DressageNZ Bulletin

Issue 20 | March 2018

Bates & NZ Dressage National Championships THE 70% CLUB

Jonny Hilberath - Masterclass part four

TAKAPOTO ESTATE

EDITORIAL

FROM THE EDITOR WELCOME TO ISSUE TWENTY OF THE DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN A tribute to Bates Saddles and twenty consecutive years of naming rights sponsorship is appropriate as we celebrate another list of NZ Champions for 2018. A fabulous spectacle of purple and gold and an unprecedented level of competition across the grades was evident throughout the event with a fabulous array of Bates rugs from across the decades on display.

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

The Super 5 League wrapped up for another year with the series champions decided. The league is the incentive for riders to get out and about during the season and now that this series is both % and placed based, riders compete against both the field and themselves to earn those extra points.

Editor: Wendy Hamerton E: dressage@nzequestrian.org.nz Design and Production: www.snaffledesign.co.nz

Read on in this months issue to see how it all unraveled.

Graphic Design Sales & Advertising: Sarah Gray Email: sarah@snaffledesign.co.nz Copyright Š Snaffle Design and Dressage NZ 2017 Cover Image: Zoie Gray and FIS Santo Photo Credit: Libby Law Back Image: Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten Photo Credit: Libby Law

A huge huge thanks to the League sponsors, Vetpro, Matthews Hanoverians, Heritage Equine, Dunstan Horsefeeds, Fiber Fresh, Hobson Horsecoaches, Custom Logistics, Andrea Raves Dressage and Superior Rubber Surfaces. I estimate that list equates to one hundred and twenty years of collective support.

Our wonderful summer daylight hours are drawing in as we head toward Horse of the Year Show. A show like no other in New Zealand and probably the southern hemisphere – and may be the world.... The atmosphere means it can be a show of surprises. Expect the unexpected.

It's been an exciting couple of months being able to attend the Waikato Champs at the Taupo NEC and observe progress there. The new surface in the indoor arena has received rave reviews and the complex will be a real asset when completed. The work that has been done so far by a small band of volunteers at the Taupo NEC is exceptional.

I also recently attend the inaugural showjumping event at the privately owned Takapoto Estate on the shores of Lake Karapiro. The planning that has gone into designing this European style venue is simply tantalizing and without doubt will change the face of equestrian events in New Zealand.

I look forward to seeing many of you at Horse of the Year Show.

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CONTENTS

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CONTENT

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NATIONALS REVIEW

TOMORROW'S STARS SHINE

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MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH

RIDER PROFILE JULIE PEARSON

It really was a beautiful show, we share the results with you from Feilding ...

Linda Warren-Davey covers the Young Dressage Horse classes at the nationals...

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TAKAPOTO ESTATE

JONNY HILBERATH

SERIES LEADERBOARDS

WHAT'S ON

We were blown away by this beautiful venue and the recent WEG fundraising event...

The final part of this amazing four part training series...

Who, what where? we cover all of the recent updates to the leaderboards...

High perfomance for a horse who needs a low sugar diet...

We catch up with Julie on how she's produced two Grand Prix horses...

The calender of upcoming events on the NZL dressage circuit...

NATIONAL NEWS

They’ve won the Horse of the Year title, they’ve been to Aachen and the Rio Olympics, but until 2018, the NZ Championship title had eluded this spirited pair.

Julie Brougham & Vom Feinsten

JULIE BROUGHAM CLAIMS THAT ELUSIVE NATIONAL MEDAL Article by Wendy Hamerton Photos by Libby Law

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NATIONAL NEWS Caitlin Benzie and Rosari Royal Gem

Tracy Johnson, Eddy De Wolff van Westerrode and Betty Brown

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he Grand Prix was the qualifying round with the championship determined from the results of the Hanoverian Society Grand Prix Special and the Cartown Grand Prix Freestyle.

Julie and Steiny won the qualifier with a very accurately ridden test and demonstrating real prowess in the pirouettes for 69.913%, just ahead of John Thompson on Bates Antonello 68.37%. Unfortunately for John, Antonello tried too hard in the first piaffe causing a major loss of balance so lost marks for the piaffe, the transition out and in the passage. Although they regained some quality passage, the dent in the score could not be clawed back.

Dressage fans were all set for another close fought contest between this pair in the special and they were not disappointed. The victory for

John (70.83%) was far from clear cut with only two of the judges, Ricky MacMillan (AUS) and Eddy De Wolff van Westerodde (NED) having them in the lead. De Wolff van Westerodde was particularly impressed scoring the pair at 70.83%. Julie had to settle for runner up on 70.66%.

The Freestyle proved to be another cliff-hanger. Bates Antonello drew number five to go but there was some drama in the arena preceding his test.

Caitlin Benzie at number four, aboard the gorgeous dapple grey Rosari Royal Gem powered down the centre line and halted and so did her music.

Despite best efforts it could not be restarted so they left the arena given the opportunity by the ground jury to return at the end of the class to try again. All credit to Caitlin who then got her great supporter, her Mum Jeanette, to gallop off on foot back to

the truck park, pick up the computer and get back to the music station in double quick time. She then cleverly and coolly managed a second warm up under floodlights to go on to score a personal best of 66.675% and sixth place.

Antonello came in with new music and a new routine highlighted by some magnificent piaffe and passage at the beginning. His changes are usually 100% reliable so a mistake in the two’s surprised everyone and by his own admission John said afterwards “I lost my calm – my heart rate accelerated. I had to change my plan. It was a valuable lesson not to let that happen – you need to stay cool when you make a mistake” Julie and Steiny were scheduled second last to go. They delivered from the entry starting with happy, light music which truly enhanced

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NATIONAL NEWS their performance in the trot and piaffe/ passage. But then this pair too made an uncharacteristic miscommunication breaking into a couple of steps of canter at the start of the trot half pass.

The cell phones were out in the crowd watching the final results on live scoring and it proved to be Julie and Steiny’s year for the Burkner Medal taking out the Freestyle with 73.7% from John and AJ’s 73.25%.

Abbie Deken and KH Ambrose had to be content with third place again on the very consistent the KH Ambrose - the little power pack who simply gives his all.

There were several new combinations having their first CDI at Feilding and one to show some huge potential for the future is Wendi Williamson’s Don Amour MH. He showed a mix of spectacular and inexperience but so cleverly ridden by Wendi who has been able to concentrate on him while Deja Vu recovers from a minor surgery.

Paula Stuart (Waikato) and the Anamour gelding Aztec Lad have been working hard since their level 8 debut last year "It was was quite an emotional experience " said Paula afterwards. Initially Paula thought their inexperience at this level only warranted a start in the national Grand Prix but decided to “give the CDI a go” and the smile on Paula’s face said it all at prizegiving having scored solid 5th places in both the Special and the Freestyle.

Only 0.75% separated 5th – 8th place in the Freestyle – all riders on 66%, so the crowd were treated to a dressage competition that would be equal to a CDI 3* in any country.

1. Paula Stuart and Aztec Lad 2. Susan Tomlin and Dancealong with sponsor of the National Grand Prix, Nigel McCoard from Kiwi Arena Rakes

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NATIONAL NEWS

“How are you going to spend your $500 Steiny ? ” asks AJ Photo Libby Law

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GRATIFYING RESULT FOR THE SEVENTY PER CENT 70% CLUB

he Seventy Per Cent Club led by dressage enthusiast Beth Bielski and her equally enthusiastic supporters must be well pleased to have seen their target achieved. The target was to encourage New Zealand based riders to train hard and lift their scores by offering a cash prize for cracking 70% in a Grand Prix or Grand Prix Special which jackpotted to $9,000 by 2015.

This was the record breaking year when Penny Castle and Magnus Spero scored 70.02 to win the Grand Prix class at the Horse of the Year Show. They received $600.00 in prize money and $9,000 from the Seventy Per Cent Club jackpot. “I felt like John Walker winning a gold medal – I cried with excitement” says Penny recalling this big win.

The club moved their focus to the National Championships in 2016 where the jackpot went unclaimed. In 2017, Wendi Williamson (Deja Vu MH: 71.22%) and John Thompson (JHT Antonello: 70.640%) shared the spoils in the CDIW Grand Prix.

And now in 2018, the Seventy Per Cent Club feels their job is done. In the NZ Hanoverian Society Grand Prix Special John Thompson (JHT Antonello) scored 70.830% and Julie Brougham (Vom Feinsten) 70.660% each receiving a bonus $500 and wrapping up the exclusive club created by the wonderful supporters of Dressage who had the vision to move the bar higher.

Thank you all

take the time to

NURTURE let your relationships

FLOURISH

& watch your happiness

GROW

with flowers from

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NATIONAL NEWS

Stand up for the champions, Holly Leach and her Australian bred stallion HP Fresco who took out the overall Young Dressage Horse title for 2018 Photo: Libby Law

NEW ZEALAND YOUNG HORSES SHINE BRIGHT Linda Warren-Davey reports from the Young Horse experience at the National championships

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real feature of the 2018 Bates Nationals this year was the Elite Equine Nutrition Young Dressage Horse competition program which included an evening seminar with 5* FEI judge Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode (NED), the foreign judge for the CDI component of the event. The Bates organising committee were fortunate to have secured Eduard (Eddy), as his experience and in-depth knowledge has led him to judging at the Rio 2016 Olympics and preside at

many FEI World Cup qualifiers and finals, World Championships and the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for young horses in Verden.

