End of the Year Questions
During the Christmas holidays Eurodressage's most popular "End of the Year Questions" series returns to the website. 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
 Wim ErnesThe Netherlands O-judge, Dutch Team Trainer |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012? |
| The 2012 Olympic Games in London |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012? |
| There are still “leaders” in the world who insist on killing their own people and the whole world only “looks’ at it. |
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Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Best TV: the news Worst TV: Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden |
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Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
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Best movie: Skyfall |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013? |
| A new format for Championships because the format of the Olympic Games didn’t work out to be the best. |
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What do you wish for in 2013? |
| Much health for everybody and more peace on earth. |
 Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven Sweden Olympic dressage rider |
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012? |
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By far the Olympics. It was a truly great and well organized event and a fantastic show. The best Olympics of the six I have ridden. |
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012? |
| One trend to mention is: Due to the internet, the news flow is immediate and travels so much faster. That gives us great instant information, debate and gossip wich gives a rising interest in our sport. We are certainly helped by the attention. On the other hand I think we all need to take responsibility in using and spreading information in a good and ethical way. |
Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Best radio: I always wake up to the news, right now in the middle of American politics, as we have just arrived in Florida with our horses. |
Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
| Best book: With only 9 million people speaking Swedish, we have an unusual string of Swedish writers. How about Mankell, Nesser and Stieg Larsson, I read them all on my Iphone during the night. Best Movie: How to Train a Dragon: maybe something to learn from? With a ten year old son I go to the movies with him, popcorn included. |
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013? |
| To improve our sport we need to coordinate the view points and thoughts of riders, trainers, judges, organizers and FEI, all for the best of the sport. The focus has always to be on the sport and not on power play or politics. |
What do you wish for in 2013? |
| Happy and healthy family, friends and horses. |
 Peter van Pinxteren The Netherlands Equestrian journalist for De Hoefslag |
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012? |
| The olympic games, by far. I was very pleased with the performances of the Dutch show jumping and dressage team. For us the show jumpers were a positive surprise and the dressage was what we had hoped for, with an emotional farewell for Salinero. |
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012? |
| I’m typing this answer on Friday evening 21 December 2012, so the most important happening seems to be that we are all still around. For dressage it remains unbelievable that the level of the sport keeps on growing. The gap between the scores of Hong Kong and London is enormous, figuring it only has been four years. |
Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Best radio: Giel, morning show on 3FM, I always listen to it when I drive to the office (more then a 100 km drive, so I can listen to it for some time) Best TV: Overspel Worst TV: Barbie’s Bruiloft, not particularly the best real life soaps that has ever been produced. |
Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
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Best book: The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson |
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013? |
| I change would be, and I know that’s more realistic in a post-olympic year, to see some of the best combinations compete more often against each other then only in Aachen and at the big Championship. And it would be nice if the sport were to get good promotion. A sport that has been evolving so rapidly into the right direction deserves this. |
What do you wish for in 2013? |
| If my loved ones remain healthy there is not much more to wish for. As a sports fan I wish the same excitement as last year, although that won’t be easy. |
 Carl Hester Great Britain Olympic dressage rider |
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012? |
| The Olympic Games were historic for the British Team. |
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012? |
| The Olympic Games bringing out the best in people (even people on the British tube lines talking to each other). That was a revelation |
Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Best TV: Downton Abbey Worst TV: The endless stream of cooking programmes Best radio: Desert Island discs. |
Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
| Best book: Clare Balding's life story Best movie: Skyfall Best CD: Kelly Clarkson's Greatest Hits Best concert: T in the park. |
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013? |
| I think the dressage world is in a pretty good state, if the FEI and riders could merge better that would be a start. |
What do you wish for in 2013? |
| I wish for Britain to actually achieve some global warming and stop flooding my property. |
 Maribel Alonso Mexico O-judge |
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2012? |
| The most important event that I have participated in this year have been the London Olympic Games. They were a magnificent challenge and a joy to take part in. |
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2012? |
| This year was very active politically. There were numerous elections around the world we hope will have a significant impact in global affairs, for the better. |
Best and worst tv and radio show |
| Best radio: I only listen to the news, and I do enjoy Radio Red here in Mexico Best TV: The Graham Norton Show, Big Bang Theory Worst TV: I loathe Keeping up with the Kardashians. |
Best book, play, concert, movie and CD |
| Best concert: Rodrigo and Gabriela, who are excellent guitar players from Mexico. Best CD: Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys, I really admire her vocal power Best movie: Argo (because of its genuine approach to an extraordinary story), Intouchables (which I found to be a truly moving tale on a topic matter close to my heart, not to forget), Et Maintenant on va Ou (great Lebanese film). Best book 'The Uncommon Reader' by Alan Bennet, particularly fun because of the Diamond Jubilee. Best musical/play: Matilda and Cabaret. Matilda is an extraordinary production, truly a work of art- exciting, funny, colourful- an explosion of the best talent there is in theatre in London. And Cabaret, which I also watched in London, was excellent too. Will Young was particularly striking in the role of MC. |
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2013? |
| I would like to see more countries competing at higher levels and for dressage popularity to grow all over the world. |
What do you wish for in 2013? |
| I wish for tolerance and respect amongst men, care for the planet, for constructive trends to overcome destructive ones, for freedom and peace. Is it too much? |
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