Dear Rita,
Our Selection Trials at Gladstone ended over a week ago, and I just now found the time to sit down and write about them. I’ve been flying and driving around the country to various clinic locations over the past few days.
I’m very proud of Winyamaro and his performances at Gladstone. Nobody expected him to come out of his 13th rank and do as well as he did. But frankly, to land in fourth place was both an honor and irritating. Of course we both wanted to be on that World Equestrian Games team, but as the distance from the event grows greater, so does my respect and appreciation of my horse.
At least I can cross the show at Gladstone off my bucket list. That was the first time I was able to compete at our national championships and it did my ex-pat heart good to hear our national anthem so many times. The last time I heard it played so often was during the summer of 2009 when both Ravel and Cadillac were storming the European continent and racking up win after win…
And guess what?! We are still here in Gladstone! As first reserves for the team, W and I are staying on to join the U.S. team members for a training camp that will prepare us for the WEG in Ky. We will also travel with the team to Kentucky to be on standby in case we are needed for the event.
After having travelled and taught in so many places over the last week, it seems that everybody wants to hear the same questions answered.
- What did you think about the judging? It was inconsistent and indecisive. When final overall rankings are separated by as little as .5, the judges ought to be able to agree on the first five placings in a test. Their scores should not range from 69-76 percent for the same ride and the same horse should not land in 10th and second in the same test.
Our American judges are just as well trained and capable as judges anywhere else in the world. The problems with dressage judging are not endemic to America; they are worldwide. Gladstone being no exception, the black and white fact is that the published scores from the selection trials show a lot of ambiguity. Furthermore, when rides are streaming live on the internet and the scores are popping up on computer screens all over the world, it’s not possible to come up with plausible excuses for the inconsistencies at any competition. This hurts the credibility of our sport.
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Ah Rita, judging is my project for the next 10 years. Increased transparency has shown the whole world that Something Must Be Done and we are working on it in the International Dressage Riders Club and the International Dressage Trainers Club. More on my thoughts about this soon.
- Are you disappointed to be reserve? No! I’m disappointed that I can’t do other shows while I am in the States due to the fact that I am sequestered in a training camp, but I am very pleased that my horse was so well placed at Gladstone. Reserve rider is always a thankless job, but somebody has to do it! Because I have the youngest, fittest, and keenest horse of the bunch, I am happy to be on standby with him.
- Does the U.S. team have a chance to medal at the WEG? Ask me this question on September 26. The vet check will be held on that date and shortly thereafter the whole world will know which teams are starting with which horses. A lot can happen between now and then. At this point in time, I would say that anything is possible.
- Can we meet at the WEG? I won’t be attending the event unless my horse competes there. Accreditation (ticket) for the reserve rider is not provided by the USEF, so I will be returning to Gladstone immediately after the vet check if my horse is not needed for the competition. I do, however, plan to show at Dressage at Devon once W and I are released from duty. So perhaps you will see us there!
- Is it nice to be home? Yes! I’m really enjoying my stay in New Jersey, which comes as a great surprise to me. I’m staying with wonderful friends, we are cooking together every evening, I spend a lot time working on Winyamaro’s hairstyle and enjoying the work with him every day. I’m going fly fishing on the weekend… What more can a girl ask for?
Rita, I thought I had nothing to write about this week, but it seems that I have a lot to say! I’m off to ride my bombastic, fluffy, enthusiastic horse this morning but I will be back in a few days to talk some more about dressage judging in general. It’s time. Let me know if you have any specific questions I should address.
I’m Catherine Haddad, and I’m sayin it like it is from Gladstone, New Jersey.
Training Tip of the Day: The best way to rest your horse after intense competition is to keep him moving! Reduce the work load, stay away from challenging levels of collection and engagement, but ride him and relax him. Hand walking and turn out do not keep the cogs oiled.
