DressageNZ Bulletin by DressageNZ Bulletin

Issue 11 | June 2017

Featuring... WENDI WILLIAMSON'S CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

Arms and Legs; are yours Behaving? - Debbie Rolmanis

GREAT BRITAIN SCORES NATIONS CUP VICTORY IN COMPIÈGNE

Where’s the Proof? - Jody Hartstone

EDITORIAL

From the Editor WELCOME TO THE ELEVENTH ISSUE OF THE DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN As one season is winding down, we are already looking towards another one. But before the next season really gets underway, Dressage NZ will be celebrating sixty years of activity as a discipline of Equestrian Sports NZ (formerly the NZ Horse Society). We all owe a tremendous amount to the vision of those dedicated individuals back in 1957 that organised the first Annual Dressage Judges Conference under the auspices of the committee of the day, Marion Beamish, Dick Pilmer and Mrs Bertram. And so to 2017. Diamonds represent a 60th anniversary, and given the current dressage fashion, “Bling it On” is an appropriate theme for our birthday celebration and awards dinner. “There is always a new challenge in life. Sometimes the seemingly impossible is really achievable and fun.” Editor Wendy Hamerton and Chair of Selectors and FEI 4* judge Helen Hughes-Keen at the Air NZ Hawke’s Bay Marathon raising funds for WEG 2018

In 1965 the interpretation of rules was just as important as it is today and an extract from a Bulletin of that year regarding Points of Attire reads: It was suggested at an Area meeting that the Rules Committee have a look at FEI rule 267, para 55, regarding the recommended standard of dress. One sentence reads “ladies may wear light fawn breeches and bowler hats.” Several members were of the opinion that topless fashion is not suitable for equestrian sport, and that in certain movements, in the dressage arena particularly, a certain amount of dignity would be lost. “We can do anything, but not everything”. I recently saw this by line attached to a Sport Manawatu report. Let’s think about that. Dressage NZ has a volunteer portfolio based board. Dressage NZ has 1.2 FTE paid staff. So while we can do anything, we simply do not have the time and resource to do everything. National and area events and projects all require a huge amount of volunteer time to be truly successful and I enjoyed the recent Nelson Group equation on Facebook. Volunteer = Get a Start. At the nationals this year only 15 riders from 170 filled out the offer to volunteer section. Where do they think the other 95 volunteers came from? We can accept that riders may not always be in a position personally to volunteer at major events but the fact remains volunteers must be found. This aspect is becoming more critical to the viability and delivery of our sport. Remember the words of Carl Hester. “Riders need to learn that events are not simply organised for their pleasure” WENDY HAMERTON

Cover Image: Amy Sage and RM All about me Photo Credit: Libby Law Photography Back Page: Bill Noble & Airthrey Highlander Dressage Horse of the Year 2014 Photo Credit: Libby Law Photography

Wendy.

Editor: Wendy Hamerton Email: dressage@nzequestrian.org.nz

2 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

CONTENTS

28 CONTENT

EQUIDAYS ANNOUNCED Wade Equine Coaches Festival of Dressage...

MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH

24 FASHION... We take a look at the gorgeous clothing from New Zealand business Beyond the Bit...

AIRTHREY HIGHLANDER

SPOTLIGHT ON: BERNICE FROST

We take a look at the wonderful career of this very special stallion...

“I have a busy life, but dressage is the best part of it,”

FROM THE FEET UP...

DRESSAGE NZ NOTICE BOARD

DRESSAGE TOP TEN LEAGUES

Personal Trainer Ricki Jacobs talks about the importance of a solid foundation!

What's happening this month for Dressage in New Zealand...

Celebrating the placegetters across the country in the Top Ten Leagues...

with veterinarian Dr. Leigh de Clifford...

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 3

Wendi and Deja Vu MH strutting their stuff in front of the crowd at the recent Windsor CDI 4*

WENDI WILLIAMSON'S CAMPAIGN CONTINUES Photo by E.S Photography

Windsor CDI 4* in mid –May was a who’s who of British Dressage plus an interesting representation of other nations including France, Belgium, Singapore, Hong Kong and Italy. All credit to Wendi and DejaVu in the Grand Prix to score 4th place with 69.5% and finish as top placed foreign rider behind the legendary Carl Hester and two riders who were in the British winning nations cup team at Compeigne, Hayley Watson-Greaves and Gareth Hughes. In the Freestyle DJ was somewhat distracted in the atmosphere and “became very hot” was the only way Wendi could describe the test, and so unfortunately they did not manage to show their true capability finishing in 8th place on 68.8%. 4 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

Carl Hester competed Barolo at his first CDI 4 * for two wins scoring 74.6 % in the Grand Prix 79.85% in the Freestyle. Somerford Park Premier League at the end of May was their next stop. The organisers and riders alike faced some challenges on day one with torrential rain and power cuts. The weather scored better the following day for the twenty seven horses lining up in the Grand Prix. The kiwi pair finished with a great 5th place on 69.28%, and went on to score 4th place and 68.29% in the Special. Scores were a bit of a mix for the pair in both tests ranging from 66% to 72% in the Grand Prix and 64.9% to 70.88% in the Special. The winner of both classes was

the on form Becky Moody and Carinsio who scored 71.08% in the GP and 71.86% in the Special. Shiwon Green and Da Vinci were entered in the INT II on the first day and the Grand Prix. Sadly they had an expensive miscommunication in the Int II and Shiwon chose to retire in the Grand Prix after Da Vinci they warmed up so well with Wendi’s help. “He worked in so well and was ready to go well before his start time. I just didn’t have a strategy for that” rued Shiwon. Wendi and DJ have two more CDI’s scheduled (Bolesworth and Hartpury) before DJ goes into quarantine to prepare for his trip back to New Zealand.

THE EQUINE WORLD IS COMING TO NEW ZEALAND.

FEATURING SOME OF THE BEST COMBINATIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE TASMAN. 23-26 NOV 2017, ASB SHOWGROUNDS. WWW.EQUITANAAKL.CO.NZ TICKETS ON SALE JULY

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 5

NEWS

DRESSAGE NZ NEWS Michelle Zielazo Appointed to Dressage NZ Board Marketing & Communication Portfolio Hailing originally from Australia, Michelle admits to now being well entrenched in the New Zealand culture. “I’m happy to tell people that they never have to pronounce my surname. Michelle Z is just fine. Dressage in NZ is leaping ahead both nationally and internationally, and I have been very impressed with the work and dedication of the board to date, so I’m looking forward to supporting and in fact accelerating this growth during my tenure. Having worked with various members of the board and committee of Dressage NZ unofficially over the last couple of years, I am excited to be joining them as an integral part of managing and growing our sport at such an exciting time. "Moving to Christchurch NZ in 2004, I came from a strong equestrian background competing from a young age in dressage, eventing, show jumping, endurance, carriage driving, western and cutting, whilst most other equestrian disciplines were tasted and tried too. Dressage is undoubtedly the passion though, and has remained with me now as I campaign two homebred young mares in Canterbury under my Alasaan stud name. "A keen interest in breeding means I have managed a small stud based in North Canterbury and has also led to a strong involvement with the New Zealand Warmblood Association including 6 years as president. This time reinforced the depth of talent that is emerging in the breeding of discipline specific performance horses in New 6 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

Zealand particularly for dressage, as well as highlighting the exciting new imports which can only add to this talented pool. It’s so gratifying to see that potential turning into high scoring talent in today’s competitions.

when it comes to their marketing and media requirements. I love interacting with my clients, understanding their needs and helping bring their dreams into reality whilst growing their business.

"On a professional basis, I have always had a strong marketing streak and expressed that in all my roles, but I am lucky enough now to be employed by a Creative Agency appropriately named ‘Hound & Steed’. Hound & Steed have a range of clients including large multinationals through to boutique local businesses and all are treated to the same level of care and attention

"If you have any great ideas for sponsorship, promoting and marketing for any facet of Dressage in NZ, I would like to encourage you to contact me and discuss your ideas further. If you see me out and about, feel free to come over and chat, otherwise drop me a call or an email and we can take it from there." Michelle’s email is marketingdressagenz@gmail.com

NATIONAL EVENT PREVIEW

EQUIDAYS PREPARES TO INDULGE DRESSAGE FANS Equidays is preparing to indulge dressage fans with the Wade Equine Coaches Festival of Dressage at Mystery Creek on 12 -13 October. Dressage NZ has partnered with Equidays to bring this feast of dressage competition and education to our members and fans, and it promises to be an event not to be missed. Thursday 12th is the first opportunity in the new season for New Zealand Grand Prix combinations to impress the national selectors in the long lead up to the World Equestrian Games in September 2018. Although a number of riders have already earned FEI Minimum Eligibility Scores, this is the only national event that will be taken into consideration in the lead up. All

other scores must come from CDI 3* or above events and must meet the ESNZ qualification criteria. Some riders have indicated they intend to use this valuable early season opportunity at Equidays as a lead up to the Australian nationals at Boneo Park a week later. In addition to the Grand Prix, there will be invitational competitions at FEI Int B (Level 8) and Prix St Georges. Depending on numbers of entries, the provisional timetable for the Wade Equine Coaches Festival of Dressage is: • FEI Prix St Georges 12.30 – 2.00pm • FEI Int B 2.15 - 2.45pm • Grand Prix 3.30 – 5.00pm • Masterclass 6.30 - 9pm Isobel Wessels, 5* FEI judge (GBR) will be on the judges panel alongside Sue Hobson (FEI 4*) and Betty Brown (FEI 3*) for all classes.