With 25 young horse combinations spread reasonably evenly across the three age groups, all vying for the Elite Equine Young Horse National Championship titles the competition was always going to be tight, and the quality shown in many of the combinations performance was reflected in the high scores.

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A slight change in the first-round format this year saw two horses at a time competing in the arena, with the test being commanded through the loud speaker system. The many spectators watching the competition enjoyed this round as they were able to compare the horses and their own judging with the judges scores.

Three of NZ’s FEI judges Linda Warren-Davey, Sue Hobson and Helen Hughes- Keen, all Australian accredited YH judges made up the judge’s team led by Eddy. The judges

NATIONAL NEWS were looking for a solid foundation of training showing that the scale of training was being closely followed and understood. The horses all coped well in the atmosphere of the indoor arena, and there were some real highlights in many of the test presentations.

A mix of riders, judges, breeders and trainers attended the Thursday night seminar where Eduard began by showing videos of the winning horses at the World Championships explaining how the judge’s team must work together, marking must be quick with separate collective marks awarded; one for each pace, submission and overall perspective.

Meanwhile, one of the judges gives an overall summary immediately at the end of the test whilst the rider walks around. These shows are also important for breeders, being ideal for promoting the breeding lines, and for selling horses as well. Eddy went on to say, “We are always looking for quality in training – the difference in normal tests is there is more emphasis on mistakes, where in the young dressage horse classes, the emphasis is on quality of training”. A rider asked how much emphasis is given to the rider and Eddy replied a good rider will always emphasise a good horse....

When asked what is the right time to start the education of a dressage horse – Eddy replied “Normally three

Hannah Burden and the Furstenball mare Fanfare MH Photo: Libby Law

and a half years, although not all horses are ready then, so then you would wait a little longer” (this is a very hard question to answer due to horses maturing at different times) We then looked at a five year old test – there was some head tilting and the occasional loss of balance and Eddie emphasised “We don’t kill these little mistakes – we just take it with us and consider it in the submission mark” There were questions about where to penalise a strong contact – again, in the submission mark. Eddie then went on to explain the philosophy of the overall concept and where it fits within a riders training program.

“We try to explain what riders can do to get a higher mark, because it’s not so much about mistakes, but about the quality of training so some mistakes can be marked lightly, but if there are too many mistakes, then we

have to start taking notice of them”.

“Suppleness, balance and rhythm are all key indicators of the foundation of good training”. There were plenty of questions from the audience about the expectations of the tests for each age group, and Eddy was able to explain the various aspects and even how to ride some movements, the release of the reins (give and take) and what the judges wanted to see in this movement.

Eddy finished by talking about the pressure on judges in today’s world of social media and how a judge can never please everyone, and of course, the more important the show, the more pressure and how the different position of each judge can give a different aspect on the marks.

I asked Eddy if he could give me his overall impression of the young horses and combinations he saw

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NATIONAL NEWS and some words of advice for our riders and breeders. He replied......"I was impressed by the quality of all the horses. And it’s important to remember we judge the quality of the training!! And not who bought the most expensive horse. Of course, super gaits are nice to judge, as nobody can make a donkey an Olympic champion, but it is also the quality of training we reward. Three good gaits, good training that follows the correct way and take your time as there are no short cuts. That is the secret of success".

It was an absolute pleasure and an honour to have a judge of this quality in our neck of the woods, and it would be wonderful to have Eddie back again in the future.

It’s also exciting to see our young horse numbers grow, our young horse competitions increase, and as our country begins to further understand and accept the young horse concept the future of New Zealand dressage looks bright.

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"it’s important to remember we judge the quality of the training!! And not who bought the most expensive horse. Of course, super gaits are nice to judge, as nobody can make a donkey an Olympic champion."

- Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode

RESULTS

BATES NATIONAL DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS TIRONUI TROPHY GRAND PRIX FREESTYLE Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten Reserve John Thompson and JHT Antonello

YOUNG RIDER CHAMPION Lucarne Dolley and Devils Chocolate RESERVE Caitlin Moseley and Pot of Gold

NZ HANOVERIAN SOCIETY AWARD L1 – L3 Hannah Burden and Georgia MH

L1 OPEN CHAMPION - AZTEC TROPHY Hannah Burden and Georgia MH RESERVE Kellie Hamlett and Astek Geronimo

NZ HANOVERIAN SOCIETY AWARD L4 & above Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten MASTERS LEVEL 1-4 Diane Wallace and KP Dexter Reserve Raewyn Passey and Jembrae Rattle N Hum MASTERS LEVEL 5-9 Diane Wallace and Profile RESERVE Carole Christensen and Vollrath Leila ANAMOUR MEMORIAL AWARD Vanessa Way and NRM Andreas EQUIBREED ADVANCED BREEDER AWARD Brenda Bishop for NRM Andreas YOUNG HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP Holly Leach and HP Fresco NZ BREEDER AWARD Matthews Hanoverians HELEN HOLDEN MEMORIAL TROPHY - TEAMS EVENT Taranaki - Lucarne Dolley - Devils Chocolate, Abbie Deken - KH Ambrose, Anna Cole - MF Candy Crush, Vanessa Way - NRM KH Arion L1 AMATEUR CHAMPION Caitlin Rennie and Eastdale Foxtrot RESERVE Antonia Verissimo and KS Falklore I See Red L2 AMATEUR CHAMPION Geraldine Managh and Rosies Prince Charming RESERVE Emma Wilson and Raupapa Donnerita L3 AMATEUR CHAMPION Tania Smith and Donnerbella II RESERVE Samantha Fechney and JK Lucazen L4 AMATEUR CHAMPION Zoie Gray and FIS Santo RESERVE Nicole Sweney and Flute Noir L5 AMATEUR CHAMPION Julie Fraser and Arnage Rhumba RESERVE Alison Addis and Whistledown Kristopha

L2 OPEN CHAMPION - KILLALA TROPHY John Thompson and JHT Chemistry RESERVE Kallista Field and Sayonara FE L3 OPEN CHAMPION - TUNA LODGE TROPHY Wendi Williamson and Bon Jovi MH RESERVE Diane Wallace and KP Dexter L4 OPEN CHAMPION - DOORNBOS TROPHY Gaylene Lennard and Jax Johnson RESERVE Kallista Field and Felix Westfalia FE L5 OPEN CHAMPION - KENTUCKY TROPHY Holly Leach and HP Fresco RESERVE Vanessa Way and NSC Pronto L6 OPEN CHAMPION - HOBSON TROPHY Melissa Galloway and Windermere JObèi W RESERVE Lucarne Dolley and Ardmore L7 OPEN CHAMPION - SURREY TROPHY Vanessa Way and NRM KH Arion RESERVE Kieryn Walton and Rosari Don Carlos L8 OPEN CHAMPION - TROTTER TROPHY Vanessa Way and NRM Andreas RESERVE Melissa Galloway and Windermere Johanson W L9 OPEN CHAMPION Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten RESERVE John Thompson and JHT Antonello PARA GRADE III Anthea Dixon and On Twilight RESERVE Amiee Prout and Laghmor PARA GRADE IV Rachel Stock and HPH Benedict RESERVE Louise Duncan and Wolkenstein BC PARA GRADE V Kyrie Gausden and I Romulus RESERVE Jo Jackson and JD Flash

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MITAVITE EQUINE NUTRITION

YOUR MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH

QUESTION BY: DALE ALLISON

My vet has recommended my older horse should have a low sugar diet. What should I feed if the horse is in moderate work ?

LOW SUGAR, LOW STARCH DIETS FOR THE HIGH PERFORMANCE HORSE Article by Gail Sramek BAppSc Agr– Nutritionist to Mitavite

High performance diets have historically been based on a cereal grain ration fed with roughage. The high level of sugar and starches in the grains provide energy for the horse to perform, but it can come with complications.

Raw, cracked and rolled grains are poorly digested and can lead to acidosis, laminitis or colic by overloading the digestive tract. Although more modern processing methods such as steam extrusion improve the digestion of grains, owners and trainers are finding not all horses need a high cereal grain diet to obtain the energy they need to compete at elite levels.

Well digested, low starch, low sugar, high oil, nutrient dense concentrates are becoming more popular to provide horses with the correct level of energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and electrolytes without the complications of a cereal grain based ration.

By feeding a nutrient balancer with no added grains, such as Mitavite® Munga®

with a steam extruded rice based energy supplement such as Vitamite® Show Primer® and added oils and super fibres such as Performa 3® oil and Speedibeet®, sugar and starch levels in the ration may be lowered.

This type of ration can have the following benefits: • Improved Behaviour – By keeping sugar and starch levels to a minimum, horses that are easily excited or hard to manage may be kept calmer. Poorly digested sugar and starch in the small intestine can pass through to the hindgut and produce heat, acid and gas that may contribute to agitation and excitability in some horses.

• Reduce the Effects of Metabolic Disorders – Poorly digested and high levels of sugar and starch can exacerbate some metabolic disorders.

