At heart, Atterupgaards Cassidy does not like large screens and loud noises, but Cathrine seems to have found a solution. At the World Cup event in JBK in October, Cassidy almost panicked in the arena, and Cathrine barely managed to ride him through the Grand Prix.

The Exercises Are Too Close Together

Cassidy’s panic reaction is nothing new, but until now Cathrine has been able to ride through the worst difficulties.

“He has always been tense, but it is only now that we are competing in the Grand Prix that the movements come so quickly one after another that there is no time to catch our breath before the next movement,” Cathrine explains.

She remembers that the first time she saw Cassidy, he was also standing there dancing during the JBK championship final.

“It ended with him having to be led out of the arena, so this is not a new problem. He simply doesn’t like large screens, and at the World Cup in Odense, everything went completely wrong. I was willing to try anything,” says Cathrine.

A Telepathic Approach

Following recommendations and a series of unusual coincidences, Ditte Young eventually got in touch with Cathrine Dufour — in the completely ordinary way, by telephone.

“I approached it with a completely open mind, because it makes no sense to ask for help and then refuse to accept it. It is the same when I teach riders who don’t even try to do what I tell them to do. That’s a waste of time,” Cathrine says with a smile.

“It was the large screens in Odense,” Cathrine Dufour says.

“If they only display results or live scores, there is no problem. But when they show live footage from the arena on the big screen, things go wrong for Cas. I think he’s afraid that the horse will jump out through the screen.”

“I know myself, and I know that I am relaxed when we compete in the arena. But even when I’m ‘in the zone,’ he still gets completely worked up, and that’s why working with Ditte makes sense.

“People think you’re crazy, but I’ve tried all the best, and this is what has actually made a difference,” Cathrine explains.

Pink Cotton

HesteMagasinet visited a couple of days before the Danish Championships, when Ditte Young was conducting a session with Cassidy and Cathrine. They were going to practice with loud music, but first Ditte Young had a “little conversation” with Cassidy, acting as an intermediary between the horse and Cathrine. And it made sense.

“A lot of what Ditte says is correct. For example, she has identified some areas of sensitivity in Cassidy that we have been able to investigate and address in good time,” Cathrine explains.

For today’s session, Ditte has instructed Cathrine to imagine creating a protective bubble around herself and Cassidy.

Cathrine must also find her own rhythm and avoid allowing anything to distract her.

“A little like having pink cotton in your ears,” Ditte explains.

Cathrine and Cassidy manage quite well to maintain their calm, their protective bubble, and their concentration when loud music suddenly blasts through the speakers.

Just a few days later, Cathrine and Cassidy rode down the centerline at Broholm and claimed the Danish dressage crown, winning their first championship title in their first senior competition.

Cathrine, Cassidy, and Ditte continue their collaboration as they prepare for the Olympic Games. You can read more in the August issue of HesteMagasinet.