Glorification of the Ego
Website Last Updated:
8th May 2008
The French riders do not plan to boycott the Olympic Games in Hong Kong, the French news paper Libération reported. Now that riots are going on in Tibet's capital Lhasa with the Tibetan population fighting against the disgraceful occupation and domination of Tibet by China, world wide speculation has been caused to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to make an international statement that human rights are violated in Tibet.
French Olympic medal winning eventing rider Nicolas Touzaint made the following ridiculously stupid statement in an article in Libération. "People ask us if we should go to the Olympic Games. I'll be honest: everything that happens outside the sport, does not interest me. Not because I don't want to know what currently happens over there. I'm focused on the Games, for which I have prepared myself for years. It's not my job to tell what policy China has to carry out. It's my job to ride horses."
It is exactly this kind of lackadaisical attitude that causes disinterestedness for the welfare of other people in the world and prevents their progress in life! Though boycotting the Olympic Games is not necessary (the spirit of the Olympics is to bring the world together), raising awareness for the intolerable Chinese dictatorship over Tibet absolutely is. Riders, or any athlete going to the Games, who can not rise above the selfish glorification of their ego desperately need to take a broader perspective on life. They need to look outside their box, which is dominated by their own material well-being. Making such statements, as Touzaint did, only proves their ignorance. They should either shut up or follow people who do have an opinion and can help make the world a better place.
This leads me to think even further. Why is this kind of attitude so typical in the horse world? As if there is no life outside the barn or behind the fences of show grounds. I realize this is a major generalization, but I have come across more horse people who have made similar statements. The greater issues in life are not addressed or just simply evaded by many of them. (Of course there are dressage riders who actively work for good causes, I have not forgot them)
Continue Editorial
--Astrid Appels
info@eurodressage.com |
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Lone
Jorgensen Not
to Compete at the Olympics
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 Danish
Lone Jorgensen has announced that she has withdrawn from
Danish team qualification with her 8-year old Danish Warmblood
mare Donna Asana. Jorgensen opines that her mare is too
young for the heavy competition and strenous transportation
to the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong.
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Blue
Hors Matine Not to Compete at the Olympics
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 Andreas
Helgstrand will not be riding Blue Hors Matine in the
2008 Hong Kong Olympic Games. Blue Hors stud manager
Esben Møller notifed the Danish Equestrian Fedeation
that the grey Danish Warmblood mare is not fit enough
for the Games.
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Jeroen
Devroe Not Going to the Olympic Games
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 Belgian
Grand Prix rider Jeroen Devroe will not be going to the
2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. His 14-year old Rhinelander
branded Paganini (by Pavarotti van de Helle x Sheyenne
de Baugy) sustained a tendon injury right after the CDI
Hagen and will not be fit in time for the Games.
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Hamburg
Dressage Derby: Derby Video Review
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 The
German equestrian magazine St. Georg has posted a video
report of the 2008 Hamburg Dressage Derby, where Isabell
Werth stole the show riding Heike Kemmer's Royal Rubin
to a 74% Grand Prix score. View snippets of Werth riding
Royal Rubin, Kemmer on Clive and Oatley on Neolit. Click
on the video photo on the left of the article. In German
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Locksley
III & Moses Win Munich BuCha Qualifier
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 The
first Bundeschampionate qualifier of the season for the
2008 Bundeschampionate kicked off this weekend at the
Munich Horse Festival CDI Munich in South Germany. The
first winners were Locksley III and FBW Moses, which
obtained an entry ticket to the Finals in Warendorf..
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Moderate
Prices at 2008 Verden Equitop Auction
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 70
Hanoverian riding horses were sold at an average auction
sales price of 14,380 euro at the May-Auction on May
3, 2008 in Verden. Top-priced horse was the Lux/Wendekreis-son
Le Petite Prince sold at 40,000 €.
The bay horse will
be trained for dressage in Canada.
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CDI
Hagen: Photo Reports from the CDI Hagen
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 View
three extensive text and photo reports from the CDI Hagen.
Eurodressage's Astrid Appels was at the show to take
photos of the Grand Prix classes, Medien Cup Qualifier
and the 2008 German Championships for Professional Dressage
Riders.
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Dutch
Dressage Championships: Champions Known
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 The
2008 Dutch Dressage Champions are known. Marjolein Cho,
Lotje Schoots and Adelinde Cornelissen have won the 2008
Dutch Dressage Championships in Eindhove, The Netherlands,
by winning their division overall in the junior, young
riders and senior riders classes.
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CDI
Munich: Jane Gregory Rising to the Top
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 For
British Grand Prix riders, one spot is still open on
the British Olympic Team ( Hindle and Bechtolsheimer
are safe). The race is on between Carl Hester, Anna Ross
Davies, Wayne Channon, and Jane Gregory. Channon was
the best Brit in Saumur with 67.042% in the Grand Prix,
but Ross Davies scored 69.958% in Munich and now Jane
Gregory
won both
the Grand Prix for Special (68.667%) and the Special
(71.16%) in Munich. The latter two are the strongest
British candidates at the moment for a team spot.
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CDN
Hamburg: Werth Wins Dressage Derby
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 Isabell
Werth and Apache OLD (by Alabaster) won the Grand
Prix and Kur to Music at the Hamburger Dressage Derby.
Werth also won the 2008 Hamburg Dressage Derby with Horse
Change, getting especially high scores riding Heike Kemmer's
horse Royal Rubin.
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CDI
Sydney: Ryan and Van Den Berghe Score
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 Australian
team rider Heath Ryan and his licensed breeding stallion
Regardez Moi have put the score on the board: 67.625%
in the Grand Prix. Heath won the class convincingly scoring
over 68% from three of the judges. Gotthilf Riexinger
(GER) who is judging at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong
gave Heath a score of 65.417%.
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