Uwe Spenlen:

Check out the article called “Forced Helplessness” in this issue by this internationa German Judge. An international judge's look at Rollkur. 

N- Hello Uwe. What is your background?

U- I have run an advertising agency for the past 35 years, and this is what my real job and my hobby job was I was always involved in horses.  Since almost 30 years on the German list for showjumping, eventing and dressage and I’m judging internationally for 18 years.  And twice on the international list as an international candidate judge for showjumping, but my heart beats really on the dressage side.  I mentioned already I’m an international judge and I’m traveling around the world to judge.

N- So what do you think you’re finding when you go around the world judging; what are you seeing?

U- I think in the last couple of years, the overall quality of dressage improved a lot.  It’s not all over the world the same, but I think it improved a lot and this is good for the sport. 

N- What kind of things have you seen improving?

U- I think the overall understanding that dressage can’t be made in one day, or in shortcuts.  We are working to together with horses, horses are our partners and to educate a horse properly it takes time and it takes a certain understanding.  I think that ten years ago, many new incoming countries into the sport they had a lack of understanding because good dressage looks very easy and elegant, but you have to work very hard for elegant and easy looking results.  You know what I mean?

N- I definitely know what you mean, yes.  And it does look easy, doesn’t it?

U- Yes.

N- So you think things are getting better?

U- You could see a fortnight ago at Aachen , very interesting at the WEG, we had I can’t remember the number of nations, but many competitors in the Grand Prix.  This means a lot.  Not all the same quality, and I think some of them as always are bit better and some are really not prepared to compete in the World Championships.  You can see in the results I think there were almost 20 riders below 59 and the benchmark is 60, or the qualifier was 63, 64 and if they finish below 59, means that something went wrong.

N- When you watched the games at Aachen , what kind of things did you see that you really liked? 

U- I really liked honest education of the winning horses.  I think the most I really liked was Isabel Werth’s turn in the Grand Prix Special.  I know that horse, I judged that horse several times, many many times, I know she had a lot of problems.  This is a very talented horse, a top world class horse, but something in the education went wrong and she was trying very hard to correct this and yes, she got the gold medal at Aachen .  I think that was a wonderful thing for her. 

N- So what went wrong in the training of her horse?...

SUBSCRIBE to HORSES For LIFE™ Online Magazine for full access to the exclusive and educational monthly articles in every Issue. Register and then USE the "Subscribe"button in the left hand menu. Your subscription will include access to A FULL PAST YEAR OF ISSUES! Over 190 Articles!!! For the Instructor, For the Rider, For the Horse. Horses For LIFE - International Magazine OR Enjoy the free articles in every issue available for Registered Members! Registration is FREE! Look for the asterisk * that denotes Free Articles!