2005 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses

Belgian Selectors Choose to Send Quality to the 2005 World Championships in Verden

June 9, 2005

The Belgian selection trial for the 2005 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden took a very rough start with tons of organizational problems. However, the trial itself took place in a very amicable atmosphere at Reiko Newton's lovely facility Domaine Mon Souhait in Braine L'Alleud on Tuesday June 6, 2005.

Last year, the Belgian Dressage Committee decided to pick the young horses for Verden based on their performances in the Cup of Belgium FEI Young Horse show circuit, but at the last moment it was decided to hold a selection trial instead.

This year, the federation was only going to do the selection trial, but none of the riders knew when and where. Only two weeks in advance, a mysterious email was sent round that the trial was to be held on Tuesday June 6. This was never officially published in the VLP Info magazine and only a couple of people received the email. The news was posted online on several websites and word of mouth made it possible that people interested in qualifying their horse were alerted of the trial.

Unfortunately, one had to come up with invented entry forms and an order of go was never published until 12 hours ahead of time (online on Eurodressage.com). People with no internet access never knew their riding times, or simply received a phone call on Tuesday morning round 11 o' clock to let them know they had to ride at 5 in the afternoon. Albeit, Belgian dressage riders are hardened to this hilarious, official KBRSF organizational incompetence. But, let the show begin!

Text and Photos copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No Reproduction Allowed
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