Dressage Judges and Officials Newsletter - August 2022

DQOSC Committee for 2022

Vale - Lea Bierman

EQ is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Lea Bierman. Lea was a generous and passionate advocate for equestrian sport in Qld.

A recipient of many accolades, including the ‘2019 EQ Service to Sport Award’, Lea’s contribution to Dressage and Equestrian Sport in Qld was enormous, and she will be greatly missed.

Lea was one of the pioneers of developing Dressage in Qld.
Our thoughts are with Lea’s family and friends at this time.

G Level Judges

Workshops & Seminars

The year is already half gone, so don’t forget to check the Calendar of Seminars/Workshops.

The 2022 workshops and seminars can be found here.

The National Officials calendar can be found here.

The Training Scale

– An Historical Snapshot Connie Murray (FEI3*/EA Judge Educator)

The TRAINING SCALE was developed from the manual of the German cavalry “Heeresddienstvorschrift H. Dv. 1912,1937”, where the term “Skal der Ausbildung” (literally the ‘Training Scale’) became used from the 1950s.

This formed the goals and principles for the training of a military horse together with a detailed training plan & guide for training. The forerunner of the current TRAINING SCALE can be found in Siegfried von Huagk’s book ‘The Training of the Recruit in Horseback Riding (1940)’. In the appendix (of this book) for instructors, von Haugk lists the training goals in the same order as we know them in the TRAINING SCALE of today.

1. Rhythm (Takt)
2. Suppleness (Losgelassenheit)
3. Contact (Anlehnung)
4. Impulsion (Schwung)
5. Straightness (Geraderichten)
6. Collection (Versammlung)

To this day the TRAINING SCALE forms the basis of the sport of Dressage.

FEI launched the Social License to Operate Commission

Dear Officials

The  FEI launched the Social License to Operate Commission in June 2022, in response to the growing public concern of the use of horses in sport.

During a follow-up meeting, members agreed that the name Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission better reflected the aims and mission of this group.

For its first task, the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission has created a survey to collect the views of equestrian stakeholders regarding the involvement of horses in sport.

This is one of two surveys being undertaken by the Commission. The other will be focused on the non-equestrian general public.

The results of both surveys will be used to inform the work of the independent FEI Commission.

This survey consists of 11 questions addressing topics related to horse welfare or wellbeing, and any specific concerns in relation to the use of horses in sport. The survey results will also help inform more detailed discussion with industry focus groups to gain greater insight into issues identified by participants.

You will require only 10-15 minutes to complete this survey, and your responses will be confidential. The data will only be used to inform the work of the Commission.

The survey is available in the following languages:

English: Here  

Please note that the survey is being sent to FEI Athletes, Officials, Owners, Organising Committees and Grooms and we encourage all National Federations and related associations (MOUs) to also share this link with your members so that we can reach as many people as possible.

The deadline to receive responses is 19 August 2022.

Here’s why you should not GOSSIP - by Pope Francis

In ancient Greece, Socrates had a great reputation for wisdom.

One day someone came to find the great philosopher and said to him -

Do you know what I just heard about my friend?

A moment, replied Socrates. Before you tell me, I would like to test you with the three sieves.

The three sieves?

Yes, continued Socrates. Before telling anything about others, it’s good to take the time to filter what you mean. I call it the test of the three  Sieves.

The first Sieve is the TRUTH. Have you checked if what you’re going to tell me is true?

No, I just heard it.

Very good! So you don’t know if it’s true.

We continue with the second Sieve. That of KINDNESS. What you want to tell me about your friend, is it good?

Oh no! On the contrary

So, questioned Socrates, you want to tell me bad things about him and you’re not even sure it’s true? Maybe you can still pass the test of the third Sieve, that of UTILITY.

Is it useful that I know what you’re going to tell me about this friend?

No, not really.

So, concluded Socrates, what you were going to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor useful. Why then did you want to tell me this?

Gossip is a bad thing. In the beginning it may seem enjoyable and fun, but in the end, it fills our hearts with bitterness and poisons us, too!

Take care everyone

Sue