Collective Remarks ― A Journey Through the American Dressage Evolution: Where It's Been, Where We Are, and Where We Need to Be

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, 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,” 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 20 years Anne 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.

Anne Gribbons was the North American Representative to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Cup Committee from 1994 to 1997, served for ten years on the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors, is a member of the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee, and a member of the USET National Advisory Board. She is a past chair of the Athletes Advisory Council of the USEF, is vice-chair of the USEF Dressage Committee, and the past Chairman of the USEF Active Athletes Committee for Dressage. She served as Chef D’Equipe for US riders at the 2003 World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden. In 2006 Anne was named the ?Horseman of the Year” by the Chronicle of the Horse and was nominated by the FEI Dressage Committee for a promotion to an ?Olympic” or five-star judge. She is currently both a licensed USEF Senior Judge and an FEI Judge and has officiated at prestigious events around the world. She is also licensed by USEF as a Sport Horse Breeding Judge. From 2010 to 2012, Anne was the USEF Technical Advisor and coach for the US Dressage Team. She lives and trains at her farm in Chuluota, Florida. KnollDressage.com