Technical discussions on methods of training dressage horses have been very 'hot' in the past few months. During the 5th Global Dressage Forum at the Academy in Hooge Mierde (Netherlands), over 300 dressage trainers, judges, riders and dressage enthusiast from over 25 countries will internally discuss developments in the sport. The Forum will be held on Monday 31 October and Tuesday 1 November.

PROGRAM

Monday 31 October

13.30 - 14.00 hrs       Opening by David Hunt, IDTC President

and Mrs. Mariette Withages, FEI

14.00 - 14.45 hrs       Dr. Volker Moritz /FEI handbook

14.45 - 16.15 hrs       Georg and Monica Theodorescu clinic

16.15 - 16.45 hrs       coffee break

16.45 - 17.45 hrs       Dr. Hillary Clayton/ Sprenger/ Myler:

bits/bridles

17.45 - 19.15 hrs       buffet dinner

19.15 - 20.00 hrs       Mini judging Withages: evaluation Las Vegas

20.00 - 21.30 hrs       kür to music Cees Slings and Victor Kerkhof

21.30 hrs                      discussion

Tuesday 01 November

09.30 - 11.00 hrs       Dutch Federation/ Rabo Talent scouting

11.00 - 11.30 hrs       coffee break

11.30 - 13.00 hrs       Klaus Balkenhol clinic

13.00 - 14.00 hrs       lunch

14.00 - 15.30 hrs       Hillary Clayton: biomechanics and judging

15.30 - 16.00 hrs       coffee break

16.00 - 17.30 hrs       Kyra Kyrklund clinic

17.30 hrs                      buffet dinner

At the Global Dressage Forum Olympic judge *Dr. Volker Moritz* will present the proceedings of the FEI Dressage Handbook. The aim of this Handbook is to improve the communication between all people involved in dressage. *Mrs. Mariette Withages* is the chairman of the FEI Dressage Committee. She will evaluate the judging during the kür of the sensational 20^th World Cup Final in Las Vegas. Cees Slings and Victor Kerkhof, the *composers* and producers of the *winning kür by Anky van Grunsven and Keltec Salinero, will then explain and demonstrate the process of ‘creating the winning kür’.* There will be several clinics by world class trainers. *George Theodorescu* (Germany) is a typical representative of the classical and traditional opinion about training. Mr. Theodorescu will be joined by his daughter, ex World Cup champion *Monica Theodorescu*. An ex member of the German team, *Klaus Balkenhol *assisted* *by *George Williams *and *Volker Brommann*, will give an explanation and demonstration on the background of the success of the USA dressage squad in recent years. Balkenhol is now the national trainer of the USA. He is an advocate of the classical art of riding and has always aimed at the refinement and consolidation of a horse’s natural gifts. The famous rider/trainer from Finland, *Kyra Kyrklund*, was elected as the most popular trainer of the Global Dressage Forum 2004, based on a survey that was returned by over 150 of the 300 participants. She will be back this year to present a clinic with several of her pupils. In 2004 the Dutch National federation was awarded the highest qualification by the National Olympic Committee for its talent scouting and talent development project, sponsored by Rabobank. *George de Jong*, top sport director of the Dutch NF will present the Rabo Talent Project with trainer *Rien van der Schaft* and mental coach *Dr. Rico Schuijers*. The content of a presentation by *Dr. Hilary Clayton* will be ‘ the mechanics of the top horse’. In 1997, Dr. Clayton became the first incumbent of the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University. Dr. Clayton’s research interests are in the area of equine sport science, especially locomotion and conditioning of sport horses, and the interaction between rider and horse. As a judged sport, the outcome of a dressage competition depends on the visual acuity of the judge. Thus, the ability to perceive and interpret visual information is a very important part of the judge’s role. The dressage rules were originally developed before the advent of slow motion replay or biomechanical analysis. In her interim, we have learned a great deal about how horses actually perform the dressage paces and movements. It is important to maintain a dialogue between scientists, judges and trainers so that everyone can benefit from the research that is being performed. It is also important to debate the issue of “what is” versus “what should be”.