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2006 End-of the Year Questions
December 31, 2006
Reactions to the 2006 End-of-the Year Questions from
 Jan Bemelmans
Belgium/Germany - Spanish team trainer, trainer of Danish team rider Fie Skarsoe |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2006? |
The WEG Aachen 2006 was for sure the most important equestrian event in
2006, because it was a perfect marketing for our sport, with a fabulous
organisation an a spectacular atmosphere. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2006? |
From my point of view, the FIFA soccer
World Championship in Germany. It showed that all men and nations can stay
together in peace and harmony. |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
The German tv show: "Wer wird Millionär" with Günter Jauch (Who Wants to be a Millionaire) |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
/ |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2007? |
That dressage will be promoted better at indoor shows, not taking place
in the earliest morning and ending before the show begins.
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What do you wish for in 2007?
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Personal health for me and my family.
For the dressage sport I hope that there is more common sense for the
happiness of our horses and less discussion, only caused by personal
reasons. |
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 Lena Sellman
Sweden - journalist/editor for Tidningen Ridsport |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2006? |
Like every year the world championships for young dressage horses in Verden, where there are so many incredible young talents and coming stars.
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| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2006? |
The fact that terrorism makes people afraid to travel the world.
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| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Best tv: "Prison Break" and “Farmer seeks wife”, it is so bad it´s worth watching just because of that.
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| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
I read so many good books that I can´t name one special.
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| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2007? |
I want to see dressage horses show much more harmony AND expressive gaits. Is that a utopia?
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What do you wish for in 2007?
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That all suffering children (in all kind of ways) in the world will get a better life. And that my mare will have a fantastic foal in the beginning of the summer!
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 Wolfram Wittig
Germany - trainer Isabell Werth, Grand Prix rider, breeder |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2006? |
The mood in the arena in Aachen during Isabell and Satchmo's Grand Prix
Special ride, and the World Championships for Young Horses in Verden
with Brigitte and Breitling's daughter Biagiotti W.
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| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2006? |
My wife and I both turned 48 -- we're working on more. |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Bad things don't improve if we watch them -- and good things don't get
worse. |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
You don't change an old fan of Phil Collins and Supertramp.
DVD: King Ralph |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2007? |
Without critical dialog, the continuing effort to learn and train remains
a worthless monolog. |
What do you wish for in 2007?
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I'm not someone who wants to change the world; I leave that to others. |
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 Nicola McGivern
Great Britain - British Olympic team rider |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2006? |
Tto find out that we had 2 full brothers or sisters to Active Walero to look forward to in 2007 and to win at the Sunshine tour with Walero. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2006? |
Terrorism |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Easily "House" for best and all Reality TV for worst. |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
So many! David Baldacci, Michael Connoly and James Patterson books stand out.
Best CD would probably be the same for me no matter which year you asked! Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon”.
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| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2007? |
I would love to be back in the International dressage scene for 2007 |
What do you wish for in 2007?
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Health, success and happiness for all of my friends, family and animals. |
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 Dieter Laugks
Germany - German Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2006? |
For sure the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, because it showed that a dressage test can be as thrilling as any other big sport event. Being there and realising that more than 50,000 people were fascinated by the beauty of our sport showed that we are on a good way. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2006? |
There happened a lot of very important and frightening things in 2006: The war in Lebanon. They destroyed the whole structure of the country and all the world was not stopping it early enough.
The US Supreme Court pointed out that the US Government is acting illegalyl in Guantanamo Bay.
A terrifying loss of morality and sense of responsibility in the management of German major enterprises (e.g. Mannesmann, Siemens BenQ, Volkswagen)
Violence against children seems to happen all over the world! |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
All these reality tv shows are really bad entertainment. |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
La Traviata with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon
Phil Collins in concert |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2007? |
New and realistic doping rules for the whole equestrian sport.
More patience for younger horses in the dressage world. Maybe we have to understand and accept, that most of the horses need to become 10 years and older before they are Grand Prix horses. |
What do you wish for in 2007?
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Good health for all the beloved people and animals around me.
The ability to organize my time and the travelling between my law office in Düsseldorf and our new wonderful stable nearby Munich. |
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 Cesar Parra
Colombia - International Grand Prix rider, competed at the World Equestrian Games as individual for Colombia |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2006? |
World Equestrian Games, it was amazing to be there, to see way the sport has grown. The amount of public, it was just unbelievable. And all of this to be in Aachen. It could not have been done better.
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| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2006? |
I would like to say the way we all around the world are seeking Peace and justice. Also I sense a bit more of caring towards those that are less fortunate.
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| Best and worst tv and radio show |
I don't watch much television, only the news sometimes.
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| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
The Da Vinci Code,
When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
and Shakira's album |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2007? |
Keep on encouraging the Globalization of the sport, to increase the visibility and popularity of the sport!!!!!!!!! |
What do you wish for in 2007?
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Peace, health and work. |
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 Astrid Appels
Belgium - editor-in-chief of Eurodressage.com |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2006? |
Bringing my mare back to health from injury with the help of an outstanding team of veterinarians; getting the chance now to play with the piaffe and passage on her; a regained enthusiasm and my long-lasting love for my horse, pony, and young stallion in Denmark. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2006? |
The continued, oppressive presence of U.S. forces in Iraq and Bush's total inability to clean up the mess he created in the Middle East.
The never-ending war in Israel.
The desire for wealth and materialism in general, which drives many young people to crime and murder.
"Vlaams Blok" finally getting beaten in Antwerp in the elections, even though racism continues to rule among people. The lack of knowledge, understanding, and insight in a situation which makes many people a rascist for no reason.
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| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Worst tv: all programs on VTM and CNN; and all reality shows
Best tv: VRT news, Top Gear, In de Gloria |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Best Book: "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman" (by R. Feynman), "Finders Keepers" (by B. Vandemark), "De Helaasheid der Dingen" (by D. Verhulst) and everything by E. Gombrich.
Best Play: "Don Giovanni" at De Munt
Best Concert: "Radiohead" at Pukkelpop
Best CD: "The Eraser" (Thom Yorke), "Employment" (Kaiser Chiefs"
Best Movie: "The Departed", "Walk the Line" and all time favourite "The English Patient". |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2007? |
The end of judging based on politics and favouritism. Judges rewarding harmony and lightness instead of "show", electricity, and tension. |
What do you wish for in 2007?
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A good health for my family, me and my horses, a successful conclusion of my PhD, lots of travelling, great partying with my friends and -- I cross-my-fingers -- the licensing of my young stallion in Germany. |
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