• Minimise Digestive Disorders – Lactic acid, heat and gas are produced in the hind gut when sugars and

starches pass through the small intestine undigested. This can affect the delicate pH and balance of microbes in the hindgut, that may lead to disorders such as hindgut acidosis, colic and diarrhoea.

• Provide an Alternative Energy Source – High oil feeds offer an alternative form of energy to a cereal grain based ration. Oils are digested in the small intestine, taking the load off the hind gut, to provide a slow release, cool energy source, providing an alternative to feeding sugar and starch.

Cereal grains certainly have a place in some rations, although feeding a ration that provides energy in a cool, well digested form that is low in sugar and starch and balanced for protein, vitamins and minerals can be a favourable alternative for high performance sport horses.

For more information on feeding your horse, please visit the Mitavite website at www.mitavite.com .

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NATIONAL NEWS

CELEBRATING THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE WITH BATES Article by Nicki Page Photos by Libby Law

Over 400 ribbons and rosettes, nineteen stylish presentation rugs, and armloads of gleaming trophies were up for grabs during the recent Bates New Zealand Dressage Championships, held at Manfeild Stadium, Feilding.

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NATIONAL NEWS

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nd regardless of whether Fehi and Gita are recorded in history as ex-cyclones or sub-tropical storms, February’s extreme weather events miraculously left a superb window of warm, calm weather to allow the event to proceed uninterrupted. People and horses converged from far and wide to enjoy what was arguably one of the most ambitious and successful dressage nationals staged yet.

Casual observers would have detected an air of quiet efficiency, as the indoor and outdoor classes swung into action, seemingly like clockwork. Arenas were watered and raked, judges and writers appeared on cue, photographers clicked, trainers and supporters encouraged and cajoled, trade stands buzzed, scores appeared with spectacular efficiency – the list could go on – all in the pursuit of dressage excellence.

But like the proverbial ‘duck on a pond’, the surface calm was underpinned by a hive of activity and organisation that hummed and whirred from sun up to beyond sun down. Event Manager Celine Filbee has been helping to drive the Dressage Nationals now for 12 years, and knows a thing or two about coaxing the best out of the phenomenal number of officials and volunteers needed to keep the wheels turning at such a massive competition. Reflecting back on the 2018 event she makes special mention of Sara Bright (Scorer), Christine Hartstone (Event Secretary) and Lou Knewstubb (Assistant Event Secretary) who have performed their roles at most, if not all, of the 12 years of Dressage Nationals clocked by Filbee.

Glancing through the list of more than 125 committee members, officials and volunteers is likely to be an eye-opener for many, as the wide range of necessary tasks and responsibilities to be covered is immense. Donald Fraser from Nelson was a well deserving winner of the Volunteer of the Show award, working tirelessly as a member of the Arena Team keeping the riding surfaces in tip top shape. Keen to give

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1. Morgan Abel-Pattinson and Glencoe Flowergirl competing in Level 1 Amateur category 2. Volunteer of the Show Donald Fraser, pictured with Lynda Clark (Chair: NZ Dressage) says he would “do it all again” 3. Chrissy Johnston on Weltstar receiving praise from Nicky Daulton at the completion of their test 3. Para Rider Anthea Dixon and On Twilight prepare for their Dressage Spectaular demonstration

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credit to others, Fraser admitted when he originally put his hand up to help he imagined he’d “have an easy time driving around on a 4x4”. But he soon realised that flexibility was the name of the game, and pitching in to assist the wider cause was ultimately very satisfying.

“The hours I did paled in comparison to the long days Jeannie [Attrill, Operations Manager] and Jos [Gresham, Stable Manager] put in. But it was nice thinking I was taking a small part of the load off both.”

The quality of the horses and performances was certainly impressive, whether it be in the amateur, para-equestrian, young dressage horse, or open classes, with the placegetters and eventual championship winners showing that the standard of dressage in New Zealand is definitely on an uphill trajectory. There is no doubt that the bloodlines coming through are having an impact on the calibre of horses competing, but at the same time correct training is evident, MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 15

NATIONAL NEWS ensuring that ‘success’ is something that is hard-earned and deserved.

While it may have looked as though everyone competing had ‘done it all before’, it is super to note that the event was rewarding for the good number of first-timers who had qualified and entered. Chrissy Johnston riding Weltstar was attending her first Dressage Nationals, thanks to the encouragement of a good riding friend who laid down the challenge. An overnight stop at Taupo on their way down to Feilding from Helensville was all part of the adventure.

A placing in the Amateur Level 3A class was the icing on the cake for Johnston who reports she will definitely be aiming to return again in 2019.

With such a packed programme the multi-layered event offered something for everyone – from competition to shopping; entertainment to education. The celebration of many years of sponsorship by Bates Saddles added an extra special flavour to this year’s national championships.

Once the much anticipated Bates Saddles draw had been made during the Saturday night Musical Extravaganza, a moment was taken to present David Jones-Parry with a bouquet of 20 roses – one for every year of the partnership!

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1. David Jones-Parry, Bates Saddles shaking hands with saddle draw prizewinner Nicola Borck 2. Vanessa Way and NRM Andreas receiving the Trotter trophy for the level 8 Championship 3. John Thompson & JHT Chemistry Level 2 Bates Open Champion with sponsor David Jones - Parry 4. Colin Louisson sponsor of the Back on Track Level 4 Amateur Championship with winner Zoie Gray & FIS Santo

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NATIONAL NEWS

MORE SNIPPETS FROM THE BATES TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY EVENT Article by Wendy Hamerton Photos by Libby Law

A 12.5% increase in the number of tests ridden at the 2018 compared with the previous year .. this is indicative that the all inclusive schedule including Amateur to level 5, Young Riders, Young Horses, Open Championships at Levels 1-9, Masters in two divisions, an area teams event and Para Championships for every grade is proving popular with riders.

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ony riders from near and far are seen targeting the lower level Amateur classes with success for local rider Caitlin Rennie (Eastdale Foxtrot) winning the Dunstan Horsefeeds Level 1 AM from Antonia Verissimo and KS Falklore I See Red (Auckland). The Amateur classes also encourage the multi-discipline competitors and riders returning to the sport, either from dressage or another discipline. Geraldine Managh on the gorgeous skewbald gelding Rosies Prince Charming (John Brodie / Rosie / Spoken in Jest) won the JLT Level 2 AM, Taranaki’s Tania Smith on the talented Donnerubin mare Donnerbella II the Livamol Level 3 and the very exuberant FIS Santo (Sandreo/Anamour) who spiced up the prizegiving by jumping the sponsor panels and decorations took the Back on Track Level 4 in the hands of Zoie Gray. Nelson’s

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Geraldine Managh and Rosies Prince Charming. Winner of the JLT Level 2 Amateur Championship

Julie Fraser was rewarded for making the trip north winning the Level 5 with Australian bred Arnage Rhumba (by Rotspon).

Sadly the Young Rider CDIY entries were down from five to two after the close of entries, Lucarne Dolley electing to start Ardmore in the Level 6 Championship being rewarded with reserve, and two other withdrawals. Dolley and Devil’s Chocolate (Tilly) dominated the CDIY winner’s podium but Caitlin Moseley on the nineteen year old Pot of Gold was delighted to be runner up in her first CDIY start having had limited competition in the previous year owing to vet nurse studies.

The Open Championships were simply overflowing with talented horses and riders including two Olympians, Kallista Field and Julie Brougham. Kallista took home two reserves on the homebred Sayonara FE (L2)

NATIONAL NEWS and the imported Felix Westfalia FE (L4).

David Woolley was on hand to enjoy the reward of his carefully planned breeding programme with Jax Johnson (Gaylene Lennard) winning the Level 4 and Melissa Galloway the Level 6 Championship with Windermere J’Obei W and Reserve Level 7 on Windermere Johanson W. Vanessa Way continued her good form albeit she had to hitch a ride for her horses after truck engine issues could not be resolved in time, but she proved that this was no real glitch taking Reserve Level 5 with NSC Pronto, Champion Level 7 & 8 with NRM KH Arion and NRM Andreas respectively. Holly Leach’s six year old HP Fresco was a double act winning both the Level 5 and Elite Equine Young Horse Championship.

ELITE EQUINE YOUNG DRESSAGE HORSES From the first commanded rounds, the top three from each age group went through to the age group finals. The four year old final was a Matthews Hanoverians quinella with stable rider Hannah Burden. Fanfare MH scored 76.2% ahead of Georgia MH and yet another David Woolley breeder / Melissa Galloway rider team produced Windermere Zephora Z to third place. Aroha MH took top honours in the five year old class on 75% from Kellie Hamlett’s Astek Geronimo and Debbie Barke’s RM Suzie Q. The best score was of the day was saved for the six year old class with HP Fresco scoring a massive 80% and going on to win the Astek Stud Trophy for the Championship. “I’ve tried to win that beautiful red rug for three years now” quipped Holly. “We finally did it”

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The Glenvar trophy for the top placed NZ bred horse went once gain to Matthews Hanoverians.

