In the beginning of the year, renowned German dressage trainer Johan Hinnemann was named Chef d'Equipe of 1998 by the International Dressage Trainers Club at their BI-annual seminar in Flyinge, Sweden. The Concours Hippique International of Dortmund, Germany, was the cause for more celebration.

Hinnemann was honored for his success with students like Ulla Salzgeber, Alexandra Simons-De Ridder and Coby van Baalen. Salzgeber won the team gold and ranked individually fourth at the World Equestrian Games of Rome. Van Baalen won team silver and placed sixth at that same competition. Magazines called Simons-De Ridder the "revelation" of the 1999 indoor season. With her Holsteiner Chacomo she won several three star CDI's and placed third at the Finals. In Dortmund Hinnemann received his award and title of Dressage Trainer of the Year 1998 from Herman Duckeck.

Yet success has its toll. Hinnemann's contract for the German Chef d'Equipe position was no longer renewed for 1999. The D.O.K.R. (German Olympic Equestrian Committee) saw a threat for Germany if Hinnemann kept on training the Dutch Coby van Baalen. Hinnemann chose to end his contract with the D.O.K.R. and preferred maintaining his relationship with van Baalen who commutes at least twice a week between Brakel, Holland, and Voerde, Germany. Klaus Balkenhol will guide the German Dressage Team in the future.

by Astrid Appels

Related Links
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Complete results with score break down, and judges.
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