Carl Hester on European Dressage Championships successes and the necessity to stability energy and concord
Though Crozet wasn’t the largest venue you’d anticipate for a serious championship, what a unbelievable job the organisers did for this yr’s European Dressage Championships – from the stabling to the wholesome, plentiful meals. Geneva, a 20-minute drive away, is a shocking metropolis, and our break day after the grand prix was a memorable one in every of staff bonding across the picturesque lake.
After all, staff gold would have been great, but it surely doesn’t at all times go to plan. Nonetheless, I’m so happy with our riders, horses, grooms and help crew.
The 2025 Europeans have been a constructive expertise, not only for the British staff however for dressage as a sport. Earlier than the competitors started, there was a complete briefing that every one judges, stewards and riders needed to attend. I preferred this strategy – it set the tone of everybody working collectively to current harmonious, right using.
That’s at all times the purpose, however having it laid out clearly for all rivals places concord firmly on the forefront.
Importantly, guidelines have been utilized persistently. Each noseband was checked with the brand new measuring machine, every bit of tack inspected, and with 4 stewards within the warm-up and the entire thing videoed, no one fell foul of uneven enforcement. This sort of transparency ought to assist tackle the criticism that dressage hasn’t performed sufficient to alter.
As has at all times been the case, there’ll solely ever be a handful of riders in a position to be sensible throughout all of the actions. Some nations don’t have the identical entry to coaching or polish because the very high, however the constructive step is that welfare guidelines are utilized equally, and everybody can benefit from the sport on a good enjoying area.
I have to point out double gold medallist Justin Verboomen, who is strictly what the game must hold shifting in the proper path. His warm-ups are as classical as his assessments. Once I went to congratulate him, he was so embarrassed that he put his arms over his head and stated he couldn’t consider it. What a humble man!
On the grand prix press convention, somebody requested why, if the using right here was a number of the finest ever, scores weren’t as excessive as on the 2023 Europeans, the place we gained staff gold. The reply, from Danish choose Hans-Christian Matthiesen at C, was that as the game evolves in the direction of concord and ease, some riders must adapt their method of going.
My view is that if extra riders rode with much less energy, judging could be simpler.
Only a few can mix huge energy with stability and nonetheless make it look easy. So it’s not simply riders who’re adjusting, however judges too, if that is actually the best way ahead – which I consider it’s.
The person finals have been thrilling, with the tiniest of margins between Justin and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour. I couldn’t have picked a winner – their assessments had very totally different however equally excellent highlights. If Belgium can strengthen their wider staff, they’ll quickly be in rivalry for medals, which might be an enormous increase for his or her nation.
Extra altering of the guard
This yr we’ve misplaced too lots of the greats. Firstly, Tricia Gardiner, with whom I used to be fortunate sufficient to journey on the 1991 Europeans staff.
She grew to become a pricey pal to me and was nonetheless hacking Valegro at 89. Experiences like that saved Trish going. She marked her ninetieth birthday with an exquisite backyard social gathering on a sizzling summer time’s day, with 40 of us there. 4 days later, she handed away unexpectedly. It was a shock, however what a option to go.
Additionally, Jane Kidd was one other large of British dressage – a pioneer, supporter and long-serving staff selector. The phrase, “appears to be like like a flower, stings like a bee”, sums her up. She actually saved us in keeping with a rod of iron. Each Trish and Jane can be significantly missed by everybody within the dressage neighborhood.
● What modifications do you assume would assist judges and riders strike the bight stability between concord and energy within the enviornment? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your title, nearest city and county, for the possibility on your letter to seem in a forthcoming problem of the journal
You may also be involved in:
European champions Justin Verboomen and stallion Zonik Plus current an image of concord.
Credit score: FEI/Leanjo de Koster
Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus land a second gold medal on the 2025 European Dressage Championships.
Credit score: FEI/Leanjo De Koster
Carl Hester and Fame on the 2025 European Dressage Championships.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Credit score: Future
Keep in contact with all of the information within the run-up to and all through the most important reveals and occasions throughout 2025 with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe right this moment for all you’ll want to know forward of those main occasions, plus on-line studies on the motion because it occurs from our knowledgeable staff of reporters and in-depth evaluation in our particular commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Arrange your limitless web site entry now
