This is the last "End of the Year Questions 2022" we'll publish this year. And this time we asked the equestrian journalists to give their answers.
After a five-year break we decided to re-instate this popular end of the year Q & A series with replies posted between Christmas and the New Year. The End of the Year Questions series was started in 2006 and ran through 2013. In 2017 we once picked it up again, but put it back in the freezer for the past five years. Let's revisit and see how key dressage figures respond now as the world keeps changing.
We asked some stand-out dressage figures of 2022 to review their year and share their personal observations, endeavours and opinions on life and equestrian sport as well as their goals achieved.
This is the fifth instalment of the 2022 End of the Year Questions.
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV and Part V are here.
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2022? |
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ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning - glorious sport in all disciplines! |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2022? |
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War in Ukraine, reminding us how precious peace, freedom, friendship and security are, and highlighting courage in the face of great adversity. |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: Binge-watched Ricky Gervais’ “After Life” and loved it. Best Movie: I Came By Worst TV: A Castle for Christmas |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: The Irish Assassins by Julie Kavanagh. Sounds horrendous but it’s a fascinating and informative read. Best Concert: Gabriel Byrne - “Walking with Ghosts” Best Song: Cold Cold Heart - Elton John/Dua Lipa Remix |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2023? |
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The banning of all those leprechauns and monsters who haunt the edges of the arena boards… |
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What do you wish for in 2023? |
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To find a little more kindness in the world…. #kindnesscostsnothing |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2022? |
| Marbach Classics and Spanish Riding School Vienna on tour in Neumuenster, in both events I was invited to be the speaker |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2022? |
| The horrible war in the Ukraine |
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Best and worst tv and movie, podcast |
| Best TV: Believe it or not, I haven’t watched any TV series this year Best Podcast: I love the podcast “Eat, Read, Sleep” on books by German public broadcaster NDR |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: An interesting biography Puccini about Giacomo Puccini by Dieter Schickling Best Concert: An off-production of La Traviata at the Opernloft Hamburg Best Song: Elon Musk kommt nicht ins Berghai by Berlin based band Von Wegen Lisbeth |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2023? |
| A far better judging with true (and yes old) principles of dressage being upheld – self carriage, true collection, nice contact, balance, rhythm – regardless of the supposedly “big” name in the saddle |
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What do you wish for in 2023? |
| More than ever a peaceful world |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2022? |
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Working with the press team, led by Britt Carlsen, at the World Championships in Herning for dressage and para-dressage. The experience gave me the opportunity to interact with all the dressage riders in those adrenalin filled minutes right after their performances. It also gave me my first lengthy experience with para-dressage at a high level competition. And, I have a new love for the whole para-community, so many heroes and a number of wonderful horses, truly amazing experience. I am not usually the type to do selfies with riders but I admit, I have a few from that week. As always, the World cup series is a favourite, from seeing Jessica von Bredow-Werndl take her fist victory with TSF Dalera BB in Leipzig in spring to watch Carina Cassøe-Krüth winning with Heiline’s Danciera at the premiere in Vilhelmsborg. |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2022? |
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The devastating, continuous Russian attacks on the Ukraine, the destruction, the violence, the refugees, the suffering for those left behind. It feels surreal to be back under the threats of nuclear war and missile attacks, like the old times of the Cold War coming back tenfold. I fear for the Ukrainian people this winter without electricity, water and shelter. I admit I find it hard to believe we have a war closing in on us in Sweden, it is the same distance to the Ukraine as to the very north of Sweden. It seems far but in reality it is no match for far-distance missiles, the Russian bear has all of Europe under its paw. |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: Yellowstone and the scenery is a bit captivating but i do not have much time for it, cancelled most of my streaming services. Best Movie: Top Gun Maverick because it felt like a necessity watching it being a fan of the first one, I love those fighter jets. Worst TV: I have no patience for really bad stuff |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: Sadly not many devoured this year and the best of those I actually read I keep to myself Best Concert: No time for neither this year, I usually enjoy at least one or two concerts but with the pandemic in between it has been years. Best Song: So many good new ones by Adele and Ed Sheeran and others, strangely the only ones that comes to mind straight away is the re-make of Cold Heart by Elton John and Dua Lipa and perhaps Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles. I have very basic taste in music while working and driving, anything suitable for single car-karaoke works. |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2023? |
