Monday April 24, 2006

2006 World Cup Finals, A Stepping Stone for the Future of American Dressage

Text and Photos by Astrid Appels - www.eurodressage.com

From a competition point-of-view, United States flag-bearers Arlene Page and Leslie Morse had a great 2006 World Cup Finals in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Page showed the world that her 10-year old Hanoverian gelding Wild One is world class potential and Leslie Morse's Tip Top displayed the top quality talent and potential that is in him, but requires confirmation through experience.

Both ladies gave raving reviews about the organization of the 2006 World Cup Finals, but they were also critical in their evaluation of their road to Amsterdam and the path that now lies ahead of them 'en route' to the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, in August 2006.

As Americans, Morse and Page are disadvantaged having only the national Dressage in Florida show circuit as preparation for the World Cup. "The winter season for us is a down time while in Europe they are building up for the World Cup Finals," Morse stated. "We have to come a long distance from a completely different environment. In the States, we have hurricanes, tornadoes, land slides and can only be ready by June, which is good for a team event like the WEG, but not for an individual competition such as the World Cup."

Furthermore, American dressage riders suffer more as they have to fly their horses to Europe each time they want to rally for a world class competition. The quarantine procedures on mares and stallions are grueling, making the trip even more strenuous administratively, emotionally, physically and psychologically. "You must realize how hurting it is for our horses to travel so much," Morse stressed. "I wish my horses could get AirMiles."