The US has interim dressage CHEF d"EQUIPE (new title)

[canyonoak]

Chronicle is reporting that the U.S. has an interim coach while the Great Search for The Next Coach carries on.

ANd that person is....Jessica Ransehousen.

She will assist the riders at World Cup and beyond.

Chronicle has amended their story headline to "interim chef d'equipe".

I think this is a better job description.

[Sabine]

Interesting....I thought they had the nod on Dover....I guess that is premature and we'll see how it develops....

[merrygoround]

I like Jessica, it will be interesting to see how she fares. As many time "chef", she has dealt with most of the personalities.

[kraslad]

Should be quite interesting. Thanks for posting this. I'll look forward to more updates and to seeing what she does in establishing a program. She definitely is well qualified and "seen it all".

[dressuursport]

When I first heard rumors of this, I was doubtful.

But now that I've thought about it more and spoken to a few friends, I suspect it is more of a figure-head position, with her acting as more of a coordinator, travel agent, organizer, (chef? ;) ), than actually coaching, and so perhaps it makes sense.

Unlike KB, she also won't have the same ability to hop on and tune up a horse when needed.

[canyonoak]

Finding someone with all the qualifications listed in the document (available on USEF website) for next U.S. coach...well, let's just say they are a gonna be a looking for a loong time--or they are going to have to adjust the qualifications.

Meanwhile, there is an absolute need for a chef d'equipe/coach and this seems to be an obvious choice.

[ise@ssl]

Gee - so much for NEW BLOOD.
The woman has experience and credentials but wouldn't it be nice to see some new people getting these opportunities?

[Equibrit]

Yaaaaaaaaaawn - it's not WHAT you know is it?

[fiona]

Well, who do you suggest?
Who ever it is has to have some gravitas, Klaus' shoes would be tough to step into for anyone never mind a newbie!

[ise@ssl]

Well, the US DressageTeam has done better when they had a Coach from Europe. Why not look there again?

[KatherineC]

I think the US has won more medals under Jessica than Klaus. Barcelona, Atlanta, Syndey, plus a few WEG medals. And she still rides 5-6 horses a day. Not sure if she jumps on the team horses but she is still a very active rider.

[slc2]

I am shocked, nay HORRIFIED, that anyone should possibly imagine Jessica Ransenhousen could help our team at all! My GOD WHAT ARE THEY THINKING!

Uh....hmmm...now let me see....how many DECADES has Jessica Ransenhousen been involved in dressage at the top levels....and ah....how many horses, riders has she trained to the top levels....and ah...hmm...let me see, how many DECADES has Jessica been going to international competitions as chef d'equipe and how well does she understand the international scene and the judging....and ah...hm....didn't they say already, that people were going to have their individual coaches for the foreseeable future? And isn' the national coach in that situation an arbitrator/organizer/facilitator and reference? ah....hm....isn't this a perfect role for Jessica Ransenhousen? NAH!!! Those people who appointed her are SO DUMB!

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

In fact, there is no one better for this job. She'll do a great job and bring a lot of talent to this position. If a national coach is hired (Bemelmans, Bemelmans, Bemelmans...I keep wishing, but it won't happen) she'll probably be working with him as chef d' again. She is a great asset with decades of experience and the ability to negotiate and organize and facilitate, as well as the technical knowledge needed.

[Thomas_1]

Isn't she the one that competed in the Olympics decades ago and forever? And was previously Chef d'Equipe???

[freestyle2music]

Let's just start with the remark : "Who wants this job ? "

The next remark : "Be happy that they have found somebody".

Reading the "demands" of the US organisation I think it's a miracle that somebody was willing to lay her head on the guillotine.

Theo

[ridgeback]

Lets not forget the word interim.

[KatherineC]

Jessica and her daughter have both donated countless hours to the US Para Dressage riders. Jessica found this to be very rewarding work. We should be lucky that she is willing to come back for any length of time to serve the national team.

For anyone who has been lucky enough to clinic with her......she is the master of helping you get extra points out of a test. And I have seen her do this with riders of all levels (training through Grand Prix). She is very generous and extremely knowledgable. What is the saying.....she has forgotten more than most of us know.

[Fantastic]

SLC2 - sorry incorrect spelling, unless you're talking about someone else?


I am very happy for Jessica! She is more than qualified for the job and I consider her a national icon in dressage - a treasure in her knowledge, experience, and abilities. I'm a former student of hers and am thankful for having her in my life and I wish her all the best!

[slc2]

You're right. Her membership is under Ransehousen. I've seen it spelled wrong so many times I got mixed up. You're right about another thing, she has done a lot for Para riding, for all aspects of sport riding in our country.

[Mardi]

Jessica is a good choice. Non-controversial and will get the job done as needed.

IMHO Robert Dover is high maintenance; we need to keep looking. If the search takes us overseas, so be it.

[dressuursport]

I'm feeling a bit psychic! Of course my previous comments about how they were probably calling her interim coach, but using her as Chef, now seem out of place with the new thread title, which implies she was meant to be Chef all along, not coach. Makes much more sense.

ise is probably right, imho.

[Plantagenet]

I'm amazed at some of the comments here.

Jessica has contributed more than her fair share to US dressage. She's 70 years old and has a good life. She doesn't need this job.

She was asked by the USEF Dressage committee if she would help out until a coach is hired so that the riders would have some support for the World Cup, Rotterdam and Aachen. She very graciously agreed to help.

What's in it for her?

She's got plenty to do with the Paras. She's doing this out of a sense of loyalty to US dressage. Nothing else.

BTW, she's acting as chef, not coach. She's happy for each rider to use their own coach.

[ise@ssl]

Hey - it's a free country and everyone has their right to an opinion. We all pay dues to the USEF/USDF and I didn't read anywhere that those memberships required us to AGREE on all decisions.

Everyone has their personal impressions and some of us don't agree with what others have posted here.

[Plantagenet]

Ise:

I bet Jessica has paid more dues than you have!

[Touchstone Farm]

I can't imagine showing at that level (well, I can imagine it, but then reality sets in!), so to have someone of Jessica's experience and familiarity with the process would be hugely reassuring. Nice for the riders to simply focus on their horses and their training.

[Alpha Mare]

Jessica has been in the field a long time and at the highest levels, which include very politicized USDF and FEI activities, as witnessed by the recent FEI dressage brouhaha. While I believe she has a great deal of knowledge and still trains she is part of the 'old school' and had potentially conflicting roles in the past between being chef and also judging the qualifying events. I had understood that was part of the reason she stepped down from being chef.

Kudos to her for stepping up now, perhaps she could exercise discretion and decline any judging opportunities while she holds this role.

I'm with ISE, it is a brave new world now and I believe, with time, we need another coach and another chef. I would love to see a new, fresh view with current experience winning/coaching at the highest levels.

[ise@ssl]

Plantagenet - if I'm understanding your rather personal comment to me - then ONLY people who have competed at the top levels can comment on anything to do with the Teams? Correct?

[slc2]

Some people just seem angry all the time at the organizations USEF and FEI. It seems more like a general attitude than a response to specific events.


Maybe it's that anyone can comment, but not all will agree, especially with personal shots at someone who has given so much back to the community...

[ise@ssl]

What personal attacks are you referencing? I remember when Klaus Balkenhol's contract end date arrived there were LOTS of personal attacks on him. Was that o.k.?

[Plantagenet]

Plantagenet - if I'm understanding your rather personal comment to me - then ONLY people who have competed at the top levels can comment on anything to do with the Teams? Correct?


just trying to be punny!:D