DressageNZ Bulletin

Issue 13 | August 2017

Breeding Dressage Horses – Business or Pleasure?

OVERSEAS RIDER REVIEW: SARAH ALDERMAN

Connecting the dots - Wendi Williamson

STALLIONS AT STUD

From the Editor WELCOME TO THE THIRTEENTH ISSUE OF THE DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN It has been particularly gratifying hearing from many of our sponsors about the great feedback they have received from competitors in their series last season. In fact it was this positive feedback and clear appreciation that swayed one sponsor to renew again. Another sponsor noted a prize winner had taken the time to go to their website and read the motto, philosophy and promise of the company. Many of these riders are not in the winners circles at national events but love their involvement just the same and love to be able to compete against their peers. Amateurs, Youth, Masters.

But it’s not all roses, as another sponsor feedback during the year disappointingly noted a lack of recognition from riders at one of our major events.

But regardless of the status of the event, prizes and prize money are a privilege, not a right. A calculation from a national championships a few years ago indicated 14% of the competitors won 100% of the prize money.

The DressageNZ Bulletin is the official magazine of Dressage NZ - a discipline of Equestrian Sports NZ

Editor: Wendy Hamerton E: dressage@nzequestrian.org.nz Design and Production: www.snaffledesign.co.nz Graphic Design, Sales & Advertising: Sarah Gray Email: sarah@snaffledesign.co.nz Copyright © Snaffle Design and Dressage NZ 2017 Cover Image: Sheena Ross and stallion Fugato SW Photo Credit: Fiona Tomlinson Back Image: Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH Photo Credit: Libby Law

So would our sport be better off if we did not offer prize money? We could then afford to give more ribbons and rosettes and reduce entry fees for every rider. Organisers would be way less stressed about trying to make the show break even. Would no prize money see the riders who usually win the bulk of the prize money staying at home? Do they deserve prize money simply because they are the best? Now that would make an interesting survey question. Because it would seem that to 86% of competitors, prize money makes no difference - or does it? Is it the hope that you may win some makes the difference? Even many beautiful rosettes go uncollected if there is not a specific prizegiving. Many riders down the rankings would eat their riding boots to go home with one of those rosettes.

Food for thought at a time when so many OC’s find funding more difficult to get, costs are rising to deliver events, and volunteers are over worked.

Think back to the Carl Hester interview earlier this year. The message from a very much respected competitor was clear and profound.

“Riders need to understand that shows are not simply put on for their pleasure” The new season is set to roll. We offer now, in advance, a huge thanks to all our supporters WENDY HAMERTON

Wendy.

SURVEY - SIMPLY CLICK HERE...

The Dressage NZ Bulletin is a year old, and in order to ensure that we continue to provide great service and valuable products to our members, we want to hear your thoughts.

Simply click on this link and go through to our short survey. It should only take you 5 minutes or so to complete, but this will help shape our communication in the future.

PLUS – Everyone who completes the survey and supplies their email address will also be in the draw to win a Mitavite feed voucher plus merchandise, and a $100 Dressage NZ voucher and be featured in the September 2017 issue of the Dressage NZ Bulletin.

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LIBBY LAW INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

CONTENT

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PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR RULE CHANGE

BREEDING DRESSAGE HORSES

WORLD CLASS DRESSAGE AT AACHEN

Silver Camera Award at Aachen CHIO...

The new helmet law is with us, are you ready...

Business or Pleasure with Sheena Ross...

The event that was CHIO Aachen 2017...

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MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH

EQUESTRIAN OUTSTANDING CREATING YOUR BIOMECHANICS CONTRIBUTION COMPETITIVE RESEARCH TO DRESSAGE MINDSET

Box rest isn't the easiest to manage but our expert shares some tips...

Debbie Rolmanis has some incredible tips for keeping our horses as happy athletes...

We celebrate Judith Matthews and her outstanding services to our wonderful sport...

Jane Pike exposes how our performance can be improved by training our mindset...

New Zealand's own Libby Law has won the 2017 Silver Camera award honouring the best international equestrian photograph of the year.

NEWS

Celebrations with the trophy that is as heavy as Libby's Canon DX & 300mm lens kit!

PHOTO: Thomas Reiner

LIBBY LAW AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS SILVER CAMERA AWARD AT AACHEN CHIO The renowned and prestigious “Silver Camera” is presented jointly by the Sparkasse Aachen and the Rheinischer Sparkassen- und Giroverband in co-operation with the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. From 100 photos submitted, the three finalists announced prior to Aachen CHIO were Libby, Arnd Bronkhorst (NED) and Eric Knoll (FRA).

“I was absolutely stunned when I got notification that I had made the final three for this incredible competition,” she said. “Arnd and Eric are two photographers who I hold in very high regard. “It is a very prestigious competition that is run each year with the winner being named at a special ceremony on the Saturday night in the Main Stadium at CHIO Aachen. I can tell you now I will have my faithful Canons on me as we board the horsedrawn carriages for the parade and plan

to take everyone who follows along for the ride.”

The judging panel was made up of Erich Timmermanns (director advertising and public relations Sparkasse Aachen), Frank Kemperman (chairman of the board of directors of the ALRV), last year’s winner Christophe Bricot, Rob Ehrens (Bundestrainer of the Dutch showjumpers) and Andreas Müller.

"It is not easy to select only three from so many different and professional images, because every single photo reflects a special moment," says Kemperman's summary.

As winner, Libby received 2,500 euros, with second and third picking up 1000 euros and 500 euros each.

Dressage NZ congratulates Libby on this winning the Silver Camera. She is such an inspiration at our dressage events. Unless you have been behind

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the scenes, it is impossible to imagine how hard she works, such long hours and always full of joie de vivre.

LIBBY SHARES WITH US...

1. The winning pic: Team Gold Medalist: FRA-Philippe Rozier rides Rahotep De Toscane celebrate a clear round with a fabulous fist punch and magnificent "BOUNCE" as they pass through the finish in the Individual Qualification for Equestrian Jumping. Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Brazil.

PHOTO: Libby Law Photography 2. The Prize Ceremony in the Main Arena - electric atmosphere with the camera's pointing at us - such an experience if you look closely you will see my eyes shining with tears! (but I honestly do prefer to be amongst the fabulous photographers capturing this action!!!)

NEWS

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2.

NZ

13-15 October 2017

21-22 October 2017

Mystery Creek Events Centre

Canterbury Agricultural Park

Exclusive masterclasses with Kyra Kyrklund Mystery Creek Events Centre Thursday 12 October

Canterbury Agricultural Park Sunday 22 October

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 5

NEWS

FEI NATIONS CUP™ DRESSAGE 2.

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FALSTERBO The Swedish team of Patrik Kittel, Tinne Vilhelmson- Silfven and Rose Mathisen, won the FEI Nations Cup™ in Falsterbo in July finishing with on a total accumulated score of 455.47. The Swedish riders took the top three spots in the Grand Prix, as well as first place finishes in the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle.

The Russian team of Tatyana Kosterina, Stanislav Cherednichenko and Larisa Bushina, took home second place with a total of 406.532 points.

Team Denmark, with Allan Uglsø Grøn, Karin Nissen and Malene Kohlschmidt Ebbesen, claimed third place overall with a total 398.106 points.

Luck again eluded the US team of Chase Hickok, Mette Rosencrantz and Charlotte Jorst, being eliminated from the team competition because Rosencrantz’s mount Marron, a 17-yearold Danish Warmblood, was belled

out for unevenness in the trot. As the Nations Cup™ format only permits three horse and rider combinations to compete with no dropped scores, each ride was crucial to the success of the team.

AACHEN The Lambertz Nations’ Cup in Aachen comprised the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Spécial tests. The Germans were already well ahead after the Grand Prix and left the other teams in their wake following the special.

Isabell Werth with Weihegold, Sönke Rothenberger with Cosmo, Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davis Jr. and Hubertus Schmidt with Imperio finished on a total score of 471.046 and thus left the Team USA (450.392) and the Swedes (437.635) in second and third.

The USA team comprised Adrienne Lyle/Savlino, Kasey Perry-Glass/ Goerklintgaards Dublet,

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Olivia Lagoy-Weltz/Lonoir and Laura Graves/Verdades Patrick Kittel and Dualaney were again the anchors for Sweden, but this time backed up by Malin Nilsson/BonAmi Juliette Ramel/Buriel K.H, Therese Nilshagen/Dante Weltino After six events, the top six nations points are: 1

SWE

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DEN

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IMAGES 1.

The winning Swedish Team at Falsterbo. Photo: Tony Parkes

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"Glad we are more athletic in the saddle than in the prize giving" Patrik Kittel's hilarious behind the scenes snap taken just seconds prior Photo: Patrik Kittel - Facebook

NEWS

Always a glamorous picture, Tracy Smith Photo: Eye Witness Images

RULE CHANGE REGARDING PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR A reminder to all competitors that the new helmet standards came into force on the 1st August 2017. If you haven’t already got your helmet tagged make sure you check out our helmet tagging calendar to see where you can get your helmet tagged in your area.

This calendar will be updated frequently throughout the season: http://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/media/13578/helmet-tagging-schedule-6.pdf

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DON'T HAVE MY HELMET TAGGED? At ESNZ we take riders safety very seriously; and the ESNZ General Regulation Article on protective headgear has recently been updated to reflect this by introducing a warning/fining system for those competitors who fail to wear approved tagged protective headgear.

DOWNLOAD ESNZ GENERAL REGULATIONS ARTICLE 151 - PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR http://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/media/13634/article-151.pdf AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 7

EVENT PREVIEW

Trainer Trainer

DRESSAGE OF THE STARS

One of the stars of the dressage world will be headlining at EQUITANA Auckland.

Jonny Hilberath, the coach of the gold medal winning German dressage team at the Rio Olympic Games will be the Dressage Star Presenter this November.

He will be conducting the two-hour Dressage masterclass on Sunday afternoon featuring a selection of New Zealand’s top riders. The Masterclass will form part of the Super Sunday of Dressage, which will also include the inaugural EQUITANA NZ Open Grand Prix Dressage competition. Hilberath will also be teaching two shorter education sessions during the event.

It’s the first time he has been to New Zealand and he’s looking forward it.

“I have been working the last decade with a lot of riders from all sorts of nations and I am very interested in horses and riding all over the world,” says Hilberath. “I am often very surprised how good the horses are from many of these countries, and the passion too. I am curious to see New Zealand and the horse scene there.”

He’s familiar though with Kiwis, having had Andrea Bank based with him for some years.

Hilberath’s training methods are well known and hugely respected. But by his own admission, he is “picky”.

“I can always see and find things that could be done better,” he says. “That is what I believe in. There is never the perfect round.”

For him, the reward comes when he sees his combinations at the show, where they put into action all they have practised.

“I am a big horse lover. Horses can make me so happy when they change, they understand and are fitter and better.

