Tessa Holloran credit Astrid Appels
Day One at the CHIO Aachen:
Today we had the pleasure of meeting with Olympian Allison Brock; Dr. Johan Lenz of the Swedish Team; Markus Scharmann, Head of the German National Training Center; and Astrid Appels of Eurodressage. We asked each of them for their thoughts on the current state of the sport and where they see it heading in the future. Their insights were incredibly valuable!
We had the opportunity to watch the schooling in the big ring, and it gave me a completely new perspective on the competition. What stood out most was seeing all the top riders training together in the same arena. Usually, we only see them individually during their tests or while warming up, so watching them side by side made it much easier to notice the differences in riding style, technique, and each horse’s way of going.
It was especially interesting to see how one pair might stand out on their own, but when placed next to another top rider, their ride didn’t look quite as impressive, even though it was still very, very good. That comparison really put things into perspective for me. It showed just how high the standard is at this level and how subtle elements like harmony and precision can make all the difference.
I also realized how many different approaches exist among these top riders—some focused on specific movements, while others worked on simple transitions. It was an incredibly valuable learning experience.
Competition at the main dressage arena in Aachen
Day Two:
Over the past two days, we’ve had the opportunity to interview some very influential people in the sport and asked each of them the same question: “Where do you think this sport is going, and how would you change it?”
One of the comments that’s stayed with me the most came from Dr. Lenz of the Swedish team. He said, “An issue is that some don’t understand what an aid actually is, so learning what an aid truly is—and the difference between an aid and when it turns into violence—is very important.”
The topic of horse welfare has rightfully gained more attention in recent years, and Dr. Lenz’s words reminded me of a panel discussion I attended this past season in Wellington, hosted by Dressage4Kids. The panel was titled “From an Instructor's Perspective: The Current State of Affairs, Ethics, and Social License.” During the discussion, someone posed the question: Is it better to apply constant, ineffective aids that create unrelenting pressure for the horse, or to give one stronger, clearer aid that actually leads to a response?
Thinking back to that conversation, and connecting it to Dr. Lenz’s point about truly understanding the purpose of an aid, raised some important questions in my mind. I found this perspective incredibly thought-provoking, and I believe it’s something that everyone in the sport should reflect on.
Watching the top dressage riders in the world is incredibly inspiring—not just because of their talent, but because they’re human too. Even at the highest level, with the best of the best, mistakes still happen. Maybe there’s a missed change in the tempis, a misstep in the pirouette, or a transition that comes a moment too soon.
What stood out to me was how these riders didn’t let those mistakes define the rest of the ride. It was a powerful reminder that perfection is not the standard—resilience is. Recovering and making up points elsewhere is part of the sport. Mistakes don’t mean failure; they are part of the journey, even at the top. In fact, they’re what help us become better riders—teaching us to persevere and stay focused without letting a single moment derail the entire ride.
With Swedish Team Vet, Dr. Johan Lenz
Day Three:
Coming soon!
Day Four:
Coming soon!
Day Five:
Coming soon!
