Dressage Academy Silvia Iklé Ceases to Exist

Dressage

Switzerland

At the by proxy general assembly of "Dressage Academy Silvia Iklé" it has been decided that the foundation ceases to exist at the end of December 2020.

The Academy has closed its books and the remaining funds in the foundation will be dedicated to dressage sport. The board members decided to allocate the left-over funds to the organisation of Swiss national show, which hosts a Grand Prix.

Conservation of Classical Dressage

"Dressage Academy Silvia Iklé" was founded in 2008 by a group of aficionados who had the conservation and development of classical dressage in Switzerland as goal. The foundation never sponsored riders nor horses, but focused on the education through seminars, training sessions and competition preparations.

The Academy especially focused on youth riders to solidify their basic skills and foundation in dressage.

The headquarters for the Academy projects was Silvia Iklé's stable in Niederhasli, Switzerland with Ikle herself as flagbearer for the project. The Swiss rider had just concluded her competition career on her top dressage horse Salieri CH in 2008.

Seminars and Discussions

Over the years the academy hosted many meaningful training seminars in Switzerland.

The foundation assisted in the organisation of dressage competitions in the country, as well as hosted seminars at which topics such as the lack of knowledge of classical dressage in judges, spectator judges, and legal rights in horse sale were addressed.

It also held training seminars with Eric Lette, Jan Bemelmans,

The Academy received much criticism as well as support when it questioned the budget spending and vision of the Swiss Equestrian Federation after the 2018 World Equestrian Games, dividing opinions in the Swiss dressage community.

The End of an Era

The board of the Academy included Peter von Grebel (chair), Manfred Geiger, Silvia Iklé, Patricia Sarasin, Carina Schaurte, and Daniela Hossmann.

At the end of 2020 they closed the books.

"The various activities in recent years, such as the organization of the 2012 European Junior and Young Riders Championships in Berne and numerous seminars with international personalities from the dressage sport, have met with great interest, but on the whole could not meet the dressage academy's goal, to promote dressage sport in Switzerland. Further effortsn such as regular trainings with top international trainers and judgesn, could not arouse the necessary interest either," said the board.

"This is why the board has come to the conclusion that a meaningful achievement of the goals is currently difficult. This view was supported by a vote by the members when they approved the shutdown."