Christof Umbach, 57 years old, banker, is the first 5* judge in Luxembourg. Already 3* in 2008, 4* in 2011 and 4* for young horses in 2012, Umbrach is one of the ‘deus ex-machina’ of the Grand Ducal dressage centre and is part of the team that organises the CDI in Leudelange. Dressage.it collected his interview.
Where do you live?
«I live in Luxembourg since 21 years, grew up in Germany».
How and when did you meet horses? And where and why dressage?
«I met horses when I was 4. My father was a showjumping-rider and organized fox-huntings. So I was infected very early by the horse virus. Later, when I was 14 I had my first own horse, a hannoverian gelding which had some talent for for both, dressage and jumping. so I started my show-career in eventing, jumping and dressage. Later I had a horse which was trained by Dr. Rainer Klimke, and then I found my passion for dressage».
When did you become a dressage judge?
«I became a national judge, when I was 25, made my exam in Warendorf in 1990, in 1999 I made my exam for Grand Prix in Warendorf as well. As a young german GP-judge I had many invitations and that gave me the opportunity to watch good sport and to exchange ideas with experienced colleagues. But at least as important as a solid basic training is the constant exchange between judges and riders, trainers, organizers and the media. That broadens our own horizons and at the same time makes us more credible. For this it is all the more important to have the necessary competence to gain the necessary public acceptance».
Do you have any worries when you are going to start judging a class?
«So far I never had worries before going to judge a class. Anyone who has the necessary knowledge, combined with a healthy level of self-confidence, should sit down at the judges table and judge what they see. This is still the best setting and will produce the most correct results. If you think to much beforehand, you run the risk of becoming unsecure while judging».
Your hobbies?
«Horses are my life, means: my passion and my business, so there‘s no much more time for other hobbies».
Any suggestions to FEI regarding judges?
«My suggestions to the FEI: “stand by your judges!” Our judging is definitely better than published in the media and in the public opinion. I expect more support of the FEI to change this».
