Katrina Wüst will explain bonus malus system Freestyle

Tomorrow the Global Dressage Forum 2009 in Hooge Mierde no doubt will encourage the exchange of a lot of thoughts and theories. One of the lecturers will be German judge Katrina Wüst, member of the FEI Dressage Task Force. Her subject will be ‘Degree of difficulty in freestyle test’.
During the test meeting in Aachen, organised by the strategic working group of the Dressage Task Force, a closed session took place in which O-judge Katrina Wüst gave a very detailed presentation on how to quantify the degree of difficulty in the freestyle to music based on a newly invented ‘bonus-malus’ system. She will explain her system once more at the occasion of the Global Dressage Forum. On an artistic level, the choreography and music can be quantified by establishing a catalogue of movements which can earn bonus points depending on their difficulty. A rider would have to indicate the degree of difficulty of his freestyle beforehand and the judges will score this using the catalogue. The new freestyle scoring system is an attempt to reduce partially the subjectivity of the judging. “Riders will know by forehand what they can do to get good points for their degree of difficulty,” Wüst ads.
Of course dressagedirect will be present. We’ll keep you informed!

Katrina Wüst Picture GDF

Recommendations FEI Dressage Task Force online

Meanwhile it is advised to take your time to read the comprehensive report of the FEI Dressage Task Force with recommendations for the future development of the dressage sport.
A lot of proposals have been made. As good education is the basis for good judging, the Dressage Task Force proposes to renew the Education System. It can globally be improved by regular training, assessment, and re-examination of FEI judges on all levels.
“As in normal business and in many other sports it is often necessary to organise a good
system to evaluate judges”chsair Frank Kemperman states. Therefore it is proposed to create a Judges Supervisory Panel (JSP). The JSP is responsible for the evaluation of the judges during the event. The JSP will report to and advise the FEI about the quality of the judges. This proposal should be implemented as quickly as possible and as a high priority. The assessment and evaluation of judges will be the task of the JSP as well. A core panel will
advise the DC and FEI HQ about the status of the judges. The judges status will be
for a period of 3 years only. It is possible to change the status at any time.

Chairman of the FEI dressage Task Force Frank Kemperman Picture Claartje van Andel dressagedirect

At the moment allreay seven judges are in charge at championships. It is recommended by the Dressage Task Force to continue using 7 judges at Olympic Games and Continental Championships on Grand Prix level, but with all 7 judges counting to objectively reduce the influence of each single judge’s marks. They also recommend to implement half marks for all levels of shows and classes.
At the test event in Aachen, especially in the Freestyle to Music the dividing of tasks for technical and artistic marks worked extremely well. The system gave the judges more time to judge and concentrate on the test, especially on the artistic marks. Therefore the Dressage Task Force recommends to divide the tasks between technical execution and artistic
performance in Freestyle. Furthermore it is also recommended to change the Collective Marks for all tests.
Regarding Olympic Games, the Dressage Task Force feel that the former reserve athlete/horse should participate as individuals. Reserve riders should not be required to travel long distances without being able to compete at all. For the NFs qualified with a team it must be possible to bring a team of 3 riders and 1 individual rider. The 4th rider should start as an individual and at the same time act as a substitute for the team.
In the end to bring dressage closer to a wider public it is necessary to look at the possibilities regarding the use of modern technical instruments. The use of open scoring is a very well accepted system to involve the spectators with the competition - this system should be obligatory for the higher level events. Together with experts from TV the use of graphic systems, spider cams and other new technical possibilities should be explored.

Not the position of the judges but the dividing of tasks proved to be essential at the test event in Aachen. Here Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas at the EC Windsor Picture Diana Bloemendal www.imadia.nl

The full report of the FEI Dressage Task Force can  be studied here 

CDI Stallion Club, a members only Academy for top stallions to be set up

Last year at the Global Dressage Forum Dutch Grand Prix rider Laurens van Lieren suggested a club for the stallions that have made it all the way up the ladder to the Olympic/CDI arenas. A special club for top competitive stallions to help breeders to find the horses with the genetic endowments to bring a top horse. Karin Offield, owner of Lingh and Hans-Yngve Goransson, owner of Briar, have warmly welcomed the idea. At the Global Dressage Forum Karin Offield and Laurens van Lieren will present a list of potential club members. Karin Offield says: “This list calls to attention the stallions that genetically, environmentally, physically and by their training stand apart. They are special and this Club is being created in their honour. They all survived the test of time and now can be recognized for this great achievement. I am happy to have helped Laurens van Lieren to make this special CDI Stallion Club a reality. And grateful to Hans-Yngve Goransson for his support and encouragement. An last but not least to the Global Dressage Forum who helps to make things happen in dressage!”

Initiator of the CDI Stallion Club Laurens van Lieren Picture Claartje van Andel dressagedirect