There are days that simply flow, almost as if every moment had been quietly preparing for the next one. Yesterday was one of those days — light, focused, and exactly the kind of experience that reminds me why I love this sport so much.
We started the morning in Harskamp, my daily base and the place where most of my real work happens. Since I hadn’t stepped into a competition arena for a few months (I had chosen to take a few months away from the show ring to focus on refining my riding and developing the young horses at home), we planned a small “stopover session” in Someren, right near the border. Not a full competition — more like a warm-up with purpose. A practice show, a chance to feel the ring again, and to fine-tune the details with the help of an International Judge who generously shared the last small adjustments that could make the difference later in the day.
This little warm-up was exactly what we needed: clean, constructive, and perfectly aligned with how I like to work. I’ve always believed — and every trainer I’ve ever had has repeated this like a mantra — that at home you must give 200%, because in competition even the smallest unexpected moment can cost you precision. That “200%” mindset has become part of who I am. I don’t chase perfection for others; I simply love doing things well for myself. It’s my way of living, not just riding.
After Someren, we crossed the border — just a few kilometres — to a beautiful venue in Germany.
The warm-up there was intentionally short: Ducati and I had already done the real preparation earlier, and I walked into the arena with that kind of clarity you cannot fake.
One thing I’m grateful for is that I’m never nervous in competition. It’s a strange gift, maybe, but I’m always cold, focused, present. Not because I “have to win,” but because I enjoy doing things well. And yesterday everything aligned: my concentration, Ducati’s power, our connection — that silent language we share and that becomes even sharper after a break.
The test felt natural. Fluid. Effortless in the best possible way. I applied the judge’s suggestions from the practice show just a few hours earlier, and they worked immediately, giving the entire ride a stronger outline and better balance. Ducati was brilliant — energetic, attentive, generous. One of those rides where you feel each other instantly, stride after stride.
And then came the result: 70.08% in the Grand Prix. A win.
A clean, confident performance — and the kind that leaves you smiling quietly rather than exploding with emotion. A victory that felt earned, but above all enjoyed.
It was simply a beautiful day: a reminder that preparation matters, that mindset matters even more, and that when you give your 200% every single day… some days the universe gives a little something back.
And yesterday, it did — with Ducati right there with me.
Silvia ❤️
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