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1. Lucarne Dolley & Devils Chocolate (L) Caitlin Moseley & Pot of Gold (R) with judges Ricky MacMillan, Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode, Elke Ebert and Karen Trotter representing sponsor Gloria's Fashions 2. Grade V Para winners (L) Rachel Stock and (R) Louise Duncan with judge Jayne Craike at prizegiving 3. The purple and gold show from across two decades 4. A very happy Dorothy Lennard typifies the spirit of the event celebrating success with Jax Johnson in the Dunstan Super 5 League 4.

Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 19

NATIONAL NEWS ESNZ logo 500mm

Stable Art by Belinda.

Supporting the Dressage NZ fundraising efforts towards the World Equestrian Games 2018.

KELLIE HAMLETT GUIDES ASTEK GERONIMO TO PRESTIGE VICTORY

T

ranslated Geronimo means “the one who yawns” but there was no sleeping on the job for Kellie and “Gerry” this season as they controlled the Prestige Equestrian Dressage Futures Prize by the narrowest of margins from last years winners Fernlea Diamond Day and Lorraine Ward-Smith. They were the only combination to score maximum points from all five qualifying starts in the Super League with an average of 76.07% and a high score of 81.154.

FOR FULL RESULTS GO TO

https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Prestige-Futures_2017-18-2.pdf HORSE

RIDER

AREA

LEVEL

PTS

PL

Astek Geronimo

Kellie Hamlett

Bay of Plenty

L1

50

1

Fernlea Diamond Day

Lorraine Ward-Smith

SCNO

L3

49

2

Solo

Rebecca Rowlands

Southland

L4

40

3

Greenmoor Euphoria

Danielle Simpson

Canterbury

L4

37

4

Donnerbella II

Tania Smith

Taranaki

L3

36

5

Rustic Challenge

Ann Webster

Wairarapa

L3

35

6

Kinnordy Gym Bello/GT Fleur de Mimosa/Flemmingh Donnerubin DC/Fernlea Danndi/Donnerwind V

Salutation/Roselita/Krack C

027 263 8222 www.stableart.co.nz

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW AND SUPPORT OUR TEAM

For their efforts they win a beautiful new Prestige Dressage Saddle thanks to support from Prestige Italia (Italy) and Prestige Equestrian (NZ) & Laurence O’Toole.

This series is targeted at horses up from four to ten years of age and riders who have never earned grading points in Level 8 or above on any horse and as well as being a super sought after prize, provides the sport with valuable data about emerging combinations. 184 horses and riders gained Prestige Futures points this season.

Willowcroft Regal Emblem/ Greenmoor Zodia/Maxwellton Woody Woodpecker Donnerubin DC/Craighaven Venus/Craighaven Voila Patapan/Miacat/Scardee Cat

Kellie has two new winning men in her life this year – Ryan Gregorash and Gerry (Astek Geronimo)

20 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

Photo: Libby Law

RIDER PROFILE

JULIE PEARSON – A DOUBLE ACT Bunnythorpe based Julie Pearson is competing in her first year at Grand Prix level with not one, but two self produced horses, Zinstar (Zinny) and All Rights Reserved (Oz).

“M

y goal was to bring these two NZ bred horses through the dressage grades at a rate they could cope with to reach whatever level they were capable of. And it is extremely satisfying that they have both reached Grand Prix in the same season, happy, sound and enjoying their work. My eyes on the ground have been Penny Castle and in this past year Fiona Craig. These are the first two horses I have trained in pure dressage. I have enjoyed the learning and the training and am looking to improve our work for next season” Zinstar is a Dutch Warmblood gelding (2001) 167.5cm by Gold Star / Pacific Lass / Otehi Bay. Started competing 2008.

2017/18 Reserve Champion Grand Prix at Wellington, Taihape, Taranaki, and Southern Hawke’s Bay Premier League events.

All Rights Reserved (2001): His breeding is a little more unconventional for a Grand Prix dressage horse in this era being a

Above left: All Rights Reserved Photo: Dark Horse Photography Above right: Julie and Zinstar

thoroughbred bred by Newmarket Lodge - Turbulent Dancer / Aus Too / Silver Dream. This makes Julie’s achievements all the more remarkable winning Grand Prix Reserve Champion Wairarapa Premier League. He successfully showjumped to 1m and Evented CN95 before embarking on a Dressage career in 2008.

Julie and her fabulously supportive husband Robin are regular “show goers” in the central region. Robin is usually seen with a video camera in hand when Julie is in the arena and is the “big rig” driver of their distinctive articulated vehicle and horse transport/accommodation.

Julie’s achievements should be inspirational for every rider who trains a dressage horse.

The Dressage NZ Bulletin wishes to apologise to Julie Pearson and All Rights Reserved for omitting their Reserve Champion Grand Prix Award from the Dressage Wairarapa Championships back in January.

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 21

NATIONAL NEWS

WEG TEAM CAMPAIGN ON SHOW AT TAKAPOTO ESTATE Article by Wendy Hamerton Photos by Libby Law

It’s so exciting that NZ now has three combinations meeting the FEI and ESNZ WEG minimum qualification scores; Julie Brougham (Vom Feinsten), John Thompson (JHT Antonello) and Wendi Williamson (Deja Vu MH). As a sport, Dressage NZ has the World Games in Tryon more firmly in its sights than ever before with the gigantic goal to qualify for Tokyo 2020, which means we have to be the best placed team from FEI Group G countries as Japan has automatic entry as the host nation.

S

port Manager Wendy Hamerton has been appointed by ESNZ as Chef d’Equipe and the show is on the road.

In addition to the pledge from Dressage NZ of $20,000 per officially WEG selected combination to assist with flights to Tryon, fundraising has been ticking along. It started with the Walking for WEG in May 2017 raising $4k, the Dressage Waikato Auction $4k, the Hobby Horse Auction at the nationals $2.5k, rider donations from Dressage Central Districts RE, and a fun, high profile, multidiscipline fundraiser in conjunction with Takapoto Estate Showjumping thanks to Mitch and Kate Plaw realising approx $10k for Dressage. Takapoto Estate is a tantalising new venue on the shores of Lake Karapiro which boasts both

22 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

all weather and high quality grass surfaces with facilities developed to the highest standards enabling our sport to be truly showcased to engage a broader audience and support base for the future. We also encourage you to purchase Dressage NZ apparel on the website www.allinflex.co which contributes to the fund for every sale made. Check out the new autumnwinter range just released.

If the riders are to campaign in Europe prior to WEG to set themselves up for Tryon, the round trip campaign including bringing the horses home is currently estimated at between 130k and 150k per combination, of which up to between 75k and 90k is airfares and quarantine for the horses depending on the final route they take. If we take 400k as the benchmark total we

NATIONAL NEWS

The tantalising Takapoto Estate venue on the shores of Lake Karapiro

1.

2.

have to date 80k pledged – 20% of the total. Riders are committed to personal funding as they want to wear the silver fern with pride. We all want to raise the profile of our sport. It’s not just their journey. It is OUR journey.

Join the NZ Passage to Tryon 2018. Watch out for more fundraising events to come and if Dressage NZ can assist you promote any events you would like to hold, or if you would like to join the journey by making a contribution, please contact dressage@nzequestrian.org.nz 1. Cycling, hockey and equestrian on show at Takapoto Estate. WEG candidates from Jumping, Dressage & Eventing up against the best from the other codes

Thanks AllinFlex for your support www.allinflex.co

2. John Thompson swings a hockey stick Check out the fabulous new autumn and winter collection of Dressage NZ jackets produced by Signspot Graphics and now online. Every Dressage NZ apparel sale from the AllinFlex website supports the Dressage NZ WEG campaign.

3.

3. Andrea Raves,Helen HughesKeen, Betty Brown & Sue Hobson. Hobby Horse Stars raising funds for our WEG campaign, thanks to Rose Prendeville for donating the Hobby Horses

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 23

MASTERCLASS

JOINING THE DOTS WITH JONNY HILBERATH Article by Jess Roberts Photos by Libby Law

This concludes our Four Part series with the legend Jonny Hilberath.

We hope you enjoy this incredible training tool for many years to come.

SHEENA ROSS AND PARKRIDGE DISCO SW

Sheena and Disco have enjoyed consistent success as they’ve worked up through the levels. Earlier in 2017 they contested their first CDI 3* at the Bates Nationals.

The little power-pack that is Disco is another of Hilberath’s favourites.

“This is a hot combination! But my favourite is hot horses, and as you saw just then with Victoria (Wall), you don’t need physical strength to change something. It’s more like creating something with the horse with small details and with the right timing.

Timing is everything when it comes to correcting hot horses. To be able to stay ‘on’ long enough and to give

early enough, that’s basically it,” he says. “Sheena and I have been talking a bit about her horse and his hotness, and how to handle his forward going and forward thinking. The instinct of us humans is to take a little bit more rein and contact to stop the horse, but actually we don’t want to stop him.”

“I use a bit of a stupid example to explain! Imagine you’re sitting on a bike and you’re going down a hill, and suddenly there’s no brakes, nothing to stop you going faster and faster downhill. If you see the hill coming up, that’s the only chance to slow these things down, to slow the body of the bike down. As with Victoria, Sheena has the tendency to sit almost a little bit too light and a bit in front

24 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

of the horse, which almost makes it a bit faster and a bit unsecure, you could say. So today we are going to focus on Sheena’s seat, plus the fact that we try to get the contact and the neck of the horse as best as possible in front of him.”

