DressageDaily.com caught up with Endel Ots just as he is getting set for his 3rd CDI on the Olympic hopeful, Bohemian, a 14-year-old Westphalian gelding (Bordeaux 28 x Samarant) owned by Heidi Humphries of Zen Elite Equestrian Center. Here’s what Endel shared about this amazing horse and partner that is taking Endel to new heights while exuding grace and harmony along the way.

Tell us about Bohemian from the trial rides in Europe to where you are today?

Endel: “I loved him from the second I sat on him. I felt an immediate connection with him. I promised Heidi that this horse 100% would make Paris. I told her I’d give her my kidney to be able to have the ride on this horse. I think he is so special because of his excellent training from Catherine Dufour and who he is as a horse. Bohemian requires an emotional connection from his rider. He wants to go with you together in the ring. He won’t do everything for you. I need to support him and help him with his balance, but he always tries and he’s a very emotional horse who gets his confidence from the rider.

I really like his light and happy connection. He has very correct gaits and at competitions he only requires a short warm up and once he connects with you and knows you are there with him, he is ready to do the test. In training him at home, I never drill things. If I school one little piece of something, for example holding the haunches in a certain spot before half pass, I show him what I expect one time and the next day he’s got it. He is very intelligent.”

With 2 CDI competitions under your belt what have you learned?

Endel: “I learned to deal with the pressure and keep my mind in the present moment. And I’ve learned how to push Bohemian in different pieces and accept other pieces for who he is. He is a very team-oriented horse. He wants to do stuff together with you. I am really getting to know him, and he relies on me to be there for him. Bohemian is so light and correct, you never have to force him to perform, just guide him and allow him. It is an honor to engage in this type of partnership with another species.”

What are your goals going into the Terra Nova CDI this weekend?

Endel Ots and Bohemian (Photo: Courtesy of Arden Ward Upton)

Endel: “My goal this coming weekend is to put in clean, solid tests and show off how our partnership is developing. We have had high marks for harmony which is important to me and I am aiming for more of that. I am very excited about our freestyle. Terry Gallo worked on the music and Albercht Heidemann designed all the choreography, and I think it’s a very impressive freestyle. I haven’t done a freestyle in a while, and this is by far my favorite and most meaningful freestyle, so far.

What were your thoughts when you saw you were 4th in the US rankings?

Endel: “I knew that Bohemian and I could accomplish that and more. We’ve only really been working together for a couple months and I’m just thankful to be able to ride and compete such a wonderful horse and it’s just the start of a very great partnership. I also am grateful that Heidi is so good about not putting pressure on me. I think I put enough pressure on myself every second of every day, so to have an owner that supports you like this is wonderful and I’m very thankful for everything that she has done to support US dressage. It is a very exciting time.”

What is Bohemian like around the barn?

Endel: “He’s a very emotional and social horse. He wants to be included when he wants to be included and at other times he likes his introverted personal time. He likes to cuddle and play with you, but when he gets bored with that, he’ll go look out the window and watch the birds go by. He enjoys going out and exploring everything. He tells you where he wants to go, when he wants to go there, how long he wants to stay at it -whether it’s grazing, visiting other horses, or playing with toys. One of his favorite games is “halter toss”. We put up five or six halters on his halter hook by his stall and he likes to almost play a game like the ring toss with them. He will take the halters off swing them around throw them across the barn aisle. He very playful.

Not surprising for such a social horse, Bohemian connected to another horse in our barn named Lion King and they are inseparable. They love grooming each other and they have travelled to all the shows together. I like to think that Bohemian is departing a lot of wisdom to his pal, Lion King.”

Watch Endel and Bohemian at the TerraNova Dressage III, a CDI3* with all classes in the Lakeside (CDI and National) and Magnolia (National) arenas being live-streamed. Bookmark www.terranovaequestrian.com/streaming to tune in and watch your favorite riders.