Monday April 24, 2006

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

To Become More Accommodated to Accommodating

Both Page and Morse feel that U.S. Dressage has much room for improvement to step up and join the world class, European (?!) level of dressage. "We have to become more accommodated to accommodating," Morse urged. "The judges will give us the score for goodness -- making it to the World Cup -- but we have to step up and show them more, show them that we can really score. The whole master game is knowing where to build highlights in the test and knowing how to build an audience like Anky and Isabell do. We have to present it to the audience and make a show."

Probably one of the best steps U.S. Dressage undertook the past few years was hiring Klaus Balkenhol as team trainer. "Klaus and Judith empower us in a family way. My four-and-a half year old daughter was painting easter eggs with Judith [Balkenhol]. Klaus is a base that makes us feel at home," Page explained. Arlene received a USET grant to train with Balkenhol in Germany. "I feel mental responsibility if you get a grant. You have to bring home this education."

As preparation for the 2006 World Cup Finals, Balkenhol staged an unofficial show for Leslie and Arlene at the equestrian center in Ankum, Germany, with the help of Ullrich Kasselmann. "Klaus made a contrived show for us. We went up to Ankum, and invited friends to come, he hired a judge and had us ride both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix freestyle," Page said. "This was incredibly important. As Americans we need to be able to clock off a Grand Prix over 70%. Klaus is good at looking at "windows". He helps you make an improvement and secure it."

Page, who made her big international debut on European turf, added that "everybody on the team is helping us feel comfortable. Leslie has been a big 10. She helped me how to deal with the Europeans in the warm up, because "It's them or you" and she's passing all her knowledge down."