The Thursday evening Masterclass promises to be an absolute highlight for anyone interested in dressage. Watch this space for the announcement of the wellknown and highly respected Masterclass presenter who has captured the dressage world with her training demonstrations over a long period of time. For the first time, a Dressage competition will feature at the Friday night show with the top six qualifiers from the Grand Prix set to entertain the crowd with their Freestyle. Tickets will go on sale from 1 August for Equidays, including Thursday’s Wade Equine Coaches Festival of Dressage and Masterclass. For more information go to www.equidays.co.nz

EQUINE EVENT THE BEST OF COLLECTION 13 – 15 OCTOBER 2017 | EQUIDAYS.CO.NZ | MYSTERY CREEK EVENTS CENTRE

EDUCATE | EQUIP | ENTERTAIN | EMPOWER

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 7

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

From Left to Right: Gareth Hughes, Spencer Wilton, Daniel Watson Front: Chef d’Equipe Caroline Griffith

GREAT BRITAIN SCORES NATIONS CUP VICTORY IN COMPIÈGNE Even with no Charlotte and no Carl, the British team reigned supreme in the FEI Nations Cup Dressage at Compiègne CDIO5* in France from 18 – 21 May. The team competition got underway on Saturday with the CDIO5* Grand Prix which belonged to Berkshire-based Olympian Spencer Wilton (44) with his Rio silver medal partner, Super Nova II. In the final quarter of the start list, Spencer and ‘Neville’, Jen Goodman’s De Niro x Weltmeyer 14-year-old, took the class with 75.32% ahead of Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg with the 15-year-old stallion, Damsey (Dressage Royal x Ritual). Hayley Watson-Greaves and her long term partner Rubins Nite placed eighth with 71.52%, and the relatively new combination of Gareth Hughes and Anne Keen’s Don Carissimo earned 70.40% for 13th. Daniel Watson and Amadeus, Nicola Naylor’s Olivi x Sandro Hit gelding, also did a great job. They pair were awarded a creditable 68.06% for 22nd. In pole position overnight, the team pulled out all the stops on Sunday to maintain the advantage. Spencer and Neville just get better and better. Again, they performed with great conviction, this time winning the Grand Prix 8 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

Special by a 5% margin with a new PB of 78.35%. And Gareth Hughes and ‘Darcy’ finished seventh in line with a solid 70.07%. Sunday afternoon’s freestyle was the conclusion of the team competition. Dan and Amadeus posted a solid 71.17% for 13th, and last to go, Hayley and ‘Squeaks’, were justly awarded 75.32% for an expressive performance to their Chris Lever composition. Hayley finished an impressive third behind Helen Langehanenberg and Patrik Kittel. And so the four British riders did themselves proud, taking their place at the top of the podium.

TEAM RESULTS 1st Great Britain 365.671 2nd Netherlands 355.436 3rd Denmark 353.851 4th Sweden 353.633 5th USA 343.402 6th Belgium 281.574 7th France 269.624

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite hit their stride at the FEI Nations Cup Dressage™ Compiègne 2017

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 9

MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH

YOUR MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH ANSWER FROM LEIGH DE CLIFFORD:

QUESTION FROM JESSIE MONTGOMERY: I have a horse who is hard to keep weight on so I added a rice bran fattening product however I am not seeing the results I would like. What else could be going on (teeth have been done, treated for ulcers, wormed etc)? Do some horses just like to run on the leaner side?

DO YOU HAVE A QUERY REGARDING THE CARE, MAINTENANCE OR TRAINING OF YOUR DRESSAGE HORSE?

The equine athlete, like humans, are varied in size, shape, power, ability, agility, speed and flexibility and with some individuals being better suited to certain disciplines than others. Dressage horses are trained to develop coordination, collection and suppleness when performing complex exercises, gait variations and gait transitions, all whilst maintaining an aesthetically pleasing equilibrium. These attributes take several years to develop and require significant muscular power to perform. The three main disciplines of Eventing, Showjumping and Dressage all have different training regimes to suit the individual sports and horses competing across them must be viewed differently. Eventers could be likened to triathletes, often having lower muscle mass but superior cardiovascular performance. Showjumpers have a mix between power and cardiovascular performance, much like a 400m hurdler. The dressage horse is like a gymnast, having superior power when compared to cardiovascular performance.

Go to the DressageNZ Bulletin Facebook page and submit your training questions A question will be selected and sent to one of our participating coaches to answer for you! The winning question will receive a bag of Mitavite feed.

10 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

For the dressage horse to have enough power to compete at the higher levels adequate muscle mass is essential as reduced levels can lead to fatigue and poor performance. Muscle mass needs to be assessed taking into consideration overall body fat levels, as this determines power-to-weight ratios. A horse that is high in muscle mass and fat may actually have a lower power-to-weight ratio than a slightly smaller horse that has less body fat, and find competing more difficult. Some body fat is essential for normal bodily functions, however too much can lead to fatigue, poor performance and increased risk of injury. When looking at human gymnasts, they are exceptionally muscular, yet supple and have very little body fat; this is what a dressage horse should look like. You should be able to easily see muscular definition when the horse is in motion. Muscular mass can only be achieved through the stimulatory effects of exercise and appropriate nutrition, namely protein. Horses require varying amounts of protein depending on size, age, breed, discipline, training level and desired amount of muscle mass. Individual building blocks of protein are called amino acids, with 10 being classed as essential, as they have to be provided

Thank you Mitavite and thank you Dr. Leigh de Clifford for supporting Dressage NZ Congratulations Jessie!

MITAVITE QUESTION OF THE MONTH

"When looking at human gymnasts, they are exceptionally muscular, yet supple and have very little body fat; this is what a dressage horse should look like..."

in the diet. If these essential amino acids are not provided in appropriate levels a limit to protein synthesis will occur and the other amino acids will be converted to fat stores. Although protein is essential for muscular development carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals are also required, which is why it is critical to ensure that your horse is being fed a well-balanced diet at all times. This appropriate feeding practice needs to start before your broodmare is in foal,

for the duration of pregnancy and for the life of that foal, right throughout its athletic career. All too often horses are over fed but undernourished and this can have serious medical complications. Such complications include developmental orthopaedic diseases such as osteochondrosis (OCD) and osseous cyst-like lesions, which have the potential to limit the athletic career of an individual.

DR. LEIGH DE CLIFFORD BVSc, Cert AVP, PGDipVPS, MRCVS Matamata Veterinary Services Ltd Email: leigh@matavet.co.nz

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 11

MITAVITE EQUINE NUTRITION

FEEDING THE DRESSAGE HORSE Article by Mitavite Nutritionist

The science of feeding for performance is well advanced in all species. Most trainers and owners understand that the way they feed their horses has a significant impact on performance – but do they understand the science of why feeding correctly is so important? Dressage requires a number of qualities including good conformation, gaits and behaviour. Some specific characteristics of conformation and gait have a genetic basis, others require years of training, such as increased collection and the execution of complex figures. Genetics has some influence according to moderate and high heritabilities for gait and conformation for example speed at the trot is 30%, while stride length is 29% and stride frequency is 20% inherited. However, genetics has a low influence on performance in competition compared to the effects of training, environment and diet. Training must improve coordination, suppleness and collection so that the forward movement becomes a more upward movement and stride frequency slows down. The dressage horse needs to easily execute complex exercises, gait variations and gait transitions while maintaining equilibrium and suppleness. The increase in dorsoventral action (elevation) increases after the first year of training corresponding with an increase in muscle power.

MUSCLE POWER = MUSCLE MASS X MUSCLE ENERGY SUPPLY

Fatigue and poor performance can be due to not enough muscle mass. The power-to-weight ratio is determined by the ratio of lean muscle mass-to-fat. So, as well as energy supply, sustained performance depends on a strong and muscular body. Whether a horse develops muscle or lays down fat is determined by the quality, quantity and bioavailability of the dietary protein.

THE ‘MUSCLE BUILDING’ POWER OF A FEED DEPENDS ON: • Protein quantity • Protein quality – amino acids deficiencies place a limit on the amount of muscle and bone a horse can build and increase fat cover. • Digestibility in the small intestine. As discussed in the April issue of Dressage NZ Bulletin, Amino Acids are the key factor in protein delivery. Horses require a certain number of grams of protein a day, not a percent. Using the percent protein of different feeds to assess adequacy of protein intake is a futile exercise unless the weight of feed is factored in. For example, if one feed is 10% protein and a horse eats 3kg, the horse receives 300g of protein. If another feed is 20% protein and a horse eats 1.5kg, it again receives 300g of protein. In addition, the dietary protein must contain the 10 essential amino acids. The quality of any feed is determined by the number and amount of each of the 10 essential amino acids. Regardless of the % protein of a feed, if there is not enough of each essential amino acid, a limit to protein synthesis is set, therefore the other essential amino acids cannot be used and are degraded and stored as fat. Musclebuilding power is totally dependent upon protein - the amount fed, the

12 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

amino acid profile, the processing method and the site of digestion. Mitavite® Cool Crusada™ has been formulated to address the power-toweight ratio through attention to the essential amino acid array and the steam-extrusion-related increased digestibility. Energy is provided by ingredients that are delivered via 3 separate digestive systems, providing a balanced combination of fast acting, medium and slow release energies. Super-Fibres provide support for hind gut function whilst supplying a cool energy source. Mitavite’s® revolutionary supplement Bonafide® is included to support bone and cartilage integrity, and assist in maintaining soundness for the dressage horse. The science behind our dressage athletes is impressive. Genetics and temperament obviously play an important role, but what you feed your horse should be the basis of consistent and positive development. Mitavite are proud of the science that goes behind their products, so for more information about Cool Crusada or for assistance in how to assist your athlete further go to their website www.mitavite.com

MITAVITE EQUINE NUTRITION

your

GROW KNOWLEDGE

by joining our

FREE ADVOCATE PROGRAM

™

Mitavite’s nutrition team have built the Mitavite Advocate Program™ (MAP™) using accepted nutritional principals and evidence based information to deliver an industry leading tool for everyone who loves their horse. Regardless of your choice of feed, the Mitavite Advocate Program™ is relevant to you. We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity and make the Mitavite Advocate Program™ an integral part of your care for your horse.

http://advocate.mitavite.com

Astute owners, trainers and riders know that correct nutrition and feeding is one of the most important and influential elements to a healthy horse. Most people don’t easily have the opportunity or the finances to improve their knowledge and understanding of the principals of feeding best practice – but now you have the Mitavite Advocate Program ™! • • •

MAP™ is completely free. MAP™ is fully accessible on your PC, tablet or smart phone. MAP’s™ course consists of 8 modules, each with a series of multiple choice answers, making it easy to learn without performance pressure and deadlines.