Hilberath congratulates Sheena, saying he can see a difference in her seat already since their introductory lesson the previous Wednesday. “Also in the way that the horse goes, and it’s that the horse looks more calm, you can see that he is a sharp horse but he looks more relaxed and the way he canters is more elastic. He covers more ground and is more free from the shoulder – it’s quite a difference,” he observes. “Because the horse was a

MASTERCLASS little short in the canter we worked on getting the contact a bit better and in front the rider. She said the next day [after Wednesday] when she tried the changes, she couldn’t find the buttons.

This is because the horse was a little bit unsecure because of the different way of riding.

“So today, Sheena, its up to you how high or far you go with your tempi’s, but just play with them. It’s not easy, when the horse is very sensitive, to find the right amount of strength in your leg [to use], sometimes they are tense and don’t react, sometimes they are tense and overreact. The timing to make the right decision is a millisecond.” He is happy with the improvement in Disco’s canter stride.

“Already that is much better, the quality. That’s something we thought could be better, is the stride in the flying change, that it could be a bit more longer, and that’s already much better than when I saw it last time.”

Again, he reiterates coming back to the basics if things start to come apart. “If you get with the tempi’s the control a bit mixed up then go back to the basics. Go round the arena, do one change to a counter canter until the horse is calm, and then you put the tempi’s together again.

Also, it’s very important that you as a rider doesn’t get somehow frustrated – tomorrow is another day. Give yourself time, give your horse time.”

The pair come back to trot. “Also here we’ve been working on a little bit more expression, not cadence, but a little bit more elasticity. If you can manage to get the mouth and neck out in front of him, the tension will disappear from the back and the horse starts to get much more elastic. This is what you can put into your piaffe passage work too, Sheena.

Don’t allow him to get hooked on your hand – have the lightest contact possible,” he reminds her, adding “but I’m complaining now on a very high level! Walk him, pat him.” Hilberath talks about being very attentive to whether the horse is taking one rein more than the other – his expert eye identifying it with Sheena and Disco though invisible to the audience – and

working toward a completely straight horse. “It’s these little things that can have a big effect on the quality of the gait.”

Next is some piaffe work. “You can see this horse is a tiny bit resistant when Sheena sits on his back, because to be honest I think he’s not used to that. But that’s exactly what collection has to be – the rider basically sits on the hind end of the horse. He kicks out a little in the piaffe, it doesn’t matter, he is a little bit stressed, that is an example of, not now, but to get him more secure I would have a longer but very soft whip and would point on the tail to just help him do the transition from passage to piaffe.

As a support, not a punishment,” he stresses. “As a support. Because the piaffe is there, but the transition from passage to piaffe is not really 100%.

But I have to say the horse has a very, very nice presence.” Hilberath again reminds Sheena and the audience: remember the basics. “If you question yourself, the passage has irregular steps or for example he’s tricky in the contact, you go back to trot. The problem may not be as obvious in the trot, but it will be there. For sure the more you collect the horse, the more the problems are seen. Don’t believe

you have to ride longer or harder the piaffe or passage – try to get the trot better.”

The super-hot Disco gets more so toward end of the session, something Sheena says happens daily, and she asks what Hilberath would do to help with this. “I let them do rising trot and stretch out – I release the tension and I actually let him fall apart. The more you keep him collected, the more the tension stays. Just let him fall apart – take your time, even until he starts to feel a bit lazy. This is a great opportunity to train here and practice exactly that – let him go, let the neck go,” he advises. “Very good.”

RIDER EIGHT: WENDI WILLIAMSON & DON AMOUR MH Wendi Williamson needs little introduction, being a big name on our dressage scene and a member of the High Performance Squad. She represented the Pacific League at the World Cup Final in Omaha 2017 on Dejavu MH. Don Amour is her upand-coming Grand Prix horse, and Hilberath is a big fan.

“This horse has not really any weaknesses, plus he has a very good and experienced rider on top, so that could be for the future something

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 25

MASTERCLASS

"Just use the basics to get horses on your side and make wonderful horses.”

special and something very exciting,” he says as he starts the final session for the day. “I’m very happy actually for New Zealand that you have such good upcoming horses here in the country. Again this is a horse that has a lot of mojo and energy. I’m quite a fan of the father of the horse, Don Frederico. He has left quite a number of top international Grand Prix horses in Germany, for example Don Johnson from Isabel Werth.

They have great energy – also a bit of trouble involved!” he laughs, talking about their hotter temperaments. “But with the right rider these horses have great potential and possibilities and again I’m very happy that Wendi and Don Amour are together, because I think it’s a fantastic match.”

He goes on to outline what they will be working on, which is to show all the Grand Prix movements and to make some corrections. “Because when you think back to the first horse that came in, the wonderful looking and constructed brown horse [Vollrath Luigi] it had a good sitting

neck, good construction. Wendi’s horse has, not a problem, but a little issue and that is the neck of the horse starts a little low, and goes quite steeply up, so that [we want him to] go with the nose in front of the vertical is not that easy. But for sure to make him into an international and top successful Grand Prix horse, that is part of the training and it has to be one of the main subjects to concentrate on.

“I’m sure Wendi will manage over the next weeks and months to get this under control because all the rest of the work is totally on track. See that he moves with a lot of energy and a lot of rubber, and you see how much also he thinks and is in front of her. So you can see how you need to keep your seat very quiet – you can’t move very much on a horse like that. Because he responds and reacts very lightly. But that is what the right international dressage means – to ride with the weight and with very small aids.” Wendi and Don Amour show their tempi changes, and Jonny says

they are established and very straight.

“But you can still see he is a little too round in front, getting a little low and the croup high. Take your time until the canter is right,” he says, and asks her to ride forward on a circle before trying again. “Try to connect more with the snaffle than the curb so that he is a little bit more up. Good. Now ride down the long side a bit more forward, be a little bit brave and don’t be afraid that he could do mistakes.

Think of saying ‘come on boy, I’ll help you’. Now have another try with the one tempis but don’t take too much energy away.” Wendi rides a line of 26 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

beautiful changes to a big round of applause, and Hilberath is very pleased. “Super ridden, well done!

That’s quite a good example of how to handle this little problem - when he got a little bit too excited and short and tense, we just simply stopped the changes, and we fixed the canter and got the horse a bit more in front of her aids and seat and got the horse, in a way, also more in front of himself.

Because the fact that the horse doesn’t go out with the contact means that all the tendency is backwards, even when he goes forward and kind of fast – he is empty.” He again echoes what he has been stating all the way through: go back to the basics. “Why she couldn’t get the horse to do the changes is because he wasn’t enough in front of the leg. So again, if these problems show up during training, don’t get frustrated if the changes don’t come through any more, try to get the canter organised again: the energy and the self carriage.”

He then asks Wendi if she’d like to practice her pirouettes, and gives her the microphone to explain some of the problems she feels with them.

“I get worried coming around the corner [in a test] because I know the pirouette comes up quickly. I tend to, on my black horse, over-ride and go a bit too fast because I’m anxious that I have to collect and turn my horse without trotting,” she describes.

Hilberath nods. “What Wendi just mentioned is what has happened to all of us, because it all comes up so quick and there is so little time to correct something. So what I used to do for horses and riders to get them confident is using the centreline and the point where the pirouette has to be, as a training platform for the transition – don’t do the pirouette,

MASTERCLASS just do the preparation, the collection.

“So sit a little bit back, already you are trying to control the front,” he notices. “Collect. Good. Feel whether you have the hind leg under yourself. Just realise what you need to get the first stride of the pirouette done. When you feel that the horse produces tension, try to get the horse a little bit up and forward. That was super,” he says, as Wendi makes the adjustment. “Get the right flexion.

You can see the horse tries very nicely but he’s a little unbalanced, a little unsecure – searching left, right, where shall I go? So Wendi, I would involve this a lot in my daily routine.

Not the pirouettes - well sure you can always practice pirouettes - but not necessarily on the points where they have to happen in the test. More just the transitions, the collection. That you and the horse get completely safe and secure about that, and how it has to feel. And if it feels good, then you just play into the pirouette. That’s it.”

He notes Don Amour's big canter stride. “So you can see the long stride this horse has by nature, he gets a little slow. I think, Wendi, you’ve answered with more speed, more tempo, but that is not the solution.

The horse has to stay exactly in the tempo and be activated in that tempo.

So you can just bring the whip up over his back at the tail. Exactly. So just help him. That is what I mean about using the whip as a tool for the horse, a help – absolutely a help, not a punishment.” He explains how the canter works for collection: “The outside hind leg has to hold the body for a while. If the horse gets too bent to the inside, the connection from the shoulder to the outside hip gets longer and longer, so the energy gets lost. So think not too much flexion, think a little bit like shoulder-in on the pirouette. You really explain his own body to the horse. Good, give him a little break!”

Hilberath wants to finish with a bit of trot work and some piaffe/passage.

