We sat down with our Globetrotting Friday Double Dressage Star Presenters… and safe to say we were left in awe. The techniques and horsemanship displayed are something that must be seen to be believed. Will Rogers brings things to EQUITANA Melbourne in 2024 like never before.
Here’s how it went…
Q: For those who might not be familiar, what would you say is the most important aspect of your dressage philosophy?
A: My main focus is on trying to understand my horse & how I need to be better for them.
Q: Which modern day dressage riders do you find inspirational? And why?
A: My wife Anna Blomgren, Jessica Von Bredow Werndl, Carl Hester, Charotte Dujardin, Catherine Dufour. I really appreciate the different strengths, abilities, qualities that they all have in different areas.
Q: Which legendary dressage trainers do you admire? Nuno Oliveira? Reimer Klimke? Or who? Why does their training resonate with you?
A: I admire many different trainers for the different strengths that they have! I feel that it is important to take the wisdom from the past but also upgrade our awareness & knowledge to create a better future way of doing things as well.
Q: Tristan Tucker is a good friend of yours and you worked with him when you first moved to Europe. Was he influential in developing your fascination with dressage?
A: Yes he was the person who really introduced me to dressage & was pivotal in getting me started from the ground up!
Q: We understand you met your wife, Swedish Grand Prix rider Anna Blomgren, while she was working in the same yard as Tristan in the Netherlands. Has she also been influential in moving your focus to dressage training?
A: Yes my wife has definitely been my biggest riding influence over the last 10 years. She has a great eye for detail, as well as being very experienced developing horses to the top sport.
Q: You and Anna were based for sometime at Patrick Kittel and Lyndel Oatley’s in Germany while you were setting up your own yard. Where are you based now?
A: We are based in Warendorf Germany at Monica Theodorescu’s old family stables.
Q: Would you describe the approach both you and Anna have towards training and caring for the dressage horses as a holistic approach?
A: Yes we try to approach things in a holistic manner, but as we all know there is still so much to learn.
Q: What are the ultimate goals in your dressage training approach?
A: For me my ultimate goal is to develop myself to a level that I can help the horse to reach their potential with me & to ride in an effortless flow together where the horse & rider are as one.
Q: Could you explain the importance of rhythm and relaxation in dressage training, and how you work to achieve these with your horses?
A: Yes rhythm & relaxation are critical to create a balanced, comfortable & willing horse. I like to start by finding each individual horses preferred rhythm & balance as a baseline to build from.
Q: Can you tell us about your most memorable partnership in training with dressage horses?
A: The partnership with my horse Esmeralda has been very special, we have been on a long journey together that has included many big adventures filled with many personal lessons that still continue today.
Q: What do you enjoy most about participating in events like EQUITANA Melbourne, and what can attendees expect from your presence?
A: I enjoy getting together with passionate horse people & I’m always excited to share what horses have taught over the years.
Q: What’s the quirkiest habit or personality trait of one of your horses that never fails to make you smile?
A: One of my horses Faith, whenever we are filming something she quite often goes off script with very flamboyant launching & acrobatics just for fun. She quite an independent character.
Q: If your horses could talk, what would they say about you as a dressage trainer?
A: You’ve still got a lot to learn.
Q: What will the Australian dressage audience at EQUITANA Melbourne learn in your dressage masterclass?
A: Hopefully to understand their horses better & to develop a better connection with each horse they come in contact.
Q: What’s your vision for the future of dressage? The training, judging and competitions?
A: I feel that everything we do needs to be horse centred, we as people have a lot to learn from horses & if we want dressage to thrive we all need to develop our awareness & knowledge of horses further so that we can make the necessary adjustments to the training, judging, competitions etc.