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 13

MV_J758A/10

Mitavite recently launched a new online nutrition training and education program tailor made for you.

HORSE PROFILE

A BOW TO BOWIE AS HE RETIRES FROM THE COMPETITION ARENA Article by Wendy Hamerton | Photo by Libby Law Photography

Linda Moughan has called time on the competitive career of her beloved Bowie. Airthrey Highlander may not have been the traditionally bred showjumper or dressage horse if you were looking to breed a national title holder, but his character, fantastic work ethic, trainability and sound training throughout his competitive life span saw this horse win hearts and inspire thousands of his fans. Bowie is a Clydesdale/TB cross thoroughbred by the very famous Glendevon Commander, out of a well performed thoroughbred mare, About Time (Coober Prince). After being backed as a three year old, he had a very successful competition career, intially as a Showjumper/Showhunter, alongside some dressage dabbling with David Nickalls. He notched up a few significant dressage scores and placings during this time. Then as his really promising show jumping career progressed to 1.35m seven year old and 1* Grand Prix classes, he suffered a stable injury that required nearly twelve months recuperation. It was following this time out that the decision was made to change his discipline to dressage. Linda thought the stresses of showjumping may compromise the horse’s future soundness. She joked about that looking back. “I clearly had no idea how hard a Grand Prix dressage horse worked” In 2010, after just a year in training with Bill Noble, he won the Waikato Grand Prix Championship. In 2014 the

pair scooped the pool at Horse of the Year show winning all three classes and the coveted NZ Grand Prix Dressage Horse of the Year title. After this win, Bill and Linda agreed that Bill’s daughter Anya should take over the ride. They enjoyed a lot of success as a partnership mentored by Bill and supported by Linda. This combination won the first ever U25 Grand Prix and the Waldebago trophy at the Young Rider Nationals in 2015 and 2016. A rigorous university study schedule for Anya and a young horse at home saw Anya decide to relinquish the ride in 2016. Bowie now lives a wonderful life of semi- retirement at Airthrey Lodge where he can view other horses undergoing training in the fabulous Airthrey Lodge covered arena facility. No doubt he will be having an allknowing smile to himself as he cruises his favourite paddocks and waits till the next breeding season rolls around. Dressage owes a lot to owners for their support. Linda was a very enthusiastic owner – always at the events, providing horse transport, fabulous truck dinners (lasagne next to none), wine, many long and philosophical chats about dressage and equestrian sport, and a lot of fun. Thank you Linda for being part of our sport and sharing Bowie with us all.

14 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

A FEW OF BOWIE’S COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • Champion Preliminary Horse title at the Waikato Dressage Champs • Champion Preliminary Horse at Rotorua with a top score of 80.5% • Joint top qualifying four year old in the Horsepower Young Dressage Horse with 80.5% • Won the Show Jumping Development Class at the 2007 Horse of the Year • 2008/09 North Island 6yo Show Jumping Champion • 2008/09 National 6yo Show Hunter Champion (Won at the Breeder’s Show Dannevirke) • Wins and placings in several 7yo Showjumping series classes (1.35m) • 2010 Waikato Championships Grand Prix Dressage Champion • 2011 HOY, 4th in the GP, 4th In the GP Kur for an overall placing of 4th • 2013 Waikato Championships Grand Prix Dressage Champion • 2014 North Island Dressage Champs, reserve champion GP • 2014 Bates Dressage Nationals, 1st in the GP, 2nd in GP Kur, GP reserve champion overall • 2014 HOY, winner of GP Special, GP Kur and GP Dressage Horse of the Year title • U25 Grand Prix Champion 2015, 2016

HORSE PROFILE

Bill Noble & Airthrey Highlander Dressage Horse of the Year 2014

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 15

JUDGES CORNER

The Singapore National Dressage Championships were held at the Polo Club shortly after Betty’s trip.

THE SINGAPORE JUDGING EXPERIENCE with Betty Brown Auckland based List 1 and FEI 3* judge Betty Brown was invited to judge at the Singapore national championships but had to decline as she was away to the US on holiday. But accepting a new invitation to a club day competition was possible. It was a midnight departure arriving at 6am and after a short nap and shower, it was around the corner by cab to the Singapore Polo Club. The club complex comprises a polo field, riding club, club house/restaurant and bar, swimming pool and tennis courts. There are 200 polo ponies, mostly from Argentina but a few from Auckland! The riding club provides horse agistment for around $2800/ month. The horses are in open boxes with overhead fans. A few turnout yards are available, but no grass. The club also owns a number of school horses and ponies. There is an outdoor warm up arena and a huge indoor arena with seating down both long sides. “In fact is large enough to play indoor Polo in” say Betty. “The surface is a waxed fibre/ rubber mix which needs no irrigation and you can't hear a horse’s footfall. The down side is that it is alongside the Polo field and on the short side is the clubs swimming pool - but there is a board between! They have just put up full length mirrors down this short side”

The entries were much larger than expected as everyone wanted a ride in the arena which would be used at for the national championships. Many riders were also trying to qualify and be selected for the SEA Games (South East Asia) in Malaysia in August. The morning featured a 1.40m showjumping class. Betty began at 2:30 and finished at 6:30 judging a range of classes from Elementary to Int I Freestyle. Singapore uses the US/ Australian tests and EFA rules. The highest FEI level ridden is Int I. Para equestrian classes are also held but there were none scheduled at this show. Sunday saw the day begin at 7am and finish at 6:30pm, so judging from Preliminary to Int I over 11.5 hrs made for a long day. Betty was the sole judge at the event. “I was happy to talk to riders on how to improve their marks. They would like me to come back and I suggested I that I could stay on for a few days and run a clinic on warming up and arena craft – all of which is now in the planning. They will ride a test which will be videoed and I will judge, then we will go over the test and have them re-ride movements to bring up marks” It was fun to stay with friends from Waverley, Bridget and Stephen Gray on the way home. They have a race

16 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

stable in Singapore with 70 horses in work. Most are NZ or Australian thoroughbreds but also a few from Europe. On the last day I met up with Jo Wilson, originally from Takapau, and who now is a chiropractor in Singapore. She was formerly based in Jakarta but they have closed down all chiropractic clinics. It was great to catch up with both sets of friends. I did not see Saraceni, a NZ representative Grand Prix horse formerly owned and ridden by Kieryn Walton, but he is at a club not far from where I was judging. There were a few other NZ horses, but mostly were from Belgium, or cobs from England. The hot humid climate makes it very hard on horses and riders, oh and judges too” Singapore is an island state off southern Malaysia. It is a global financial centre with a tropical climate and multicultural population. The population is about the same as NZ but only 719 km2. Nothing is grown in Singapore so everything is imported, making some food items very expensive -$12 for a punnet of strawberries! “You can buy almost anything there, but you do pay! I enjoyed meeting such a huge range of people and judging horses and ponies I had never seen before and I look forward to returning.”

RIDER PROFILE

PROFILING PONY RIDER MILLIE THOMPSON Article by Wendy Hamerton | Photo by NZEquine

As a fifteen year old pony rider, Canterbury’s Millie Thompson already appears to have an uncanny insight into the pathway that will lead to her ultimate goal of Olympic representation. Aged eight, Millie was introduced to pony riding at the local Yaldhurst riding school. Her mother Mel rode so it seemed to follow the usual motherdaughter pattern. Then the bug started to take hold and Millie’s grandfather bought the first pony. He was a 4 year old 14.2hh Arab. “I’m not really sure if we knew what we were looking for” jokes Millie. “Tegan Fitzsimon, (a top showjumper) was one of my first mentors. She told me that showjumping was really only dressage over jumps. She told me the importance of flat work” Along came Rifesyde Prancer (Iberico/Kirkwood Sorceress), bred by Brugs Nicholls, and competed lightly in his early years by successful young rider Sophie Griffiths. The season just finished was a rewarding one, the pair finishing runner up in both the Pryde’s Easifeed SI Pony & Young Rider Level 4 and Horsesports Amateur Top Ten League for Level 3 & 4 ponies. The offer to also compete Dani Simpson’s Level 3 Greenmoor Euphoria (Richie) for the Zilco Future Stars Show saw Millie take champion honours in both Level 3 and 4 with the two ponies. Prancer & Millie were members of the Canterbury pony club dressage team that finished second nationally, and they took also 2nd place in the junior individual competition. Her plans for the season ahead are to consolidate further at Level 4 with Prancer and to learn the flying changes. It is hoped to take Greenmoor Euphoria up to Level 4 as well, but as he is for sale, there is the possibility that Millie will move on to her first horse if that eventuates. Mum Mel is looking to a full

competition season ahead with some trips to the North Island all going well. On competing in other sports: “I used to run but I had to give up a few things to have time to ride. I still play touch for Canterbury in the summer and I am playing in the senior women’s premier hockey league this winter. I haven’t competed in any other equestrian discipline. Dressage is my thing” Millie is coached locally by Sally Field-Dodgson and was selected to train with the Canterbury dressage squad under the guidance of Christine

Weal. She has also been lucky to have the opportunity to train with John Thompson and Andrea Raves. When asked if working with different coaches becomes confusing she was very clear in her answer. “No, because they all give me some different input. They all help me to be the best I can be. I just want to be the best I can be. I love dressage. I find it really rewarding as I can strive for my own goals and challenges. I want to ride Grand Prix – go to the Olympics and do well” Watch this space......