“Because I believe it’s a highlight – I can say already now that I hope horse and rider stay fit and healthy, and I’m very excited to see both of them MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 27

MASTERCLASS

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

next year in Europe maybe, and I will follow them.” He admires the combination showing off their trot.

“Just watch this horse how he trots, how light he is off the ground. He is a heavy horse but this lightness and the rubber he produces through his body is very, very high quality I can tell you.

Super nice Wendi! You can see it’s in his nature, as though he could go like that for the next half hour, which we for sure won’t do! So this horse is a bit gifted, you can say.”

He is quick to point out to the audience that there is still no substitute for correct training. “There are a lot of horses here in this country which have this kind of talent but maybe they are not able to use their body in the right way, and again I almost beg you to try to get into your riding, analyse yourself. Because I think we all have horses in the stable which have so much potential that we haven’t found yet. Just use the basics to get horses on your side and make wonderful horses.”

Jonny ends the class with more praise for Don Amour. “It’s a young horse, very green but you can see there’s no real limits. That’s it Wendi – let him out, long rein, big hug! Well done, thank you so much!”

Wendi says her three sessions with Hilberath for Equitana were without doubt a highlight of her riding career.

“It was an honour to meet such a warm and generous trainer who has a real love of horses. Just little

28 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

adjustments to the balance and length of Don Amour’s neck had a huge effect on his posture and rideability. It was very exciting. The demonstration session on Saturday afternoon was interactive, fun and great learning. I really hope the audience got as much out of it as I did.”

Hilberath is full of praise for the Equitana venue and declares that he must come back to New Zealand.

He now has a few days off which he will spend on Waiheke Island before heading home to Germany, via Sydney for a stopover to visit friends. “And some vineyards!” he laughs. “I will discover the wine in New Zealand and Australia and have these wines in a competition battle!”

He is very busy, with the World Cup Final coming up next April, in France.

“The circus goes on, you know? In Europe we ride twelve months of the year international, it doesn’t stop.”

Hilberath last competed in 2010: does he miss it? “Well, the teaching and the whole show life which I still have compensates a little bit. I ride for sure every day a couple of horses, and train horses so I do still ride and train and educate. I don’t miss it really.

Sometimes I still have a little appetite!

Because I have some very nice upcoming GP horses and so we see! But for the moment I am so involved with the training, and travel a lot.”

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

GLOBAL DRESSAGE STARS MAKE THEIRWAY TO PARIS Article by Louise Parks Photo by Tony Parkes/FEI

“This was maybe our best result ever Damsey felt great, he had the perfect mixture of freshness and motivation and he just performed the way every rider wants, the communication between us was really easy!”

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/dressage-musical-spectacular-2018/feilding

- Helen Langehanenberg

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 29

INTERNATIONAL NEWS ROUND 7 NEUMUNSTER The extraordinary ups and downs of sport were highlighted once again when Helen Langehanenberg (35) and Damsey sealed a superb victory at the seventh leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League on home soil in Neumünster, Germany. At the previous round in Amsterdam (NED) three weeks ago, the 2013 FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion had to retire when her 16-year-old stallion got his tongue over the bit and their performance fell apart. Today however it was perfect harmony every step of the way as their strong score of 83.800 pinned compatriots Dorothee Schneider (49) and Sammy Davis Jr into runner-up spot while Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann-Andersen (27) and Blue Hors Zack slotted into third.

The atmosphere in the Neumünster arena is notoriously intense. As runner-up Schneider said, “everything about this show is brilliant, especially the crowd who are so close that it feels like they are also riding your horse!”

That didn’t stop her from posting 81.565 for second place and moving even closer to Sweden’s Patrik Kittel at the top of the Western European leaderboard. With just two qualifiers left to go, in Gothenburg (SWE) and ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED), that’s a really good place to be, because only two German riders can join defending champion Isabell Werth at the Final in Paris (FRA) in April, and sealing one of those two spots is a battle in itself.

A total of nine riders, and a maximum of three from any nation, can make the

cut from the Western European series.

Spain’s Morgan Barbancon Mestre, fourth to go with Sir Donnerhall ll, caused a stir when stopped by the Ground Jury because her floorplan had been changed overnight. When this was resolved she was allowed to compete, but it was Marie Emilie Bretenoux and Quartz of Jazz from France who led the way at the halfway stage with a mark of 76.300. This however would be improved on again and again, Denmark’s BachmannAndersen presenting a lovely picture of relaxation and balance with his 14-year-old stallion that rocketed him into the lead on a big mark of 81.475 with six left to go.

Langehanenberg pushed him off his pedestal immediately however and Schneider then pinned him back to third, but the talented Dane has now moved into joint-fourth on the

2.

30 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

3.

leaderboard and looks set to make a big impression at the Final. Today’s winner won’t make it to Paris. “I’m expecting a baby in June, so this was our last show before that and it’s the perfect result! I hope to be back in the saddle again in July though!”, Langehanenberg explained.

RESULTS 1. Damsey FRH (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 83.880, 2. Sammy Davis Jr. (Dorothee Schneider) GER 81.565, 3. Blue Hors Zack (Daniel Bachmann Andersen) DEN 81.475 1. Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack representing Denmark 2. Dorothee Schneider and Sammy David Jr. 3. Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH in the award ceremony

INTERNATIONAL NEWS to defend her title at the French finale with her top ride, the Olympic and European gold-medal-winning mare Weihegold.

She’ll be the toughest nut to crack, but Dufour showed that the winds of change are blowing once again through the top ranks of international Dressage and that she and her fabulous chestnut gelding are a major force to be reckoned with.

Flying high - Denmark's Catherine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy

RESULT 1. Atterupgaards Cassidy (Cathrine Dufour) DEN 88.200 2. Emilio (Isabell Werth) GER 85.380 3. Delaunay OLD (Patrik Kittel) SWE 83.615

ROUND 8 GOTHENBURG Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour (26) and Atterupgaards Cassidy brought the Swedish crowd to their feet with a spectacular performance to win the eighth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League in Gothenburg. The pair that claimed individual bronze and team silver at last summer’s Longines FEI European Championships in the same city pinned reigning series champion Germany’s Isabell Werth (48) and Swedish star Patrik Kittel (41) into second and third in the Grand Prix, and they did it again in the Freestyle. But this time their winning margin was even more emphatic as the dynamic Danish duo earned a whopping score of 88.2.

That was put into perspective when multi-medalled Werth (Emilio) said “there is no shame in finishing second on 85 percent!”, while Kittel (Delaunay OLD) was ecstatic about his mark of 83.615 that put him in third - “an alltime personal best for me!” he said.

Dufour could hardly believe what she had achieved. “I was nervous because this was the first time for us to do this Freestyle floor-plan. Cassidy can be spooky because he’s a very sensitive horse, but today he was so calm. He was with me every moment

of the way and I’ll never forget that standing ovation!” she said.

The Swedish spectators held their breath as the Danish partnership performed in complete harmony before exploding with excitement when the horse and rider drew to a halt. Dufour said that Denmark’s Princess Nathalie zu SaynWittgenstein has helped her really raise her game over the last few months. “Rune Willum was my trainer for 15 years and he was like my second father, but in December I started working with Nathalie, and now she is my rock!”, she explained after posting her second personal-best score of the weekend.

Today’s result has moved her up to 12th place on the Western European League leaderboard from which the top nine will qualify for the Final in Paris (FRA) in April. Dufour is hoping to make the cut even though she doesn’t intend to compete at the last qualifier in s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in two weeks time, but Werth will definitely be at the Dutch fixture with Emilio whose confidence and character continues to grow. “Give us one more year to make his canter as good as the piaffe/passage and you will see what more we can do!” said the happy German rider who intends

FEI WORLD CUP™ DRESSAGE 2017/2018 WESTERN EUROPEAN LEAGUE STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 8 IN GOTHENBURG (SWE): 1. Patrik Kittel SWE - 74 2. Dorothee Schneider GER - 72 3. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl GER - 59 4. Daniel Bachmann Andersen DEN - 54 4. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven SWE - 54 6. Belinda Weinbauer AUT - 53 6. Emile Faurie GBR - 53 8. Fabienne Lutkemeier GER - 50 9. Madeleine Witte-Vrees NED - 50 10. Morgan Barbancon Mestre ESP - 43 Patrick Kittel and Delaunay OLD

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 31

NATIONAL NEWS

NEWS 2018 DRESSAGE NZ PLANNING FORUM The 2018 Planning Forum will be held at the West Plaza Hotel Wellington on Tuesday 10th & 11th April 2018 beginning at 5.30pm on the evening of 10th. Delegates and interested members should plan to arrive in time for the 5.30pm welcome and dinner followed by an evening session until 9pm. The meeting will recommence on Wednesday 11th at 8.30am and finish at 3.45pm.

The Planning Forum will receive remits for rule changes and other topics for discussion. Remits which are passed at the Forum will go back to areas and come forward again to conference for ratification.

2018 DRESSAGE CONFERENCE & COMMITTEE MEETING The 2018 Dressage Conference & Committee meeting will be held at the Distinction Palmerston North Hotel (Cuba St) on 30th June & 1st July.