The humans, they decide by themselves, but the horses are not asking to be ridden. The feedback off a horse is in the way he understands things. It is such a great experience.”

Hilberath could have been a worldclass eventer. As it was he competed to national level in the three Olympic disciplines, and international with his dressage. He hasn’t competed since 2010, and while he loves his work as a trainer, he admits to sometimes seeing a young horse and wondering ‘what if?’.

In a horse he looks for a willingness, positive attitude and three good gaits.

“There are so many good horses now days. They are light and good moving but when you compare them to the old-fashioned horses – before the warmbloods – you see the modern horses are more sensitive.”

He has had his fair share of amazing horses over the years, and trained a lot to grand prix level. His best ever? The one

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he is on at the time.

“I learn so much from every horse,” he says.

He is always driven to find the harmonious connection between horse and rider, and believes the more time spent on perfecting the basics is rewarded many times over.

“You will have a very good partnership for a long, long time. It is healthy for the horse and so much fun if you have a real partner. You can feel the horse enjoys the training.”

Former world number one Andrew Nicholson is the eventing star presenters at EQUITANA Auckland. He needs little introduction and is really looking forward to coming home for the Eventing Masterclass.

World renowned American horsemanship expert John Lyons is another star presenter at EQUITANA Auckland that is set to wow the crowds.

The event is stacking up to be a real spectacle. There are still star performers to be announced, with around 30 clinicians from all over the world at EQUITANA Auckland. The shopping promises to be the biggest indoor equestrian gathering in New Zealand. The shows are also promising much – from the All-Star Showcase, to Equimana.

Then there is the breed village, the Under-17 World Mounted Games Teams Championships, exhibition eventing, international indoor polo, western, elite showing . . . the list goes on.

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AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 9

BREEDER PROFILE

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BREEDER PROFILE

BREEDING DRESSAGE HORSES – BUSINESS OR PLEASURE? Photography by Fiona Tomlinson

Just over ten years ago, Sheena Ross began the search for a quality dressage horse to compete. It needed to be 5–9yrs, not too tall, sound, a good mover and schooling competently at Level 3–5. She had a decent budget for the right horse, but she couldn’t find anything suitable because who wants to sell a great horse like this? A few were viewed and vetted but the stable remained empty.

Sheena Ross and the impressive four year old German imported stallion, Fugato SW at home in Clevedon, Auckland.

Out of sheer frustration, she decided to become a breeder of dressage horses as well as a rider, and so Sheena and husband Dermot founded the boutique stud, Sterling Warmbloods, on their idyllic Clevedon property.

Sheena recalls “I had the feeling that if I could produce a horse with the attributes that I really wanted, but couldn’t find here in New Zealand, then they would sell for great prices. From the beginning our motto was “Only the very Best”, which we applied to both stallion and mare choices as much was practicable. We also implemented a high quality feeding and care regime for mother and baby. History now tells me that the cost of this approach was far greater than I had anticipated, but I wasn’t to realise that until we were well down the pathway to producing some very special horses.

All the same, it was wonderful timing to start a dressage stud because we had access to superior frozen semen stallions from Europe. We chose proven lines and soon had a foal or two coming each year. I was also lucky to have good support for my project from Angela Smith of Stoneylea Farm near Pukekohe. She mentored me through my first couple of years, teaching me so much about what to look for and how to foal down our own mares It was a thrilling time for us. Our foals started getting great comments and praise, and some obtained high scores from the Hanoverian assessors during the Hanoverian tours. Eventually, as they came under saddle and started competing, our first three horses from our Anamour/TB foundation mare Anastasia won NZ

Young Horse age group titles at the Nationals. It was a great thrill for me to win the NZ Four Year Old title on Siriana SW in 2015. Two of these horses were sold for premium prices, and we sold another couple of other youngsters still to be backed.

So it all sounds like a very successful venture doesn’t it? Unfortunately, when we sat down to take stock of our costs, the realisation was that even this success was never going to pay the bills. The reality is that it can cost up to $20,000 per year to keep a competition horse on the showing circuit.

Add the cost of breeding and raising these horses (broodmare, conception, stud fees, vet fees, feed, hay, trimming, dentist, worming and other general vet bills, plus any costs associated with your land to keep them on). This of course assumes all horses are born perfect and don’t suffer any major injuries. In spite of our apparent success, Sterling Warmbloods had proved to be a costly business. Purchasers are hesitant to invest the commensurate dollars in a quality horse to compete but will happily pay much much more to transport them in a fancy truck. There was also the emotional cost. Selling these good young horses created tears and much sadness, despite finding fantastic homes for each. Was it worth it all?

So in early 2016 there was some serious soul searching at SW. “It was fair to say Dermot’s usually cheerful adage of “Happy Wife, Happy Life” was having its boundaries severely stretched if there was a new saddle needed or if unexpected vet bills came cascading in” Sheena admits. “SW needed new

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BREEDER PROFILE business model with a strategy to cut costs by having fewer horses to care for, and a new income stream had to be found. It seemed impossible to have enough horses to even sell one good one a year” Just as this new strategy was being evaluated, SW were looking for a fresh semen stallion in NZ for their mare Siriana SW. They were surprised at the lack of choice in licensed stallions. They loved River Park’s Swarovski but felt like it was too close a pedigree, so chose GT Jake and were delighted with the offspring.

“Horses like Furstenball, Foundation and Finest were making big news in European breeding circles with their spectacular movement, trainability and

good temperaments”. Sadly, SW had no luck using frozen semen to get an F Line baby, but they could see New Zealand breeding could benefit from a modern type German dressage stallion, and considered a sire with a strong F line pedigree would be a real asset.

It appeared a licensed and approved Hanoverian or Oldenburg F line stallion would blow their budget. The compromise became an Oldenburg licensed stallion that had been examined from the beginning by the experts in the stallion program and tested under saddle at the licensing.

So, the online catalogue search began.

To their excitement Fugato was in the second 2016 Oldenburg Verband auction. He was by Sheena’s absolute

favourite stallion Foundation, and out of an F line mare. His pedigree had super sires scattered on both sides.

There was Donnerhall for athleticism and the good-tempered Rubenstein in the mare line. His dam, an Elite Mare in the Oldenburg studbook, is by the world young horse champion Fuerst Heinrich.

Sheena was totally smitten with the video of Fugato. He was a very handsome stallion with superior movement and his size was ideal at 16.1hh. Her friend and coach Monique Peutz from Holland was assigned to view him. After a nightmare wait, Monique’s instructions were to buy Fugato! The auction licensing, and test riding were only a few days away.

Fugato's natural rhythm and expression in the trot is apparent even at a young age.

presents We are exclusive stockists of Cavallo, quality German riding apparel.

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BREEDER PROFILE

Fortunately he is a very fertile and an eager breeder.

But he is also gentle soul to work with and his training under saddle is going well too, which is a bonus.

But the excitement was tempered with uncertainty. If Fugato failed the licensing then they would not buy him.

If he was a premium stallion then he would be out of their financial reach….

Then the pendulum started to swing in SW's favour. Fugato earned a score of 79, (80 is the minimum to be classified premium). Lucky again in that he was number 55 to be auctioned, the final horse in the catalogue. Of course, we were hoping the other buyers had already spent their money by then.

We decided to phone bid from New Zealand, finally getting the call from Oldenburg around 4.30 am. Dermot did well, fending off bids from the USA, Germany and Brazil and suddenly we were stallion owners.

“While he was in quarantine I had to organise new stallion fencing and get my head around how to manage and stand a stallion at stud. To say I felt trepidation was an understatement. A few months earlier we would never even considered having a stallion. I didn’t really sleep much for a few months!

I need to credit wonderful assistant Kate Oleksow. She loves working with stallions and is very experienced.

Together with the help of Chris Taylor from Stallionz we learnt and taught Fugato to serve. Fortunately he is a very fertile and an eager breeder.

But he is also gentle soul to work with and his training under saddle is going well too, which is a bonus.

Fugato SW was straight away licensed by the NZ Warmblood Association and the Australian Warmblood Horse Association so his progeny can be registered with those breed associations.

Thankfully, the breeders have endorsed our choice. In our first season we had bookings from dressage, eventing, and showing clients with some first class mares. We have two Fugato foals of our own due soon. My young broodmare Discotheque SW (Dancier/Wokentanz II, and full sister to Parkridge Disco SW) will be the first one to foal in late September. In October we will foal down Rosari Sable Hit SW (Sandro Hit/De Niro). If all goes well, the idea is to sell these babies at weaning time. Of course if we have a special colt I will keep it to ride myself as I can't wait to have a Fugato gelding to ride and compete.

I have discovered I absolutely love working with the mare owners. This

new journey and major change of direction initially prompted by the dismal financial reality has become a labour of love. We are on a new pathway with a very special horse. We don’t know yet if this will be the right path for our business, but it feels right, and hopefully it means our breeding and competing operation is secure for the future. We are looking forward immensely to the arrival of over 50 Fugato foals due this year.”

APOLOGY: in the July Issue we listed

the incorrect website for Sterling Warmbloods... Here is the correct address.

WWW.STERLINGWARMBLOODS.CO.NZ

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FUGATO SW

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO, VIDEOS & PICTURES OF FUGATO SW

FUGATO SW

IMPORTED FROM OLDENBURG, GERMANY Fugato SW is a 16.2hh 4-year-old licensed Oldenburg stallion with superlative dressage bloodlines. He has beautiful elastic paces and correct conformation.

Fugato SW carries bloodlines that were carefully chosen by us with NZ riders and broodmares in mind. Fugato SW is by the sensational stallion Foundation, a horse that is winning in European small tour competitions with Mattias Alexander Rath, and soon to start his GP career. This combination is currently achieving huge scores of up to 77% in international PSG and Inter 1 competitions. Fugato SW is line bred to Fidermark (sire of many internationally successful dressage horses) who is known to throw temperament and movement. He is also line bred to Donnerhall, the most famous dressage sire of all time.

Fugato’s dam Wildrose is just as beautifully bred, she is by Fßrst Heinrich (World Champion young dressage horse in 2003) also the sire of many licensed champion stallions and is out of a Rhodiamant mare. This R line is also popular for ride ability and temperament. To find other such famous stallions such as De Niro, Fidermark and Corlando in one horse shows that Fugato SW has a truly exceptional pedigree.

Fugato SW is proving himself to be a very fertile stallion with a 93% conception rate last season. We are eagerly anticipating the first crop of foals due this spring!

Fully Licensed by the NZ Warmblood Association.

