Hooge Mierde, The Netherlands – At the eighth Global Dressage Forum in Hooge Mierde a record amount of countries of 25 was represented, more than ever. Old and new nicely came together when highlights in the program from earlier years Dr Hilary Clayton and Hubertus Schmidt were brought back again at the GDF, while a new formula with working groups was also added. The Forum was held in a good communicative and respectful atmosphere. This was something chairman of the IDTC David Hunt pleaded for at the start. Some of the highlights included Heike Kemmer who commented her own Grand Prix Special test at the Olympic Games. She admitted that the unevenness at the last centreline was caused by her own distraction by the videoscreen! The famous French military-based Cadre Noir, the special lecture on skeletal intervention to elite athletes by Andrew Thomas combined with the riding skills of Emma Hindle and Lancet and last but not least the impressive lesson of Hubertus Schmidt were more highlights.

After the introduction of the new sports director of the FEI David Holmes and his ideas about the development of dressage, the first session was reserved for Dutch dressage. Dressage is quite successful and very popular in Holland. Not only mega star Anky is responsible for that. The Dutch equestrian federation KNHS and the Dutch royal studbook KWPN presented the merits of their selection system finding and encouraging the best riders and selecting the best horses.

An impressive group of Dutch bred good horses was presented, to start with the best placed horses of the PAVO Cup for four year olds and five year olds. The influence of Jazz and Ferro can’t be neglected. “We work on the best match of the talented horses and talented riders”, Tineke Bartels promised. As the coach of the Juniors and Young Riders she presented her two gold team members Diederik van Silfhout and Lotje Schoots. The talents of their horses KWPN-approved Rhodium and KWPN-bred mare Reine B (Rubinstein x Vincent) already were recognized as young horses in the PAVO Cup. The same can be said of Grand Prix-horses Hexagon’s Ollright of Laurens van Lieren. Two times Olympian Lancet showed by Emma Hindle and his approved 4 year old son Hunter Douglas Ziësto were the impressive end of the presentation of ‘Dutch dressage’.

A great end of the first day was the Cadre Noir presenting some special jumps in the air. The happy looks of the horses who immediately were at ease and relaxed even after a very intense jump in the air was impressive.

At the second day the new format if the working groups was introduced. Most of the judges felt specifically attracted to the lectures of Hans van Zetten regarding the judging system in the ice skating world and gymnastics, followed by Dieter Schüle assisted by Wim Ernes talking about the education of a judge to Olympic level. Others prefered to know more about developing core strength in the sport horse by Dr Hilary Clayton and how to cope with stress and more mental skills by Dr Rico Schuijers. This system with working groups added to the pleasant and open atmosphere of the Forum.

The technical highlight was preserved for last. The mission of 49 year old German professional Hubertus Schmidt was to play with bending. He did much more. He showed his horsemanship and skills in his practical lecture where a 5 year old Fidermark-son showed happiness in the work just like his own Grand Prix-horse Artemis.  Schmidt prefers to spend a lot of time to the loosing phase in which the horse stretches and goes without too much cadence and impulsion. This type of losing resulted in two horses with an optimal use of the body, a swinging back and expressive half passes. This example was the last example for the eighth Global Dressage Forum in a good atmosphere. Moderator Richard Davison in the end also thanked the audience for that. “It was your respect and open mind attitude which made this possible”, he concluded.

See the February 2009 issue of Horse Sport for a detailed report on the event.

 

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