Debbie McDonald’s recent Facebook post…
“So sad we are loosing our way in this sport. Time to rethink the future for me. As a coach and a trainer it’s hard to know what one wants from these amazing animals anymore. They give us so much and it seems harmony, good gaits, and classical training are not what they seem to reward anymore ???”
https://www.facebook.com/debbie.mcdonald.94617?fref=ts&ref=br_tf
is she responding to Totos non-elimination? I dont do FB so I cannot see her whole comment
[QUOTE=JLR1;8273653]
Time to rethink the future for me. https://www.facebook.com/debbie.mcdonald.94617?fref=ts&ref=br_tf[/QUOTE]
Wow. This is a worrisome comment from someone who has been so instrumental in the recent success of the U.S. in international competition.
OTOH, if she retires from coaching, maybe she will get into judging.
So her position is that DuJardin and Valegro do not present “harmony, good gaits, and classical training”. . . . ?
Anyone care to post what she said?
[QUOTE=pluvinel;8273730]
Anyone care to post what she said?[/QUOTE]
See post #1. That’s it.
[QUOTE=Zonderpaard;8273728]
So her position is that DuJardin and Valegro do not present “harmony, good gaits, and classical training”. . . . ?[/QUOTE]
Where did you see that?
she said just what was posted. Just enough to kick off endless speculation about what it means.
Maybe she was referring to this situation:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?473472-World-Dressage-Young-Horse-Finals-Outrage
[QUOTE=Joanne;8273825]
Maybe she was referring to this situation:
I hope that’s the case. Rather than Aachen.
[QUOTE=Zonderpaard;8273728]
So her position is that DuJardin and Valegro do not present “harmony, good gaits, and classical training”. . . . ?[/QUOTE]
Right. This may have meant more maybe 5 years ago but what is her problem now with horses like Valegro at the top of the sport.
I have no insight as to what prompted the post, but I would agree with her that with the exception of Charlotte and a few others we are seeing more tense leg movers being rewarded.
Well, here is an interesting perspective from a European
http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2015/08/14/holland-takes-spoils-scandalous-team-battle-2015-european-dressage-championships
Not sure how international show results (where no US horses are competing) would cause someone as highly positioned as her to announce on social media that she’s rethinking her future. The Owners Task Force must be thrilled. 
I really liked her with Brentina, but wonder if her bias is a bit too far towards calm and not enough towards expressive and active? There is somewhere in between how Brentina went and super tense that doesn’t require throwing ones hat down and walking away, surely 
[QUOTE=Underthebridge;8274620]
https://www.facebook.com/DeineStimmeGegenRollkur/photos/a.1077025115641867.1073741839.461648053846246/1077025235641855/?type=1&theater[/QUOTE]
I don’t you think this is incriminating or what, but Edward has always ridden horses very deep in the warm-up. It’s not exactly anything new or shocking scandalous.
Carl Hester and his students also employ the technique. 
Oh, wait, scrolled through the other pictures. Yes, that is showing a true rollkur. Still not new or shocking or scandalous though.
[QUOTE=Underthebridge;8274620]
https://www.facebook.com/DeineStimmeGegenRollkur/photos/a.1077025115641867.1073741839.461648053846246/1077025235641855/?type=1&theater[/QUOTE]
Horrible.
I SO AGREE with Debbie! It has made me re-think pursuing dressage competitively at the upper levels.
[QUOTE=Joanne;8274795]
https://www.facebook.com/DeineStimmeGegenRollkur/photos/a.1077025115641867.1073741839.461648053846246/1077026172308428/?type=1&permPage=1
Horrible.[/QUOTE]
Good lord
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