Collective Remarks - by Anne Gribbons (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

World renowned dressage judge and former US Olympic coach Anne Gribbons has had the unique experience of living the trajectory of the dressage evolution in the United States. A native of Sweden, Gribbons has been active in the US dressage scene since 1972, when dressage in this country was in its infancy. She has trained and shown sixteen of her own horses to Grand Prix, nine of which were long-listed for the United States Equestrian Team, and one of which--Metallic--was on the Olympic bronze-medal-winning dressage team in Atlanta under current US Dressage Team Technical Advisor Robert Dover. In addition to her equine students, Gribbons has coached many successful riders through the levels, and she has always been willing to share her experience and guidance in the form of clinics, lectures, and her popular column in the consummate American equestrian magazine The Chronicle of the Horse . Over the course of almost 20 years Gribbons provided commentary on the state of dressage in the Unites States and around the world, tying together her diverse viewpoints from the ground, from the saddle, and from the judge's stand with her trademark style and wit. Now, the best (and in some cases, the worst!) of Gribbons' personal experiences as a rider, trainer, breeder, facility owner, sponsor, competitor, instructor, coach, and judge--first shared in her Chronicle columns--are gathered into one immensely entertaining sourcebook of history, humorous anecdotes, attempts to learn from dressage's past, and prophesies about the sport's future. Anyone with an interest in dressage, its controversies, and its most famous names, will enjoy Gribbons' stories, but the true value is in her ideas for improving our horses, our riders, and our ability to compete on the international scene with success and integrity in the years to come.

From the Back Cover

World renowned dressage judge and former US Olympic coach Anne Gribbons has had the unique experience of living the trajectory of the dressage evolution in the United States. A native of Sweden, Anne has been active in the US dressage scene since 1972, when dressage in this country was in its infancy. She has trained and shown sixteen of her own horses to Grand Prix, nine of which were long-listed for the United States Equestrian Team (USET), and one--Metallic--was on the Olympic bronze-medal-winning dressage team in Atlanta under current US Dressage Team Technical Advisor/Coach Robert Dover.

Anne has coached many successful riders through the levels, and she has always been willing to share her experience and guidance in the form of clinics, lectures, and her popular column in the consummate American equestrian magazine The Chronicle of the Horse. Over the course of almost twenty years, Anne provided commentary on the state of dressage in the United States and around the world, tying together her diverse viewpoints from the ground, from the saddle, and from the judge's stand with her trademark style and wit.

Now, the best (and in some cases, the worst!) of Anne's personal experiences as a rider, trainer, breeder, facility owner, sponsor, competitor, instructor, coach, and judge--first shared in her Chronicle columns--are gathered into one immensely entertaining sourcebook. Here, history, humorous anecdotes, attempts to learn from dressage's past, and prophecies about the sport's future meet in both harmony and disharmony. With almost seventy chapters closely examining the changing face of dressage in the United States over two decades, readers essentially experience "time travel," reliving challenges and celebrations alike, with the opportunity to critically ponder the choices made and paths trod.

Anyone with an interest in dressage, its controversies, its most famous names, and its future in the United States will enjoy Anne's stories, but the true value is in her ideas for improving our horses, our riders, and our ability to compete on the international scene with success and integrity in the years to come.

Review Quotes

"Anne Gribbons is a visionary and a 'doer.' She is committed to the sport of dressage and wants to see America position itself strongly on the international scene, both today and in the future.... Anne's skill and knowledge of dressage come to life in these fabulously written pieces. Whether she is being brutally honest, reflective, humorous, or instructional, her passion for the sport and the horses always comes through." --George Williams, President, United States Dressage Federation (USDF)

"The short, insightful chapters will interest anyone with a passion for dressage." --Equine Journal

About the Author

Anne Gribbons was the U.S. Equestrian Federation Technical Advisor for Dressage from 2010 through 2012. She developed the USEF educational dressage pipeline and guided the US riders through the World Equestrian Games, the Pan American Games, and the London Olympics. Gribbons has trained and shown 16 horses to Grand Prix, competed in 10 USET Championships, and was a member of the US silver-medal-winning team at the 1995 Pan American Games in Argentina. She is an FEI 5* dressage judge and has officiated at numerous CDIs worldwide and selection trials in the US, as well as prestigious European shows like Stuttgart, Rotterdam, and Aachen, and two FEI World Cup Finals. In 2009 she judged at the European Championships in Windsor, England. From 2010 through 2013 Gribbons was a member of the FEI Dressage Committee, and in 2013 she was inducted into the USDF Hall of Fame.