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2009 End-of the Year Questions
Now that the end of the year is rapidly approaching, Eurodressage asked several international riders, judges and journalists to review their year briefly and highlight what they considered the most important evolutions and happenings in their personal and professional life.
Check out a second batch of reactions to the 2009 End-of-the Year Questions.
See who else answered the 2009 End of the Year Questions?
 Anne Gribbons
U.S.A.
FEI Dressage Committee member, U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
In August the USEF eligible athletes voted for me to become the US Technical Advisor of Dressage for a period of three years. Two weeks later I was appointed as Head of the Ground Jury for the World Equestrian Games. Obviously, the two tasks are in conflict. It was a difficult decision to walk away from WEG, but I had made a commitment to the riders, and that weighed heavily in the end. In November the FEI formed the new Dressage committee and, with impeccable timing, I was appointed to the committee. Time will tell if I will be able to fulfill both tasks, but I am going to give it a try. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
The miracle of Totilas who I had the privilege of judging at Rotterdam and Windsor and watched perform at Stuttgart in November. This fairy tale horse and his rider, Edward Gal, has done more to highlight dressage and make people excited about our sport than anything else I have experienced. |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
I hardly ever watch TV except the news, and they are bad enough! |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
My two current favorite books are “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen and “Stone’s Fall 'by Iain Pears.
Favorite CD: Planet Earth |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
The creation of a good definition and a way to regulate the issue of Hyperflexion, generated by the riders themselves in a way that is realistic to live by. And a more positive attitude towards the dressage judges who seem to be always under attack, even when their performance is beyond reproach. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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The energy, health and luck to proceed in my work and a lot of emerging US dressage combinations which can make us proud at WEG! |
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 Richard Davison
Great Britain
British Dressage Team Captain, British Olympic dresssage rider, Former FEI Task Force Member |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
Of course the European Championships in Windsor – our Team Silver and Individual bronze were a well deserved reward, not just for the riders, but also for their home teams and all British equestrian supporters. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
Surely 2009 taught us (yet again) that we can’t rely on politicians but we have to take ownership and responsibility ourselves. |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
My lifestyle doesn't really allow much time for TV but generally there is not enough good quality fiction but far too many trashy ‘reality’ programs. |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Book: John Francombe’s latest Deadly Finish
Play: War Horse
Concert: naturally I think my son’s band Dakota are the best !
CD: buy Dakota’s ‘Heart and Soul’ when its released in February, its great for all ages. |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
Well lets start with implementing the recommendations of the FEI Task Force. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and less time on my Blackberry or laptop! |
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 Nathalie Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein
Denmark
Olympic team bronze medallist. Danish Grand Prix team rider |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
The 2009 CHIO Aachen. Rigoletto won CDI Grand Prix and Special. Digby beat Salinero and others in the Grand Prix and then we had personal best in the Special. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
That polititians did not come to a resolution at the climate conference in Copenhagen.
That we have new world records in dressage, thanks to Parzival and Totilas. Our sport is getting exciting again!! |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Worst TV show: All reallity shows
Best TV show: 2 and a half men |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Best book: all the books by Jeffery Archer
Best movies: old classic films
Do not have the time to go to concerts. |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
That judging gets better, and that we find a good way to make our sport more popular!!!! I think Totilas has already made a good effort. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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That my family, friends and all my horses stay healthy and sound. |
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 Ellen Schulten-Baumer
Germany
German Team rider at the 2007 and 2009 European Dressage Championships. Team Silver Medallist at the 2007 E.C. |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
The Europeans in Windsor, of course. It was a great experience and we all were really, really proud to win a super bronze medal. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
The course of the climate conference in Copenhagen was very disappointing. I would like to see that more nations would be willing to look outside the box and beyond. |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Best TV: Lipstick Jungle!!!
Worst TV: "Bauer sucht Frau,' a German series
which is created for german farmers to find a wife......sooooo embarrassing!!!
Radio: I prefer our regional station so I`m always up to date on my neighbourhood |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Book: I have only just read the third and last book by Stieg Larsson and I enjoyed these books very much
Play: Mamma Mia
Concert: I´m looking forward to Depeche Mode in concert in February
Movie: Pride and Prejudice (so romantic)
CD: I download what I like to hear |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
We had a lot of "negative energy" and I hope we can turn it into co-operation and joint efforts to take our sport forward. Dressage Sport has never been on such a high level and I think it is a great motivation and pleasure to watch for everyone. The sport has in recent years evolved so greatly and I hope that in the next year the situation continues. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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Good health for my family and friends – both human and equine! In riding I want to improve even more and get the best out of me and my super upcoming young horses and my lovely Donatha.
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 Stephen Clarke
Great Britain
O-judge |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
The European Championships at Windsor where we saw the sport reach levels that had only been dreamed of before. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
Obama, this poor guy has a lot resting on his shoulders! |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
"Who wants to be a Millionaire" Purely to see the reactions of the contestants, human nature is fascinating! |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Book: "The Mammoth Hunters" by Jean M Auel.
Play:
War Horse
Concert:
Andrea Bocelli.
Movie: Dr. Zhivago
CD: Andrea Bocelli |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
People's attitudes, both from the public and the press. Our sport has developed beyond our wildest dreams, the breeding, riding and judging is better than ever before.
It's about time all the players pulled together and learned to treat each other with respect so that we can push on together
to even greater heights. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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As above... |
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 Marlies van Baalen
NED
Dutch A-team Grand Prix rider |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
Winning the gold medal during the nations' test in Aachen with Hans-Peter Minderhoud, Anky van Grunsven and Sander Marijnissen. Also the fifth place on the Dutch Championships with BMC O’Jay. Besides that, I gave clinics in Vancouver and Rome which I enjoyed doing! |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
For me personally: the result of my mother’s first check-up after her illness was a great relief; everything ok! |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
If I have the time, which is not very often, I like to watch ‘De Wereld draait door’, a Dutch daily news program.
Worst: Why bother watching?!
Radio: radio538 is always okay to listen to in the car when going to training or competitions!
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| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Book: The Kite Runner from Khaled Hosseini
Unfortunately, I had no time to see a play, concert or movie in 2009!
CD: NW8 by Guus Meeuwis. |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
I hope the new dressage committee will come up with great ideas. Frank Kemperman has proven to be a capable man; if you look at how he organises CHIO Aachen, that is fantastic. If some new ideas will be implemented to help our sport forward, I would very much like and encourage that. In addition, I hope that the dressage world (and all people working in it) continue to work together, as opposed to working against each other, in order to guide our sports through stormy weather! |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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Hope for good health and well-being for all my beloved, especially my parents, and my horses. Other than that: I hope for nice results in the competitions and also for my pupils! |
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