For the first time ever the Global Dressage Forum is taking place outside The Netherlands - at the outstanding facilities at the Blue Hors Stud in Denmark where the Forum has kicked off on Monday 20 October 2014 for its two-day event. The 14th Global Dressage Forum started with a fabulous first day.
In his opening speech Richard Davison stressed that the 14th Global Dressage Forum is a very special one as it for the first time ever takes place outside the founders, Bartels Academy in the Netherlands. He praised the wonderful facilities and extended his gratitude to Keld Kirk Kristiansen, Esben Møller, Christian Struck and their team from Blue Hors for the enormous amount of work put into the preparations of the Forum 2014.
The president of the Global Dressage Foundation, Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte expressed a warm welcome to everyone attending the Forum and expressed the Foundation's gratitude for the huge efforts undertaken at Blue Hors. Giving the floor to the speakers the Princess said: "There should always be room for improvement; therefore critisim should never be taken negatively but turned into development."
Hans-Christian Matthiesen, international dressage judge and member of the FEI dressage committee, stepped in to deliver the FEI report on behalf of Trond Asmyr who was unable to attend. Despite the very short notice he very professionally took the audience through the work of the dressage committee and the many proposals of rules which lead to a very interesting discussion about the future of dressage engaging many different representatives in the audience.
The internationally successful Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen has previously presented her own training as an athlete at the GDF. This time she demonstrated her training methods with the talented stallion Aquido. “Riding in these new surroundings I get a lot of information from my horse”. She talked the audience through her training while also speaking about her 17-year-old super star: “As long as Parzival enjoys it, he will be in the business”. After her demonstration Adelinde talked about the inspiration he gets from people even outside the dressage scene, like driver Boyd Excell, and openly answered questions both from a panel of professionals and from the audience – about nearly everything.
Lisa Lazarus, FEI Chief of Business Development & Strategy, had a very interesting discussion with Gerrit Jan Swinkels from Indoor Brabant and Martin Richenhagen from Fendt about the challenge of finding the balance between tradition and innovation in the development of dressage. A discussion where also capacities like Kyra Kirklund and Dr. Bechtolsheimer as well as many others paid their contribution on how to develop the sport on the horses' terms. As Andrew McLean put it in his presentation: "The Global Dressage Forum is a think-tank where we toss ideas around and value others’ opinion."
Richard Davison spoke to the reigning world champion Charlotte Dujardin about her incredible life story from being a pony show rider to claiming 46 Grand Prix wins including all the big championship titles and world records in a matter of only three years. What really changed Charlotte’s career was when she met Carl Hester who taught her so much and of whom she speaks so fondly: “He brings so much fun to the sport and to my everyday.” However, it has been a bit of a bumpy road and the biggest challenge in Charlotte’s career was facing the media. “In the beginning of my career the press and the media were my worst night mare. They just scared me to death.” With time and experience she has overcome her fear of the press, and tonight she clearly enjoyed to speak at the Forum and to share her gripping story.
Gina Capellmann and Fabienne Lütkemeier were last on the floor on the first day of the 14th Global Dressage Forum. Richard Davison spoke to Gina about coming from a dressage family and about her and her daughter’s career. It was clear to everyone that Gina invests herself 100% in Fabienne’s training. “I have no nerves when I compete, but when my daughter competes I get so nervous!” After an interesting interview the curtain opened to a most inspiring and very harmonious training session with mother and daughter. Fabienne schooled two horses while Gina explained about their ways of working. “I have been watching the stars warm up since I was a child, and I loved to see how they worked their horses” Fabienne said, and it was clear to everyone that she successfully has picked up the best from everyone.
-- GDF Press release
Related Links
2014 Global Dressage Forum to be Held at Blue Hors in Denmark
2013 Global Dressage Forum - Table of Contents