Heidi Degele competing in Amateur???

[Manni01]

@Fletch1

From her website: Heidi Degele has successfully competed in Germany under the training of Hubertus Schmidt. She has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. She is known to have the ability to ride “anything” and “bring out the best in every horse she rides.” She has trained several horses from the very beginning to successful FEI horses. She has scored over 70% in Germany Internationally. She trains her horses with the Classical and Systematical methods she has learned and mastered while in Germany, proven successful over several generations.

Just because she CAN do this division doesn’t mean she SHOULD. That is my point…

? I think you are a typical product of this US System which makes a strict difference between AA and Pros in order to protect rich AAs…
Dressage is not about getting a ribbon in a well protected group of similar people… Its about training and more training and then present the result of that training in a test…
just imagine how proud you will be if you beat Heidi Degele!! Isn’t that a goal???

[netg]

@Fletch1

From her website: Heidi Degele has successfully competed in Germany under the training of Hubertus Schmidt. She has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. She is known to have the ability to ride “anything” and “bring out the best in every horse she rides.” She has trained several horses from the very beginning to successful FEI horses. She has scored over 70% in Germany Internationally. She trains her horses with the Classical and Systematical methods she has learned and mastered while in Germany, proven successful over several generations.

Just because she CAN do this division doesn’t mean she SHOULD. That is my point…

Well, I’m not sure which competitor you are, but perhaps just because you CAN do this division doesn’t mean YOU should.
https://gdf.equestrian-hub.com/185/1545

Because the intention of the division is an introduction to international competition. And you don’t seem ready for it based upon your petty and angry attitude.

(I’m not ready for it based upon the fact I suck. But I’m not entered in it, or blaming others for that fact.)

[Jealoushe]

Be happy you don’t event! We don’t even have ammie divisions! I compete (and beat hehe) Olympians regularly.

Focus on your goals and your horse and be thankful you’re even in the game. #firstworldproblems

[Manni01]

@netg

Well, I’m not sure which competitor you are, but perhaps just because you CAN do this division doesn’t mean YOU should.
https://gdf.equestrian-hub.com/185/1545

Because the intention of the division is an introduction to international competition. And you don’t seem ready for it based upon your petty and angry attitude.

(I’m not ready for it based upon the fact I suck. But I’m not entered in it, or blaming others for that fact.)

Well IMO you should be a bit more positive…you get personal and nasty…

I was wondering whether Fletch is simply getting nervous because she is not experienced in CDIs… and now she is trying to work through her anxiety with this. and unfortunately the US system supports these thoughts… A classic example is the word “Shamateur” It’s an amazing but sad American creation

IMO it makes more sense to encourage her for tomorrow!!! I would so love to ride in a competition like that, but I am not good enough (yet hopefully).

So just enjoy it, ride for all the true Amateurs, give your best and try to beat Heidi Degele!!!
I am sure you have an amazing horse and the best coaching available!!!

[alibi_18]

@netg

Well, I’m not sure which competitor you are, but perhaps just because you CAN do this division doesn’t mean YOU should.
https://gdf.equestrian-hub.com/185/1545

Because the intention of the division is an introduction to international competition. And you don’t seem ready for it based upon your petty and angry attitude.

(I’m not ready for it based upon the fact I suck. But I’m not entered in it, or blaming others for that fact.)

:lol::lol::lol:

I will root for Heidi on Saturday!

My mimosa will be ready at 8:25!!!

[BigMama1]

@Fletch1

From her website: Heidi Degele has successfully competed in Germany under the training of Hubertus Schmidt. She has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. She is known to have the ability to ride “anything” and “bring out the best in every horse she rides.” She has trained several horses from the very beginning to successful FEI horses. She has scored over 70% in Germany Internationally. She trains her horses with the Classical and Systematical methods she has learned and mastered while in Germany, proven successful over several generations.

Just because she CAN do this division doesn’t mean she SHOULD. That is my point…

You still aren’t getting it. The division is for those who don’t have an FEI ranking. Period. There’s no “should” about it.

I don’t understand what difference it makes to you or why you are so worked up about it.

[SillyHorse]

@BigMama1

You still aren’t getting it. The division is for those who don’t have an FEI ranking. Period. There’s no “should” about it.

I don’t understand what difference it makes to you or why you are so worked up about it.

Like I said, whiner.

[ladyj79]

It’s funny because I know lots of FEI competitors who are not “good” by FEI standards, but they come to shows, hang out, everyone likes them, they frequently get lots of good tips/advise for free, and they get to enjoy being part of what really is a fun and collegial world. I feel really sorry for people who have that opportunity but instead focus on how sour their grapes are.

Please try to enjoy your time with your horse and other horse people, and the experience you are having right now because I think you’ll find it’s amazing.

[Equibrit]

All that is required is that her horse has a National passport and she has no FEI ranking. So what, if she wants to get a sales horse some experience ?

[soloudinhere]

What exactly is the gripe? Compete in the national classes with the amateur split if you care. The class was for people with no world ranking. She has no world ranking. End story.

