Genevieve Oliver credit Bethany P Photography
Day One at the CHIO Aachen:
When I first walked onto the showgrounds, I was in awe of the quality of the grounds and the size of the facility. The arenas are beautiful, of course, but every detail is maintained to the highest standard. The walking paths are lined with flowers and fountains, and there are endless rows of shops, food tents, and #selfie spots. There’s truly something for everyone, and the number of spectators far surpassed anything I’ve ever seen in the U.S.
Today we met with Dr. Johan Lenz, the Swedish team veterinarian; past Team USA Olympic member, Ali Brock; Markus Scharmann with the German Equestrian Federation; and Astrid Appels from Eurodressage.
The biggest educational takeaway from these conversations was the discussion about the future of the sport. We asked each of them for their thoughts, and it was incredibly interesting to hear their different perspectives. Both Ali and Dr. Lenz emphasized the importance of riding horses that are relaxed and willing partners. Astrid stressed how critical it is for the sport to appear harmonious to the outside world. Markus spoke about the need for riders to shift their mindset, accepting mistakes and committing to continuous improvement.
Meeting with Olympian Ali Brock
Day Two:
Today, after six hours of watching some of the best riders in the world compete in the Grand Prix 5* Nations Cup, we had the opportunity to meet with some incredible people from our own country, including Laura Roberts and Christine Traurig.
Laura spoke with us about her role at USEF and as a Chef d’Équipe. It was incredibly valuable to learn about the programs she’s involved in and to hear about her current initiatives, especially her efforts to increase spectator interest in our sport. In Aachen, it’s inspiring to see how many people are passionate about horses and dressage. If we could create even a fraction of that atmosphere in the U.S., it would do so much to help our sport thrive.
Speaking with Christine was a dream come true for me. I’ve admired her for many years, and being able to talk with her about everything from breeding and young horses to the training scale was absolutely incredible. Here are a few key takeaways that really stuck with me:
- First and foremost, riding dressage is not about inventing anything new. Every answer comes back to the classical training principles that have guided masters for generations. Our job is to learn how to read the horse and apply those principles in every situation.
- One of Christine’s core training philosophies is: “Tempo to contact within suppleness and relaxation.” While it takes time to truly unpack these terms, the essence is about a horse that willingly moves forward into a contact they seek—while remaining supple and relaxed. That willingness and harmony is the foundation of our sport, and it’s what we should strive to find or develop in every training session.
We also asked her what she looks for in a young horse prospect. Many of the professionals we’ve met have emphasized the importance of U.S. trainers being able to identify and develop young horses all the way to FEI, to support the future of American dressage. Christine spoke in depth about the importance of conformation, temperament, and breeding when selecting a young horse. They must be built to do the job so that we’re not asking them to perform tasks their bodies aren’t suited for. They should also be focused, willing, and possess a strong work ethic. And if we’re purchasing an unproven youngster, following bloodlines can give us insight into their potential.
As I mentioned in my last journal post, we’ve asked everyone we’ve met about the future of our sport. While we covered many topics, my biggest takeaway is the vital importance of making dressage look harmonious, especially to those who may not fully understand what they’re watching. The bond between horse and rider must be prioritized. Those who can make the work look effortless should be celebrated over those simply displaying large and expressive movement. While the bling and flash can be beautiful and entertaining, they should never take precedence over harmony and relaxation. I believe this is a beautiful vision for the future of our sport—and one that many of us wholeheartedly support.
With Laura Roberts
Day Three:
Coming soon!
Day Four:
Coming soon!
Day Five:
Coming soon!
