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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 fourth batch of reactions to the 2009 End-of-the Year Questions.
See who else answered the 2009 End of the Year Questions?
 Imke Schellekens-Bartels
The Netherlands
European Team gold medallist with Sunrise |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
The European Championships in Windsor: Team Gold
Plus two wins in the World Cup qualifiers in Frankfurt and Mechelen |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
Totilas |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
I almost never watch tv so I don’t know. |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Book: Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson
Concert: Anouk
CD: Adele |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
Negativity from spectators and media |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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Health for my family and a lot of joy in riding |
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 George Williams
U.S.A.
U.S. Grand Prix rider, President of the United States Dressage Federation |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
There have been big changes for me in 2009. I have some stunning new horses to ride, I helped guide the US High Performance Committee through the appointment of the new Technical Advisor/Coach and of course, being elected to the USDF Presidency |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
The election of Barack Obama, something I thought would never happen in my lifetime. |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
I don't often watch TV but what I do dislike intensely is the screaming political pundits.
I do listen to the radio and National Public Radio (NPR) is what I turn on even though my wife and daughter have rock n' roll stations pre programmed into my car radio. |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Most of my recreational reading is done on airplanes. This year I particularly enjoyed "Water For Elephants" by Sara Gruen, "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Chris Bohjalian and "A Thousand Splendid Sons" by Kahled Hosseini.
Best concert: I went to the Trans Siberian Orchestra and was blown away.
Best CD: That is a question for Roberta and Noel
Best Movie: "The Reader" was very good, but for sheer fun "Mamma Mia". |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
I would like to see a civil exchange of ideas and discussion between all parties - not just the ones who are loudest and most adept at manipulating technology. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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For the dressage world: I wish for a successful WEG.
For myself: Good health for me, my loved ones and of course for my horses. |
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 Wolfram Wittig
Germany
German Grand Prix rider, trainer of Olympic champion Isabell Werth |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
It's always the next show. I'm not into history |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
To me it looks that the trend to make everything bad is very up-to-date, especially in our sport |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
The best is what you like to watch, otherwise shut down the tv |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Xenophon and Dr. Heuschmann, don't you think so ? |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
The product of dressage is really very good, if horsmanship takes the lead |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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Just good health for everybody so that we can support and work with these lovely animals, our horses |
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 Robert Dover
U.S.A.
Canadian chef d'equipe, multiple U.S. Olympic team rider |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
I was retired for most of 2009 and so I guess my most important event would have to be my being hired in October as Canadian Coach/Technical Advisor. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
The internet is continuing to make the world a place in which people are able to show the truth about everything which is happening in their countries (like Iran and Sudan) and this will eventually lead to further uprising and the democratization of all nations. People want and deserve to live in freedom and they will not, once seeing what freedom looks like, allow for anything less, even if it costs them their lives to fight for it. |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Best TV program: Glee
Best Radio Show: NPR |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Book: "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
Play: Memphis
Concert: Pink
Movie: Avatar in 3D
CD: Adam Lambert |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
I hope to see that the advice returned to the FEI on the tasks given to and worked on by the Dressage Task Force will be enacted in 2010 for the betterment of the sport. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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I hope that the promises made by President Obama on all issues will continue to be realized in America and that they will have a huge and positive effect at home and around the world. If that happens, we will be closer to becoming a world of peace, prosperity, freedom and equal rights for all. |
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 John McEwen
Great Britain
Chair of the FEI Veterinary Committee |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
Team Great Britain winning the Silver team medal at the European Championships and if I am allowed a second event: Laura Becktolsheimer’s Individual performance on Alf and her winning Bronze. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
In the Equestrian world the Clean Sport Commissions’ work and the many related benefits to the sport in the future. In the wider world the disharmony in the world much of it in the name of national interests or religious beliefs. |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Best: Spooks
Worst: there are so many, but probably Big Brother! |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
CD: Lily Allen "It’s Not Me It’s You" |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
I would like to see the improved standard of judging seen this year at top level to be continued and extended to the lower levels. I would like the sport to do more to make competition more understandable to the interested outsider. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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My wish for the Equestrian World is that the sport and not the politics take centre stage in 2010. |
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 Kyra Kyrklund
Finland
Multiple Olympic Grand Prix rider and trainer |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
It must be the Europeans in Windsor, mostly as it was Max' last international Grand Prix. It was a hard decision to make but I'm pleased we did it. Riding him every day is the highlight of the day and he is fresh and happy. I still learn new things with him.. |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
I think the most important happening is that the dressage judges have realised that a 10 is not PERFECT, "just" excellent.
I'm very pleased they now dare to use it a bit more! Even Max and I got a 10 in Windsor (the second one I ever got) |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Best: I was very touched by Michael Jackson's funural.
Bad TV program I don't look at, I'm a channal "flicker": I can look at two programs at the same time.
I don't listen to radio that much. |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Book: Hard to choose which one, I read quite a lot, but maybe "The shadow of the wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
Play: War Horse
Concert: I love the Strauss' New Year Concert and I hope to be able to buy tickets for it sometimes in the future (no luck in the ticket lottery so far).
Movie: Nothing beats "The Sound of Music"
CD: Susan Boyle's "I had a dream" |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
I would like the Hyperflexion discussions to be less black and white and emotional. It's not so much the question of what system you use, but more the question of how you use it. I'm against all rough or abusive riding. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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Most importantly: health and happiness for family and friends. I myself will try, once again, to focus more on the positive things in life! |
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 Anabel Balkenhol
Germany
German Grand Prix rider, Winner of the 2009 Medien Cup |
| Most important event in your equestrian life in 2009? |
Winnig the Medien Cup with Dablino and getting the Mini Cooper as a prize ;-) |
| Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2009? |
The climate conference, the financial crisis. It is very sad that there were so many bad happenings in the world in 2009 |
| Best and worst tv and radio show |
Best: Lipstick Jungle
Worst: reality TV |
| Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
Book: "Mit dem Herzen suchen" by Jens Uwe Martens, "Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint Exupéry
CD: Pink´s Funhouse, other than that I download what I like |
| What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2010? |
My feeling is that the harmony in the dressage world really improved and I hope this will continue in the future. It is much more fun to ride in a relaxed and happy atmosphare with a healthy competitive thinking. I hope we get a 2010 with less bad headlines, so the equestrian sport will make a good impression to the whole public and sponsors feel that this wonderful sport is worth to be supported. |
What do you wish for in 2010?
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I wish that my whole family and my horses will stay healthy |
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Back to the "End of the Year" Index
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