Alexandra Maksakova: remembering 2014

Here is another bright and interesting interview with a talented athlete Alexandra Maksakova, master of sports, playing for the Russian team, taken in 2014. At that time, the rider trained in Holland with the famous Anka van Grunsven. She kindly agreed to answer questions:

Alina: At what age did you start equestrian sports? AM: When I started riding, I was 10 years old, of which 2-3 years was riding. Once I was walking with my father in the park, where horse rentals traditionally worked, I really wanted to ride, and I liked it, after which he suggested that I join an equestrian club to learn to ride with an instructor and gain experience. We started with KSK “Harmony”, where I left for two weeks. After Harmony, I studied at the Zoo. I had a horse there named Ozinka, which was given to me for my birthday, I trained with Nellya Dubinina, she was my first trainer, with whom we collaborated for 2-3 years.

Photo: provided by the rider.

Alina: How did the family react to this hobby and does it share your interest now? AM: My parents have always been positive about my hobby, however, they still do not like that I live very far from them. Initially, they thought that I would only ride horses on weekends, and no one expected that I would start doing it professionally, even at this level.

Photo: provided by the rider.

Alina: Why did you choose dressage?

AM: My choice fell on dressage, because I’m afraid to jump. I tried it a few times and was very scared, so I decided show jumping was not for me. Extreme is not for me. And on top of that, I love training horses. No, no, in show jumping you also need to teach a partner a lot, but I mean that in dressage you can work with a horse on elements: changes, half passes, other exercises, and I am very happy when my horse begins to understand how to perform this or another element. The horse has learned to change legs correctly, and you rejoice. It’s an indescribable feeling! Alina: Who was your first coach and who is he to this day? Tell about it. AM: My first coach, as I said, is Nelli Dubinina. At the moment I am training with Dutch rider Anki van Grunsven. We’ve been training together for about two years now. When I came to her, I had the feeling that she was not interested in me, and six months later we had some kind of relationship, I see how she invests in me, probably because she saw the potential in me. And I came to her by accident: I, along with my parents, came to Anka’s stable, just to look, to learn something new .. But then she suggested that I get on a horse. I drove for 15-20 minutes, after which she approached my dad and said that she was ready to train me.

Photo: provided by the rider.

Alina: What methods of work do you follow? What do you think about rollkur and long and low?

AM: I think that there is nothing wrong with rollkur, and if you take ballerinas, you can say that it is the same thing. It all depends on flexibility: you can bend the horse to the right, left, up, down, and then the horse has flexibility and all the elements are much easier for her, because her muscles are elastic. Many riders say that rollkur is a pain for the horse, it’s bad. Actually, no, nothing like that. Alina: How many horses do you have at work, what level are they? – Tell us about your Skampalo, please: how are your usual trainings with him and pre-start? Something different? What do you work on the most: snaffle or mouthpiece? AM: I have two horses in my work – Skampalo and Boengles. Skampalo competes in the Middle Prix and Bubu (Boengles) in the Junior. Usually only I ride my horses, but sometimes Anki sits on them. We train with Skampalo in the most usual way – 10 minutes of walking, 6-7 minutes of warm-up: we trot for 5 minutes, then we canter two circles to the left and two to the right, then we start working on the main part, where sometimes we lower his neck and head, to give him the opportunity to stretch down. At this trot we do half passes and shoulders. And at the end of the work, we lift it up and work like this for another 5-6 minutes. Usually we work out a large number of transitions within and between gaits (the “speed control” method). I think when you can control the horse well, then all the elements come easier, especially when your horse has already been taught everything. Clear transitions are the most important thing, I repeat once again, you must be able to immediately and easily stop the horse, and the horse should fly with a light leg when it works out – excellent.

Photo: provided by the rider.

Alina: Do you often lunge? (before training and on separate days from training). What do you think about lunging?

AM: We almost never work on lunge. I train my horses either under the saddle or lunge on weekends, giving them the opportunity to play, have fun and relax. I used to have to lunge the Skampalo for 20 minutes before class because when we bought him, he was a crazy horse, it was impossible to sit on him! At first, I often fell from Scampi, so I was very afraid of him. Over time, he probably realized who was the boss here, and calmed down. Now he occasionally bounces in training, when childhood plays at the fifth point, but not as much as before. He and I even went through this path, when he started to jump, and I shoved him with my legs forward so that he flew like crazy, to show him who was the boss here, but, in fact, I was terribly afraid of him. Anki said: “Sasha needs it, he needs to understand that you need to be respected,” she laughs. And then he realized that jumping around the arena and flying is bad, and now we live faithfully and amicably. Despite his behavior, I still love this horse!

Photo: provided by the rider.

Alina: In the future, do you want to somehow connect your life with sports, perhaps you want to become a professional athlete?

AM: Yes, in the future I want to connect my life with equestrian sport. Horses are my life, my everything. I really enjoy doing this. I hope I can make it! I would like to become a coach, and, of course, like any equestrian, I dream of going to the Olympic Games, because my first wish – to get to the European Championship and qualify for the final – has already come true. I made it to the final and stayed 8th in the KUR.

Photo: provided by the rider.

Alina: What advice can you give to young riders?

AM: It is very important to sincerely love your horse and treat it with respect, then it will definitely respond in kind. It is important to believe in yourself and your partner, because when you are one, you show the best result in competitions. Up your nose and go! Forward for victory! This is the motto of our whole family!

Photo: provided by the rider.

Please note that the interview was from 2014, since that time Alexandra had a big breakthrough in sports. And what changes happened – a little later. Follow our news so you don’t miss it!