Sheena Ross - Sterling Warmbloods Ltd. 273 Tourist Road, Clevedon Email: sheenamross@gmail.com T: 09 2928 997 M: 0274 525 678 14 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

WWW.STERLINGWARMBLOODS.CO.NZ

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WORLD CLASS DRESSAGE ON SHOW AT AACHEN Photos by Libby Law Story Courtesy CHIO Aachen

THE DRESSAGE QUEEN, ISABELL WERTH, ENCHANTING IN THE DEUTSCHE BANK PRIZE It is always said that dressage is complicated. When Isabell Werth won the Deutsche Bank Prize at the Aachen Soers for the eleventh time, she made the fascination of dressage tangible with her Oldenburg-bred mare, Weihegold.

You could hear a pin drop when Isabell Werth and Weihegold entered the Deutsche Bank Stadium. Then, the sound of cheerful Italian pop melodies that accompany the freestyle routine of the two World Cup winners began and Weihegold started to dance. Dressage can be so simple: From the passage into the piaffe and back out again, back in, back out, totally in rhythm, one step like the next, totally relaxed.

There is currently no other horse in the world that can match the quality of the Oldenburg-bred Don Schufro daughter in these movements. As Dr. Evi Eisenhardt, Chief Judge at C, explained: “My colleagues and I wished we could have awarded 11s and 12s today.”

Among others, that is namely what they would have awarded for Weihegold and Werth’s transitions. The mare didn’t make a single mistake throughout the entire freestyle. The result: 89.675. After the final salute, the silence was broken.

The crowd exploded and gave the sixtime Olympic gold-medallist standing ovations. Werth confirmed after her ride: “I had a super feeling today. She was by me from the first to the last moment, we were in perfect harmony.

I wanted to carry on where we left off at Omaha today (where she won the World Cup Final in the spring with the same freestyle routine, editor’s note) and I think we succeeded in doing so.”

Winning smiles from Isabell Werth and the devine Weihegold OLD

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

COSMO, THE FLYING DUTCHMAN Here, the judges also wished they could have awarded some even higher marks, namely when Sönke Rothenberger and his KWPN gelding, Cosmo, flew through the dressage arena in extended trot. The just 10-year-old Van Gogh son showed his full potential today, which comprises of much more than just his extended trot. Sönke Rothenberger: “I am delighted! Today, Cosmo demonstrated the extent of

his potential for piaffe and passage!”

And Sönke’s mother, Gonnelien, who among others won Olympic silver with the Dutch dressage team in 1996, confirmed this: “I think Cosmo demonstrated where he is headed, today.” Indeed the career of the 22-yearold and his 10-year-old gelding have already made a vertical take-off: From the Young Riders camp, to the first Grand Prix starts, through to the first team appearance at the CHIO 2016 and

from their straight on to claiming team gold at the Olympic Games in Rio. Last year, the pair weren’t able to compete in the freestyle because they were ‘only’ the fourth best German pair. And now they delivered a score of 85.750 percent and came second in the Deutsche Bank Prize in 2017. Ahead of the rider, who finished fourth at the Olympic Games last year. One could say it has been a “cosmic” rise, whereby there is no end in sight.

At just 22 Sonke Rothenberger is gathering momentum like a shooting star and is an exciting asset to the German team.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Team USA Anchor, Laura Graves and her beautiful Verdades thrilled the stadium with her elegance, grace & softness

PLEASE COME BACK NEXT YEAR! Third place went to the challenger from overseas, Laura Graves with Verdades. The pair’s career is just as steep as Sönke Rothenberger and Cosmo’s. They competed at the Soers for the first time in 2014. Nobody knew them. Afterwards the former hairdresser, who gave up her job for her horse and her dream of riding on the international dressage circuit, was the talk of the town. And now, three years later she travelled to Aachen with a clear goal: To beat Isabell Werth!

Yesterday she succeeded in doing so in the Grand Prix Spécial, the MEGGLE Prize. But today, this was not to be. The 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Florett As was very strong at the beginning, but then the mistakes started creeping in in the canter tour, which pushed the final score down to 82.550. Laura Graves wasn’t able to hide her disappointment, which was understandable! “I just hope that I will be invited back,” she joked during the Press Conference.

Winner of the 4* Grand Prix was Helen Langehanenberg and the impressive Stallion Damsey FRH

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

JUDGES COURSE HOSTED FOR PACIFIC REGION AT CHIO AACHEN Ten New Zealand judges recently signed up for the IDOC (International Dressage Officials Club) course for FEI Group VIII dressage judges at CHIO Aachen.

The course was ably led by Australia 5* Mary Seefried, and Peter Holler 5* Germany - both regular visitors to our shores. It was a great networking opportunity for the Group VIII judges with a number of them having officiated at international events here recently. There was Vic Barba (PHI) Jane Ventura, Kerri Swan- Bates, and Maria Schwennesen (AUS) to name just a few.

Our New Zealand judges considered the course to be a “wonderful learning experience for all”. FEI judges are required to partake in a refresher seminar every three years, but there was also room on this course for National judges to participate as part of their development programme.

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Frank Kemperman, CHIO Director, has always been very supportive of this regional initiative and along with his assistant Jana Kun made the judges very welcome, allocating the group seating in the media and riders area for a bird's eye view. It will be a real asset for the sport in New Zealand that this number of judges have been the extra mile to Aachen and observed many of the world's best combinations FROM NEW ZEALAND: Sue Hobson (Judges Officer), Linda Warren-Davey & Judith Cunningham (Judges sub-committee) Helen HughesKeen, Carol Eivers, Mary Craine, Tracey Johnson, Mura Love, Barbara Chalmers and Leonie Coker

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NORTH LOBURN EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

@NLECDressage

SPRING DRESSAGE SERIES

YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE HERE sarah@snaffledesign.co.nz

Sept 17th, Oct 15th, Nov 19th // Rangiora Showgrounds download the schedule at WWW.NLEC.CO.NZ | email: info@nlec.co.nz | phone 03 313 1247 A relaxed and friendly atmosphere with classes for everyone.

We welcome junior riders and encourage riders to “give it a go” offering Training Classes for new combinations, Ungraded Classes up to Level 3 or Graded Classes up to Level 4/5.

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 19

MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH

YOUR MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH QUESTION FROM DEBRA COWEN: I need some options for a horse that is on enforced box/yard rest. I need to keep weight on the horse, as well as keeping him sane to allow the best healing opportunities. He is currently not eating much hardfeed, possibly due to affects from bute and antibiotics, so the feed options need to be enticing.

ANSWER FROM GAIL SRAMEK - MITAVITE NUTRITIONIST An injured horse requiring box rest can be quite challenging for owners.

The feeding plan needs to be able to support the horse nutritionally, maintain a manageable level of energy and help to heal.

An ideal highly palatable feed for horses that need to recuperate and heal, maintain weight and still keep a level head is Mitavite® Promita®. Promita® is packed full of vitamins, minerals and protein to help re-build, repair and replenish. It has a low feeding rate and is low in sugar and starch so won’t fill your horse with excess energy, but will be beneficial in maintaining condition.

Other low starch, low sugar, cool energy sources such as Speedibeet®, Fibrebeet® and Vitamite® Performa 3® Oil can be added to the Promita® and roughage ration to provide cool, sustained energy that will help to maintain the condition of your horse DO YOU HAVE A QUERY REGARDING THE CARE, MAINTENANCE OR TRAINING OF YOUR DRESSAGE HORSE?

without heating them up. Some benefits of these feeds are listed below: Promita® • Concentrated, high protein balancer • Fully steam extruded for optimum digestibility • High levels of Essential Amino acids • Contains Bonafide®, Mitavite’s® exclusive Vitamin K supplement that supports bone density and good health Speedi-Beet® • Pure, unmolassed, micronized sugar beet • Provides a cool, slow release energy source • Well digested in the hindgut – Beet pulp is approximately 80% digested in the hindgut • 95% Sugar Free, very low starch level • Short 10 minute soaking time Fibre-Beet® • Provides a cool, slow release energy source • Well digested in the hindgut – Beet pulp is approximately 80% digested in the hindgut • Unmolassed – 95% Sugar Free, 3% starch level • Formulated using all the benefits of Speedi-Beet® incorporated with good quality alfalfa.

Vitamite® Performa 3® Oil • Omega 6 oils have a proinflammatory effect on joints, skin and hooves. By moving the balance of power to the Omega 3 oils

inflammatory responses are reduced.

• Omega 3 supplementation enhances red blood cell formation, suppleness and flexibility.

• Lung health improves due to decreased inflammation and improved blood circulation.

• Cartilage degradation and the pain and inflammation associated with degenerative joint disease such as arthritis is reduced with Omega 3 supplementation.

• Anxiety and anti-stress responses are reduced with fish oil supplementation, including improvement in nervous system structure and function.

Go to the DressageNZ Bulletin Facebook page and submit your training questions

answer for you! The winning question will receive a bag of Mitavite feed.

A question will be selected and sent to one of our participating coaches to

Thank you Mitavite for supporting Dressage NZ

20 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

If your horse needs to be boxed for an extended period of time make sure you have plenty of grass hay available.

A slow feeder hay net can be ideal to minimise your horse’s boredom whilst confined. You want to try to mimic your horses natural grazing behaviour in the stable, so making sure there is some roughage available at all times will help to minimise not just boredom but ulcers and digestive upsets.

If you would like your ration formulated by one of our Mitavite® nutritionists, please feel free to fill out our Nutritional Analysis Form which is available on our website http://www.mitavite.com/diet_analysis_service

Wishing you all the best with your horse through its rehabilitation.

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 21

AN INTERVIEW WITH

CONNECTING THE DOTS - WENDI WILLIAMSON Interview by Wendy Hamerton Photos by Libby Law Photography

Dressage NZ caught up with Wendi as she landed back in NZ after five months of international competition.

YOU HAVE COMPETED NOW IN EUROPE , USA AND THE UK , IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE HIGHLIGHT WHAT WOULD IT BE?

me with a more rounded perspective of the international dressage scene and competition environment and as a result my training and competing The highlight would be competing goals have changed, in particular I feel against such esteemed international it is necessary to be riding and training riders, realising that most are just in Europe/UK prior to pinnacle normal people, and learning by events. Bearing this in mind I consider watching their competition preparation. there are two key things Dressage NZ IF DRESSAGE NZ COULD DO ONE could do to advance the sport at the top THING THAT YOU BELIEVE WOULD level: ADVANCE THE SPORT AT THE TOP LEVEL HERE WOULD IT BE?

The learning curve I have been on since leaving New Zealand for the World Cup is huge and I believe there is nothing that could have prepared me for that journey other than going and doing it. The experience has provided

1. Continue as you have done to support qualified riders to attend the iconic events (World Cup, WEG and the Olympics), but also to encourage qualified riders to travel up to Europe/ UK earlier than the event to compete and gain exposure.

2. Develop a scholarship to send a rider and their horse to Europe to train and compete, say for a 6 month period (March to August). This could involve for example an airfare for the horse and rider (perhaps IRT or another carrier could be approached for sponsorship) and support to obtain a working pupil arrangement for the rider with a top rider/trainer. The working pupil arrangement would be key in this as I feel you have to go and ride other horses to maximise the opportunity.

