Norwegian Dressage Judge Trond Asmyr Passed Away

Norwegian dressage judge Trond Asmyr has passed away on 4 January 2024. He was 70 years old. 

Dressage Judge

Asmyr was the administrative director of Sabra Tours, a Norwegian tour operator. He resigned from that position in March 2009.

Trond was an active dressage rider and competitor at national level in Norway until 2000. He competed up to Intermediaire I level. He rode, for instance, Memorant and showed Monsieur Chevalier at the team championships.

Trond Asmyr began judging in the late 1970s and took on an active role in Norwegian equestrian sport. He was  member of the Board of Directors of the Norwegian Equestrian Federation for more than a decade annd served six years as vice president.  

He became an FEI C-judge in 1987 and an I-judge in 1989. He worked his way up to 4* level and in 2008 he also passed as a young horse judge. 

FEI Dressage Director

Asmyr was appointed as FEI Dressage Director in June 2009, succeeding Swedish Eva Salomon.

The Norwegian was put to work straight away as he had to supervise the reconfiguration of the FEI Dressage Committee after FEI President Princess Haya demanded the resignation of the DC following controversies at the 2008 Olympic Games. It caused a shock wave with people pro and con the decision. One of Haya's major objections was the over-representation of judges on the DC. At the time the DC included judges Mariette Withages, Dieter Schüle, Vincenzo Truppa, Minako Furuoka, chef d'equipe Bobby Bobadilla and rider Monica Theodorescu

First an "Ad Hoc working group" was created which became the "Dressage Task Force". It was a breath of fresh air as this "think tank" brought about major changes in the sport of dressage (testing new judging systems, more judges, half points, etc) while openly communicating with the stakeholders and press about their discussions and ideas. The reconfigured dressage committee had to include more global representation (not just European members) and stakeholders from each field (judges, trainers, riders, show organizers).  At the end of 2009 a new Dressage Committee was voted on including Frank Kemperman, Thomas Baur, David Hunt, Margit Otto-Crepin, Elisabeth Lundholm, Anne Gribbons.

As of 2011 seven judges were officiating at major championships, a Judging Supervisory Panel was formed, and half points were introduced. Asmyr steadily navigated these waves as the boatswain.

In November 2014 Trond was scheduled to appear as FEI representative at the Global Dressage Forum but had to be hospitalized in Copenhagen. He was forced to go on sick leave in August 2015 and in September 2015 Carina Mayer took over as interim FEI Dressage Director from the 60-year old Asmyr.

Lighter Schedule

Fortunately Asmyr regained fitness although his health had to be managed carefully, he returned to the scene as a judge.  For almost a decade Asmyr continued to stay involved in international dressage sport although he judged on a lighter schedule. 

In November 2017 he was appointed project manager of the Norwegian Dressage Judging Working Group.

In 2024 he judged at CDI's in Wroclaw, Pilisjaszfalu, Kristiansand, the Nordic Baltic Championships

Last summer he attended the 2024 Olympic Games and in August travelled to his beloved Thailand where he had a second residence and a tight knit group of friends. He turned 70 on 30 August 2024.

Last November he was present at a major dressage conference held in Norway and shortly before Christmas  still judged a national Grand Prix. A month ago, dressage colleagues in Norway hosted a surprise birthday celebration for Trond and fellow Norwegian judge and friend Kjell Myhre as they had turned 70 and 60 together. 

Asmyr's health suddenly declined over the holidays following an infection which compromised his immune system. He passed away Saturday morning 4 January 2025 surrounded by his partner and closest friends.

Photos © Astrid Appels

Related Links
Trond Asmyr, New FEI Director of Dressage
Asmyr Reveals Veiled and Unveiled Changes FEI Has in Store
At the Heart of the Matter at the 2009 Global Dressage Forum
Carina Mayer Replaces Trond Asmyr as Ad Interim Head of FEI Dressage Department
Trond Asmyr: "The 6% Rule Automatically For All"
Trond Asmyr Responds to Wayne Channon's Guest Column
Trond Asmyr Leaves Position with FEI
Asmyr to Head Norwegian Dressage Judging Working Group