Can you believe there needs to be a part 2, after my checked bag didn’t make it to Europe with me two weeks ago? Well, it happened again on the way back, only this one was twice as testing of my ‘don’t lose your mind’ credo. A quick refresher: First I found myself in Brussels […]

A few days ago I posted some reflections from the mounted demos at the GDF. I thought I went sufficiently far out of my way to explain that my thoughts were based on observation, that they were my own, and that they in no way constituted a criticism of any of the highly accomplished individuals […]

At least that’s the impression one might take away from this year’s GDF. Let me explain (it will take me today’s entire post). We saw a presentation from Patrik Kittel, in which both he and his wife Lyndal Oatley gave mounted demonstrations. Patrik and Lyndal are what you would call ‘strapping’ types. They are tall […]

A few GDF impressions, things that might make you go ‘hm’: Patrik Kittel: having mentioned many of his past mentors, it wasn’t until an hour and 15 minutes into his presentation that he (briefly) mentioned the name ‘Sjef’ (first name only) Richard Davison: really did go on and on to Patrik about his internet rap […]

Yes, it’s true. Sandy is much more far reaching in ‘her’ impact than anyone could have imagined. Stephen Clarke is grounded in New York instead of warming a seat here and preparing to give what I am sure would have been another of his charming, candid presentations. Damn that Sandy. The GDF this year has […]

Tip #1: when the airline loses your luggage, don’t lose your mind. I knew Chicago was trouble when I booked my flight. I’ve been separated from a checked bag there before, but the itinerary was so good, and my options (on Air Crap points) so limited, I chanced it.  And wasn’t that terribly shocked when […]

Well, it’s only the half way break of the first day of the 2012 GDF, and I can happily say my work is done. No, not really, but the hard part is behind me. I was quite concerned about asking a ‘negative’ question right in the very first half hour of the proceedings today. You […]

One of my wittier, more clever friends emailed me a few weeks ago with a new term she thought she was coining: ineptocracy. She did her due diligence though, and was mildly devastated to learn that someone had beaten her to the punch and already invented the term. You can even order ‘ineptocracy’ t-shirts on […]

The document you will find by clicking on the link below is not for those who lack patience, focus or the ability to wade through acres of meaningless tripe to find the filet mignon. But for those of you with sufficient curiosity about what CAS concluded regarding the FEI’s mishandling of the protest against Brazil’s […]

As exciting and action-packed as I thought this year’s Global Dressage Forum program looked when I decided to hop on a plane to Holland and attend, I was a bit puzzled and yes, disappointed, not to see the name David Stickland among the presenters. If you don’t know David, you really ought to. He’s the […]