My view would be that the rider has trained their horse to Grand Prix or nearly there, and would be a horse and rider combination that could in the future be competitive internationally. It could be a rider that has or may obtain qualification for one of the above iconic events within that timeframe, but I don’t see that as a critical factor.

WHAT ARE THE TRAINING FACTORS THAT YOU THINK NZ RIDERS NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON MOST TO GET TO 75% INTERNATIONALLY AND DO YOU THINK IT IS ACHIEVABLE FROM NZL? 70% IS THE NEW 65%, CAN 75% BECOME THE NEW 70% BEFORE TOK YO 2020

I actually don’t think an “international 75%” is achievable from NZ; you have to be in Europe to get the training and exposure in front of international judges to achieve that standard. We also need world ranking points to have a chance of being further 22 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

AN INTERVIEW WITH

“The learning curve I have been on since leaving New Zealand for the World Cup is huge and I believe there is nothing that could have prepared me for that journey other than going and doing it”

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 23

AN INTERVIEW WITH

down the starting order. However, riders could be better prepared training-wise through: Coaching from visiting international trainers. Riders and interested persons need to work as a team to attract and support international trainers on a regular basis. We need to be careful about the ratio of coaches from a judges background and a riding/ profession trainer background as when it comes to competing internationally this does create an issues. At the moment I feel the balance is too heavily weighed on the judge’s side.

Training the basics and doing all within your financial means to gain the best understanding of what the basics are not being in a hurry to compete at Grand Prix.

DRESSAGE NZ DISCUSSED THE COMPETITION STRUCTURE IN NZL AT ITS RECENT CONFERENCE - IS THERE ANY THING REL ATED TO THE COMPETITIONS YOU THINK WE CAN IMPROVE (NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT IMPORTANT RESOURCES LIKE SURFACES)

1. Our current competition environment consists of local shows, regional shows and key shows (NI/ SI Champs, Nationals and HoY). I think we should look

to change the way regional shows run big tour and just look to have a championship style class at the four 4 shows. The value in having a GP Champion at these events is limited, for example being Gisborne GP Champion of one or two horses is not really of long term benefit to the rider, and the show has to provide some recognition of this achievement which costs money. What I saw at big and small tour level in the UK was regional shows that run several days of PSG, Inter I and GP. It moves the focus for the rider onto improving percentages rather than winning, and encourages development of the horse. I think the regional shows, with encouragement from DNZ, could run such a programme, for example the GP test two days in a row, or perhaps, in the case of a three day show, two days of GP and one freestyle if they need to use that class as an attraction. The benefit of being able to ride the GP test several days in a row is huge. Doing this at regional level will attract greater numbers to the tests.

2. I think the amateur classes have been very well supported,

24 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

encouraging grass roots and havea-go riders to become committed to the sport and really develop as riders. I do believe however that at Nationals the value of the amateur classes, at Level 7 in particular, is lower. We have had riders win both amateur and open classes several years in a row. My view is amateur classes in NZ should be up to level 5. Perhaps a “Newcomer” award at small and big tour would provide greater recognition for the rider.

HOW CAN WE MAKE DRESSAGE A MORE POPUL AR SPECTATOR SPORT IN NZ FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN OVERSEAS?

Equitana and Equidays are on the right track for this. Holding these events where the population is situated is of benefit to attracting interest. In my view, support from DNZ or High Performance to convert these shows to CDI level would be invaluable on a number of levels – the most obvious of which is world rankings, but also the flow on effect of having numerous CDI’s in NZ. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE OVER (NOT WITHSTANDING THE VERY BAD LUCK AT OMAHA) WOULD YOU DO IT OVER AGAIN OR CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PATH?

I would do it again because the

AN INTERVIEW WITH experience has been invaluable on a number of levels. If I had chosen not to go I would not have the understanding I now have to do to progress/develop my horses at Grand Prix, nor how to plan a campaign for WEG or other pinnacle events. If I was to be provided with another opportunity to go to the World Cup I would look to gain some indoor experience in Europe prior. However, this may not be achievable given timing of the Pacific League qualification shows relative to the actual event.

WILL YOU BE PL ANNING TO CAMPAIGN IN AUSTRALIA DURING THE COMING SEASON WITH WEG IN MIND OR DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER MASTER PL AN?

I'm planning on competing in the World Cup final in Australia, but regardless of the outcome, the current plan is to continue directly from Australia, or depending on timing from NZ, to Europe to prepare for WEG. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE KEY DRIVER FOR NZL TO SEND A TEAM TO WEG?

Development of the sport for the

future and to start a pathway for better collaboration from riders based in NZ.

results on the score sheet in the long run.

DID YOU NOTICE INTERNATIONAL RIDERS OVERSEAS GETTING REALLY ENGAGED IN THEIR OWN FITNESS PROGRAMMES DURING YOUR TIME AWAY?

DJ SEEMS TO HAVE JUST TAKEN THE WHOLE THING IN HIS STRIDE EVEN THOUGH HE DID SEEM TO BE MORE ATMOSPHERE SENSITIVE THAN WE HAVE SEEN HIM AT OUR TWO BIGGER SHOWS - HOW DOES HOY FOR INSTANCE RANK ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 COMPARED WITH WHAT YOU ENCOUNTERED

I am aware of what Charlotte has done to develop her position and achieve what would have to be one of the best riding positions in the sport currently. She takes her fitness and strength building as seriously as that of her horses.

FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN, DO WE AS A NATION GENERALLY LEAVE A BIT MUCH TO CHANCE AROUND SPORTS SCIENCES FOR HORSES AND RIDERS - DO YOU THINK THESE FACTORS COULD ADD SAY ANOTHER 2 OR 3%

I would say that it is the responsibility of the rider and we should take our own development as seriously as that of our horse’s development to get the best results. From what I have learnt from my sports science sessions in the UK I definitely feel I can add to my performance in a way that should see

The World Cup was a 12 completely off the scale, while the outdoor show at Windsor was a 9. Horse of the Year is about a 7 out of 10, there is a lot going on at HoY so it is a good atmosphere to measure your progress, and very similar to the bulk of the outdoor shows I attended.

YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR RIDERS AT HOME WANTING TO BE SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONALLY AND AIMING FOR GLOBAL PINNACLE EVENTS IN THE NEXT DECADE

International exposure is critical if you want to progress beyond the Grand Prix test. It is incredibly hard to break into the scene here, the atmosphere is different, the judges are not used to

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AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 25

AN INTERVIEW WITH

seeing you and in my experience there will be a wide range of views (celebrity, world ranking, nationalistic) from the judges resulting in a broad variation in marks. We do not get enough training in New Zealand, so you have to come here and spend time with top trainers improving your skills.

DO YOU THINK WORLD CUP FINAL SHOULD BE ON OUR RADAR IN THE FUTURE? IT SEEMS TO BE BECOMING A MORE SPECIALISED EVENT

Yes I believe the event in its current format should be still on our radar as it is a platform for entry to Europe and the international competition circuit.

Aside from the Olympics and WEG there is no other possibility for New Zealand riders to attend a 5* show straight out of New Zealand. However, without experience in large indoor

atmospheres our expectations for results need to be held in check.

WHO DO YOU MOST WISH TO THANK? (APART FROM DJ AND HANNAH OF COURSE)

I have four big “thank you” to make.

The biggest thank you goes to my family who have made all this possible.

Taking mum (me) out of the equation with two teenage kids, sports, 14 horses at home and a husband who works fulltime running his own business, was never going to be easy. Jon’s and my parents have taken it in turns to stay for the 4 months that I have been away. Without support like that I would not have been able to undertake this campaign. Secondly to Stephanie Baker who, without terribly much warning or experience with our team, has managed the horses at home in an incredibly

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professional manner, working seven days a week since 1 March 2017. I am so grateful to her for looking after my horses like they were her own and her incredibly strong work ethic. Thirdly, Judith and Peter Matthews deserve recognition, who have through their breeding programme made it affordable for dressage riders in NZ to purchase the best European bloodlines. Lastly but not least, the funding we received from Dressage New Zealand, several Area dressage groups and fellow equestrians through our auction has been critical to being able to attend the World Cup and remain in Europe for a further 3 months. I am also totally humbled by the interest and support from New Zealand and abroad and really hope some greater good for dressage in New Zealand has come out of this effort.

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EQUESTRIAN BIOMECHANICS

Article by Debbie Rolmanis www.dbmuscletherapy.com

EQUESTRIAN BIOMECHANIC RESEARCH What You Need to Know Debbie Rolmanis, founder of db Muscle Therapy is a fully qualified Personal Trainer, Human Sports Massage Therapist and Equine Sports Therapist.

Debbie holds a BSc (Equine), BHSAI, Diplomas in Human Personal Training and Sports Therapy and Equine Sports Therapy, all gained in the UK.

Technical and scientific support has, historically been reserved for the elite performer. Make it onto an Olympic squad and you will have scientists watching you from dawn until dusk; attaching electrodes, pressure sensors, breathing apparatus and counting your nutrient intake. There is not a stone unturned. 3d printing of your feet to have made to measure shoes comes as standard.

The equestrian world is catching up to other sports by an injection of realization that in order to win big, we need to know more. About the horse, about the rider and how the two interact. We are, therefore, entering into an unparalled time of investigation and data gathering, meaning we know more

28 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

now than we ever have before.

Whilst the facilitation of these studies is due to the desire to enhance performance, the obvious extra pillar that grows from that is one of welfare.

Having reliable, scientific data to support decisions on management and training that is applicable to every horse and every owner/rider, means that the opportunity for improved welfare is the best it’s ever been.

This month we take a look at some curated research. It is interesting, sometimes surprising and certainly implementable for every horse owner, whatever your riding journey looks like.

TRAVELLING Living in New Zealand (particularly the South Island) means that you have

EQUESTRIAN BIOMECHANICS

to travel a fair way if you want to get to more than one event in the season!

Recent studies have shown the impact that travelling has on the horses body and whilst more work needs to be done, these pieces of information should guide your management to help your horse as much as possible.

Any form of travel requires the horse to constantly adjust and maintain his posture. He cannot rely on the muscle mass of his larger, superficial muscles as he is technically ‘static’. This means he uses the smaller muscles that are closer to the joints to keep him upright, the ‘postural stabilisers’. They are working the entire time your horse is on the truck or float.

The kinematics of your horses’ limbs (ie the way they move) will change after just 2 hours of travel.

It is ESSENTIAL that you cool your horses down on arrival at a competition to allow the postural stabilisers a chance to recover. An in-hand walk for 15-20 minutes is ideal.

