Looking back at Indoor Friesland 2024 with Dominique Filion

A few weeks ago, Dominique Filion rode the beautiful and special track of Indoor Friesland in the WTC Expo for the first time and would like to come to Leeuwarden again next year. She thinks that her fellow dressage riders should do the same, because Indoor Friesland deserves it. Time for a retrospective with dressage rider Dominique Filion.

Dominique was born 40 years ago in Breda and has had her own stable in Stad aan 't Haringvliet for three years now, where she provides shelter for 34 horses. Every morning at 6.00:19.00 she starts working until 22.00:XNUMX in the evening. After that she has three hours of time for other things, but she also does the last round of the stable at XNUMX:XNUMX herself. Riding, teaching and sales are the main points of her company. Dominique is busy, but despite all this she also tries to lead her own life besides her stable.

Good organization, positive location of the WTC Expo and top volunteers
Dominique: “This year I was indeed at Indoor Friesland for the first time. The reason for this was that I wanted to start my horse Hermes internationally and I had heard a lot of positive things about the competition. In the known corridors you always hear something negative, but I had not heard anything about your event. When I was allowed to start, I was very happy about that. Afterwards, almost only positive things came from my side. It was very well organized. I like a tight schedule and that was there. The warm-up ring was close to the main ring and I always like that. We as riders really had contact with the public, also a positive point. Especially in these times when openness about our sport is important. I also found the location of the WTC Expo positive. If you needed something, you could just go to a shop. I would also like to mention the volunteers as one of the positive things about Indoor Friesland. From the moment of arrival until departure, they were there for us.”

Best memories
“I know what I’m talking about, because I’ve been to many competitions, also outside the Netherlands. My best memory goes back a while. When I was sixteen, I was allowed to go to the European Championships with both my pony and horse. I wasn’t allowed to go to both, so I had to choose. That became the European Junior Championships in Great Britain. We had a great and super fun team with Joyce Heutink, Marlies van Baalen, Annemiek van de Vorm and myself. We won gold with the team and that hadn’t happened for a long time. The emotional charge that gave made a big impression on me. I also remember that we received some really nice prizes for that time, including a mountain bike. Another memory that is very special to me, dates from the time when I was about 30 years old and won my first Grand Prix among the seniors. That was in Vidauban, France, with my black mare Wenicienta.”

Indoor Friesland deserves more top performers
“Back to Indoor Friesland. In three words? Social, well-managed and animal-friendly. If I am allowed to participate again, I would definitely like to participate again next year. I thought Indoor Friesland was a very pleasant competition with a very good organization. Not only for me, but certainly also for our horses, everything was well organized. Your competition therefore deserves more top athletes and we all have to work on that. If there are more big names on the starting list, there will automatically be more spectators. By the way, I only heard positive sounds from the people who had taken the trouble to come and watch. So see you next year, it won't be because of me!”

Photo: Dominique Fillion Archive
Text: Marjan de Wildt for Indoor Friesland