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Being siblings is not always a walk in the park. Although there is a lot of joy associated with having siblings, it is almost impossible to avoid conflicts and challenges. So, it cannot be easy, when two siblings are competing against each other in the same sport. We have talked with the Swedish sisters, Antonia and Juliette Ramel, about this issue. They know everything about what it means to compete against their sister - for better and for worse.
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Antonia and Juliette Ramel are among the world's best dressage riders. They are both a part of the Swedish national team, they have participated in the European and World Championships, and they both represented Sweden at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer. Although they have participated in several competitions as teammates, a lot of the time they compete against each other. And every time they compete, they both have the same goal - to be on the top of the podium.
When two sisters both manage to become among the best dressage riders in the world, one might think that it has always been the plan that they should end up as professional riders. However, this was far from the case. With the exception of Antonia and Juliet's grandfather, who bred racehorses, there is no one in the family who is interested in either horses or riding.
“We grew up on a farm in the countryside, where we also had a stable. There was not much to do there, so our parents gave us a Shetland pony that we could share and thus have something to spend time on.” Antonia says. At the time, Juliette and Antonia were only about 3 and 5 years old.
"Our parents were certainly not horse people, so it was not their dream that we should start riding and get interested in horses," Juliette says, laughing. Riding and horses have been a part of both Juliette and Antonia's lives from an early age. That they would later end up as professional riders, however, no one expected.
It wasn’t always dressage that captured both sisters' hearts. In the beginning, Antonia was more focused on show jumping during her pony rider days. But as she grew taller, jumping with her pony became more challenging. In her last show jumping competition, things took a turn when her legs were so long they clipped the obstacle, leading to a bad fall. After that, she had to make a decision: either sell the pony or retrain it for dressage.
"I did not want to sell my pony under any circumstances, so I chose to school it for dressage instead," says Antonia.
For Juliette, dressage was always her true passion. “Even though I preferred dressage, I still used to jump my pony every week. But no matter where I jumped—whether out in the field or over a parcour in the arena—I always seemed to end up falling off. Eventually, the fear of jumping set in, and I decided to stick to dressage.”
As time went on, her ambitions grew, along with a desire to compete and continuously improve her skills.
“Some children dream of the Olympics and medals from a very young age, and their parents run out and buy nice and expensive ponies for them, so the results are easier to achieve. That was certainly not the situation we were in. Antonia had her jumping pony, and I had a Welsh Cob, which was not exactly built to do dressage on a higher level,” Juliette says.
The sisters were not given fine ponies, nor were they driven around the country to attend competitions. "Our parents were busy with their own things, so we often had to plan our trips to the different shows ourselves," says Antonia.
As time went on, both sisters developed their skills, and especially when they switched over to riding horses, things picked up. As both Juliette and Antonia say: "One thing just led to the other."
Anyone with siblings knows that while they bring plenty of fun and joy, they can also come with their fair share of challenges—whether it's sibling rivalry, jealousy, or the pressure to measure up. It’s easy to compare yourself to your brother or sister, and that desire to outshine them can be strong. But what happens when those comparisons are real, like competing against each other in dressage?
The Ramel sisters have certainly faced this dynamic.
“Competing against your sister definitely has its challenges," Antonia shares. "It was especially tough during competitions, where we'd be out from early morning until late evening. By the time we were heading home, tired from the day, there were definitely some arguments in the car,” she adds with a smile.
But both sisters agree that as they’ve grown older and become more independent, the conflicts have decreased significantly.
“We’re two very different people with distinct personalities, so naturally, that brings some challenges—especially when we had our horses in the same stable,” Antonia explains. Juliette agrees, adding, “It’s rare for siblings who are around each other all the time, working so closely together, to always see eye to eye.”
But both sisters are quick to point out that it’s not all about the challenges. “We also have a lot of fun and share so many memories,” Juliette says. “When you spend so much time together—whether you’re sisters, friends, or partners—there are bound to be some disagreements. It’s just part of the deal.”
Juliette and Antonia have been competing against each other for many years, and whether it has been a local or international competition, the purpose has always been the same: "When you compete and participate in competitions, you want to be the best," Juliette states in a convincing tone, and elaborates: "It does not matter if the competitor is a stranger or your sister. You just want to be on top of that podium.”
"We have often been asked how and what we do, when we have to compete against each other. Although we do understand where the question comes from, it is never something we even think about. For us, it is all about the competition,” Antonia says. “When you ride into the arena you have a special mindset. You do not think "it's my sister, so I do not want to do better than her". You want to do the best you can, no matter who you compete against,” she adds.
Although both sisters will do everything in their power to stand on top of the podium, they still support each other.
"Even though we are competitors, it is not the case that we cannot say hello to each other when we meet in the stable the morning before the competition. We also wish each other good luck and cheer on each other. We just do not keep ourselves down, so we do not ride better than the other, " Juliette says, and Antonia explains: "Competitions are always competitions. When you sit on the horse, you do everything you can to win and do your best. But we are still human, and when we are both back on the ground again, it is something else. Then we go from being competitors to being sisters again,” she says with a smile in her voice.
When you, like Antonia and Juliette, participate in some of the biggest horse shows in the world together, it creates completely unique experiences and memories. And this is what they both highlight as we talk about their participation in the Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympics.
“Having the opportunity to share an experience like participating in the Olympics together, is a very unique thing. There are not many who get to participate in Olympics, so that in itself is an absolutely fantastic and unique experience, " Juliette, who also participated in the Olympics in Rio 2016 explains " You work so hard for four years for something which, in principle, is over in three days. It is a very intense experience, and therefore it becomes extra special to be able to share that experience with your sister,” she adds.
Antonia was also very happy to share the special experience with her sister. And the support she has in her sister became particularly useful.
"I had some problems with my horse at the Olympics, so there were a lot of emotions going on. As Juliette says, you struggle every day for four years to get ready for that particular moment, so when things do not go as planned and expected, it becomes very emotional. I was really glad to have Juliette so close, so I could get her help and support,” Antonia says.
"Even though it was not the best show for my sister, it is still special to experience it together and to go through both good and hard times together and be able to support each other," Juliette says.
While being both sisters and competitors can be challenging, and especially when they were younger, neither Juliette nor Antonia would have it any different.
"I can't think of any disadvantages to having a sister who also rides high-level dressage," says Juliette, and Antonia agrees. But though it is hard to come up with any disadvantages, it is easy to think about advantages:
"We both know dressage and the riding sport in general, so if there is a time when one needs help or a sparring partner, then we are there for each other," says Antonia.
For Antonia and Juliette, the most important thing has been to find a balance between when they are competitors and when they are sisters. And it is also this advice that they give to others who may be in the same situation as the two have been so many times.
“The most important thing is to keep in mind that even though your brother or sister is your competitor, they are also just a person. When you sit on the horse, you can be competitors, but not on the ground,” Antonia says. "When you sit on the horse, you concentrate on your own work, and do not compare yourself with your sister or anyone else," Juliette continues. “You have to ride no matter what, and in the end of the day it's about your own performance and not your sister's, so do not let it be about them. Let your sister do her job, and you do your job,” she adds.
“A sibling is neither a better nor a worse competitor. They are the same as everyone else, so you should treat them like everyone else. If you talk and smile to others, then you should also talk and smile to your sibling. If you help others, then you must also help your sibling. It's that simple,” Juliette concludes.
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