After months of meetings as well as consultations with the Stakeholder Groups and NF’s, The FEI Dressage Task Force is closing in on a final proposal to go before the FEI Bureau, where we hope it will be easily approved. It has not been always easy, but we feel that our work has truly shown a new beginning in a more democratic and transparent process by which to make great and necessary change.

I want to say how much I admire the other members of the DTF, who have all proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they care about the Dressage sport with a passion which is not at all divided by the interest group they represent. This is not to say that we do not understand our obligations to our constituent groups, but rather that our experiences overlap nicely into each-other’s fields of expertise such that we are able to empathise easily with each-other’s issues.

In case you haven’t met my colleagues, let me do a brief introduction.

Our Chairman (and “Fearless Leader”), Frank Kemperman, is an absolutely great guy, as well as being the organizer of the grandest horse show in the world, Aachen. In that capacity he has had to become an expert in all FEI sports as well as negotiation and, luckily for me, patience!

Katrina Wuest represents the International Dressage Judges group and is amazing. She has trained and ridden to Grand Prix and, coming from Germany, this ‘O’ Judge has huge experience which she draws from in passionately working for positive change.

Elisabeth (Sissy) Max-Theurer was an Olympic individual Gold Medalist in 1980 and still trains, rides, and work for her Austrian FN. All this and she is also a major horse owner and the proud Mom of her top internationally competing daughter. Enough said.

Alain Francqueville, representing the Chefs d’equipe, is our resident genius. Thank goodness, whenever we are a bit cloudy as to procedures and formulas, Alain comes to the table with an at once intricate but also simple way of solving complex problems.

And what can I say about my good friend and competitor for many years, Richard Davison? With his very special British humour and his excellent ability for tact and diplomacy, Richard is a vigorous defender of athletes’ rights. Not only is he a rider and trainer, Richard puts on a CDI in England and is the vice-chair of the IDRC.

These are the folks on the Dressage Task Force with me, but I can’t forget the FEI staff, as without them, we’d be literally running around in circles!

David Holmes is the Executive Director of Sport at the FEI and, as a dressage rider from his native England, has not only the special expertise needed to ensure positive change, but the intellect and passion to take us to the next level in horse sport in general.

Anna Milne has been invaluable at keeping track of the minutes and making sure we are living up to our goal of becoming a more transparent and approachable organization.

Last but certainly not least is Eva Soloman who, as director of Dressage for many years, left us the other day to pursue other things. Eva had the strength and wisdom to be able to deal with so many issues at one time, that my head would spin. It was an honour to serve along side her for the brief time before she left her post and I know we all wish her the very best in the future. She is a great friend and will be greatly missed!

In the next couple of days I will send out our latest version of the DTF’s proposals (we are just waiting for them to be typed up) and I hope you will see that we are truly trying to deal with everyone’s concerns. At the same time we must all remember that, while keeping the basic principles of Dressage a priority, our goal must also be to “sell the sport” to a wider world audience and ensure our spot in the Olympic family for ever.

Cheers!

RD

Posted: Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Filed under: Everything Horsey, FEI