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April 2008 • VOLUME 32 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine
Charlotte Wittbom Part 3 of 4 of our series of Interview on the Instructors of Morgado Lusitano Part 1 of 2 of our delightful and illuminating interview with Charlotte Wittbom
When it comes to teaching, few are as passionate about Classical riding
as Charlotte Wittbom. Charlotte was born in Sweden and started riding
as soon as she could say "Horsey". She competed in three-day eventing
as well as show jumping before settling upon dressage competitions.
Her desire to be a teacher first led her to London, England, where she
completed a full-time instructor program. It was during this time that
she discovered that she was especially drawn to classical riding. In
order to be the best, you must learn from the best, and with this as
her goal she found her way to Portugal to be nearer the center of this
specialized form of horsemanship. She was soon working for one of the
acclaimed classical teachers, Master Luis Valenca. Although she had
already accomplished considerable skills, under Mr. Valenca's care she
blossomed into one of his most talented riders. Her hard work and
dedication finally earned her the award of a Diploma of Merit from Mr.
Valenca, a certificate that few in the world have ever achieved, in the
Appasionata horse show, a European horse extravaganza similar in scope
to Cavalia in the USA. Appasionata tours all the major cities in
Europe, and with over 650,000 visitors, it is one of the most
successful equestrian productions in the world. [HFL]: Hi Charlotte. So you were born in Sweden, I understand. [Charlotte]: Yes, I was born in Sweden and have been in Portugal for four years. [HFL]: You worked with Luis Valenca, I understand. [Charlotte]: Yes, I come from a horse family - my father rides and my mother rides also. So I started riding before I could I walk and I was always in the stable with the horses. From the beginning I did my dressage with jumping with ponies and 3-day eventing. Then I went to the UK after I finished school [Charlotte]: And then I did the teaching riding exams in London and I was there for six months and I did the basic teaching exam. The teacher I had, his teaching method and the way of riding was classical in the way I was used to in Sweden. I found out it was [the kind of] horses and teaching that I really wanted to put my heart into. And by coincidence I saw an advertisement in Sweden and I came in contact with Portugal and the Lusitanos and I don’t think I will leave. [HFL]: You are really happy right now, I gather. [Charlotte]: Yes, I really found [it]. It’s like a dream. I’m living my dream in the way that the passion I have for horses, the joy I feel every morning to just wake up and go to work…..it’s a good feeling. [HFL]: That’s amazing. That is the best, isn’t it? [HFL]: I think when you come and sit on top of your horses some people think it’s just physical, but I don’t think it is. I think it’s just as much spiritual as it is physical. It is good for your soul as well as your body. [Charlotte]: It is. And also because riders should be in harmony with the horse, if you are not in harmony in yourself, how then can you be in harmony with your horse? I think it is interesting in that way also. I think to be a good rider, you have to be in balance yourself. I know that when I have a bad day, I prefer not to go up on a horse because I can’t do good work on the horse. [HFL]: Absolutely. I found that if I were in a bad mood, something bad would happen. [Charlotte]: That is true then horses will feel that they are animals. If you go up when you’re angry or feeling sad, it is better that day to do some other kind of work. I think it is very important as a rider to think about this and be aware of [oneself] because it is very easy for things to [transfer] over. Emotions can go over to the animal very easily. At least for me, [in order] to be a good rider, I have to be aware of this. When you see a horse and a rider in harmony, it is not just the technique, it is [harmony in] the heart and the mind as well.
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