dog) and was talking about them all the time, and finally when I was old enough my parents let me start at the local riding school when I was about six to seven years old. I got my first pony that I shared with my cousins when I was twelve years old, he was a mix between Arabian and Fjord(?) horse! At the time I mostly liked to jump and play around with the pony and hang out with my friends in the stable all day long.
When it was time for me to start senior high school, I got in to a school far away from home where I could mix my studies with riding, that was perfect. Only horse nerds in one place and I had finally found my place in life. I started to get more interested in dressage by coincidence, because I helped the dressage teachers at the school to clean their horses boxes at the weekends, and then I got lessons in return. (And also, I really sucked at show jumping). After finishing school, I started to work at Louise Nathhorsts stable for two years, that’s where I realised that being a professional rider could actually be a job. She has been a huge inspiration for me through my horse life. then a few jobs and years later I started my own business. It was hard work, but I had made up my mind, I wanted to be a international, Grand Prix rider! I said to myself that it would probably take at least ten years, but I think I made my first international Grand Prix start after eight years.
Now I’m still at the beginning of my career, I have a long way ahead to be where I want to be, I always push the goal forward, but I now have my second self-educated horse competing international GP, and a few younger horses on the way.
What does a typical week look like for you?
A typical week is horses seven days a week from morning to evening. I ride our horses, train my students and try to keep up basically.
What do you love about dressage?
What I love about dressage is the journey with every horse, from when we start them up in their early ages until you get to that point you feel they are confident and love to show them self in the arena. It’s a real journey with every horse, and I love to train and educate them, and I learn so much from every horse I have.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
It takes a team! I have a great team together with my life partner Cia, in our stable we have Anja and Simone, Ida and Linnea, we have great horse owners, our farrier and vet, our horses physios, my own physio. Sponsors I mean the list is long.
Proudest moments?
There are many moments I’m proud of with all my horses, I could name shows, wins etc but my proudest moments are in the end when I get to that point where I really have a true partnership with my horses and that they trust me and want to do everything for me, nothing beats that.
Challenging moments on your dressage journey?
On the way it’s been many challenges, it takes long time to train a horse, it’s not only yourself you have to keep fit it’s also our horses. and it’s a very expensive sport and expensive to run a stable with staff and many horses. But if you want to do it, there’s always a way of doing it. I heard I good quote recently, it’s not enough to do your best, you have to do what it takes.
What is your philosophy for training the horses?
I like to keep it simple when I train my horses. Train them playfully, let them really know when they are doing good, and for me it’s also important to have a good connection with them to know what’s the best way for each horse to learn.
Do you ever get nervous?
Yes! Almost every show I’m a bit nervous before our starts, but it’s more of excitement and that you don’t know what’s going to happen. But as soon as I’m on the horse it goes away. (It’s worse for Cia to watch) (best part after the show is to listen to Cias comments in our videos, its amusing).
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Advice for my younger self would be, to enjoy the journey, sometimes you want something so much and focus so much forward that you forget to live in the moment, a bit cliché but true.
Future aspirations?
My future goal is to represent my country in a championship and of course every sportsman is dreaming of the Olympics.
Your Top Tip
My tip for anyone who wants to do this, work hard, no one else is going to do it for you, it’s only you who can decide if it’s going to happen or not! Be brave, take risks and be a grinder.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Best advice I’ve got is that every day is a new day with new opportunities, you have to do your best everyday.