End of the Year Questions
One of Eurodressage's most favoured series is back. With the end of the year rapidly approaching, the time has come to ask some riders, trainers, judges, journalists and other prominent dressage personalities
to review the year 2010. With their answers they can point out what they considered the most important evolutions and happenings in their personal and professional life.
Photo © Dirk Caremans
Read the first group of End of the Year Q&A 2010
Read the second group of End of the Year Q&A 2010
Read the third group of End of the Year Q&A 2010
 Kyra KyrklundFinland IDRC President, Six-time Olympic dressage rider |
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| The World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Very satisfying coaching the students. It also highlighted the problems of the judging in our sport. Instead of the usual "blame game", it led to a very positive and forward-thinking Global Dressage Forum. |
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| Wikileaks: it really highlights the problems with politics and hidden agendas. |
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| Best tv: Just saw the movie Miss Potter on TV again, one of my favourite films Worst tv: I'm not waisting my time with bad sit coms Best radio: I don't really listen to anything else than the news (and that's mostly bad) |
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| I look at Ted.com, fascinating and very educational short lectures on the Internet. |
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| I really hope that the iinitiatives presented by the IDRC and IDTC together at the Global Dressage Forum lead to something good for everybody in our sport. I also hope all dressage riders and supporters would join the IDRC. We would like to see pony, juniors and Young Riders as members too. IDRC would like to be there for all riders. |
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| Good health for family and friends and all our animals |
 Isabell Werth Germany WEG team bronze medal winning rider, Former Olympic champion |
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2010? |
| The most important "official" event was the WEG in Kentucky of course, the most important “unofficial” event was to introduce El Santo to top international sport in Stuttgart. |
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2010? |
| The rescue of the miners in Chile |
Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Sorry, I have no time to follow and judge the tv- or radio shows. |
Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
| Best book and CD: “Das kleine Haus”, “Mozart for Babies”, my son’s favourite book and CD Best movie: Avatar No time for plays and concerts |
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2011? |
| Why should I look backwards? I'm very excited about the future of our young horses. |
What do you wish for in 2011? |
| Good health for my family, friends and horses. |
 Beatriz Ferrer-Salat Spain Olympic bronze medal winner |
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2010? |
| My win with Delgado in the Grand Prix Special at the CDI in Fritzens. |
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2010? |
| The ever amazing and growing importance of internet |
Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Best TV show: Damages Best radio show: Maxima FM I don´t have time for bad TV or radio shows. |
Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
| Best book: "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" by Robin S. Sharma Best play: "Varekai" by Cirque du soleil Best concert: Spandau Ballet Best movie: Invictus Best CD: "Soldier of Love" by Sade |
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2011? |
| That the riders are taken more into account when taking decisions. |
What do you wish for in 2011? |
| Good health for my family, animals and me. |
 Christoph Koschel Germany German WEG team rider |
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2010? |
| The World Equestrian Games in Kentucky of course. We had a super fun, exciting time at the Horse Park. It was my first major championships since my Young Riders' time and it will be a long-lasting memory. |
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2010? |
| Two disasters marked the year for me: the mine accident in Chile and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While those folks celebrate Christmas again with their family, BP has brought out a global catastrophe of which we don't know the measures yet. |
Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Best Tv: Vampire Dairies and documentaries on National Geographic Worst tv: all reality tv and soaps are not for me and get too much broadcast time on television Radio: only plays in our kitchen and my wife decides on the channel ;) |
Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
| Best book: "World without End", by Ken Follett Best play: The Lion King Best concert: U2 360 Grad Tour live in Frankfurt Best cd: "Rock Dust Light Star" by Jamiroquai |
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2011? |
| It would be nice if people talked more about good performances than about judging in dressage. |
What do you wish for in 2011? |
| A good health for my family and horses. I would like to continue the successes I started with in 2010 |
 Barbara Schnell Germany Photographer, journalist |
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2010? |
| Honestly, I had a scary fall last spring -- it wasn't the first time I fell off a horse, but this completely destroyed my trust in my horse. A big issue to work on in 2011. In a more glamorous vein: Edward Gal and Totilas' freestyle in Aachen was one of the absolute highlights of the summer season, and I'm grateful that I was there. |
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2010? |
| Social networks. An impressive inflation of information that will make sites like Eurodressage all the more important because all those bits and bytes need to be filtered by people who can tell the things that matter from those that don't. |
Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Best Tv: Friday Night Lights I don't have time for bad TV |
Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
| Best book: Diana Gabaldon's "An Echo in the Bone" Best concert: Joan Armatrading at the Kulturfabrik in Krefeld Best Movie: Vincent will Meer Best CD: Muse, "The Resistance" |
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2011? |
| Better working conditions for judges are an obvious choice, but I also wish that more "normal" horse owners would try to become more knowledgeable about what a horse is and how riding works. If you think you see abuse at big competitions, take a look at your average riding barn on a week day at five thirty in the afternoon, and then think again. |
What do you wish for in 2011? |
| To get better at what I do, to keep learning -- to take beautiful pictures. |
Related Links
End of the Year Questions and Answers 2009
End of the Year Questions and Answers 2008