[2tempe]

In response to comment on the prior page - Heidi sells other people’s horses. Some stay at her barn where she rides/trains and will show them. Gets some nice horses. Others may be listed on her site but not on her property. So - for US national purposes, she is clearly a pro.
Since I’m no where near CDI land, and did not know about the FEI definition of Amateur. So she’s w/in the rules, nothing much more to discuss IMO.
Where are the margaritas?

[BigMama1]

@2tempe

In response to comment on the prior page - Heidi sells other people’s horses. Some stay at her barn where she rides/trains and will show them. Gets some nice horses. Others may be listed on her site but not on her property. So - for US national purposes, she is clearly a pro.
Since I’m no where near CDI land, and did not know about the FEI definition of Amateur. So she’s w/in the rules, nothing much more to discuss IMO.
Where are the margaritas?

One of my coworkers just delivered me a box of chocolate and a bottle of gin to help me recover from surgery. Will that do instead of margaritas and guacamole?

[Denali6298]

@Fletch1 at some point, if you continue to climb higher in dressage you will have to run with the big dogs. Why not start now? Instead of complaining about a rider who is well within the rules to compete, be happy your even there and quit acting like a brat. What if someday you’re ranked as an ammy? Are you still going to cry about all the pros and demand to show against the unranked riders because ammy is in the class name?

[2DogsFarm]

@BigMama1

One of my coworkers just delivered me a box of chocolate and a bottle of gin to help me recover from surgery. Will that do instead of margaritas and guacamole?

:disgust: No!
I can’t imagine chocolate & the juniper-heavy gin matching well.
Back to the M-ritas & guac!

This discussion has reminded me of the time I dared to ride my own horse in the H/J division 2nd Year Green - an unofficially acknowledged Pros Only class.
Pros ran - with their hair on fire - to my trainer asking “Why is SHE riding that horse?” :eek:
His reply: “Because it’s her horse”.
And we took 2nd.

@Fletch1 just go ahead & ride!
Who knows, you may have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ride & her, not so much

[Fletch1]

Thank you 2dogsfarm- I will keep you all posted. Bigmama1 and SillyHorse- you don’t know what it took for me to get here, nor do you care and you are just too happy to call me a “whiner” about raising the question about a professional riding in a divinsion titled Amateur. My understanding was this was a Discussion Board- but nonetheless I’m sure you will continue on your current path towards greatness.

[Fletch1]

TD AZ- FWIW- Alice Tarjan is an attorney, and does not make her living selling other people’s horses, training other people’s horses or teaching lessons. Before I get flamed further, I was interested in opinions from places outside Wellington that don’t have 6 CDI’s a year. These opinions have been interesting and quite different than those expressed here locally. Many thanks for the thoughts (I’m excluding the lovely lady who called me a “Whiner” twice from this).

[atr]

Its unfortunate that this division got entitled “Amateur,” when it doesn’t really have anything to do with the “amateur divisions” as most of us know them.

Best of luck and great Kudos to you for getting to compete at this level–and I really do mean it–you have my full admiration for that.

But the other lady really isn’t doing anything remotely “wrong.” She read the rules and paid her entry fees just like you did. (And if it makes you feel better, without riders like her the division probably wouldn’t get enough entries to exist, so she probably deserves a little of your thanks.)

[atlatl]

@alibi_18

I’m having a Mimosa. Cheers’

Sidecar for me. Bottoms up!

[alibi_18]

@atr

Its unfortunate that this division got entitled “Amateur,” when it doesn’t really have anything to do with the “amateur divisions” as most of us know them.

It has nothing to do with « most of you ».

It’s a CDI, it’s governed by the FEI.
It goes by their rules.
This is a CDIAm and it’s named that way around the globe at other CDIs.
Life exists outside of Wellington.

As a quick example, last weekend in Madrid, Coby Bolger entered the CDIAm with his horses; one in PSG and the other in Inter1.

This guy went to WEG in 2002… In eventing, but still.

ETA: I have an even better one : Patrice Mourruau.

He competed in a CDIAm that he organized on his show ground! .
http://dressage-grand-ducal.com/en/das-team/

https://online.equipe.com/en/class_sections/325572

And Peterhof had a partnership in his Grand Ducal breeding operation in 2018.
http://www.eurodressage.com/2018/01/…raining-sezuan

[BigMama1]

@Fletch1

Thank you 2dogsfarm- I will keep you all posted. Bigmama1 and SillyHorse- you don’t know what it took for me to get here, nor do you care and you are just too happy to call me a “whiner” about raising the question about a professional riding in a divinsion titled Amateur. My understanding was this was a Discussion Board- but nonetheless I’m sure you will continue on your current path towards greatness.

Indeed this is a discussion board - you started a discussion and I’m sorry that the majority of the answers weren’t what you wanted to hear. Nonetheless, the answers you have gotten here offer good advice (aside from the person who called you a whiner): to celebrate your achievements in getting to I1, to focus on your own ride and enjoy the show, not to worry about who else is or isn’t in the class, and to forget about the USEF definition of amateur in this context, as it is wholly irrelevant here.