Anky wins because she's Anky. That's what dressage no days seems to come down too. Big names, if you're not a big name on a horse with a flashy front end and plenty of cash behind you, you're not going to win in the big league. Simple as that. Hubertus Schmidt is a huge favourite of mine, he has had so many grand prix horses and having seen him teach clinics and ride in Australia a couple of times now, he is just so soft and accurate in his riding. However, he doesn't tend to ride horses with huge, flashy front legs. His tests don't look as 'flash' as Anky, Isabell etc. therefore he is not placed highly. His tests flow beautifull, so soft and correct, but the judges do not like it. How can that be justified?
Re: judges reflecting on the horses training/warmup by taking points in the test itself, they cant! They have to judge exactly what is in front of them. If the horse warms up beautifully, but comes into the arena spooking at the flowers or cars, and thus is tense and jumpy the whole test, it won't score well (unless a 'big name' is on board of course).
And in regards to rollkur, totally agree with other comments about it being abuse. However some people believe that it works, Anky for example is achieving fantastic percentages and placings at competitions, why shouldn't others follow her and use rollkur to get those high placings? If anky can do it, why can't we? it seems the aim of dressage has shifted from the harmony and ease of classical dressage, to this flashy, but false, modern day dressage that brings in the points. No one seems to care about correct work now, because you don't place. Winning is everything. it's not how it should be, but if you want to win, go out there force your horse into a lovely hollow backed, tense frame and you'll win yourself a test if horsey has flashy front legs!!
Also kind of in regards to rollkur, one must keep in mind the difference between true rolkur and riding a horse 'deep and low'. There is a difference!! I go off at people who tell me I'm using rollkur on horses when in fact, the horse is one which likes to jam its neck and jaw and plow along. I will put that horse nice and long, with its nose 'on it's knees' so to speak. Stretching the top line and getting a more supple jaw and poll for a few strides, then come back up into a higher frame. This isn't forced at all, the horse is just made more comfortable to have it's head in a lower and rounder position with a nice stretched topline than to have it's head up and set with a hollow back.
Rollkur is just forced, the head is jammed into the chest, jaw and poll are set and usually mouth is gaping. Deep and low, horse is relaxed over the topline, mouth nice and quiet and soft, regular breathing. Big difference!! | 
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