Dressage is a sport in which performance is supposed to be judged according to objective criteria. But when the human factor comes into play, even objective criteria become subjective judgments. Yesterday, 45,000 people witnessed the final round of the freestyle competition at the World Championships in Aachen—45,000 people, 45,000 opinions. The reactions in the stands made it clear just how differently the supposedly objective criteria are interpreted. It’s a good thing, then, that the judges’ booths are staffed by people who—at least by definition—are supposed to evaluate impartially. Whether they succeed in doing so, and whether everyone always agrees with the result, is another matter entirely. You can read here about how we experienced yesterday’s evening from a sporting perspective. On one point, however, there was 100 percent agreement at this World Championship: It was a fantastic evening!
. 45 ,000 spectators and a dance floor
This is the kind of atmosphere usually seen at Aachen’s Soers during the CHIO Nations Cup show jumping competitions—the sun sinks below the horizon behind the West Stand. The sky turns purple, and darkness descends over the stadium. The floodlights become stage lighting—normally for the 120-by-150-meter grass field, but yesterday for the 20-by-60-meter dance floor. Here’s how it usually goes at the Nations Cup: horse and rider enter, cheers of varying volume, then an expectant, sometimes tense silence. Last night it was similar, and yet quite different: rider and horse entered the stadium through the new archway, followed by frenetic cheering, silence, and music. Each ride was accompanied by a ten-minute free concert. The music selection certainly wasn’t always to everyone’s taste. But one or two freestyle routines at least got the stands swaying along—and in some cases, even prompted people to stand up and dance. To be honest, that was a bit jarring. The bottom line, though, is this: dressage can completely captivate 45,000 people.