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 17

RIDER PROFILE

THE MASTERFUL LIFE OF BERNICE FROST Article by Frankie Webb | Photo by Dark Horse Photography

“I have a busy life, but dressage is the best part of it,” responded Raetihi horsewoman, Bernice Frost, 77, when asked if she had any plans to hang up her riding boots. In 1940, New Zealand celebrated 100 years since signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. In the same year, the Cowan family celebrated Bernice’s arrival into the world in the tiny South Taranaki settlement of Ngamatapouri. “Horses were a part of life,” she said recalling a happy childhood. “My elder sister and I rode five miles to

and from school. No saddles, just a sack and a surcingle, it made trotting uncomfortable so we often rode at a flat gallop giving us balance and stickability.” When Bernice finished her education, leaving college in Wanganui, she took up a job with the local Council, keeping her horse on the outskirts of town. She was an accomplished sportswoman and apart from riding she achieved accolades in athletics and hockey. “I sustained a knee injury at hockey,” Bernice said. “That put an end to the hockey and athletics, but I could still ride a horse.”

In 1961 Bernice tied the knot with professional horse breaker Jim Frost. The couple, along with their team of dogs and horses, took up farm management and shepherding positions throughout the Wanganui District. In 1973 while living in Kakatahi, Jim and Bernice became founding members of the Kakatahi Polocrosse Club. Riding their homebred Anglo Arabs, they and their two sons participated in polocrosse for 20 years. “But in 1992 I realised that my age group had disappeared and I felt it was time to quit,” Bernice said. “I always had an interest in dressage, but never the chance to try it.” That chance came in the form of a Christian Thiess clinic being held at Vollrath Stud in Wanganui. At age 50 something, aboard her polocrosse pony Talisman, Bernice rode in her first competitive dressage class to achieve 48%, and also realized that dressage lessons would be most beneficial! Local rider and friend Christine Reynolds had started her dressage riding on a Frost bred Anglo Arab, My Warrior, training him to level 5. It was about that time that Taihape Dressage judge, the late Ted Gilbert approached Bernice and Christine about forming a Taihape Area Dressage Group. “I think it was Taihape Horse Society back then, we had a lot of fun,” Bernice remembers. “ It was Sundays at Jean Jones’ place with Jude Simpson, Katherin Gorringe (nee Dalrymple) and sometimes Pat Dalrymple.”

18 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

RIDER PROFILE

The first Taihape Area Dressage Group tournament was held in 1994. “Talisman almost got to Level 3 - but he could be naughty,” she smiles. “We were either first or last.” Looking to move on, Bernice tried a thoroughbred mare which didn’t work out. In 1997 she acquired Aristocrat - a striking, 17.2, black gelding straight off the track. “He was a true gentleman, always tried to please,” she said. The combination enjoyed success in the show ring, often bringing home the wide sashes, and in the dressage arena where they reached Level 4 before he was retired at 17 due to injury. Bernice’s next partner was a rising 5 year old gelding by Anamour, bred by Spin and Joan Sutherland - Archduke. “He could buck as well as any rodeo horse,” Bernice said. “I used a neck strap and he got over it - by the time he was 10.” Jim rode him in the early days but Bernice conquered the issues winning their way through to Level 5. Then tragedy struck.

He was just getting his changes really well, he was fit and just turned 13,” Bernice said. “Suddenly he got very sick, we rushed him to Massey who discovered a rare and incurable internal problem, I was shattered.” Bernice vowed she would not get another horse but long time friend Christine Reynolds wouldn’t have a bar of it. She had an Anamour mare bred in 1998 by Eric Rophia. Christine had taken Arabella ER to Level 4 then tried to get her in foal but Bella wouldn’t oblige. Despite having been out of dressage for 3 years and being a mare noted for her talent as much as her challenging personality, Bernice was up to the job. “It took me a year to get her muscles back,” Bernice said. “We are now competing at Level 5 and had the dubious honour of being the oldest Dressage NZ horse and rider combination in the masters series last year, with our combined ages being 92.”

Earlier this year Bernice was recognised by the Ruapehu District who bestowed a Council’s Citizens Award for her contributions to the community. Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said “Without commitment and dedication of people (like Bernice) many things we take for granted would cease to function.” The citation recognised the 30 years she served as Secretary of Waimarino A & P Show where she still serves on the committee, her contribution to the Raetihi Promotions Charitable Trust, Waimarino Arts Award, the local Forest and Bird Society plus her voluntary work at the Waimarino Museum Society and Raetihi Information Centre of more than two decades. Bernice and Jim’s 120acre farm is geographically challenged being situated in what a lot of people would term the “whop whops”. For some people that would be excuse enough for not putting their hand up when it comes to helping out. Not so for Bernice, her motto must surely be “Life is what you make it.”

Now on sale Skin & Wound Gel

Mānuka Vet’s natural, antibiotic free, wound healing solution to heal and protect wounds better and faster.

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 19

BREEDING

WHEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE PROOF?

20 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

BREEDING

Long-time breeder of sport horses Jody Hartstone considers New Zealanders apparent lack of care when it comes to registering the wonderful horses we breed.

CASE #1: Mary buys a fantastic

(and expensive) young mare that she hopes to compete on in dressage and eventually start a breeding program with. The mare comes with no breed society papers but is said to be frozen semen by Weltmeyer. Imagine her dismay when years down the track she has the mare DNA tested only to find it was never by Weltmeyer at all. MORAL: Don’t take anyone’s word on the breeding of the horse you buy – get the proof via its papers from a reputable breed association CASE #2: Simon breeds a gorgeous

foal and wants to get it registered so he can take it to the Classification Tour to see if the German Assessor rates it highly against the best bred horses in the country. In order to be registered however he needs a Certificate of Service to prove his mare was put to the stallion. Sadly, the stallion owner who was only too eager to bank the stud fee is not so forth coming with three minutes of their time to fill out the paperwork. Guess who missed out on the tour? MORAL: Always get a Certificate of Service from the stallion owner as soon as your mare is in foal – don’t let a stallion owner take your money without the Certificate being received. It’s the least they can do for you!

CASE #3: Jane decides to use an

unlicensed stallion over her mare and not get the foal registered. When it comes time to sell the foal as an outstanding four year old prospect the buyers want papers for it. Sadly for Jane the stallion is now deceased and with no DNA stored on file there is no hope for registration papers for her horse. MORAL: Always ensure the mares and stallions you use have been DNA recorded CASE #4: Kerry owns a very well-

known pinto warmblood stallion but doesn’t get it registered with the appropriate breed societies for a horse of his type and colour. Imagine Kerry’s dismay when another stallion is registered with that name because they “got in first” and can now ride on the coat tails of the unregistered but clearly more famous stallion. MORAL: Always make sure your horse is registered with all appropriate societies to ensure nobody can take the name that your horse has made famous.

For many years I have been mystified by New Zealand breeders “she’ll be right” attitude. Anywhere else I have travelled with horses around the world the passports and breeding of each and every horse is recorded. It would be unheard of in Germany to buy even a gelding that had no papers. How can you be sure of its date of birth, or that it doesn’t contain bloodlines with characteristics you deem undesirable? “You can’t ride its papers” is a quip often heard on the show grounds, said by those riders who are in the next breath telling you their horse is indeed by Totilas and out of a daughter of Blue Hors Matine. An old friend once said to me – “if you can’t ride the papers then why the heck are skiting about the breeding?!” Where is the proof? Where indeed…. Is it the cost that puts people off registering their foals? It costs as little as $40 to get your foal registered with a breed society. You may well need a microchip (around $80) and you may need to DNA test the foal if frozen semen is used. The cost of this is $100.

Article continues on page 36...

Brand new styles, brand new website... Still the same high quality, uniquely tailored garments Moores Riding Wear Ltd toThe ensure maximum style and& comfort. best place to shop for a jacket style to suit your dressage needs.

Show specials available during the www.mooresridingwear.co.nz South Island Festival of Dressage.

e: info@mooresridingwear.co.nz | p: 03 313 6116 | find us on facebook • Dressage tails, Cutaways & Traditional double vented jackets. • Huge range of sizes from 32” to 46” in stock. • Here on site for the duration of the show, JUNEcall 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | in & see us. P: 03 313 6116 E: info@mooresridingwear.co.nz

BREEDING

WHY BOTHER TO REGISTER YOUR FOALS AND YOUNG HORSES?

• You have a birth certificate proving when your foal was born and what the pedigree is. • You are adding value to your horse and making sure that if sold at a later date a purchaser wanting papers will not be disappointed. • You will be forever recorded as the breeder and no person down the track can change the name of the horse or take away your stud prefix without your express permission. • You will be eligible to compete in breed classes and for high points awards • You may get the chance to upgrade your horses into a studbook • You may even get the chance to have an overseas expert view your stock and give you honest feedback about your mares and the stallions you are choosing.

Riders can do their bit by demanding that any horse they want to buy is sold with papers! You may not think it is important to you – but if you ever try to resell the horse you purchased without papers you may be in for a nasty surprise when the next purchaser wants papers.

22 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

If New Zealand is to be taken seriously as a nation producing great sport horses we need to be very proactive in the recording of the births and pedigrees of these animals we put so much time, effort, love and money into.

