News

DRESSAGE RETURNS TO HICKSTEAD

Dressage will continue at one of the country’s most famous venues, with Hickstead set to host the All England Dressage Festival Premier League (21-23 May) which will include classes from Advanced Medium to Grand Prix. Entries are expected from a number of British Dressage’s leading riders.

Dressage fans expressed huge disappointment when it was announced that Dressage at Hickstead, brainchild of rider Dane Rawlins and Hickstead founder Douglas Bunn and the sister site to the All England Jumping Course was to close after 27 successful years.

Competitions will now be held within the main Hickstead site, made possible due to recent investments into the showground, with more than £500,000 spent on making several existing grass rings into two vast allweather arenas, featuring top of the range Andrews Bowen surfaces.

A number of future options, including hosting existing fi nals and possibly an international competition in 2022, are being considered, depending on the support and interest that the initial event attracts.

FAREWELL TO TOTILAS

The legendary Totilas has died at the age of 20 after a bout of colic. Best known for his partnership with the Netherlands’ Edward Gal, the black Gribaldi stallion delivered a world record freestyle score at the 2009 European Dressage Championships at Windsor, adding the World Cup title and three gold medals at the World Equestrian Games in 2010.

Loved by fans for his fl amboyant action, Totilas was sold to Schockemöhle Sports Horses for a rumoured seven fi gure sum in 2010 and was subsequently ridden for Germany by Matthias Rath.

He was retired in 2015 after suffering several injuries, having already established himself as a successful sire. He has several licenced sons including Toto Jr and Total US, who have been successfully competed by Edward Gal.

EQUALITY STANDARD SUCCESS

British Dressage has achieved the foundation level of the Equality Standard for Sport. Owned by UK Sport and the sports councils for the four home nations, the Equality Standard for Sport is a framework that assists sports organisations to widen access for under-represented individuals, groups and communities, and to reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity.

British Dressage has worked to develop policies, make changes to practices, and produce a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate its clear commitment to equality.

This portfolio has been assessed by British Equestrian and externally assessed by an independent external verifi er.

“Inclusivity and accessibility are at the heart of the new fi ve-year strategy for British Dressage and it’s vitally important that we continue to promote the values of diversity and equality in everything that we do,” said Jason Brautigam, Chief Executive of British Dressage. IN MEMORIAM

Organiser Bruce Grant passed away on Boxing Day. Ever the gentleman, Bruce had a passion for dressage and headed the family run Sheepgate Equestrian, an honour which now passes to daughter Sarah.

The sport lost a great supporter in Michael Rudge in late 2020. ‘Mick’ ran the ever popular Stubbing Court Dressage with wife Frances until 2000 and was a great character who will be very much missed.

We also said a sad goodbye to the effervescent character Penny Goring – she was a fi erce competitor, dressage innovator, notable journalist and a founding member of the British Dressage Supporters Club.

On behalf of the dressage community, British Dressage offers condolences to the families and connections of Bruce, Mick and Penny. SPONSORSHIP NEWS

Alongside their longstanding support of the Intermediate I National Championships, Saracen Horse Feeds will take title sponsorship of the Quest series for the next three years.

Quest is the perfect starting point for riders new to British Dressage, offering competition at Intro, Prelim and Novice. There’s also the option of going solo in My Quest or joining up with two or three friends to compete in Team Quest. Find out more from the dedicated Quest hub on the website.

Elite Equine is to sponsor the Associated Championships for 2021. A new name to British Dressage members, Elite Equine is a premium, 100% organic rosehip powder which relieves the effect of painful arthritic conditions and delivers high levels of vitamins and antioxidants for overall health and immune support in horses and ponies.

The Associated Championships showcases the talent for dressage in a wide range of breeds of horses and ponies, from Gypsy Cobs to Natives, ROR to Veterans. The series incorporates ten Championships which will be held in the autumn of 2021 with over 1,000 competing combinations expected to qualify.

One of Britain’s most popular saddlery brands, Ideal, returns for their fi fth year supporting the Ideal Saddle Company Combined Training Championship 2021. The series has grown in popularity and this year, there are an additional two qualifi ers to the calendar. There’s also a new venue for the championship fi nals in Onley Grounds in Warwickshire while former host Field House remains as a qualifi er venue. Revised calendar out soon.