If you travel for 4 or more hours, your horse will typically have his worst performing day the 3rd day after arrival. For longer journeys to competition, try to reverse engineer your schedule so that you can give your horse the best chance of hitting his best when it really matters.

EQUIPMENT The choice of equipment available seems to be growing by the minute.

A gadget for this, a strap for that, a new material promising all sorts of wonderful results but really what does all this do for your horse?

GIRTHS Most pressure from girths is located behind the elbow, not over the sternum as historically thought. If you think about where girth galls tend to occur, this is the site of increased pressure.

Ergonomic girths; ones with more space for the elbow, have proven to improve stride symmetry and allow for a 10-20% increase in hindlimb protraction.

BRIDLES/BONNETS/NOSEBANDS Any pressure over the TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) effects the

symmetry of the hindlimbs. Be mindful of where your browband sits and where your bridle buckles are located.

If there is any interference of buckles or bonnets underneath one ear, the opposite foreleg will by asymmetrical in flexion and stride length.

Buckles at eye level can create a head tilt A Grackle noseband is the kindest in terms of stability and pressure. Flash attachments created more pressure than drops.

Crank nosebands provide good stability but there are problems with being able to over tighten them.

SADDLE FITTING The horses back expands 30 mins after exercise and again after another 30 mins. This asks the question of how should we be fitting saddles? Should there be a static and a dynamic portion of the fitting process and if there is already, is the horse given sufficient time in the dynamic portion for his back to change shape?

A saddle that is too narrow can impinge on the most active part of the Longissimus muscle. If pressure here can be reduced, hindlimb protraction can improve by 22%.

A saddle that is too wide creates a destabilizing effect on the horse, which will affect his locomotion.

Saddle slippage has had a lot of interest with Dr Hilary Clayton’s research stating that a saddle will slip towards a lame hind leg. More recent studies of clinically sound horses demonstrating saddle slippage documented that the problem can be within the saddle or the rider. Once both were addressed, the saddle no longer slipped. This issue is a serious one, a saddle that slips creates a very difficult environment for both the horse and rider. Sore backs and lameness due to uneven loading are just a couple of the issues that can arise. To solve this problem requires a true team approach; your saddle fitter, horse and rider physio/body worker/farrier etc.

SADDLE PADS Fluffy, gel or foam. The decisions can be fraught with uncertainty, especially as each one claims to do the best job. Well research has proven the following;

Foam and wool reduce the most pressure Gel reduces the least amount of pressure

SAFETY FACTOR The safety factor of something is the amount of load that can be applied to something before it breaks.

For example, a lift often has a safety factor of 10; this means it will tolerate 10x its maximal load; when it says only 20 people allowed in, it will be able to carry 10 x this many people before failure. This would be deemed as a high safety factor. Horses operate on a low safety factor. For example, a horse at full gallop, has a safety factor of only 1.5 times.

LOAD AND LOADING CYCLES Horses place their limbs under extreme loads; at full gallop, each limb is loaded with about 2.5 x the horses bodyweight. Considering the size of the limb, that is a massive amount of pressure on a very small area! Dressage horses don’t operate at such high speeds so they are able to offset their loads through muscular loading, but there is still a lot of weight over a small cross section of leg!

The bones and tendons in horses have been estimated to have a working life of only 10,000 cycles before they wear out.

Each step really does count!

By being aware of how much impact day to day practices have on your horse gives you an opportunity to take the guess work out of decision making.

We are bombarded with claims and promises, but what we have to look to is the research, the reliable data that is being gathered from horses in real-life settings as opposed to a treadmill or a more controlled environment.

This knowledge can be used by every horse owner/rider and not only can it help your horse perform better, it can make his life a lot more comfortable too.

Research curated from; Centuar Biomechanics, Dr Hilary Clayton, Dr Renate Weller, Royal Veterinary College.

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 29

"GOOD SORTS" REPORT

Judith pictured with Kaye Ahsam on Decadance MH winning the FEI Elementary Challenge in 2014 with judges Alain Francqueville and Bo Ehman Photo: Libby Law Photography

A LIFETIME OF OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION Article by Melanie Dougan

Judith Matthews of Matthews Hanoverians was the very worthy 2017 winner of the Kay Fissenden Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to Dressage NZ. Judith has been involved with dressage for many years and her contributions cover every aspect of the sport.

Receiving this award comes at a truly exciting time for Dressage New Zealand and Judith & Peter’s stud, Matthews Hanoverians. As most dressage enthusiasts will know, Dejavu MH, bred by Matthews, has just completed a very successful competition season in Europe, earning many placings and scores which indicate true international capability and potential for more.

Judith is thrilled with DJ’s results and it is this aspect of her contribution to dressage that much of the dressage community is most familiar with.

Matthews Hanoverians are arguably breeding many of the best quality horses in the country, and you need look no further than the Horse of the Year placings to see how influential her

breeding programme has been.

Judith was an early visionary in NZ horse breeding. She initially wanted to breed a good horse for herself and imported the mare St Pr St Wel Kantje as a three year old. Ever the pioneer, Judith is one of the first breeders in the country to use embryo transfer and this produced Adelheid MH. Fast forward a few years and Adelheid produced a leggy black colt, Dejavu MH (by De Niro). How exciting to know that this mare is in foal again, this time to the famous Totilas, so we all wait with bated breath for spring.

Judith credits a large part of her success as a breeder down to selecting good mares to breed from. She’s meticulous about the mares she uses,

30 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

importing some from overseas as well as retaining a number that she has bred herself. Matthews Hanoverians use fresh and frozen semen to access some of the best bloodlines in the world for their carefully selected broodmares who produce horses that are talented, trainable and world-class.

The quality and improvement of dressage in NZ has been massively influenced by the introduction of these bloodlines. The natural cadence, power and trainability of Matthews Hanoverian progeny have changed the face of dressage competition in NZ, with other breeders following Judith’s example and accessing world-class bloodlines.

There’s no surprise that the maturation of these breeding programmes coincides

"GOOD SORTS" REPORT

Judith and her MH team with Danzare (Dancier/Weltmeyer) and her two Furstenball fillies Fanfare MH and Felize MH at the recent open day and classification tour with Dr Ludwig Christman from Germany.

with our emerging success on the international scene.

“A well-bred horse still needs a good rider if it is to meet its potential” notes Judith. This is another area in which her contribution to the sport is invaluable.

She has had three riders based at her stud to compete her horses; each began as a novice in dressage, but under her watchful eye they have all developed into competent dressage riders. Judith is quick to note that each of the riders had a natural talent and ability and says that although she doesn’t coach her riders, she does offer a judge’s eye on the ground. Matthews also frequently host the best national and international coaches at her property – a service she opens up to locals too.

Dressage judging has been on Judith’s repertoire for a number of years. As a List 2A judge she has travelled to Australia, as well many local and national assignments. Her comments are always positive, encouraging and constructive and many riders have noted how helpful her comments are.

The judges of our sport have a huge influence on how riders present their horses and Judith’s deep immersion into all things dressage, international experience and interest in breeding mean that in her role as judge she has contributed to the increasing improvement of all riders and horses in New Zealand.

“I think my involvement in the

breeding and training of horses from scratch has helped my judging as it has made me more aware of the difficult movements and the process of taking a horse through the grades”. This empathy is certainly reflected in her marks and comments.

Her contributions to breeding, rider development and judging, more than qualify Judith for the Outstanding Contribution to Dressage NZ Award, but her involvement in dressage does not end there. She has been a longterm sponsor of dressage nationally, currently sponsoring the Level 2 Super 5 League, and in 2017, sponsored the Grand Prix class at the National Championships. At local level she has been massive supporter of grassroots dressage, on the Northland dressage group committee, an area delegate on the national committee, and sponsor for local shows and circuits.

As I talk to Judith, I recall a large glossy rosette for placing 4th in the Matthews Hanoverian’s Northland Circuit being my first taste of success and I know this boosted my confidence to continue working through the levels.

Judith can often been seen at local competitions rushing from the judge’s car to a spot arena-side to watch her own horses compete and then back to the office for official duties. A loyal and tireless supporter of local and national level dressage – an outstanding contribution.

THE KAYE FISSENDEN MEMORIAL TROPHY WAS DONATED TO DRESSAGE NZ IN MEMORY OF FORMER DRESSAGE CHAIR KAYE FISSENDEN FROM SOUTH CANTERBURY. KAYE WAS CHAIR FROM 1991-1996

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 31

OVERSEAS RIDER REVIEW

OVERSEAS RIDER REVIEW SARAH ALDERMAN - GBR When a six week OE leads to a new life on the opposite side of the world

Sarah Alderman (nee Cunningham) began her riding days in Auckland, choosing dressage as her equestrian pathway in her mid –teens.

Age 21 and on a break from studying sport science at Auckland, Sarah travelled to the UK to visit family and further her riding experience, with the intention of being away for six weeks

Nine years and a farrier husband later, Sarah is soaking up what the dressage scene in Britain has to offer with great enthusiasm. She has competed numerous horses in both England and Ireland, ranging from young Horses and novice through to small tour level.

“Back in New Zealand I had the good fortune of a number of successful rides including my lovely dressage pony, 32 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

Cicero, followed by horses including Southern Pzazz and Bill Noble’s Icarus Allsorts and My Grand Affair. This all lead to my inclusion in several Dressage Young Rider Squads, Young Rider Derby teams and a CDIY between 2000 and 2005. When I arrived in the UK, I had the lucky break to be riding some horses for NZL FEI 4*judge Mary Robins. One thing led to another and I had the amazing opportunity of some lessons with Carl Hester. That was it.

I decided I just couldn't quite go home to New Zealand yet, so I cancelled my ticket with the view of staying just a little longer! Since then, I've had many great experiences, not only having many more lessons with Carl, but training also with German Olympic medallist Ulla

OVERSEAS RIDER REVIEW

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Jacket colours available: navy, black, silver grey, mocca Collar trim options: available on website Sizes: 30-42 in stock not all sizes available in all colours

Salzgeber, and Irish international rider Roland Tong”.

But it wasn’t just the horses that kept Sarah interested in life in the UK. After a couple of years, she also met her husband to be, farrier Mathew Alderman, and has now been living in the U.K for 9 years!

Sarah and Matt are currently based in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire (NW greater London), where Sarah freelances as a dressage rider with four main competition horses to campaign.

These include 'Zendy' owned by a NZ syndicate, 'Daddy's Hit' and 'Rose Noir' owned by Emma Gausden and 'September Oscar' owned by Lucy Storer. Recent successes have included winning the Advanced Medium Winter Regional title on Daddy’s Hit in February, Zendys recent success at Hartpury and numerous local wins qualifying them all for the current Summer Regional Championships.

“My hopes for the remainder of this season and over the winter are to qualify for the National Championships through success at the regional events. I am aiming both Daddy’s Hit and Zendy for the Small Tour Winter Championships,

for small tour High Profile shows next summer and hopefully getting to some small tour CDI's! And of course, on the bucket list, eventually Grand Prix!”