FOLLOW THESE EASY STEPS TO REGISTER YOUR LOVELY FOALS EACH YEAR

1. Before breeding ensure your mare and the stallion you are using both meet the criteria for whichever breed society you are wishing to register with. 2. As soon as your mare is confirmed in foal get a Certificate of Service from the stallion owner. 3. Once the foal is born fill out the necessary paperwork from the breed society, microchip or brand the foal if required and take any DNA sample needed. 4. Once you receive your papers keep them in a safe place – they are legal documents! 5. When you come to sell the foal please make sure the Papers are sent with it and the Change of Ownership formalities are completed.

PRODUCT REVIEW

FEATURED PRODUCT KASK HELMETS With the impending helmet law changes (effective 1 August 2017) we take a look at the stunning helmet range of Italian brand KASK - developed to fit the needs of the world's top athletes, and therefore ensuring the wearer unparalleled comfort even in the most rigorous circumstances. “Don’t follow the trend ….Start It” Experience KASK first

DOGMA CHROME LIGHT –

SWAROVSKI ON THE ROCKS –

STAR LADY –

LIGHTNESS MEETS TECHNOLOGY

RED CARPET HIGHLIGHT

You really cannot go wrong with Dogma Chrome Light on your head. This is not only an accessory for protection, this top product demonstrates how a helmet can be much, much more. A mix of style, elegance and unique technical features, combined with undeniable comfort.

Add real Medley Swarovski® on both aerators and make your helmet the most tantalizing one on the market. The latest personalisation for ambitious, visionary women.

Specifically created to provide an extra sun protection to the rider, Star Lady guarantees comfort, safety and high performance with a touch of elegance especially dedicated to female riders. Women will absolutely love Star Lady when they wear it thanks to the incomparable technical features.

PROUDLY WORN BY CARL HESTER

SHOCKINGLY CHIC

OAKRIDGE EQUESTRIAN Grant or Kelly Stewart

grant@oakridgeequestrian.co.nz www.oakridgeequestrian.co.nz +64 7 357 2432 +64 21 324 892 CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KASK JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 23

FASHION

STEEL GREY LONG SLEEVE TECHNICAL TRAINING TOP

RRP$94.50 Sizes XXS-XXL, CLICK HERE TO ORDER

24 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

FASHION STYLE

‘CRYSTAL’ WHITE BAMBOO COMPETITION BREECH

RRP $129 Sizes C12-A18 CLICK HERE TO ORDER

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 25

FASHION

BTB ESSENTIAL FRILLED COLLAR WHITE SHOW TOP

RRP$69 Sizes XXS-XXL

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

‘CONSTELLATION’ BAMBOO BREECH

RRP $129 Sizes 6-16

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

BTB ELASTICATED WOVEN BELTS

RRP $20, One Size Assorted colourways

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

26 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

FASHION

‘VALENTINA’ GREY LONG SLEEVE SHOW TOP

RRP$85 Sizes XXS-XXL

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 27

RIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS

ARM LATERAL ROTATION Be sure to keep the scapula drawn downwards as you complete this move. TOP TIP* To help maintain your shoulder and arm positioning on horse, imagine you are pressing downwards on somebodys hand with your elbows. This activates the lats which are a strong shoulder and upper arm stabiliser. This is not a complicated exercise at all, as it is very specific in the muscles that it targets. Take a yoga block (or a rolled up towel) underneath your elbow and with your arm in a riding position, slowly externally rotate your forearm. Return to your starting point and repeat 10 times with each arm. The point of this is that it is a small movement so that it targets the muscles that often get overlooked by the big, bulkier muscles that take over when the shoulders are not in alignment. This exercise turns on the deep stabilizing muscles of the scapulae and increases the mobility of the shoulder joint. It is a winner in terms of helping to create the ability to have a more stable and consistent contact.

28 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

RIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS

ARMS AND LEGS; ARE YOURS BEHAVING? Article by Debbie Rolmanis www.dbmuscletherapy.com

If you were to get comfy over a coffee and have a heart to heart with any rider, the chances are there is something about their position or their effectiveness in the saddle that they have to work on each time they ride. It might be that their hands move too much, or their elbows poke out. Maybe they can’t keep their toes pointing straight ahead, or maybe they lose their stirrup(s). For some riders, turning right or left is more challenging and sitting straight requires a herculean effort. Some riders you will see having a really hard time keeping their leg underneath their hips. The point is, every rider has their own challenges. The aim of this month’s article is to give you a few tips on a couple of often seen problems with riders’ arms and legs and where they might be stemming from, so that you can address the area that might be the most to blame. Of course, there are a multitude of reasons that may be causing a positional issue, and far too many to cover here, so this month we take a look at contact and leg position.

INCONSISTENT CONTACT The aim of any rider should be to have a seat that is independent not only within itself (ie having arms and legs that move independently from the seat) but to also have a position that can maintain its integrity regardless of what the horse is doing underneath. Being able to hold your position until your horse gives you a great feeling is really the ultimate challenge. In order for anything to be independent, there needs to be an anchoring element. For the arms and hands to be independent of the rest of the body (and of the horses antics) the shoulder girdle needs to be anchored. When a riders’ hands and arms move too much and are unable to hold the reins straight or to maintain a steady

and consistent contact with the horses mouth; regardless of whether the horse is ‘in the contact’ yet, is a sign that the stability of the shoulder girdle has failed. The shoulder girdle should be considered as your scapulae (shoulder blades), shoulder joint and all the associated musculature of this area. When you see someone holding good posture, their appearance is one of being very tall and upright with an open chest. In this position, the scapulae have been drawn together and the muscles across the back hold them together and downwards. From here, the arms can be independent from the torso, allowing the shoulder joint full range of movement, as the shoulder blades have been ‘anchored’. This allows for positive tension to be held at the back of the body, whilst maintaining full range of movement with the arms to hold an elastic contact. That means your arms and hands stay on the same trajectory as your horse’s mouth; staying proactive rather than reactive to any inconsistencies. The secret to gaining the ability to anchor the shoulder girdle is a) adopt neutral spine (actively bringing the shoulder blades together and downwards) and b) strengthening the short, deep muscles of the shoulder girdle through targeted exercises.

LEGS THAT JUST DON’T BEHAVE When it comes to leg positioning, riders can suffer a whole host of difficulties. Perhaps the most common is having the leg too far forward in the saddle, with a closed knee and hip which pushes the rider’s seat to the back of the saddle and immediately out of balance with the horse. The fundamental aim of any rider should be to stay over the horses’ centre of gravity, which is situated just behind the withers. In this position, the horse is able to move in balance JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 29

RIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS without being conflicted by trying to balance a rider in the wrong place. A rider that is forced behind the centre of gravity by an incorrect leg position will negatively affect stride length, speed, contact, balance, and comfort. A rider who is always trying to keep up with the horses’ movement slows the horses hind leg, and pushes it out behind them. This means they will always have the feeling that the horse is behind the leg and leaning more and more on the forehand. It is at this point that longer spurs and whips start to feature in their training when really all they needed to do was to align their body and get over the centre of gravity!

SO WHAT MAKES THE LEG SIT IN THE WRONG SPOT? The root cause of most positional problems stems from incorrect alignment through the body at the most basic level; ie every day, doing every day activities. The body that is held in a position that is not correctly aligned ‘off horse’ will most certainly not be in alignment ‘on horse’. It is not possible to sit with a perfectly aligned position in the saddle if you do not stand and walk with the same, so in order to address incorrect pelvic and leg position in the saddle, we need to strip the body back to being re-educated from a standing position.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK. We have all heard about neutral spine, and this is essential, but we have to go another step on from there in order to achieve correct loading and alignment that will set us up for a great pelvic and leg position in the saddle. As a generalization, most people will tend to lean their upper body forward and load the front of the feet when they walk, relying on momentum rather than leg strength via full hip extension to power them forward. This posture overloads the quads and the hip flexors, forcing them to be contracted and tight. When people with this positioning stand, they may look upright, but if you were to look closely they would actually still have their weight over the balls of the feet, the pelvis out of ‘neutral’ and their rib-cage thrusted upwards, creating the illusion that they are standing straight. Moving in this position every day ensures that the muscles around the hip remain too tight, the glutes switch off and the lower back remains weak. We may get away with this posture when our feet are on the ground (we won’t indefinitely) but when the pelvis has to be stable in the saddle on top of a moving structure, an imbalance of strength between the front and back of the pelvis becomes increasingly problematic. Training the quads and hip flexors to be contracted and tight through prolonged sitting and transferring this posture into standing and walking, creates an inevitable drawing up of the knee, closing of the hip and a pelvis out of position in the saddle.

HOW TO: Standing with feet pelvic width apart, rock your weight back over your heels so that your pelvis is sitting above your heels. Your shoulders should then be sitting above your pelvis. Check you are in neutral by ensuring you have a small curve in your lower spine and then set your scapulae. This photo (A) shows how a lot of people will stand and walk. The weight is over the toes and the ribcage has been thrusted up and forwards. Compare this picture to more of an aligned posture and you should notice a difference. It isn’t a massive movement that needs to happen but it makes a huge difference to how your body functions. Here (photo B) the pelvis is over the heels, which brings the shoulders over the pelvis. Here the body is aligned at optimum, meaning that all the joints will receive appropriate load.

By moving your body in alignment throughout the day, you set yourself up to be able to obtain a much more aligned and correct posture in the saddle.