Conference will begin at 9.30am on Saturday followed by the Awards Dinner. Committee meeting will commence 9am Sunday and complete no later than 3.45pm. Booking details to follow.

NORTH ISLAND FESTIVAL OF FUTURE STARS - NEC TAUPO 19/22 APRIL 2018 Entries are open on Equestrian Entries closing 30 March This fabulous four day event will incorporate the Elite Equine NI Future Stars (Young Dressage Horse Classes for 4-7 yr old horses and 4-6 yr ponies) and the Livamol FEI World Dressage Challenge on Thursday/Friday 19th/20th followed by the Equestrian Entries U25 Championships on Saturday / Sunday 21st/22nd. Nominations have now closed for the Livamol FEI World Challenge. Selections will be announced in early April. Sarah Giekie (FEI 4* USA) has been secured for all four days of the event and will be the President of the Ground Jury for the FEI World Dressage Challenge alongside Judith Cunningham (Waitemata) who has been appointed as the NZL member of the Ground Jury The Young Horses will compete in the new Taupo indoor arena on Thursday and Friday. Don’t miss this opportunity.

Young Rider Freestyles will also be scheduled for the indoor where possible.

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LOAN HORSES/PONIES REQUIRED Dressage NZ is again looking to the generosity of members to secure borrowed horses/ponies for both an InterIsland team and a Queensland exchange team in conjunction with the U25 Champs. If you would consider loaning a horse or pony at any graded level, please contact Jo Telfer, NI Young Rider Convenor on 0274732306

SOUTH ISLAND U21 TEAM FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE YORK CORPORATION INTER ISLAND TEAM CHALLENGE The North Island and New Zealand teams will be announced when the loan horses are secured and NI & NZ riders already entered at the event from compatible levels can be selected to make an even contest. A team from Dressage Queensland has been invited to compete at the event on loan horses South Island riders intending to bring horses/ponies to the event should notify SI Young Rider Convenor Julia Thomson thomsonmjulia@gmail.com South Island riders interested in competing on a loan horse or pony should apply to the SI YR Convenor Applications are sought from young riders (16 - 21yrs as at 1st Jan 2018) to be part of a South Island team at the U25 Championships in April 2018 at Taupo.

Riders will be provided loan horses/ponies and selected from the applications on combination suitability of the mounts available. Level ridden will be dependent on the rider experience and grade of the horse or pony.

Riders ideally need to be available in Taupo from 19th -22nd April. Administrative assistance with accommodation will be provided on selection.

Please send a brief 1 page application, including contact details, date of birth and competition experience from 1/1/17 and why you would like to be part of this team!

Questions and applications to Julia Thomson, SI YR Convenor by 027 509 1972, thomsonmjulia@gmail.com by 20th March 2018

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR RIDER & OC’S FEI TESTS From 1/1/2018, all FEI tests, whether ridden under Dressage NZ national rules or FEI rules at CDI events will use the FEI version valid 1/1/2018. These can be downloaded at no cost from http://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/organisers/dressage/tests The only exception to any directive on the tests, is that when run under Dressage NZ rules, a permitted snaffle bridle may be used instead of a double bridle.

SERIES LEADERBOARDS

NORTH ISLAND SUPER 5 LEAGUE Why is it called the Super 5? There are five rosettes awarded in every qualifier at Premier League events, five combinations earn points in each qualifying class at every level (subject to getting the minimum score required) and the top 5 from a possible total 14 scores are accrued for League points to determine the League Series top five placings. Top 5 all score a sponsor sash and the winner a League trophy. This all happens in both islands giving all riders a chance to vie for VETPRO EQUINE SUPPLEMENTS LEVEL 1

the top island placings and the national league championship.

The North Island league was a contest right up to the final round at the Bates Nationals and in some cases the highest % scored in the final round had to determine the winner. The league is the chance for the new stars to develop and gain confidence during the season and the overall quality and performance was simply outstanding this year.

FIBER FRESH LEVEL 5

Astek Geronimo

Kellie Hamlett

52

1

Schindlers Liszt

Christine Weal

40

1

RM Suzie Q

Debbie Barke

52

2

NSC Pronto

Vanessa Way

36

2

Shimmer VP

Kieryn Walton

42

3

Sisters II Etta J

Chelsea Callaghan

21

3

Georgia MH

Hannah Burden

29

4

Furstengroove

Claudia Purvis

27

5

Sonic Spirit

Sharlene Royal

21

4

Galileo

Jacqui Thompson

21

5

MATTHEWS HANOVERIANS LEVEL 2 Wisdom WDS

Kieryn Walton

52

1

Sayonara FE

Kallista Field

42

2

Dolce Vita RB

Mandy Littlejohn

42

3

Don Vito MH

Wendi Williamson

32

4

Aroha MH

Hannah Burden

32

5

HERITAGE EQUINE LEVEL 3 Bon Jovi MH

Wendi Williamson

39

1

Donnerbella II

Tania Smith

36

2

Rustic Challenge

Ann Webster

35

3

Pineridge Pirate

Abbie Deken

33

4

Oranoa Morepork

Ann Webster

29

5

DUNSTAN HORSEFEEDS LEVEL 4 Jax Johnson

Gaylene Lennard

42

1

Felix Westfalia FE

Kallista Field

39

2

Summerstone Hit

Louisa Ayres

31

3

Sir Oakridge SF

Emma Dickons

31

4

Hot Gossip

Betty Brown

28

5

HOBSON HORSECOACHES LEVEL 6 Vollrath Leila

Carole Christensen

35

1

Ardmore

Lucarne Dolley

30

2

NRM KH Arion

Vanessa Way

29

3

Stoneylea Lancelot

Jennifer Sim

27

4

Hapsburgh PSH

Liz Hutson

27

5

CUSTOM LOGISTIC LEVEL 7 Vollrath Latimer

Rochelle Speirs

37

1

Rosari Don Carlos

Kieryn Walton

35

2

Lindisfarne Laureate

Rosanne Rix

29

3

NRM KH Arion

Vanessa Way

22

4

Avante Garde

Greg Smith

21

5

ANDREA RAVES FETTERMAN LEVEL 8 Georgio

Jacqui Thompson

29

1

Back on Track Astute

Toni Louisson

29

2

NRM Andreas

Vanessa Way

26

3

Centurion III

William Millar

18

4

Neversfelde Rupert

Betty Brown

16

5

SUPERIOR RUBBER SURFACES LEVEL 9 Don Amour MH

Wendi Williamson

28

1

Dancealong

Susan Tomlin

27

2

K H Ambrose

Abbie Deken

23

3

Aztec Lad

Paula Stuart

20

4

I Like It

Catherine Tobin

20

5

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 33

NATIONAL RESULTS

SUPER 5 LEAGUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS VETPRO LEVEL 1 Astek Geronimo (Bay of Plenty)

Kellie Hamlett

74.038

1

Shimmer VP (Waikato)

Kieryn Walton

72.308

2

Sisters II Whitney H (Otago)

Wendy Butler

72.019

3

Georgia MH (Northland)

Hannah Burden / Matthews Hanoverians

71.442

Royal Flirt RE (Waikato)

Nicola Kitcheman

70.288

5

Sayonara FE (Southern Hawkes Bay)

Kallista Field

75.729

1

Wisdom WDS (Waikato)

Kieryn Walton

73.750

2

Don Vito MH (Waitemata)

Wendi Williamson

72.604

3

Aroha MH (Northland)

Hannah Burden/ Matthews Hanoverians

72.083

Dolce Vita RB (Central Districts)

Mandy Littlejohn

70.521

5

KP Dexter (Marlborough)

Diane Wallace

73.108

1

Bon Jovi MH (Waitemata)

Wendi Williamson

71.824

2

La Peregrina (Canterbury)

Joan Adair

71.824

3

Fernlea Diamond Day (SCNO)

Lorraine Ward-Smith

69.257

4

Gurteens Velvet (Nelson)

Rachel Thomas

69.257

5

Jax Johnson (Waikato)

Gaylene Lennard

71.486

1

Solo (Southland)

Rebecca Rowlands

71.216

2

Sisters II Etta J (Wellington)

Chelsea Callaghan

71.014

3

Felix Westfalia FE (Southern Hawkes Bay)

Kallista Field

70.000

4

Denmark (Nelson)

Jan Morice

69.730

5

NSC Pronto (Taranaki)

Vanessa Way

68.984

1

Schindlers Liszt (Waikato)

Christine Weal

67.276

2

Lodestar (Canterbury)

Seija Parkkali-Glew

66.504

3

Sisters II Etta J (Wellington)

Chelsea Callaghan

66.301

4

Arnage Rhumba (Nelson)

Julie Fraser

65.691

5

Windermere Jobèi W (Marlborough)

Melissa Galloway

71.373

1

NRM KH Arion (Taranaki)

Vanessa Way

67.255

2

Astek Galahad (Canterbury)

Nicola Maley

66.912

3

Vollrath Leila (Wellington)

Carole Christensen

65.490

4

Profile (Marlborough)