Prices: Stretch dressage tails from $975 Stretch short jackets from $575

I am so grateful for all the guidance from my current trainers, Stephen Moore and Roland Tong, and the support from my parents, husband Matt and very generous owners who have made all this possible!

Phone: 03 313 6116 Email: info@mooresridingwear.co.nz Moores Riding Wear Ltd Visit our website www.mooresridingwear.co.nz

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 33

RIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS

CREATING YOUR

Competitive

MINDSET: PART 1 Article by Jane Pike

Many of us have been there before.

It’s Friday morning. You are in the arena having a final ride before the competition on Saturday and everything is feeling good. I mean let’s face it; it’s more than good. You’re totally nailing it. Modestly speaking, you have a good handle on the test and what is required of you. You’ve been having lessons, showing up each day and working hard. You know that both of you have it in you to do well, to produce a test you are proud of.

Come Saturday, things start to feel a bit different. You’re not quite sure how to explain it, but you don’t feel yourself.

It’s a feeling that’s familiar to you at competition, but that doesn’t make it any less unwanted. You feel… scattered.

Not quite with it. You hop on and begin warming up, but it’s hard to hit your stride; you and your horse feel out of sync somehow.

When it’s time to ride your test, things don’t exactly improve. The dots aren’t connecting up. Movements you were riding easily yesterday feel tense and stilted. You find yourself making stupid mistakes and it’s hard to keep yourself focused when there is so much going on around you. Finishing the test feels like more of a relief than a success, and although it wasn’t ‘bad’, you know that

you are both capable of so much more…

Having trouble reproducing the results we are experiencing at home out in the competitive arena is something that many riders go through. Here’s the thing; if you know that you can ride the movements and that you and your horse can do what is required of you in your particular test of choice, then what this tells you is that any challenges you are are experiencing in the ring are not a result of a lack of skills or competency; they are the result of a change in mindset.

Let’s pretend for a moment that the combination of you, your horse and then environment adds up to produce its own unique formula. When you are training at home, for the most part, the numbers stay relatively stable, or the fluctuations between them are insignificant enough that we are able to adjust and change so that our riding results and outcomes are not greatly affected.

When we arrive at competition, however, the emotions, pressures and distractions of the environment mixes up the variables that we are used to working with. For some, the new formula is one that they thrive on; they feel confident, clear, like they are ready to get out there and show everyone what

34 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

they are made of. It gives them the edge.

Others find it a little more… unsettling. For them, the new numbers don’t add up to anything productive.

They feel anxious, nervous, thrown off centre. And as a consequence, their efforts in the competition arena will always pale in comparison to what it is that they are truly capable of.

Although it can feel as though the competition environment is responsible for how you feel and behave, for better or worse, control of your mindset is always an inside job. Essentially, when we enter the competition ring, we want to make sure on a mental level, we are operating from an offensive mode and not a defensive mode. To be operating from an offensive position means first up that you are actioning a strategy that has already been pre-determined. You know what your processes are going to be when you enter the arena; you know what it is that you need to take care of and pay attention to; and you also hold within you a confidence that you are able to effectively deal with whatever comes up.

The lynch pin that allows this to occur is the ability to control your state.

State refers to the emotional condition that we are operating from at any one time. For instance, if you are feeling

RIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS

“Essentially, when we enter the competition ring, we want to make sure on a mental level, we are operating from an offensive mode and not a defensive mode.....”

confident, we would say you are in a confident state. If you are feeling anxious, you are in an anxious state.

Not only does the difference between these two affect how we respond and feel physically, but it also changes our ability to access our own functional skills and resources.

For a moment, I want you to think of the mind like a computer. In order for you to be able to access specific skills to produce a specific result, you need to follow the correct pathways. You may need to search for the right folder, that exists in yet another folder and then click on the file in order for that skill to be accessed. Your ability to access these files depends on the emotional framework that you are operating from.

When you are at home, you are focused on what is required, and can easily

access the skills needed to produce the desired result.

In competition, however, any number of factors begin to shift.

Your focus changes. You respond differently to your environment. And as a consequence, you find it more and more difficult to access the files that were so easily opened only a day or sometimes hours earlier; although your skill level hasn’t changed, your capacity to access those skills has.

Your ability to manage this comes with the development of mental strength; the ability to control your state and to consistently embrace positive habits and thought patterns that get us and keep us in the zone for competition.

To be continued next month in Part Two.

Jane Pike is an Equestrian Mental Skills Coach at www.confidentrider.online Jane specialises in giving riders the skills they need to ride with confidence and joy, and the mental fitness to be focused, on form and in the zone for competition.

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 35

"GOOD SORTS" REPORT

Stuart Bishell

ALLINFLEX DRESSAGE JUDGE OF THE YEAR Photo by Watson Equine Photography Story by Wendy Hamerton

STUART – OUR CONGRATUL ATIONS ON WINNING JUDGE OF THE YEAR

Thank you, I am genuinely chuffed to win!

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A DRESSAGE JUDGE?

About 18 years ago, Otago’s Graeme McCrostie had a very serious talk to me about what I could put back into eventing. He talked to me about me becoming an official, and ran through the options of course designer, technical delegate and cross country judge. He also talked about a pathway to becoming an FEI Eventing judge, which was the National XC Judge plus dressage judge, adjudicating through all of the Eventing phases. That was the track I chose!

So it turned out to be a very influential discussion in my life, and one which I truly value as being a life changing conversation.

Graeme advised me to get experience as a Cross Country judge and move through the ranks of eventing officials ranks. Once I was a National XC Judge AND a list 3 Dressage judge, Eventing might put me forward as an FEI judge.

So I set out to upskill, and learn to be a dressage judge.

At that time, I didn’t bank on enjoying judging dressage judging as much as I do now. Now when I judge

at an ESNZ Dressage event, I am there absolutely as a dressage judge - that is one of my two sports! I love the challenge of judging dressage.

When I eventually got onto the FEI Eventing list for 1* and 2* events, I wanted to progress to be an FEI 3* & 4* Eventing Judge. The dressage requirement for that is that you regularly judge at Prix St Georges level for your NF. So for that I had to progress to List 2, which I wanted to do anyway as a NZ Dressage judge. Win - win!

Dressage is very complex sport - for the competitors it is the skill to ride and perform well as a combination of empathy, athleticism and share talent. I am always looking for a truly harmonious combination. Judging it consistently and fairly is equally a huge challenge and a huge responsibility, which I truly strive to judge as fairly and consistently as possible.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A JUDGE AND WHAT ACCREDITATIONS DO YOU HOLD BOTH DISCIPLINES?

I am a List 2 ESNZ Dressage Judge, a List 1 Eventing XC Judge, Technical Adviser and an FEI 3* & 4* Eventing Judge.

I am a dressage judge for Dressage NZ and an eventing judge for Eventing NZ and the FEI. The roles are similar but different. I am not an Eventer

36 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

at Dressage, or a dressage judge at Eventing - I do both very seriously and independently.

I am also the AJO for my area (SCNO Dressage), and I am the Chair of the Eventing NZ Technical Advisory Committee, and represent Eventing on the National Technical Advisory Committee.

HAVE YOU COMPETED IN DRESSAGE AND/OR EVENTING?

I have always ridden and always tried to do well in dressage, but mostly focused on a good eventing dressage test. I grew up in Blenheim, and was reasonably successful at Pony Club especially at the gymkhanas and was proud to have won the Taylor Cup (Combined Training) & Blue Jewel Cup (Senior Dressage) at Marlborough Pony Club, helped hugely by Helen Ensor at the time.

After graduating from Lincoln University, I did the big OE and when I came back to NZ, I got a job in Timaru where I started hunting. This is where I met my wife Suzanne, who was Huntsman for South Canterbury at the time. We used to hunt as much as we could, but gradually I got more into competitive riding, and we both drifted out of hunting, Suzanne focused on helping a lot at Pony Club as our daughter Laura did both Pony Clubbing

"GOOD SORTS" REPORT and Show Hunter.

Suzanne deserves a medal for being the most supportive wife! She very rarely complains about how much I am away judging, which in the past 2 years has been more than half the weekends.

I evented for many years up to 2* level, with my fair share of success in the South Island, including winning the Amigo Trophy for the 1* 3DE, and the Dusky Bay trophy for 2* eventing in Canterbury. I got a couple of horses up to Advanced, but there weren’t Advanced classes in the South Island in my day! I always rode as an amateur, fitting riding around family and career, so competing nationally didn’t quite fit amongst everything else. I did have some good horses, who could have held their own (if they’d had had a better rider), particularly my favourite mare Feine Chance.

I have always done a small amount of dressage riding, fitting around my eventing, and benefitted from lessons with Andrea Raves, when she came to Timaru, as well as various jumping and eventing coaches. I did more pure dressage around 2005 to 2010 on my homebred Feine Supermod, (Zabalu/ Feine Chance) who was very successful up to Level 4, but unfortunately she had a degenerative condition which eventually caught up with her. After her, I was doing so much judging, I decided I would stop riding and concentrate just on judging. As some of us judges note, “It’s better that people wonder why you don’t than why you do” The difference between eventing dressage and “pure” dressage is often discussed – do you find it difficult

switching between the two Dressage is dressage. I don’t judge either Eventing dressage or pure dressage any differently. Both are judged following the scale of training!

Often the range of marks is a lot bigger on dressage day at Eventing, and that is always a challenge, but judges must be fair and reward the combinations that present the best tests Do you think the requirements have become closer in more recent years now that there are more warmbloods competing in eventing?

Probably it’s fair to say that eventing riders have come to realise they need to lead from the start, instead of playing catch-up - that has been the biggest difference/change.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT JUDGING?

I love watching dressage, when it is done well, with flair and some risks, it is fun, and I am totally in awe of those athletic riders and athletic horses. As a judge I feel absolutely privileged to have a front row seat to watch them. It is also a mental challenge to be fair and consistent, all day and every day.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE WISHING TO BECOME A JUDGE?

If you are going to do it, be prepared to make a huge commitment. Dressage NZ has wisely made the pathway to becoming a judge very transparent, but in order to be robust and achieve good quality judges, it takes serious commitment. Riders put so much time and effort into training, they absolutely deserve to correctly and fairly judged.

DO YOU HAVE A PARTICUL AR MOMENT THAT STAYS WITH YOU IN YOUR JUDGING CAREER TO DATE

I have been very fortunate to have judged at many great events in NZ. I lovely the camaraderie with riders and judges at all events, but at the big gigs it is a great honour and privilege to judge at the Dressage Nationals, South Island Champs and Young Rider (U25) Champs. I have also been lucky enough to have judged at the National Three Day and One Day Eventing Champs.

