End of the Year Questions and Answers 2012 - Part V

Mon, 01/07/2013 - 09:30
End of the Year Questions

Here is the final part of Eurodressage's most popular "End of the Year Questions" series which annually returns to the website during the Christmas holiday period. We have asked the most important dressage figures of 2012, and that can include riders, trainers, judges, journalists and other prominent dressage personalities, to review the year 2012.

This Q&A session gives the interviewees the opportunity to look back on their equestrian year 2011 as well give you an idea of their interests outside the horse world.

Check out 2012 End of the Year Questions - Part I
Check out 2012 End of the Year Questions - Part II
Check out 2012 End of the Year Questions - Part III
Check out 2012 End of the Year Questions - Part IV

Trond Asmyr
Norway
FEI Dressage Director

Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012?

Without a doubt the Olympics and Paralympics! It was my first Games "as an insider" and I was amazed to see all the efforts which went into the preparations over years to make it as successful as possible for everyone involved. And when it then came out as the best showcase for equestrian sport we ever had, it was just an unbelievable experience. It was also a huge step forward for para-dressage, with riding and horses on a level we have never seen. More than 120 000 tickets sold!

Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012?

As my home country Norway has been so central to push for a democratic development in Myanmar, I am happy to see that the development seems to go even faster than anyone could hope for.

Best and worst tv and radio show

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Best book, play, concert, movie and CD

Best book: I am in a period of reading the books by Jo Nesbo. Easy reading for airports, flights, etc.
Best play: not exactly a play, but the best experience on stage was certainly a ballet evening with Nederlandse Dans Theater.
Best CD: I bought a set of Caribbean lounge music, which gives me a lot of pleasure.

What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013?

Please stop personal attacks! We may have different opinions and different roles and we need to accept this.

What do you wish for in 2013? 

I wrote about Myanmar above. Myanmar will organise the South-East Asian Games by the end of the year. It is really amazing to see all the efforts which go into making this a successful event. It is NOT an easy task when the local tradition for equestrian sport is not so strong and they need to buy and train horses for the riders to borrow. I wish them great success with this.


Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein

Denmark
Danish Olympic team rider

Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012?

The Olympic Games. They were really fantastic.


Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012?
Scary is the economic situation in the world. In our sport that nice elegant and light riding is being rewarded!

Best and worst tv and radio show
Worst Tv: all casting shows
Best Tv: Monk

Best book, play, concert, movie and CD
Best book: "Vollidiot" and "Hummeldumm" by Tommy Jaud
Best movie: Skyfall

What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013?
That the freestyle becames better judged through a better system: good music and interpretation and degree of difficulty should be rewarded in a positive way.

What do you wish for in 2013? 
Health and happiness for my family, friends and horses!! And a successful saison.


Kyra Kyrklund
Finland
President of the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC)

Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012?
It has to be the London Olympics and Equestrian Para Olympics

Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012?
I think the economic situation in the whole world is pretty scary. It does influence our sport and unfortunately I don't think we have seen the worst of it yet.

Best and worst tv and radio show
Best TV: Downton Abbey
Worst TV: To list all bad TV shows would take an hour. I hate all "reality" shows.

Best book, play, concert, movie and CD

Best book: I'm just reading Clare Balding's "My animals and other family": Entertaining, funny and sooo english
Best movie: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel


What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013?
Better guidlines for how freestyles should be judged (especially the degree of difficulty and the music).

What do you wish for in 2013? 
That the co-operation and open communication betwean the IDRC and the FEI continues to improve.


Anky van Grunsven
The Netherlands
Olympic team bronze medallist

Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012?
For sure the Olympics. From the beginning on, I knew this would be the last competition for Salinero and I enjoyed every minute of it. Salinero did one of his best kurs ever, even though he was 18 years old already! Further, I found it really special to be there with my children. My son Yannick Janssen got so inspired, he wants to compete at the Olympics in 2028, but he hasn’t decided in which sport yet.

Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012?
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Best and worst tv and radio show
I don’t watch that much television and don’t listen to the radio that much

Best book, play, concert, movie and CD
Best movie: I was impressed by the movie ‘Les Intouchables’. I also liked ‘The Help’.
Best book: I read many good books in 2012, but I can’t choose which one was the best!

What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013?
The judging system.

What do you wish for in 2013? 
For sure health for the people I live with. We never realized more how important that is as we did in 2012.


Isabell Werth

Germany
Former Olympic dressage champion

Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012?
I love bringing young horses up to advanced level. It was thrilling to ride Mrs Winter-Schulze’s 8 year old mare Bella Rose in her first Grand Prix. I love her attitude to work and really enjoy riding her. I am very excited about her future..

Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012?
The Olympic Games in London were fantastic. The television coverage managed to give us the feeling of the excitement and atmosphere that seemed to be there at every event.

Best and worst tv and radio show
I tend to mostly watch children’s television! My son loves Donald Duck!

Best book, play, concert, movie and CD
Best concert: I really have so little free time so it was great to get the opportunity to go to concerts  of Paul Potts and David Garrett at the CDI Villach in Austria, run by the Glock family

What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013?
I wish that we could manage to show people how well we look after our horses..

What do you wish for in 2013? 
Health and happiness for my family and friends. It sounds a bit cheesy but they really are the most important in life.

Related Links
End of the Year Questions and Answers 2010
End of the Year Questions and Answers 2009
End of the Year Questions and Answers 2008
End of the Year Questions and Answers 2006