Diane Wallace

65.245

5

4

MATTHEWS HANOVERIANS LEVEL 2

4

HERITAGE EQUINE LEVEL 3

DUNSTAN HORSEFEEDS LEVEL 4

FIBER FRESH LEVEL 5

HOBSON HORSECOACHES LEVEL 6

34 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

NATIONAL RESULTS Vanessa Way and NRM KH Arion Photo Libby Law

CUSTOM LOGISTICS LEVEL 7 NRM KH Arion (Taranaki)

Vanessa Way

70.000

1

Rosari Don Carlos (Waikato)

Kieryn Walton

67.451

2

Vollrath Latimer (Central Districts)

Rochelle Speirs

67.206

3

Sparks will Fly (Central Districts)

Mandy Littlejohn

66.765

4

Fortunato (Marlborough)

Franzi Van Bruggen-Smit

66.275

5

ANDREA RAVES FETTERMAN LEVEL 8 NRM Andreas (Taranaki)

Vanessa Way

69.657

1

Windermere Johanson W (Marlborough)

Melissa Galloway

66.088

2

Georgio (Wellington)

Jacqui Thompson

64.363

3

Saskatoon (Waitemata)

Nicky Pope

63.824

4

Rossellini (Otago)

Barbara Chalmers

61.542

5

SUPERIOR RUBBER SURFACES - LEVEL 9 Vom Feinsten (Central Districts)

Julie Brougham

69.913

1

K H Ambrose (Taranaki)

Abbie Deken

67.783

2

Don Amour MH (Waitemata)

Wendi Williamson

67.304

3

Parkridge Disco SW (Auckland)

Sheena Ross

64.435

4

Rosari Royal Gem (Auckland)

Caitlin Benzie

64.130

5

The Super 5 League showcased talent from across the country when riders contested the NI Ffinal round in conjunction with the Bates National Championships in Feilding. Scores from both the SI League Final held at the Canterbury Championships and the NI Final are used to determine a National Super 5 League Championship ranking enabling riders across the country to compete against each other. Although the judges are not the same in both islands, the rankings are indicative of the high standard being produced in all areas. Super 5 League Champions receive a $200 cash prize and sponsor sash.

A huge thanks to our League Sponsors Vetpro Level 1, Matthews Hanoverians Level 2, Heritage Equine Level 3, Dunstan Horsefeeds Level 4, Fiber Fresh Level 5 Hobson Horsecoaches Level 6, Custom Logistics Level 7, Andrea Raves Fetterman Level 8 and Superior Rubber Surfaces- Level 9

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

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 35

NATIONAL COMPETITION CALENDER

WHAT’S ON MARCH 2018 | NORTH ISLAND 13/18

Horse of the Year Show

INT/NAT/YDH Back on Track Premier League

Hawkes Bay A & P SG

18

Warkworth Dressage Group Local Day

Local

Warkworth A&P SG

25

Gisborne Dressage Autumn Series #1

Local

Gisborne SG

25

Taupo Dressage Group Accumulator day 2

Training

Taupo NEC

APRIL 2018 | NORTH ISLAND 7/8

Kaitaia Tournament

Local

Kaitaia A&P SG

8**

Horowhenua Dressage Autumn Tournament

Local

Foxton Racecourse

8

AMDG Autumn Series Day 2

Local

AMDG

8

Nth Hawkes Bay Autumn Series Day One

Local

Equestrian Park

8

Morrinsville/Te Aroha Ribbon day

Training

Waihou reserve

15

Dressage Waitemata Local Day

Local

Woodhill Sands

22

Gisborne Dressage Autumn Series #2

Local

Gisborne SG

22

Warkworth Dressage Group Local Day

Local

Warkworth A&P SG

25

Dressage Taranaki ANZAC Event

Local

Egmont A & P SG

28

Solway Dressage Autumn Ribbon Day Series #1

Training

Solway SG

MAY 2018 | NORTH ISLAND 5/6

Dressage Central Districts

Local

Manfeild Park

6

Dressage Northland

Local

Barge Park SG

6

AMDG Autumn Series Day 2

Local

Clevedon

6

Waikato EC Day 1

Training

WEC

13

NHB Autumn Series Day Two

Local

HB Equestrian Park

13

Dressage Horowhenua Ribbon Day (TR)

Training

Waikanae Park

20

Northland Circuit finals

Local

Barge Park SG

20

Waitemata Dressage

Local

Woodhill Sands

20

Gisborne Autumn Autumn Series No 3

Local

Gisborne SG

20

Morrinsville Te Aroha Ribbon Day (TR)

Training

Waihou SG

NORTH ISLAND BACK ON TRACK PREMIER LEAGUE EVENTS 13/18 Mar

Horse of the Year Show CDI 3*/ Y

Hawkes Bay SG - Hastings

21/22 Apr

NZ U25 Dressage Championships

Taupo NEC

36 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

NATIONAL COMPETITION CALENDER

For more details of each event & venue, and contact details go to www.nzequestrian.org.nz/dressage/competition/calendar MARCH 2018 | SOUTH ISLAND 10/11

Dressage Otago Tournament

Local

Taieri A&P SG

17/18

Dressage Southland

Local

Gore A & P SG

18

NLEC Summer Dressage

Local

Rangiora A & P SG

25

NEG Day 3 Summer Series

Local

Harrs Road

APRIL 2018 | SOUTH ISLAND **2

Dressage Canterbury Autumn Series Day 1

CANCELLED

McLeans Island NEC

**2

NLEC Autumn Dressage

Local

Rangiora A & P SG

7/8

Dressage Southland Autumn

Local

Gore A & P SG

8

SCNO Graded & Training

Local

Winchester SG

14/15

Dressage Central Otago Autumn Tournament

Local

Cromwell Racecourse

14/15

ZILCO Festival of Future Stars

Local

McLeans Island NEC

22

Dressage Ashburton Autumn Series

Training

Ashburton A & P SG

29

NEG April Day

Local

Harrs Road

MAY 2018 | SOUTH ISLAND 6

Canterbury Dressage Autumn Series Day 3

Local

McLeans Island NEC

20

NLEC Autumn Dressage

Local

Rangiora A & P SG

20

Dressage Ashburton Group

Training

Ashburton A & P SG

27

Northern Equestrian Group

Local

Harrs Road

Pony Levels 1-4, Young Rider Levels 1-9 Non Graded 12 Years & Under, Rider Equitation Classes Para Equestrian Under 25 Championships entries close on 31st March at www.equestrienentries.co.nz

Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, Taupo 21 - 22 April 2018 www.nzequstrian.org.nz/dressage Find us on Facebook Dressage NZ U25 Championships

Go in the draw to win one of 3 free event t shirts MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 37

SEASON PREVIEW

SUMMER SEASON SERIES DRAWING TO A CLOSE

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/dressage-musical-spectacular-2018/feilding The national 2017-18 Super 5 League finals wrapped up at the Bates 20th National Championships but there is plenty of action still to come through until the end of April.

In the north, the Horse of the Year Show in March will host the excitement of NI Finals of the Zilco Freestyle to Music Leaderboards and then we can announce the lucky winner of the national Zilco Hi-Points prize – a fabulous new Zilco cover of choice. Then the Equestrian Entries U25 Championships in April will see the winner of the AMS Saddlery Pony & Young Rider Performance League win a new saddle.

Young horses and ponies feature strongly on the calendar in the autumn with Future Stars events in both islands at Christchurch and Taupo NECs. This is an ideal conclusion to the season for the future stars in our sport having had the season to consolidate in their different levels.

For the very first time in its NZL history the FEI World Dressage Challenge will be held in the autumn rather than late spring, again the opportunity for combinations to show their best work following a season of quality competitions in the Back on Track Premier League.

HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW Hastings 13 -18 March 2018 This event features a CDI 3* / Y plus Young dressage horse classes for 4-7 year olds for the first time. Qualifications can be viewed on the ESNZ/Dressage website http://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/dressage/whats-new/news/2017/november/bateshttp://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/dressage/whats-new/news/2017/november/bates-nationals-horse-of-the-year-qualifications/ nationals-horse-of-the-year-qualifications/ International Judges include: Mary Seefried and Maria Schwennesen (5*AUS) Hennning Lehrmann (4*GER) SI FESTIVAL OF FUTURE STARS NEC Christchurch 14/15 April 2018 Hosted by Dressage Canterbury – schedule to be advised NI FUTURE STARS FESTIVAL Taupo 19/22 April 2018 Incorporating the Elite Equine Young Horse Festival, the 2018 FEI World Dressage Challenge and the Equestrian Entries U25 National Dressage Championships Schedules to follow 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 38 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

SEASON PREVIEW

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. Note: If events choose to split the 6/7 musicals into separate classes because of large numbers, then Leaderboard points may be awarded for each division subject to there being a minimum 15 starters in each class. If not the 5 highest % across both classes will be awarded points.

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 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 MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 39

SEASON PREVIEW

SUMMER SEASON SERIES DRAWING TO A CLOSE

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 Entries only on www.equestrianentries.co.nz

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

ALLINFLEX AMATEUR TOP TEN LEAGUE The AllinFlex Amateur Top Ten League id 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 Entries only 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 Entries only on www.equestrianentries.co.nz

40 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | MARCH 2018

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.sporty.co.nz/taupodressagegroup

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

Dressage Northern Hawkes Bay www.sporty.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)

MARCH 2018 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 41

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