30 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

RIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS

DEBBIE ROLMANIS, FOUNDER OF DB MUSCLE THERAPY IS A FULLY QUALIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER, HUMAN SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST AND EQUINE SPORTS THERAPIST. Debbie holds a BSc (Equine), BHSAI, Diplomas in Human Personal Training and Sports Therapy and Equine Sports Therapy, all gained in the UK. Debbie currently works/lives in the UK, with regular trips to clients in Germany including successful Grand Prix rider Hayley Beresford. www.dbmuscletherapy.com

NORTH LOBURN EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

@NLECDressage

AUTUMN DRESSAGE SERIES Dressage for everyone

April 16th, May 21st, June 18th // Rangiora Showgrounds download the schedule at WWW.NLEC.CO.NZ | email: info@nlec.co.nz | phone 03 313 1247 A relaxed and friendly atmosphere with classes for everyone, from new partnerships to the more experienced combinations. We welcome junior riders and encourage riders to “Give it a Go” with our judge assisted Training classes available at all of our days.

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 31

RIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS

FOOT STRENGTH FOR HEALTH AND ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT Article by Ricki Jacobs

This topic may seem a bit odd on first impression as you may be asking yourself what feet have to do with your health and performance? well.. quite alot actually.

Feet... they may not be the most "aesthetically pleasing" body part to talk about but are actually one of the most important for anybody looking to stay healthy, injury free and perform better. The saying " you can't build a strong house on a weak foundation" could not be any closer to the truth when looking at the feet, with 26 bones and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments all working to keep you balanced, strong and stable, your feet are your foundation Having a strong foundation requires us to use our feet correctly in the way they were designed to work by distributing your weight through three main parts of your foot which we refer to as the foot tripod which makes contact with the ground supporting your bodyweight evenly, these are: 1. The centre of your calcaneous Heel bone 2. Head of the fifth metatarsal - Your little toe 3. Head of the first metatarsal - Your big toe To get a gauge and see if you are using the tripod effectively or not, stand on both feet with no shoes on and find a neutral heel position by lifting all of your toes off the ground (try pointing them towards the sky), this is where 32 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

your heel is aligned straight up and down with weight distributed evenly between the three points of the foot. Once you have found this position I want you to relax your feet and see where they end up. If they stay in a neutral position, good work! if they pronate (roll inward) this is called having "flat feet" or an "everted ankle". Although this may feel more comfortable because your body is use to it, your body is actually distributing weight unevenly through the foot, creating an unstable foundation, which can cause a reaction up through the entire body. With the weight on your foot being pronated (rolling on the inside) this causes valgus knee, when your knee internally rotates this causes your adductors (inner thighs) to be tight and over active, a common problem I see with alot of riders, this then inhibits recruitment of the glutes (butt muscles) in particular glutius medius which assists with external rotaion of the hip and postural alignment. If the glutes aren't engaged this in the long run can lead to poor posture whilst riding and increased back pain (which I know alot of us experience). This whole chain of events may seem very extreme but is actually an easy fix if identified and action is taken.

RIDER HEALTH AND FITNESS

EXERCISES TO STRENGTHEN THE FOOT 1. GO BAREFOOT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE

This sounds very simple, but is very effective. Your feet will thank you for this as it forces the muscles of the foot to work and stabilise the way they were designed to using the tripod of the foot instead of being squashed up in a pair of shoes all day. Walking on uneven surfaces are great for strengthening your foot aswell as walking on the sand. Aim for one hour a day in bare feet 2. BALANCE AND FOOT STABILISTATION

1.a

Challenge yourself and see how well you can balance on one foot whilst keeping an even tripod on the other. Try holding one foot off the ground for 30 seconds whilst staying stable through the grounded leg, once this becomes achievable progress to holding a light weight around 5-7kg and and pass hands from left to right shifting the centre of balance whilst maintain stable foot postion. Lastly is progressing to a hinge pattern on one leg, you can challenge yourself and try to pick something up off the floor whilst doing this. Perform 3x10 off each leg daily.

1.b

3. STRETCH YOUR FEET AND ADDUCTORS

Doing this will improve flexibilty of the foot and allow for a better range of motion and stability, perform each stretch for 3x10 daily PUTTING IT ALL TOGEHTER

3.a

2.a

This will take very little time out of your day but the benefits will be bigger than expected, add these into your warm up before exercise or morning routine and enjoy having a happy, strong and healthy foundation.

3.b

2.b

2.c

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 33

INTERNATIONAL EVENT REVIEW

SYDNEY CDI Article by Toni Venhaus

Hailed by many as “the best ever”. We certainly had fabulous weather, a great atmosphere and a full house on Saturday night, happy sponsors and exhibitors, great team work from the CDI crew and venue management and staff - all the essential ingredients for pulling off another memorable event. The visiting judges were impressed and were especially thrilled to see the impromptu Quadrille performed by our Grand Prix riders after the Equestrian NSW Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday night. Entries this year were pretty similar in numbers to 2016 (156 riders and 217 horses entered) but the mix of entries across the levels was different. In particular, 44 combinations qualified and entered the Advanced Tournament.

To avoid having a long reserve list and disappointing riders, we introduced an Adult Amateur Owner/Riders division to allow more combinations to take part. This year we introduced an FEI Pony competition “CDI-P” to the programme. Six excited young riders aged 12 to16 and their ponies took part. Also this year, and a first for the Australasian Region, the people attending the event had the opportunity to put themselves in the judges’ seat and score competitors using the Spectator Judging app presented by SAP. As the days went on, the audience got more engaged with the app, which was great to see. Score updates including how the spectators had scored each rider

Matthew Dowsley & Adloo Richard Photo: Stephen Mowbray

34 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

were read out by the announcer and the crowd felt really involved, which added another element of inclusion for spectators. Matthew Dowsley was the stand-out rider, winning the Trailrace CDN Grand Prix and SAP CDN Intermediate II on Don De Sandro (owned by Cheryl Smith), the Jill Cobcroft CDI Prix St Georges and the Wades Equine Coaches CDI Intermediate I and the Zilco Intermediate Freestyle on the AEA Prestige (owned by Denise Ceddia). Matthew’s form continued and he won the NSW Sport & Recreation CDI Grand Prix on Adloo Richard (owned by Di Jenkyn). Matthew also broke a few Sydney CDI records namely: AEA Prestige in the Jill Cobcroft CDI Prix St Georges and on 73.632% and on Don

INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL EVENT REVIEW

Brett Parbery & DP Weltmeiser Photo: Franz Venhaus

De Sandro in the Trailrace GP CDN on 67.460%. Brett Parbery won the Equestrian NSW GP Freestyle on 74.570 on DP Weltmieser (owner Susan Duddy) and Matthew Dowlsey Adloo Richard (owner Di Jenkyn) in second place on a score of 72.00% and third to Judy Dierks and Diamond Star (owned by Vicky Newham) with a score of 71.825%. Interesting to note the top 7 horses scored over 70%, in 2016 only two horses scored above 70%. The scores were extremely close from 4th to 7th place which is good indicator of the standard. Luxor 118 and Katharine Farrell broke their 2016 record highest score to date in the Mulawa Performance Grand Prix Freestyle with a score 72.345%. All the placegetters and history of the winners since the event started can be found on www.sydneycdi.com for Previous winners go to the “ABOUT US” drop down menu and click on the “previous winners” link. It is interesting tracking the history of some of the horses and riders over the years.

Laura GRAVES (USA) rides

Judy Dierks and Diamond Star VERDADES in The FEI World Photo: Franz Venhaus

Cup™Dressage Final ll, Grand Prix

We replaced Jumping on Saturday night with a Quadrille competition. It was a hit with the crowd and looks set to be remain on the programme for next year. Special thanks to all who took part. It was great fun and I am sure we will see an increase in groups entering next year. Melanie Campbell (nee Schmerglatt) returned this year as our Young Horse guest rider and did a super job riding the young horses in the Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia Young Horse Final round on Saturday. The Eventing Dressage and Jumping on Saturday was more popular than expected and provided an ideal warmup for riders taking part in the Sydney International Horse Trials to be held two weeks after the Sydney CDI. A “happy hour” with a free glass of bubbly or Wild Oats wine and nibbles on Thursday and Friday afternoon was popular with competitors, the owners and grooms. The Aprés CDI Party on Saturday night supported by Kohnke’s Own gave riders the opportunity to unwind with friends and have a crack on the dance floor at winning bottles of Moet

and prizes donated by Kohnke’s Own. Around 80 attended the International Freestyle Workshop with Katrina Wuest from Germany. Katrina is a skilled presenter, and all who attended were not disappointed and learnt a lot about what is in store for both riders and judges when judging Freestyles. I would like to express our gratitude to our sponsors for their continued support and loyalty to this event. In particular, we acknowledge the support of the NSW Office of Sport, Equestrian NSW, whose financial contribution is significant, and we thank Equestrian Australia for their financial support through the ICDF programme. Save the Sydney CDI date for next year: 3 - 5 May 2018 with a Workshop planned for Sunday, 6 May. Some judges have been booked, including the popular Stephen Clarke (5* Judge from Great Britain).

