Knoll farm anne gribbons book

Older articles Back to The Gallop Newer articles. Leave a comment Please note: comments must be approved before they are published. Post comment. The authority in equestrian. Welcome to Trafalgar Square Books. Some years ago, I judged at a show in Stuttgart, Germany, organized by Gotthilf Riexinger, himself a five-star judge. He had experienced some criticism about the dressage judging from the local reporters, and he promptly invited several of them to sit in with the judges to feel what it is like to be in our hot seat.

Gotthilf rotated the journalists in the boxes to give them a chance to experience the different angles of viewing and listen to as many of us as possible. He convincingly demonstrated how AI can evaluate the technical aspects of dressage, just as it presently is used in diving and gymnastics. The only aspect that IT cannot yet appreciate is the artistic side—harmony, suppleness, engagement, topline, mouth, tension or lack thereof.

For this aspect we apparently need humans in the form of judges. But their influence can be further diminished by adding a portion of the spectator judging score to the final results. All these are interesting ideas and look like they can be realized in a not-too-distant future. The only potential dilemma I can foresee concerns the most aggressive dressage journalists who may lose the availability of their favorite prey.

Will they have to share their criticism between the robots and the spectators and the few remaining judges, or go in search of more fertile hunting grounds? Another knoll farm anne gribbons book which has become even more relevant and troubling lately was central in many of the discussions: the welfare of the horse. With recent reports and videos from Denmark and the U.

Whatever punishments and corrections are put in place cannot fix the damage done to the animals involved, and there is no excuse for this horrid behavior. In addition, these revelations are threatening to the very existence of equestrian sport, which as a discipline has been on unsure footing with the Olympics for a long time already.

When I was a member of the FEI Dressage Committee under the chairmanship of Frank Kemperman, he often voiced concern about the possibility of equestrian becoming excluded from the Olympic Games. Not because of concerns about abuse of the horses, but because it is a huge and very expensive undertaking for the International Olympic Committee to build and provide all the necessary accommodations for the horses and their riders and entourage.

At that time, the jumping provided the majority of spectators, but we had the freestyle to save the day for dressage. TSB: What is your idea of the perfect meal? AG: Cooked by my husband: Plain, healthy, and delicious! TSB: What is your idea of the perfect vacation? AG: Shortbusy, and educational. TSB: If you could have a conversation with one famous person, alive or dead, who would it be?

AG: Alan Alda. TSB: What is your motto? Trafalgar Square Books is a small business based on a farm in rural Vermont. We publish quality books on horses and equestrian sport, dog health and training, the natural world of New England, and crafting history and techniques. Facebook YouTube Instagram Pinterest. We do not ship outside of North America.

Account Search Cart. Horses Dogs Nature Craft. Photo courtesy Anne Gribbons. Anne with the Olympic Dressage Team. Anne riding Metallic in Argentina. What I would say to young hopefuls is: Find as good a young horse as you can get your leg over, and in the best of all worlds, you should own it. Suffer whatever financial and emotional hardships are required, as long as the horse and you are making progress.

Stay honest and fair to the people around you. When you reach a goal, remember to give credit where it is due. The triumphs are short lived, and you are never any better than your last performance, but if you love horses and cannot live without them, you will never be bored! Older articles Back to The Gallop Newer articles. She also spent a couple of years in Europe on training tours and rode under two-time Olympic champion Harry Boldt and the legendary Herbert Rehbein.

On a trip to a Dutch breeding farm inAnne spotted a stunning dark grey 2-year-old peering out the window of his stall. After watching him in the paddock, she ended up purchasing the horse, named him Metallic, and brought him back to the U. He was a bit arrogant, but he had incredible talent and presence and liked to show himself off.

Those are some of the qualities I look for in a horse. In the early s, Anne brought Metallic and another two of her mounts, including the Holsteiner stallion Leonardo II, to Europe to train under the esteemed Dr. Volker Moritz, who became her second mentor. She competed both horses successfully throughout Europe and later in the U. After Metallic, as part of the U.

Then fate stepped in.

Knoll farm anne gribbons book

I was afraid to find out what it could be. It was growing, and my leg would eventually get numb while I was riding, so I realized I could no longer deny what was happening. Then I decided to ignore my pain and work towards the Olympics with Metallic. It was one of the toughest decisions of my life. It was heartbreaking to give up my Olympic dream, but I knew the horse deserved the chance to go.