In the latest episode of "2 Man & 1 Paardenkop", multiple Olympic medalist Anky van Grunsven speaks openly. The Dutch dressage rider has faced her share of criticism throughout her career and acknowledges that the sport of dressage is in need of modernization. Some view that change through figures like Belgian Justin Verboomen. But Van Grunsven is clear: “Our sport is under fire, but in my opinion the FEI is handling it all wrong!”
She refers to a recent incident involving a Brazilian rider during warm-up at the 2024 Paris Olympics: “A single photo sparked an uproar, which led to the Brazilian rider receiving a yellow card. And yet, there were eight or ten stewards on the warm-up field who saw that everything was being done correctly. Basically, the FEI handed out that yellow card out of fear of public opinion.”
“Things would have been completely different if the FEI had defended its system,” she continues. “They could have explained to the person who took the photo that professionals were present and that they confirmed everything was being done properly. You can always catch something questionable in a snapshot! A photo lasts one second and depends entirely on perspective. It’s ridiculous that the FEI gave a yellow card based on that.”
Undermining Your Own Sport
Van Grunsven believes the FEI is undermining the integrity of the sport by acting this way. “As a federation, you must support your own people not just the riders but also the stewards. Right now, it looks like you’re saying they don’t know how to do their job. And sadly, this happens all too often.”
Stewards: Unfairly Blamed
That brings us to the often underappreciated role of the steward: “Stewards don’t have enough authority. They can too easily be overruled by people who weren’t even present at the time. And far too often, they’re the ones who end up taking the blame unfairly. They don’t get the respect they deserve.”
The Core Message: Riding Is Wonderful!
“To give another example,” Van Grunsven adds, “I was recently at the European Championships, and the participating youth were given a long lecture on horse welfare before competing. And I thought, who even wants to ride anymore after that kind of tone?”
“Of course, the message we send out must be correct,” she emphasizes. “But the foundation of all this is love for the horse. Regardless of level, horseback riding is fun! The bond we share with the horse is something beautiful. Yes, there’s money involved. Yes, there are medals. But you must defend the fact that some horses genuinely love to work.”
Van Grunsven adds that top athletes often show more respect for horse welfare than the public gives them credit for. “I mean… I respect anyone’s choice in this sport. Even if your joy is just going for a trail ride every weekend that’s great. At the core, our sport is something beautiful, where you can share amazing moments with your beloved horse. What I hate is when people only look at it so negatively!”
