Who's your favourite dressage rider? Why?

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Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on June 28, 2010 at 9:34am

I'd have to say Belinda Trussell - not just because she is my coach, but because she has gotten to the top of the world while treating her horses with kindness the whole way up!

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Permalink Reply by Nicole Salo on June 29, 2010 at 11:37am

Anky van Grunsven (without bringing up any rollkur issues, or the fact that Bonfire can't halt -- ever), when I first started riding, and my wonderful coach (who scared me to death all the time, and sometimes even made me cry while hiding in a stall with an unbroke 2y/o --- but I am so thankful for her wisdom and rough edges years down the road, now that I am wiser) threw me on her giant dressage mare (I was lucky to be 10 at the time and 4ft high haha), and while I was flopping around in the saddle (scared to death of this wonderful animal under me), she remarked "you are no Anky! But if you try, you can be!".. and thus started my love for Anky (once I found out who/what she did that is, at the time I was clueless).

I do have great respect for Belinda Trussell and Ashley Holzer (who I got to see perform with Pop Art at the Royal -- even the boyfriend clapped, he usually only gives The Clapping Award to Eric Lamaze and Ian Millar, that said "hi" to him once, which made him turn all red and almost walk into the makeshift Greenhawk wall).

My favorite dressage horses would be: Moorlands Totilas, Salinero, the late mare Blue Hors Matine (who really sticks out in my mind from 2006 WEG), and just about any other dressage mount that can pick up it's knees :)

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Permalink Reply by Catherine Chamberlain on June 29, 2010 at 2:12pm

My favorite rider is Steffan Peters because he always seems in harmony with his horses, but I am also very inspired by Laura Bechtolsheimer because she is proving that, with hard work and dedication, you can make it to the top of the Dressage world at a young age.

One of my favorite horses is Monica Theodorescu's Whisper because, even though he does not have the fantastic movement that some other horses have, he is so correct and precise and seems very pleased to do his work, showing that correct training does earn high scores. Of course Moorland's Totilas is a blast to watch!

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Permalink Reply by KatyM., Community News on June 29, 2010 at 4:44pm

There are so many wonderful riders at the top levels, it's too hard to just pick one. I was very fortunate to see a lot of the top riders at the World Cup finals in Las Vegas. I was very impressed with Isabell Werth, especially the year she rode Warum Nicht! And Steffen Peters with Ravel - they are an amazing combination. I would have loved to see Steffen and Ravel go head to head with Edward Gal and Totilas which will probably happen at the World Equestrian Games - and I will not be able to make it (dang!).

It's so exciting how well all the potential Canadian team members are doing in their current European tour - excellent scores and always improving - there's serious hope for a WEG medal!

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