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 35

NATIONAL COMPETITION CALENDER

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON JUNE 2017 | NORTH ISLAND 4

Solway Dressage Autumn Series #3

Solway Showgrounds

Waikato Equestrian Centre Winter Series Dressage - Day 2

Waikato Equestrian Centre

Equissage Dressage Winter Series Day 4

Tielcey Park

Horowhenua DG Ribbon Day

Waikanae Park

NHB Winter Series Day 3

HB Equestrian Park

Auckland Manukau Dressage Group

Clevedon Show Grounds

Dressage Taranaki Winter Event

Egmont Showgrounds

Waikato Equestrian Centre Winter Pony Series Day Two

Waikato Equestrian Centre

24/25 25

JULY 2017 | NORTH ISLAND 2

Waikato Equestrian Centre Winter Series Dressage - Day 3

Waikato Equestrian Centre

Horowhenua DG Ribbon Day

Waikanae Park

Dressage Taranaki Winter Event

Egmont Showgrounds

Waikato Equestrian Centre Winter Pony Series Day Three

Waikato Equestrian Centre

AUGUST 2017 | NORTH ISLAND 6

Waikato Equestrian Centre Winter Series - Final Day

Waikato Equestrian Centre

Taupo Dressage Tournament (Dunstan Accumulator)

NINEC

Dressage Rotorua 2017 Spring Series Day 1

NINEC

Horowhenua DG Ribbon Day

Waikanae Park

Auckland Manukau Dressage Group

Clevedon Show Grounds

NHB Training Day

HB Equestrian Park

26/27

Dressage Taranaki Winter Event

Egmont (TSB Indoor Arena)

26/27

Fiber Fresh Spring Dressage Festival

Woodhill Sands

Waikato Equestrian Centre Winter Pony Series Final

Waikato Equestrian Centre

JUNE 2017 | SOUTH ISLAND 4

Canterbury Winter Series Day 1

SINEC

Marlborough Training Event

Marlborough Equestrian Park

Ashburton Dressage

Ashburton Showgrounds

North Loburn Equestrian Centre

Rangiora Showgrounds

Nelson Winter Series #3

Rough Island Equestrian Park

JULY 2017 | SOUTH ISLAND 2

Marlborough Equestrian Barn Series #3

Marlborough Equestrian Park

Canterbury Winter Series Day 2

SINEC

North Loburn Equestrian Centre

Rangiora Showgrounds

Nelson DG Winter Series #4

Rough Island Equestrian Park

AUGUST 2017 | SOUTH ISLAND 6

Marlborough Equestrian Barn winter 4

Marlborough Equestrian Park

Canterbury Dressage Winter Series Day 3

SINEC

SCNO Registered & Unregistered

Winchester Showgrounds

NEG Day 1 Winter Series

Harrs Road

26/27 27

For more details of each event & venue, and contact details go to www.nzequestrian.org.nz/dressage/competition/calendar

36 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

NATIONAL COMPETITION CALENDER

DRESSAGE SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SOUTH ISLAND DRESSAGE SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 14/15 Oct

SCNO Qualifying Tournament

21/22 Oct

Marlborough Championships

11/12 Nov

Otago Championships

18/19 Nov

Ashburton Championships

2/3 Dec

Canterbury Championships

9/10 Dec

Southland Championships

14/15 Jan

Nelson Championships

27/28 Jan

SICH & South Island Festival of Dressage

NORTH ISLAND DRESSAGE SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 20/22 Oct

Bay of Plenty Championships

28/29 Oct

Central Districts Championships

11/12 Nov

Wellington Championships

18/19 Nov

Gisborne Championships

**25/26 Nov

Northern Hawke’s Bay Championships

2/3 Dec

Southern Hawke’s Bay Championships

8/10 Dec

Waitemata Championships

16/17 Dec

Taihape Xmas Championships

16/17 Dec

Northland Championships

13/14 Jan

Taranaki Championships

19/21 Jan

NICH & AMDG Dressage Festival

20/21 Jan

Wairarapa Championships

2/4 Feb (TBC)

Waikato Festival of Dressage (Venue TBC)

15/18 Feb

Bates National Championships (Manfeild) CDI 3*/Y

TBC

U25 NZ Dressage Championships

OTHER KEY EVENTS 12/13 Oct

Equidays Dressage (FEI levels only. Nat WEG qualifier)

13/15 Oct

Equidays – Mystery Creek

23/26 Nov

Equitana Auckland (Invitational GP only)

1 Dec

FEI World Dressage Challenge (SI NEC)

13/18 Mar

Horse of the Year Show CDI / Y (Hastings)

14/15 Apr

SI Festival of Future Stars Christchurch NEC

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 37

NEWS and Paralympic Games, collegiate, world class development programmes and professional sport experience in leadership, mentoring and coaching roles that have inspired and delivered medal winning success. Most notable experience in equestrian sport having developed and executed talent development programmes for able bodied and disabled riders that has delivered medals at pony, junior, young rider and senior international competition.

2017 is the 60th Anniversary of the Dressage NZ Conference. A 60th anniversary is represented by diamonds and so the Awards Dinner theme will be “BLING IT ON” – how appropriate for dressage! So Dressage It Up with as many diamonds and as much bling as you dare and celebrate 60 years of Dressage in New Zealand . Proceeds from a fundraising auction at the awards dinner will be presented back to the local equestrian community and the Marlborough Equestrian Park to assist their rebuild after earthquake. If you have any items to donate please contact Liza Herkt lizaherkt@xtra.co.nz

DRESSAGE NZ CONFERENCE & AWARDS DINNER & COMMITTEE MEETING To be held in Blenheim 24/25 June at the Scenic Hotel. Book the date now. Accommodation and registration forms are available from area delegates and are on the ESNZ/Dressage website www. nzequestrian.org.nz/dressage/whatsnew/area-member-information/notices/ KEY NOTE SPEAKER AT CONFERENCE – Victoria Underwood brings a wealth of British equestrian experience from TID to podium.

Since February 2017, Victoria (Vikki) Underwood has been the Director of Athlete Performance Support based at High Performance Sport NZ in Auckland. Prior to this, she was employed for six years by the English Institute of Sport, responsible for one of the largest regions of the EIS, supporting 26 Olympic, Paralympic and English sports, 350 World Class athletes, and host of the London 2012 Olympic Preparation Camp. Alongside her work with the EIS, Victoria was Head of Performance Services for Team GB at their Preparation Camp, was part of the Equestrian Sport Information Team for LOCOG at the Olympic and Paralympics Games, and had the honour of being the dressage writer for the Chief Judge at the Paralympic Dressage competition. Prior to this Vikki was Deputy Chief Executive for British Dressage, and from 2000 – 2008 she set up and managed the World Class Talent, Development and Podium Potential Programmes for the British Equestrian Federation in the three Olympic and one Paralympic disciplines. During this time she was also an owner of a horse shortlisted for Athens Paralympic Games. Summary of Experience: Performance Sport lead for strategic and operational activities. Passion for developing high performing people and systems. Successful change agent with entrepreneurial flair and an ability to build dynamic relationships to re-set culture, drive sustainable cultural change and push performance boundaries. Olympic

38 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

BOARD|OTHER ELECTIONS & APPOINTMENTS Training & Development Portfolio Judy Alderdice is the only nomination for this position. Rules Board Portfolio: Expressions of Interest closed on 12th May Marketing Board Portfolio: Michelle Zielazo appointed. Committee Appointment Panel Member: Debra Cowen is the only nomination for this position Judges Sub-Committee: EOI close 2nd June as per website notification REMITS FOR CONFERENCE:Re Art 477.4: Permitted Bits: From Robert Kofoed That Dressage NZ follows recent changes made by the FEI and Equestrian Australia, which allow the use of low and medium ported Myler bit mouthpieces in conjunction with already approved cheek pieces. In principle it was agreed that NZL follow Australian equipment rules as closely as possible and that NZL will liaise with Dressage Australia re the possibility to use the DA document re equipment (excludes dress code in some matters) IT IS THEREFORE PROPOSED BY DRESSAGE NZ "That Dressage NZ seek approval from EA to adopt the EA Equipment Annex 2017 in respect to Bridles, Bits and Saddlery and in addition establish a Technical Sub-Committee of three members consisting of one Dressage NZ Board member, one Steward and one other person with technical expertise with Terms of Reference developed in consultation with and

NEWS approved by the Board of Dressage NZ"

TOPICS ON AGENDA FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION (AT SUNDAY COMMITTEE) DR Art 462.5: Rider Categories & Amateur Eligibility North Island Championships: Consider holding the NICH as a CDI 1* or 2* with PSG level as the International component. National Dressage Championships: Venue for the National Dressage Championships.

From L to R in both photos: Helen Hughes-Keen, Peter & Judy Alderdice, Wendy Hamerton, Debra Cowen, showing off their medals and t-shirts.

WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES - TRYON FACTS • Start date 11 September 2018 – approx 16 months away • It’s starting to become apparent that the cost to get horses to the World Equestrian Games is eye watering! • Fundraising has started with Walking for WEG • We have raised enough funds to get one horse just over half way to Australia • The main dressage arena has seating capacity for 20,000 spectators • WEG 2018 site will be a quarantine site for all the horses The first fundraiser was initiated by Sport Manager Wendy Hamerton and Chair of Selectors, Helen HughesKeen. Wendy had been challenged

by Waikato member Debra Cowen to take part in one of the sections of the Air NZ Hawke’s Bay Marathon. Not being inclined to decline a reasonable challenge, Wendy accepted and roped in Helen Hughes-Keen. Not to be left out Judy Alderdice (national selector) decided to join the fun with her husband Peter. Pounding the pavements became the norm for a few weeks and away we went. Dressage fans were invited to sponsor their efforts and WALKING FOR WEG was created. We were pretty pleased with our efforts. Judy, Wendy & Helen finished in 11th, 12th & 13th place in their 10km walk on 1.36.14 having decided that they would finish as a team. Peter finished 8th in his category and the bravest of all, Debra, completed the half marathon in 2.44.59

So far, $4,350 has been raised thanks to a great bunch of supporters including Signspot Graphix who designed and printed the T-shirts, All-In-Flex who supplied their magic cream for the team and One Orange2 boutique BB for the accommodation. But now there is another challenge. Rhiannon Moss and Bev Uttridge from Canterbury are competing in the Christchurch event with the challenge they will do 1.35 or better. Good luck. If you wish to support this fundraising project, please contact dressage@nzequestrian.org.nz. No amount too big or small. Sponsorships of $150 or more receive a Walking for WEG t-shirt.