I have had several great opportunities off-shore in Eventing, judging in Thailand and China, where I was also asked judge some pure dressage. I have also Judged Eventing in Australia, the UK, France and Poland - as a compulsive traveller, these events, with likeminded people are brilliant. I am so proud to represent our country as a judge, and so grateful to my NZ training, that I can judge in these countries and be in-line with other judges from all over the world.

HAS ANY ONE JUDGE BEEN PARTICUL ARLY INFLUENTIAL IN YOUR CAREER?

Obviously Graeme McCrostie was a huge influence initially, but more recently our NZ based FEI Dressage judges have been very helpful, and are great role models, especially Helen Hughes-Keen and Sue Hobson. Linda Warren-Davey (and Canterbury Dressage) have always been very positive and encouraging, especially when I have been trying to upgrade.

YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE HERE sarah@snaffledesign.co.nz

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 37

OUT AND ABOUT

Dressage Nelson Pitt and Moore Winter Series Another hugely successful Pitt & Moore Winter Dressage Series has been hosted by Dressage Nelson.

The fifth year of the series was celebrated by all competitors at the final prize giving with a birthday cake specially made

by Paige Bowler-Berendt Rob Lane representing Pitt & Moore was on hand to help with the cake cutting. Rob is also a rider and always shows a keen interest in the Dressage Nelson activities.

Photos by Andreas Gabriel INTRODUCTORY PONY CHAMPION

Champion | Mikaela Macdonald - Jubilee Unforgettable Reserve | Amy Wassell - Ellangowan Monarch

INTRODUCTORY HORSE CHAMPION Champion | Tracey Heywood - Giavanna Reserve | Heloise Hildreth - Frostee Boy

L1 NON–GRADED CHAMPION HORSE

Champion | Antonia Lerb - Cassandra Reserve | Anneka Gerrie - Moves Like Jagger

L2 NON–GRADED CHAMPION HORSE

1.

Champion | Natasha Connolly - World Edition Reserve | Tessa Barnes - Jumping Jack Flash

L1 NON-GRADED PONY CHAMPION

Champion | Elliot Barker - Aintree Tamzin Reserve | Isa Hermens - My Winter Winds

YOUNG RIDER NON -GRADED CHAMPION Champion | Elliot Barker - Aintree Tamzin Reserve | Rilee McMeekin - Flying with Style

L1 OPEN CHAMPION Champion | Wendy Maclean - Quadro Pacific Flight Reserve | Kirsten Crabtree - TGP Aster Blue

L2 OPEN CHAMPION

Champion | Imogen Agnew - Folly Diva Reserve | Vanessa Baxter - Coalstar

L3 OPEN CHAMPION

Champion | Jan Morice - Denmark Reserve | Rachel Thomas - Gurteens Velvet

L4 OPEN CHAMPION

Champion | Helen Bowler - Escondido Grey Cloud

L5 OPEN CHAMPION

Champion | Frances Dick - Weltmeister AF Reserve | Louis Schindler - Schindlers Liszt

L6 OPEN CHAMPION

Champion | Anna Terrell -Caithness Masquerade Reserve | Penny Reiter - Jive Thyme

38 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

7.

OUT AND ABOUT

2.

3.

1. Annie Baird, winner of raffle organised by Meila Picard for Nelson squad members 2. Rob Lane and Helen Bowler cut the cake 3. Elliott Barker - Aintree Tamzin 4. Anna Terrell (Caithness Masquerade) and Penny Reiter on Sue McCallum’s Jive Thyme 5. Helen Bowler - Escondido Grey Cloud 6. Mikaela McDonald - Jubilee Unforgettable 7. Tracey Heywood - Giavanna

4.

6.

5.

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 39

NATIONAL NEWS

LET THE NEW SEASON OF DRESSAGE BEGIN! LIVAMOL FEI WORLD DRESSAGE CHALLENGE 2017 Friday 1 December McLeans Island NEC Dressage NZ welcomes IAH Livamol as the new naming rights partner for the 2017 FEI World Dressage Challenge. Nominations will be open Equestrian Entries from 1 Sept and close on Monday 3rd October.

NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE BATES NATIONALS Amateur Championship at levels 1 to 4 will be run alongside the Bates Open Championships at the Bates National Dressage Championships as separate classes.

Eligibility is based around rider categories. Qualification for the Championships will be at Regional Events with the same qualification for both championships. The term “Amateur” is connected to rider category status and bears no reference to the term amateur vs professional in terms of earning income in the sport. Amateur Championships Sponsors for 2018 are Dunstan HorseFeeds, JLT Insurance, Livamol and Back on Track SUPER 5 DRESSAGE LEAGUE The 2017-18 Super 5 League comprises a points series in each island at all graded Levels 1-9 (top 5 points only to count) plus an island final at both the South Island Festival of Dressage and the Bates National Championships. National Super 5 rankings will be determined from % in each level at both these events.

Tests used for Super 5 League at Premier League Events: Levels 1 to 5 - C Tests, Level 6 - FEI PSG v 2017, Level 7 - FEI Intermediate I v 2017, Level 8 FEI Intermediate B v 2017, Level 9 Regional Events - FEI Intermediate II or Grand Prix 2017. South Island Festival of Dressage & Bates National Championships SRS Final - FEI Intermediate II 2017. Points table managed directly by Dressage NZ ZILCO MUSICAL FREESTYLE SERIES The crowd pleasing Zilco Musical Freestyle Series will be a feature again this season. The competition comprises two Island Series contested at Premier League Events (Top 5 scores to count). The North Island Series completes at the Horse of the Year Show and the South Island Series completes at the South Island Festival of Dressage. The series includes Levels 2 to 9 (Advanced levels 6/7 combined). Points table managed directly by Dressage NZ ELITE EQUINE YOUNG DRESSAGE HORSE CHAMPIONSHIPS The purpose of the competitions are to select the best young horse which is progressing on the correct way of training, with the potential to capably perform at International Dressage level. The Elite Equine National Young Horse Dressage Championship & Age Group Championships will be held at the Bates National Championships 15 –18 Feb 2018 at Manfeild Park. Elite Equine are also naming rights sponsors of the Young Horse Festival at Taupo NEC 19/20 April to be held in conjunction with the 2018 FEI World Dressage Challenge PRESTIGE EQUESTRIAN DRESSAGE FUTURES PRIZE The Prestige Equestrian Futures Prize will be awarded to the best performed combination competing in the Super 5 League at Premier League Events from October 2017 – February 2018 and meeting the following eligibility conditions.

4 -10 year old horses competing at Levels 1 - 7 with riders who have no grading points in Level 8 or above on any horse. The prize is a fabulous Prestige Saddle.

(Riders may only win the saddle prize once) Points table managed directly by Dressage NZ 40 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

NATIONAL NEWS AMS SADDLERY PONY & YOUNG RIDER PERFORMANCE LEAGUE AMS Saddlery Pony & Young Rider Performance League aims to increase participation at a Pony & Young Rider level and to establish a culture where these riders compete against their peers of a similar age and experience. Every Premier League Event, will run Pony and Young Rider classes at Levels 1 and 2, plus scores will be taken from Super 5 tests at Level 3 and above. The league will culminate at the U25 NZ Pony & Championships in April 2018. Competitors must be 20 years or under at 1 August 2017 to participate. AMS League winner to receive a fabulous dressage saddle prize generously sponsored by AMS Saddlery (Auckland). Points table managed directly by Dressage NZ EQUESTRIAN ENTRIES NZ U25 NATIONAL DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS April 21/22 2018 - TAUPO NEC Featuring the Hyland Pony Championship & Waldebago Young Rider Championship, York Corporation Inter-Island Team Challenge and the final round of the AMS Saddlery Pony & Young Rider Performance League.. No prior qualification required.

Entries only on www.equestrianentries.co.nz FLYING HORSE MASTERS TOP TEN LEAGUE This competition is designed to promote dressage competition and participation for Masters Riders. The Flying Horse series provides an opportunity for riders to compete against peers at five different levels at all levels of events and competition regardless whether riders compete locally, regionally or nationally. The competition will be open to riders 50 years & over as at 1 January 2017 and is run in five main divisions plus special awards from 1st August 2017 until 30th April 2018. View full conditions and enter on www.equestrianentries.co.nz ALLINFLEX AMATEUR TOP TEN LEAGUE The AllinFlex Amateur Top Ten League is held from 1 August 2017 until 30th April 2018. The competition is open to Category CN - C5 riders aged 21yrs and over as at 1 August 2017 (C5 riders have less than 15 Level 6 or above points) Riders must be annual competitive members of the ESNZ. All participating horses must be ESNZ registered and have an annual dressage for Dressage. View full conditions and enter on www.equestrianentries.co.nz HORSE SPORTS YOUNG RIDER AMATEUR TOP TEN LEAGUE Pony & Young Riders who have earned less than 15pts points at level 5 or above, and are competing on horses or ponies up to Level 4 at 1/8/17 can compete in the Horse Sports League. All participating riders, ponies & horses must be fully ESNZ registered and horses and ponies must have an annual start for dressage. Scores from 1/8/17 until 30/4/18 will count towards the Horse Sports League. Level 1 horses & ponies must be competed by riders with less than 15 Level 3 or above points at 1/8/17, Level 2 by riders with less than 15 Level 4 or above points and Level 3 & 4 and above by riders with less than 15 points at level 5 and above as at 1/8/17.

The top 10 scores in graded competitions will count. In the event of a tie, the ave Top 10 score will win. There will be rosettes for the top placed horse and top placed pony in each area, plus national champions and reserves in all six divisions. View full conditions and enter on www.equestrianentries.co.nz EQUITAK EXCEL AREA TEAM CHALLENGE The Equitak Excel Area Team Challenge is for ESNZ area competition at Premier League events and culminating at the National Championships. Points are earned in the Super 5 League and at the end of the season, the top 10 point earners in an area will be added to determine the Team Challenge winner. The winning area will receive a $1250 scholarship to be used for training and development in the area. The top 10 placegetters will also receive an Equitak Excel Team sash.

Points table managed directly by Dressage NZ AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 41

NATIONAL NEWS

STOP PRESS AN EXCITING NEW FOUR DAY DRESSAGE SHOW SCHEDULED FOR 19-22 APRIL 2018 AT TAUPO NEC Dressage NZ is to host an innovative event on the 2017/18 Dressage Calendar aiming to showcase the future and maximise resources.

The first two days will feature young horses and ponies and the 2018 FEI World Dressage Challenge. By bringing the Challenge forward to April riders will have had a full season of competition and a chance to consolidate performance. It will provide an extended season focus for many riders. To maximise the use of the venue, young horse and pony classes will be held alongside in the new indoor arena as part of the Elite Equine Young Dressage Horse Festival.

On the Saturday and Sunday 21/22, Equestrian Entries Under 25 National Dressage Championships will be held.

