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 third instalment of the 2023 End of the Year Questions. Part I - Part II -
|
|
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023? |
| Probably the Gold medals at the Europeans this year, as there was such a hype about it before the championship. |
|
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| There‘s again so much war that so horrible. Peace begins within everyone of us. |
|
Best and worst tv and movie |
|
Best TV: I don’t watch TV |
|
Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: The choice by Edith Ege Best Concert: Unfortunately I haven’t been at a concert this year Best Song: Reiten ist mehr by Rolf Zuckowski - I’ve been listening to it nearly every morning with my kids |
|
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
|
Less negativity on social media, more support for each other and everyone’s responsibility to make our horses live their best lifes |
|
What do you wish for in 2024? |
|
Health, joy and love for my family, horses, team, friends and me |
|
|
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023? |
| The European championships in Riesenbeck. The 6th place in the freestyle with Dante Weltino is such a lovely memory! We even broke the Swedish rekord, scoring 86,1 % |
|
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| It's sad to say, but the wars going on at the moment, affecting the whole world and so many people. It's really sad |
|
Best and worst tv and movie |
|
Best TV: The Crown and Beckham, the Netflix documentary series |
|
Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: Parasiten by Sofie Sarenbrant Best Concert: Didn't happen this year but would have loved to se oneRepublic or Coldplay Best Song: Runaway by oneRepublic is a good one |
|
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
|
We should try to promote dressage, so let's change those things that can promote our sport and make more people love and understand it! |
|
What do you wish for in 2024? |
|
Peace and love for people and animals around the world! Beside that, me and my team are dreaming of the Olympic Games in Paris |
|
|
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023 |
| To go down centerline at the CDI Hagen (Ludwigsburg) with Fifty Cent in his first Inter 1 ever and feel how he just enjoyed showing himself off |
|
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| The wars in the world are very frightening and show that we have indeed had a very carefree life so far. |
|
Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: Beckham, the Netflix documentary series Worst TV: No time to waste on bad Tv |
|
Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: Cathrine Dufour's autobiography Passage Best Concert: Robbie Williams performing at the Heartland Festival in Egeskov, Denmark |
|
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
| We ALL have to get together and communicate open about our sport, where we want to go and what we have to change/get better at, so we can continue this beautiful partnership with our horses. The horse welfare issue has to be taken very seriously. |
|
What do you wish for in 2024? |
| That my family, friends and all four-legged stay healthy and happy. And that the happy peaceful days will return. |
|
|
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023? |
| World Young Horse Championship Ermelo, where I won the gold with My Toto and as a spectator I enjoyed the European Championship in Riesenbeck very much. |
|
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| Too many wars |
|
Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: De Verhulstjes are my guilty pleasure Best Movie: Beckham, the Netflix documentary series Worst TV: Christmas movies |
|
Best book, play, concert, and play/music |
| Best Book: Didn’t read one this year Best Concert: Coldplay and Diana Ross Best Play/music: I listen to all kinds of music |
|
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
| Let’s be positive about this beautiful sport, and don’t write anything you wouldn’t say to someone’s face. |
|
What do you wish for in 2024? |
| Happy and healthy family, friends, horses and dogs. |
|
|
Most important event in your equestrian life in 2023? |
| The European Para Dressage Championship because it was the first championship experience with my younger horse Mariebelle and after a very difficult start in the Individual competition I managed not only to qualify for the Freestyle, but to win it too! |
|
Most important happening, evolution or trend in the world in 2023? |
| The War in Gaza and the continuation of the War in Ukraine. |
|
Best and worst tv and movie |
| Best TV: I love sport series and documentaries: Breaking Point, Icarus, Full Swing. Best Movie: The Whale Worst TV: Selling the Sunset |
|
Best book, play, concert, and song |
| Best Book: I re-read Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Pride and Prejudice Best Song: I don't have a favourite. I can listen from classical to disco music depending on my mood |
|
What would you like to see changed in the dressage world in 2024? |
| I would like a more scientific way to assess physical classifications in Para dressage. |
|
What do you wish for in 2024? |
| For myself I wish to feel physically the best possible despite Multiple Sclerosis. I wish to participate in the 2024 Paralympic Games and to do the best I can.
For my family and friends, I wish they keep healthy and happy. For the world I wish that there could be peace because the loss of so many human beings is terrible, unacceptable and unbearable. For sport, I hope that there can be beautiful, spectacular, joyful and peaceful Paralympic and Olympic Games. |
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl
Therese Nilshagen
Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein
Hans Peter Minderhoud
Sara Morganti