It's the time of the year again! As we wind down the year with Christmas festivities, Eurodressage treats its readers to the "End of the Year" questions series.
The End of the Year Questions series was started in 2006 and ran through 2013. We picked it up 2017 and again in 2022.
We asked some stand-out dressage figures of 2023 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 second instalment of the 2023 End of the Year Questions. Part I here
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023? |
| The European Championships winning the silver team medal. Not only the show itself - but the way we got there was a whole plan which worked out - that was great teamwork over the whole summer |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| WHO ending its global health emergency status in may regarding covid - After 4 years - finally |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
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Best TV: The Night Agent |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: not so much into books Best Concert: no time for this unfortunately in 2023 Best Song: Emma Kok singing with Andre Rieu |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
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Keep the 3-year old baby horses away from horse shows |
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What do you wish for in 2024? |
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Good health for all of us and there is a little horse show happening in France in the summer which I love to compete at |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023? |
| Becoming U25 Double European champion was the brightest highlight as it filled me with so much joy to make my dreams come true together with Drombusch and make my whole family and all the people around Drombusch and me so very very proud. |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the fast development of AI. |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
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Best TV: Good Girls and The Office |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: Das Joshua-Profil by Sebastian Fitzek Best Song: Working on a lot of details for Drombusch‘s freestyle, I listened to Shame, Shame, Shame by Shirley & Company over and over again, and it gets me every time! |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
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The „trend“ for harmonious rides rather than exaggerated, flashy but stressed rides has started and I hope it continues! |
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What do you wish for in 2024? |
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Happiness and health for my family and friends, and of course for my horses and dogs. |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023 |
| The highlight were the European Championships |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| Commercial use of ChatGPT |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: The Night Agent Best Movie: The Holiday Worst TV: Barbie |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: I prefer reading economy magazines. Best Concert: Apache 207 Best CD: I believe in love again by Lenny Krawitz |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
| Same as last year - less unfair criticism from non-professional riders on social networks |
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What do you wish for in 2024? |
| Healthy and happy family, friends and horses. |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023? |
| I have to say that every show has a special atmosphere. Last year the European Championships in Riesenbeck were the highlight of the season. We were all impressed by the quality of the riding, so many good combinations were performing at this event. So many top riders and horses make our sport even more challenging. This is really good for the development and the future of dressage. |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| We are all still under the influence of wars and conflicts in the world what is really sad. On the other hand it makes people more together and more cooperative for a just cause. It is visible trend that we don’t close only on us, but we build up more together. I think nowadays nobody can not be alone, we need to support one another in all matters. In equestrian life we all worked really well to make our sport more classical. In riding and judging we put more attention on basics and working in proper way, according to the principles. The welfare of the horses has started to become a main core which is really positive. |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: The Crown Best Movie: Most of the time I am engaged in my equestrian life, which does grant me much time for leisure. I really like watching movies mostly when I am traveling, the one that stuck in my mind this year is “Les Herbes Seches”. Worst TV: I am only watching series where I found some interest in. |
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Best book, play, concert, and play/music |
| Best Book: Many years ago Margit Otto-Crepin recommend me the German version of “The Horse in positive tension”, an outstanding book which I recommend to every rider. As my German skills are limited, it took me a while to read it. This year, during the CHIO in Aachen my friend Anastasios Moscos offered me the English version. Best Concert: I saw only one play this year “Sens dessus dessous” with Andre Dussolier which I really enjoyed! Best Play/music: I listen to any kind of music |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
| I really wish us to be more together. I am convinced that the most important thing for the future that all of the stakeholders like officials, riders, trainers, but also supporters, like journalists should cooperate together. Now when we are all under some kind pressure, sometimes even from people who don't have enough knowledge about real sport, we should all look forward in the same direction. In my opinion the only possible way to save our sport for the future is to co-operate together for our values. Too often we are attacked by people who don't know enough about our sport and are taking a shortcut. It is a must to be much more proactive to show to the audience how much we are taking care of our horses not only when we train them but also in their daily life. It‘s a fact that the welfare of the horses is the main priority, too many people are using this topic in order to promote themselves instead of taking care of the horses' causes. |
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What do you wish for in 2024? |
| I wish the tense times in global politics would go away. I think we all wish more steady times in Europe and all over the world. In my opinion the only possible way to save our sport for future is to cooperate together for our values. On the other hand I really wish the Olympic Games in Paris will take place in a safe environment and that we will see top performances. |
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Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023? |
| The European Championship this year with Belgium earning a team spot for the Olympics !! It was amazing !! |
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Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| The Ukrainien War and the conflict between Israël and Palestine. |
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Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: Lupin Worst TV: The Crown was not so nice |
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Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind Best Concert: Pink Best Song: The Loniest by Maneskin |
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What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
| More transparence, more objectivity. |
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What do you wish for in 2024? |
| I would like to go to Paris to the Olympics |
Frederic Wandres
Felicitas Hendricks
Helen Erbe
Raphaël Saleh
Larissa Pauluis