Dressage development, training discussed at global forum

Held at Hooge Mierde, the event featured a talk by Dr Hilary Clayton and a lesson with Hubertus Schmidt, and rider Heike Kemmer, who discussed her Grand Prix Special test at the Olympic Games.

The famous French military-based Cadre Noir also gave a display, and there was a special lecture on the skeletal affects on elite athletes by Andrew Thomas, combined with the riding skills of Emma Hindle and Lancet.

After the introduction of the FEI's new sports director David Holmes and his ideas about the development of dressage, the first session was reserved for Dutch dressage. Dressage is very popular in The Netherlands - and 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 said. As the coach of the Juniors and Young Riders she presented her two gold team members Diederik van Silfhout and Lotje Schoots.

On the second day a new workshop format was introduced. Most of the judges appreciated the lectures of Hans van Zetten regarding the judging system in the ice skating world and gymnastics, followed by Dieter Schule assisted by Wim Ernes talking about the education of a judge to Olympic level. Others focused on 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.

The technical highlight was preserved for last. The mission of 49-year-old German trainer Hubertus Schmidt was to demonstrate bending, but he did much more. He showed his horsemanship and skills in his practical lecture where a five-year-old Fidermark son worked as nicely as his own Grand Prix horse Artemis. Schmidt prefers to spend a lot of time to the loosening phase in which the horse stretches and goes without too much cadence and impulsion. This resulted in two horses with an optimal use of the body, a swinging back and expressive half passes.