The 2009 Global Dressage Forum came to a very unexpected and abrupt point of explosion in its final five minutes. Moderator Richard Davison stepped up to an unprepared Artus Kottas-Heldenberg and asked him about Totilas. Kottas-Heldenberg said he had just picked up a magazine at the Forum with Totilas on the cover in an awkward trot position. "It reminds me of a Tennessee Walking Horse," he said.
During his session Ton De Ridder had questioned the concept of a "collected trot" which nowadays in the show ring looks more like a sped-up passage or a slow-motion trot and is scored amply by the judges. But Ton had not expected the discussion to move into the Totilas' direction. So in reaction to Kottas' statement De Ridder clammed up and made the very surprising statement that Totilas cannot be discussed at the Forum. Total silence was achieved.
De Ridder then continued that "he's a crowd pleaser. He fills the stands and we should be thankful for that." A very puzzling reaction from a renowned dressage trainer who certainly would have an opinion about the most exciting horse of the year 2009.
German journalist Birgit Popp launched herself figuratively from her seat and exclaimed it is “hypocritical that we can’t discuss this horse in public, while in the background everybody says something different about him.” She continued that Totilas’ extended trot is not according the FEI Handbook and “that’s what needs to be discussed.”
Davison tried to turn things around by asking Birgit if she would choose that exact same image to grace the cover. She replied she probably would have picked a better photo of the piaffe. A shock wave had just been sent through the forum during its close and the crowds left their seats stunned.
Popp did make a valid point that a horse like Totilas, which is redefining modern dressage, is held under embargo at the Forum. Maybe this horse is too close to the heart of many and the time is not right for publicly debating his achievements, his potential and especially how judges score him at a Global Dressage Forum. The 2009 Forum was very much on topic about training and judging, but the most talked about horse in the world, Totilas, was definitely a “non-topic.”
Upon leaving the Forum more questions could be raised about what "not" happened at the Forum. Where were the Germans? The editor of one of Germany's largest equestrian magazines slept through Peters' and Sluyters' session and left early on Tuesday missing De Ridder's entire lecture. This experienced editor may not be the youngest of all attendants but coffee or Red Bull does wonders. Furthermore with the exception of Heike Kemmer, there was not a single high profile German trainer or rider present at the forum. A few years ago Global Dressage Forum organizer Joep Bartels suggested to host the forum in Aachen, Germany, for a change but the idea was boycotted by the German Equestrian Federation. Why does all this look like a clear testimony to their unwillingness to open up, cross boarders and show active engagement in the development and shape-shifting of dressage?