The progress of the Netherlands in the equestrian sport of dressage is no accident, says Dutch national young rider coach Tineke Bartels.
She insists that the country's progress in dressage has been influenced "by studying carefully the best riders and trainers in the world, and having an open mind".
Bartels, speaking ahead of next month's Global Dressage Forum, recently hit the headlines by stating that the Dutch are at least five years ahead of most other dressage countries. Great Britain, too, has made great improvements, she said.
"The Global Dressage Forum has been a major source of information and innovation for us. It is no coincidence that Holland and England are responsible for over 50% of all participants during the previous eight forums. For instance, both have invested in physical and mental training for their riders, and these are aspects that have been thoroughly presented at previous forums.
"The Dutch federation has invested in the forum, by sending its dressage trainers and top judges to participate every year. Many influences on its successful sport and talent development programme, the 'Rabo Talentplan', have been originated during the Forum," Bartels said.
A comparison, based on the actual participation, proves Bartels's point: over the past few years The Netherlands had about 30% of the participation, Great Britain 25% and Denmark 15%. Also countries from Eastern Europe and even USA seemed to be more interested then other countries.
"Those countries are more open for information and development," Bartels said.
This year's forum is being held in Hooge Mierde, in the Netherlands, from October 26-27.
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Left: Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas, the latest Dutch dressage sensation; right: Britain's rising star Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris. © Kit Houghton/FEI |
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