This event truly represents all aspects of the future of Dressage NZ. 4,5,6,7 year old horses and ponies, developing international riders of all levels and the U25 nationals Championships Watch this space for more details

42 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

INTRODUCING NEW DRESSAGE SPONSOR PARTNERSHIPS HERITAGE - HERITAGE EQUINE E Q U I N E Following their support of key events in 2016, Auckland based Heritage Equine are supporting the Level 3 Super 5 League for the next two years. Welcome to the League Rachel & Richard Gradowski-Smith Rachel from Heritage Equine said "Heritage Equine is delighted to become the Dressage NZ Level 3 Super 5 Sponsor. As a dressage family we have a heartfelt interest in the sport and desire to support dressage within NZ. Heritage Equine has 3 strands to its business and all our products have been tried and tested by us. Heritage Saddles where we offer a number of Quality brands including Bliss of London, Loxley by Bliss, Bates, Fairfax and Kent and Masters. Another division covers the Horse Trucks built in the UK by our partners, so we can offer bespoke NZ compliant builds tailored to your requirements. Finally the stabling solutions offered by Monarch Equestrian UK provide our customers with exceptional stables to meet individual needs."

LIVAMOL BECOMES NEW NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR FOR 2017 FEI WORLD DRESSAGE CHALLENGE Dressage NZ and Mr Chris Lawlor, CEO of International Animal Health, are pleased to announce a new sponsorship of the 2017 Livamol FEI World Dressage Challenge to be held on Friday, 1 Dec 2017 at the Christchurch National Equestrian Centre.

This extends the Livamol branding with the existing sponsorships of the National Amateur Championships at the Bates National Championships, the U25 National Championships and the Horse of the Year Show.

“We are thrilled to have an expanding involvement with our own Kerrin Beatson, who as many of you know already has a great connection with Dressage NZ, not only as a representative of the sponsor, but he can often be heard across the airways at major dressage events. International Animal Health Products and in particular the Livamol range, are highly regarded in the equestrian world as the company is a major manufacturer and marketer of high quality products so we are pleased to be able to extend the value of this partnership” said Dressage Sport Manager Wendy Hamerton.

NATIONAL NEWS BACK ON TRACK AND DRESSAGE NZ ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP Dressage NZ welcomes Feilding based Colin & Toni Louisson, the new owners of Back on Track NZ, as the sponsors of the 2017 Dressage Premier League and the Level 4 National Amateur Championship at the 2018 Bates Nationals. This new partnership sees the Dressage NZ summer season of qualifiers and key events rebranded under one exciting new banner, giving a consistency of quality and branding for major events on the dressage calendar.

This partnership increases the value for

all national sponsors knowing they are partners of the Back on Track Premier League providing nationally recognized series for Dressage NZ competitors.

Colin and Toni also see the Amateur Championships as way of further supporting the development of the sport recognising the ever important amateur divisions of competitors.

The Premier League events must feature one or more of the following series: Super 5 League, Zilco Dressage Freestyle to Music Series, Equitak Excel Area Team Challenge, Prestige Equestrian Futures and / or AMS Pony & Young Rider Performance League.

Back on Track Premier League events are also qualifying events All-in-Flex Amateur Top 10 League, the Flying Horse Masters Top 10 League and the HorseSports Pony and Young Amateur Rider Top 10 League Five Back on Track Vouchers will be won by Lucky Draw at each of the South Island Championships and Bates Nationals by riders who have competed in one or more Premier League events and associated series prior to these events. Riders must be competing at the SICH or Bates Nationals to be eligible.

Riders may only win one voucher

SOUTH ISLAND BACK ON TRACK PREMIER LEAGUE EVENTS 14/15 Oct

Sth Canterbury/Nth Otago

Winchester

21/22 Oct

Marlborough

Marlborough Equestrian Park

11/12 Nov

Otago

Taieri SG – Mosgiel

18/19 Nov

Ashburton

Ashburton SG

2/3 Dec

Canterbury

Christchurch NEC

9/10 Dec

Southland

Gore SG

13/14 Jan

Nelson

Rough Island Equestrian Park

27/28 Jan

SI Championships

Christchurch NEC

NORTH ISLAND BACK ON TRACK PREMIER LEAGUE EVENTS 20/22 Oct

Bay of Plenty

Taupo NEC

28/29 Oct

Central Districts

Manfeild Park - Feilding

11/12 Nov

Wellington

Solway SG - Masterton

18/19 Nov

Gisborne

Gisborne

25/26 Nov

Northern Hawke’s Bay

Hawkes Bay SG - Hastings

2/3 Dec

Southern Hawke’s Bay

Dannevirke SG

8/10 Dec

Waitemata

Woodhill Sands

16/17 Dec

Taihape

Taihape SG

16/17 Dec

Northland

Barge Park - Whangarei

13/14 Jan

Taranaki

Egmont SG - Hawera

19/21 Jan

AMDG Festival & NI Championships

Clevedon SG

20/21 Jan

Wairarapa

Solway SG - Masterton

27/28 Jan

Waikato Festival of Dressage

Taupo NEC

15/18 Feb

Bates National Championships CDI 3*/Y

Manfeild Park - Feilding

13/18 Mar

Horse of the Year Show CDI 3*/ Y

Hawkes Bay SG - Hastings

21/22 Apr

NZ U25 Dressage Championships

Taupo NEC

AUGUST 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 43

NATIONAL COMPETITION CALENDER

WHAT’S ON AUGUST 2017 | NORTH ISLAND 6

Waikato Equestrian Centre Winter Series - Final Day

TE

Waikato Equestrian Centre

12

Taupo Dressage Tournament (Dunstan Accumulator)

LE

North Island National Equestrian Centre

13

Dressage Rotorua 2017 Spring Series Day 1

LE

North Island National Equestrian Centre

13

Horowhenua DG Ribbon Day

TE

Waikanae Park

13

Auckland Manukau Dressage Group

TE

Clevedon Show Grounds

20

NHB Training Day

TE

HB Equestrian Park

26/27 Dressage Taranaki Winter Event

LE

Egmont Showgrounds (TSB Indoor Arena)

26/27 Fiber Fresh Spring Dressage Festival

LE

Woodhill Sands

TE

Waikato Equestrian Centre

27

Waikato Equestrian Centre Winter Pony Series Final

SEPTEMBER 2017 | NORTH ISLAND 3

Wairarapa Dressage Spring Series

L

Solway Showgrounds Masterton

9

Taupo Dressage Group Ribbon Day

T

NI NEC Taupo

Pryde’s EasiFeed Spring Dressage Festival Event 2

L

Woodhill Sands

10

AMDG Spring Series Day one

L

Clevedon

10

Tauranga Dressage Group Registered Day

L

Tauranga Racecourse

17

Dressage Rotorua 2017 Spring Series Day 2

L

NI NEC Taupo

17

Gisborne Dressage Spring Tournament

L

Gisborne Showgrounds

17

Dressage Northland

L

Barge Park Showgrounds

17

Wairarapa Dressage Spring Series

L

Solway Showgrounds Masterton

23/24 PEL Equine Spring Dressage Festival FINAL

L

Woodhill Sands

9/10

24

Horowhenua Dressage Group Spring Tournament

L

Foxton Racecourse

30

Dressage Taranaki Spring Fling

L

Egmont A & P Showgrounds

AUGUST 2017 | SOUTH ISLAND 6

Marlborough Equestrian Barn WS 4

T

Marlborough Equestrian Park

6

Canterbury Dressage WS 3

T

South Island National Equestrian Centre

LE

Winchester Showgrounds

LE

Harrs Road

L

South Island National Equestrian Centre

L

Rough Island Equestrian Park

26/27 SCNO Registered & Unregistered 27

NEG Day 1 Winter Series

SEPTEMBER 2017 | SOUTH ISLAND 3

Canterbury Dressage Spring Series Day 1

16/17 Nelson September Eyeopener 17

NLEC Spring Dressage

L

Rangiora A & P Showgrounds

17

Ashburton DG Spring Tournament

L

Ashburton A & P Showgrounds

L

Marlborough Equestrian Park

NEG Day 1 Spring Series

L

Harrs Road

Central Otago Dressage Spring Tournament

L

Cromwell Racecourse

23/24 Dunstan Horsefeeds Summer Seies 1&2 24 30/1

For more details of each event & venue, and contact details go to www.nzequestrian.org.nz/dressage/competition/calendar 44 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017

DIRECTORY

DRESSAGE DIRECTORY Dressage Area Group Websites and other useful links.

Equestrian Sports NZ/Dressage www.nzequestrian.org.nz/dressage www.facebook.com/DressageNZ www.facebook.com/EquestrianSportsNZ www.facebook.com/DressageNZU25Championships www.facebook.com/StableoftheStallions Dressage Bay of Islands www.sporty.co.nz/bayofislandsdressagegroup Dressage Northland www.sporty.co.nz/dressagenorthland

Dressage Central Districts www.sportsground.co.nz/dressagecentraldistricts

Dressage Waitemata www.dressagewaitemata.co.nz

Dressage Taranaki www.dressagetaranaki.co.nz

Dressage Warkworth www.warkworthdressage.webs.com

Dressage Wellington www.dressagewellington.org.nz

Dressage Auckland - Manukau www.amdg.org.nz

Dressage Horowhenua www.horowhenuadressage.com

Dressage Waikato www.dressagewaikato.co.nz

Dressage Wairarapa www.dressagewairarapa.com

Dressage Morrinsville -Te Aroha www.mtdg.co.nz

Dressage Nelson www.nelsondressage.webs.com

Dressage Gisborne www.gisbornedressage.org.nz

Dressage Marlborough

www.sporty.co.nz/marlboroughdressage

Dressage Bay of Plenty www.dressagebayofplenty.co.nz

Dressage Canterbury

www.canterburydressage.co.nz

Dressage Eastern Bay of Plenty www.sportsground.co.nz/ebd

Dressage Otago www.dressageotago.webs.com

Dressage Rotorua www.sporty.co.nz/dressagerotorua

Dressage Southland www.dressage-southland.com

Dressage Tauranga www.dressagetauranga.co.nz

National Equestrian Centres www.nzequestrian.org.nz

Dressage Taupo www.sportsground.co.nz/taupodressagegroup

Tielcey Park Equestrian Centre www.tielceypark.co.nz (Manawatu)

Dressage Northern Hawkes Bay www.sportsground.co.nz/dressagenhb

North Loburn Equestrian Centre www.nlec.co.nz (Canterbury)

Dressage Central Hawkes Bay www.sportsground.co.nz/chbdressage

Northern Equestrian Group www.freewebs.com/northerneq (Canterbury)

Dressage Southern Hawkes Bay www.sportsground.co.nz/shbdressage

Northgate Lodge www.northgatelodgeequestrian.com (Northland)

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46 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | AUGUST 2017