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On the big scale of things – our little dressage world can feel kind of insignificant when war is raging and close in our European borders, alas life goes on. As a journalist and a photographer I document and report on what is happening rather than trying to steer it in any specific direction. For myself though, I wish to find more content, focused horses in my lens (less gaping mouths, fewer blue tongues, no swishing tails) with ears pricked forward or working like antennas. I want to talk to riders that keep their own ambitions in check rather than steam-rolling ahead with horses that are not yet ready for the challenge. I wish for social media warriors to leave the keyboard and put their energy into real causes, rescue horses in jeopardy, work with animal shelters, anything really constructive for the better of animals. We are not making the equestrian community a better place for horses by going at each others throats, constantly, year after year, calling names and hurling threats. |
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What do you wish for in 2023? |
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For the armed conflict in Ukraine to come to a halt and a painstakingly hard rebuild of the country to commence, no more bloodshed, no more violence. I wish to be healthy and for family and friends to keep their health too, have work (as a freelancer it is always a challenge), find the time to ride when my horse is well again and go to a staggering number of competitions with camera gear in tow in 2023. Basically, keep at it and keep busy. |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2022? |
| The World Championships In Herning with three PREs in the Spanish team |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2022? |
| The Death of Queen Elisabeth II, the inflation, and the War in Ukraine |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: Wednesday Best Movie: Wakanda Forever and Top Gun Maverick Worst TV: Harry and Meghan, Emily in Paris 3, and Elite |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
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Best Book: You Turn by Ashley Stahl |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2023? |
| I would love to see in both circuits (Youth and Adult) more objective points regardless the flag of the rider |
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What do you wish for in 2023? |
| For Spain and Israel to get the Olympic qualification for Paris 2024 |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2022? |
| World Championships in Herning |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2022? |
| Russia's invasion of Ukraine |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: White Lotus Best Movie: The Worst Person in the World Worst Movie: Old People |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: Serge by Yasmina Reza and The Most Secret Memory of Men by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr Best Song: Brividi by Mahmood |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2023? |
| A dressage world more adaptive and open to change, less caught up in traditions |
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What do you wish for in 2023? |
| End of Russia’s war in Ukraine and less 'me', more 'we'. |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2022? |
| The 2022 European Junior and Young Riders Championships in Hartpury, where I realized I have to work smarter, not harder, and where I came to the shocking conclusion how much people and perception have changed over the past two decades towards press. |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2022? |
| Firstly, the War in Ukraine which led to global inflation, an energy crisis, and pushed polar thinking to an extreme. Secondly, how social media have become the vehicle for spreading, hate, intolerance, jealousy and envy. Too many use it to present an image of perfection and wealth, flaunting their assets in this global crisis. Their attempt to control content and dialogue through social media clashes with their ability to process criticism, realism and facts. |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: Normal People. A mind-blowing, core-shaking, heart-touching mini series with a phenomenal Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones as lead actors. It blew me out off my socks for days Best Movie: Im Westen Nichts Neues Worst TV: Any tv or press featuring a member of the Kardashian family |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: The Salt Path by Raynor Winn and I Am an Island by Tamsin Calidas Best Concert: Per Gynt by the Brussels Philharmonic at Flagey and Zauberflöte at the Royal Opera House in London Best Song: Matilda by Alt-J and I have a new found adoration for Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode which is one of my all-time favourite songs. |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2023? |
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The dressage crowd to shake off its hypersensitivity: some seem to have an incapability/incapacity to process and deal with journalistic criticism. Stop the nit-picking over photos on social media. There will always be something that is not perfect in a picture. The sport won't change by attacking photos. There is only one way to change dressage sport: a systemic change in dressage judging with more adherence to the classical principles of dressage, more eye to (and down-scoring of) poor bridle contact and tense/forced submission. Furthermore the FEI needs to take control over the judges' invitation system. Judges should be allocated to shows by a random draw system and not by invitation of the show organizer. Finally, better pay for the hard working FEI stewards so they feel empowered to act when rules are broken (instead of paying lip service). They should not feel bullied and intimidated by riders or trainers. |
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What do you wish for in 2023? |
| A good health for my two and four legged friends and more clarity, direction and motivation in my work with less stress. |
| Related Links End of the Year Questions 2022 - Part I End of the Year Questions 2022 - Part II End of the Year Questions 2022 - Part III End of the Year Questions 2022 - Part IV End of the Year Questions 2022 - Part V |
Louise Parkes
Jan Tönjes
Kim Lundin
Lily Forado
Rick Helmink
Astrid Appels