Featured Riders
Sam Rahmatalla
International Dressage Rider
I always wanted to be a professional rider from a young age, albeit an event
rider. Although I didn't know how I was going to achieve this, as my family
were not able to help me financially. I finally got my own pony at 12
years old, and he turned from a very average palomino into the star of the
pony club teams. It was my instructor, who believed I would be able to make
a career out of my ability and encouraged me to work my way up in a yard, rather
than go to college. Much to my mother's horror, I left home at 16 and went
to work as a working pupil in an event/hunt yard in Didmarton.
I was shocked
to be immediately promoted to 'rider', and spent the next 3 years producing
young event horses. I did, however, realise at this point, that I wanted to
specialise in dressage. I started training with Ferdi Eilberg and represented
GB in Ireland in 1998 on the young rider dressage team with my Thoroughbred
mare 'May Bee'. It was a hunter client who gave me a huge oppurtunity at 19yo,
and set me up with a yard and flat at his newly acquired house near Tetbury.
He also bought me my first 'proper' dressage horse, a 3yo stallion called 'Rosso
Tetti'.
I stayed there for 5 years during which time I had a huge amount of
success, including winning the Talent Spotting finals and riding internationally
again as a young rider, with another stallion 'Washbrook Sunbeam'. May Bee
was competing at Small tour level (PSG/INT1) and Rosso was doing young horse
classes. I also gained the ride on a 5yo 'WGS Matcho'.
I then based myself
at Lime Tree EC for 5 years, during which time, Rosso and I gained an invitation
for the World Class Squad trials. Sadly this was never meant to be, as he became
lame with his poor feet, and would never return to competition. At this time
I was training with the late Jane Gregory, and she trained me to Grand Prix
with Matcho.
3 years ago I moved to be based at a yard with an indoor arena
in Brinkworth, which has made life considerably easier. I was 3rd at the National
Championships in 2011 at Elementary level.
I have ridden for Seagry Stud for
nearly 3 years, and have had much success in young horse classes with Seagry
Rohsan and My Wanita. I have just been bought a new 4yo mare, 'Seagry Sanay',
from the Verden Elite auction in october. We are very much hoping to be selected
to go to Vidaubaun, France, in february 2013 with 'Saucy', as she is known
at home, to contest the 5 yo classes there. She will also be aimed at the Badminton
and Shearwater Young Horse championships. Seagry Rohsan has qualified for the
winter regional finals to be held in february 2013 at both elementary and medium
levels. She will hopefully qualify for the National finals. I will start training
with Carl Hester in january 2013, which I'm very excited about.
I travel to
teach clinics, and also teach at home.
"In dressage where appearance is everything a quality, well fitted bridle is paramount. It is after all the first thing the judges see when you go up the center line."
"With the larger Warmblood types it is great to get a bridle that fits as
I can mix from extra browbands to cob back straps on the noseband."From the
Kate Negus range I use.Snaffle Bridle - International Flash with hook stud
cheeks, Clencher Browband and padded headpiece
- X-Supergrip Reins with hook stud ends
- Double Bridle - International Double with Clencher Browband and padded headpiece
- X-Supergrip Reins with hook stud ends and ½ plain Leather Rein with hook stud ends
- Dressage Girth
