the Grand Prix Kur, but more recently developed and has been the driving force behind the FEI’s children’s tests.
F E AT U R E
A welcome visitor With borders reopening and travel normalising, what a treat to have 5* dressage judge Katrina Wüst visit our shores again. REBECCA ASHTON reports.
K
atrina Wüst is no stranger to
Prix rider, she successfully guides riders
Australia. Fresh from her role
into a better way of going. Katrina’s
as president of the Tokyo
thoughtfulness and skill also shine when
Olympics ground jury, she judged at
analysing freestyles, providing more
the Sydney CD-Lite, and gave a judges’
creative and interesting lines to lift tests
clinic after the event. Although literature
to another level.
and journalism have been an income
Always thinking of new ways to improve the sport, Katrina not only introduced the degree of difficulty system for
mainstay over the years, judging the top sport is her passion and as a Grand
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Spectators were treated to 11 combinations over the day, each presenting a test, from young horse to Grand Prix. Afterwards Katrina guided each rider in ways to improve their marks, a bit like a protocol day. Seven riders demonstrated national and FEI dressage tests, Jessica Skinner on her pony Burrowa Bashar gave an example of the children’s tests, and three riders presented their freestyles. Right through the levels, one of the most common themes was to first get the horse over the back. Katrina wanted them to open up their backs and stretch down to the bit with good bend in their ribs. Her aim was to dispel any muscle tightness before putting them up into collection. This resulted in more fluent, active, harmonious and better balanced horses right through the day. When helping Denise Rogan and her Prix St Georges horse Greco, Katrina encouraged her to: “Keep the frame open. Collect and sit a little more. And
