What's happening in Europe…..

14 November 2009, 5:33 pm

My arrival in Europe for marred by the non arrival of my luggage. So it is ! The Global Dressage Forum was amazing for me. I wrote the following….

The Global Dressage Forum

Impressions by a Rider, I am so glad I attended this year !

The moment I arrived I was excited to see old friends and make new friends too. As a rider this year I am taking home to my stable more and better information than in the years past. The update by the FEI made me feel work was being done on behalf of the horse. The presentation by Instructor and rider, Dr. Meyners and Heike Kemmer made me think of my body from a different perspective – and I have been a gym rat for many many years. I think my horse will appreciate me upon his back, more than before. I certainly know where to send my students who can’t sit the trot. Rachel Murray – wow what can I say about her presentation. I have thought long and hard about all the harm that my decisions have caused in the stable yards of my horses over all these years. Today I am better prepared to take care of my horse- as a rider and as a stable keeper. Thank you Rachel ! Judge Katrina Wurst – she makes me want to design a new freestyle. As a rider – my hats off to you for doing all this work and bringing forth your presentation in a timely manner. Vet Frits Sluyter taught me as a rider to recognize the difference of medication for the horses benefit and medicine for selfish performance enhancement. His talk also made me realize that the circle of responsibility around me cannot be taken too lightly. It will change the way I hire and practice with my team in the future. My horse thanks you too ! Thank you Frits.

Blacksmith Rob Renirie…..now I know that a horseman can never stop learning. Thank you for your help in remembering that no matter how smart we think we are, we can always learn something more that helps our horses. I know Lingh was in very good hands with your help. Your talk was great. Statistic expert David Strickland will hopefully release his facts on an e-learning site. I would like to look at them more carefully. We are lucky to have him with us in the sport. If you didn’t learn from his lecture you were sleeping ! Coach Tom de Ridder gave me some new teaching techniques. I really like the way he laid out the importance of communication between client and coach. That is an age old problem that is rarely addressed. Finally there was Steffen Peters…and he was really great. His Mom was there too which made his stay even better. The meals together, the camaraderie and the family that hosts this each year are to be commended. It was a productive two days and I hope to attend a Dressage Forum next year if the Bartels Family will have us !!

The Forum was the place that my friend Laurens van Lieren and I presented the first draft of The Stallion Club – A Members only Club for Dressage Breeding Stallions that have competed internationally in CDI’s. This list calls the stallions to attention that genetically, environmentally, physically and by their training make them stand apart. They are special, and we created this Club in their honor. They all survived the test of time and now can be recognized for this great achievement.The Club will take some time to organize and we are searching for people to help us research the stallions and their careers. Our colleague Dirk Willem Rosie is supportive and has offered to help !

The next few days were taken by seeing Lingh three year olds. I traveled through Belgium and Holland. I have made several posts of these youngsters with photos. Everyone was welcoming. I hope to post some more videos as soon as I learn how to do it more easily.

My favorite Belgium adventure was the stop in Essen, Belgium to visit with Johan and Penny Rockx. After a long and relaxed after riding sitting around drinking couple hours we ventured into Antwerp and had an amazing evening. Johan is well versed in the history and color of this fanciful city of incredible ornate architecture. With us that evening were Geoff Butler, Joel (her handsome husband )and Angela from Horse Girl TV, a great gal from New Zealand whose name I will get asap. I didn’t drink so after dinner I thought it would be a great idea to jump on a retro bike a gentleman offered me and go for a spin around the square. This retro bike – one of three – these fellows were photographing in the square that night was remarkable. I began to ride off and quickly realized that the angle of the seat and the handlebars was set up for a man whose legs must have been 2 feet long but the seat was well above my butt. I declared a “whoa” and went on with the walked sightseeing. The drive back to Udon that evening was the worst I have experienced. The fog was thick and the drive dangerous and intimidating. I am secure driving about Europe but that night spooked me.

My next days were spent visiting best friends Fransje and Peter, my western friend Archie and family in Vorstenbosch and Anky and Sjef for Sunday lunch and favorite colleagues at Anky’s (Lisbeth….I didn’t see enough of you… ) seeing the newest stable improvements with great dinners and finally visits with the families of Maucca Karki for Halloween and Deborah and Claartje Van Andel of DressageDirect fame for weekend dinners. Thank you all for your Dutch, Belgium and Finish hospitalities.