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 39

DRESSAGE TOP TEN LEAGUES

Dressage Top Ten Leagues 1. Charlotte Thomas, Te Puke. Photo: NZequine 2. Diane Wallace, Profile. Photo: NZequine 3. Isabella Chatfield, Prima Bella. Photo: Libby Law Photography 4. Rebecca Rowlands, Solo. Photo: NZequine 5. Morgan Irvine, Golden Promise. Photo: NZequine 6. Julia Latham, Aspen Hills Sabih. Photo: KMS Photography 7. Amy Sage, RM All About Me. Photo: NZequine

40 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

DRESSAGE TOP TEN LEAGUES

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 41

DRESSAGE TOP TEN LEAGUES

PONY & YOUNG RIDER AMATEUR TOP TEN LEAGUE NATIONAL WINNERS The three Top Ten Leagues have wrapped up the 2016 -17 dressage season with some great performances HORSESPORTS PONY AND YOUNG RIDER AMATEUR TOP TEN LEAGUE Horsesports were generous sponsors of the Pony and Young Rider Amateur League. This League comprised six divisions in all, three for young riders on horses, and three restricted to pony riders. Horses and ponies can be a maximum of Level 4, and riders must not have Level 5 or above points at the beginning of the season. Combinations may still earn points if they move up the Levels from that point as the season progresses.

Congratulations to Brina Carpenter and Plutonium Lady (Auckland), the only combination to score maximum points in the league, and also won the Newcomer Award for first year member.

lead. Tayla showed great sportsmanship and agreed they should be equal, but it seemed both these riders were very deserving and so the efforts of both of both pony and young riders in this age group have been recognised.

The 12yrs and under awards were so close so it was decided to give separate awards for horses and ponies this year. In the South Island, Canterbury’s Charlotte Thomas was the young rider winner with 79pts and the pony award went to Southland’s Hannah Nicol on 74. In the North Island, there was a tie between Young Rider Tayla McDonald (Bay of Plenty) and Pony Rider Samantha Belsham (Auckland) both on 63 pts. Unfortunately a miscalculation of ave % points had Samanatha slightly head by 0.2% initially, but a recalculation saw Tayla go into the

Winners in each of the six national divisions receive a fabulous Horsesports presentation rug and sash, plus first and second placegetters also receive a $50 Horsesports Voucher. Top scorers in every ESNZ Area are also rewarded with a HorseSports rosette.

HORSESPORTS PONY & YOUNG RIDER AMATEUR TOP TEN LEAGUE AREA WINNERS

42 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

Thanks to Chris & Miriam from Horsesports for their support and encouragement of excellence in our younger generation – the future of our sport.

Ashburton

Ruby Thomas

Carnesso Royal Flush

Auckland

Brina Carpenter

Plutonium Lady

Bay of Plenty

Isabella Chatfield

AD Dennache

Canterbury

Georgia Allison

Rookstar

Central Districts

Jessica Horne

Tickle Me Elmo

Marlborough

Naya Cook

Kowhai Cracker Jack

Nelson

Meila Picard

Buckton Denniston

Northland

Hannah Underwood

H L Double Happy

Otago

Nikaela Hall

Elite Expression

Southern Hawkes Bay Rebecca Aplin

Woodlands Park Light O Day

Southland

Hannah Nicol

LJ Snowdance

Taranaki

Taylar Morrison

Cardonald Rewa Kid

Waikato

Natasha Watters

Chrialka Salmanazar

Waitemata

Stephanie Baker

NPE Daku

Wairarapa

Katelyn Mason

Royal Park Showtime

Wellington

Tylah Brown

Tempo’s Magic

DRESSAGE TOP TEN LEAGUES

Level 1 Horses

Charlotte Thomas

Te Puke

Canterbury

Nikaela Hall

Elite Expression

Otago

Level 2 Horses

Brina Carpenter

Plutonium Lady

100

Auckland

Natasha Watters

Chrialka Salmanaza

Waikato

Level 3 & 4 Horses

Hannah Underwood

H L Double Happy

Northland

Amy Sage

RM All About Me

Auckland

Level 1 Ponies

Emily Hastings

Glendale Nightlight (75.66%)

Auckland

Isabella Chatfield

AD Dennache (72.69%)

Bay of Plenty

Level 2 Ponies

Isabella Chatfield

Prima Bella

Bay of Plenty

Meila Picard

Buckton Denniston

Nelson

Level 3 & 4 Ponies

Alison Addis

Whistledown Kristopha

Northland

Millie Thompson

Rifesyde Prancer

Canterbury

Top Score NI 12yrs & Under Tayla McDonald

Don Qudos (69.4%)

Bay of Plenty

Samantha Belsham

Gypsy Gold (69.2%)

Auckland

Charlotte Thomas

Te Puke

Canterbury

Hannah Nicol

LJ Snowdance

Southland

Newcomer

Brina Carpenter

Plutonium Lady

100

Auckland

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

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 43

DRESSAGE MASTERS TOP TEN LEAGUE This series is for riders who have reached the magical half century and is contested across five national divisions taking into account grade of horse and category of rider. Three riders scored maximum 100 points indicating they scored 70% or greater on at least 10 occasions during the year. It was a countback between Waitemata’s Judith Hayes (Amaethon Bassanio), Otago’s Jackie Thomas (Sartorial Hit) and Marlborough’s Diane Wallace on KP Dexter. The scores were excruciatingly close at 73.26%, 72.99% and 72.25% - in that order. It doesn’t get much closer. Waitemata’s Jenny Emmett (Tuff Enuff) scored the Newcomer Award in both the Amateur and Masters League and Sean Bignell, also from the north shore, was top scorer for the men brave enough to take on the girls. Special mention of course to

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5

Waikato’s Viv Matchett who won the Duo Award for horse and rider in the league with highest combined age. We’re not giving away secrets this year, but no-one in the history of the series has reached three figures yet. It has been achieved in British Dressage Awards so all those in the masters league need to keep young and keep riding. National winners receive a very exclusive Flying Horse NZ presentation rug, and runners up and special award winners a Flying Horse sash. All area section winners receive a Flying Horse NZ rosette.

The Future of the Top Ten Leagues The All-In-Flex Amateur League is already confirmed and Dressage NZ is planning to continue the Masters and Pony/Young Rider Top Ten Leagues in the 2017-18 season. Watch this space Congratulations to all riders who participated this year – encourage your friends to enter in the next season of Top Ten Leagues. All entries will need to be made online through Equestrian Entries after 1/8/17.

Thank you to Julia Latham for Flying Horse for your support. Not only is Julia a supporter, she is also a prize winner taking out the Southland Area level 2 award with her gorgeous chestnut arab, Aspen Hills Sabih.

Jenny Emmett

Tuff Enuff

67.39% Waitemata

RES

Deirdre Anderson

Nightfire

66.49% Southland

Judith Hayes

Amaethon Bassanio

100

73.26% Waitemata

RES

Maree Lynch

Don Incendio

69.56% Waikato

Mary Davis

Good Question

68.10% Southland

RES

Morgan Irvine

Golden Promise

67.06% Nelson

Jackie Thomas

Sartorial Hit SW

100

72.99% Otago

RES

Hielke De Graaf

Southern Hit

100

72.30% Otago

Sheena Ross

Parkridge Disco SW

66.77% Auckland

RES

Barbara Chalmers

Rossellini

66.06% Otago

Judith Hayes

Amaethon Bassanio

100

73.26% Waitemata

Jackie Thomas

Sartorial Hit SW

100

72.99% Otago

Jenny Emmett

Tuff Enuff

67.39% Auckland

Sean Bignell

MEL Lewis

67.89% Waitemata

Minobie

60.2%

AMATEUR OWNER & NI Hi-Points Section 2 SI Hi-Points Section 4

FIRST YEAR Section 1 TOP GUY Section 4

DUO TOP YEARS AWARD Section 4

Viv Matchett

44 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

Waikato

DRESSAGE MASTERS TOP TEN LEAGUE Flying Horse Masters L1-2 Horses. CN - C2 riders (Section 1) Flying Horse Masters L1-2 Horses. C3 - C4 riders (Section 2) Flying Horse Masters L3 and above Horses. C3 - C4 riders (Section 3) Flying Horse Masters L1 - 3 Horses. C5 - 9 riders (Section 4) Flying Horse Masters L4 and above Horses. C5 - 9 riders (Section 5) AREA SECTION WINNERS

Horse

Section 1

Sally Essex

Cider Rose

Pts 34

Ave % 61.70%

Area Auckland

Section 2

Nicole Sage

Christopher Robin II

65.19%

Auckland

Section 3

Tanya Parker

Amuse

59.22%

Auckland

Section 4

Betty Brown

Hot Gossip

71.17%

Auckland

Section 5

Sheena Ross

Parkridge Disco SW

66.77%

Auckland

Section 4

Robert Kofoed

First Choice

62.39%

Canterbury

Section 5

Sue Woerlee

Isle of Mystique

61.07%

Canterbury

Section 3

Vickie Lawson

Das Geschenk

61.32%

Central Districts

Section 1

Sylvia Clark

Little Miss Independent

63.95%

Marlborough

Section 3

Morgan Irvine

Golden Promise

67.06%

Marlborough

Section 4

Diane Wallace

KP Dexter

100

72.25%

Marlborough

Section 5

Diane Wallace

Profile

65.85%

Marlborough

Section 3

Helen Bowler

Escondido Grey Cloud

61.42%

Nelson

Section 3

Michelle Middelberg

Raimondaz

64.41%

Nth Hawke’s Bay

Section 5

Lucy Robertshawe

Salute

65.74%

Nth Hawke’s Bay

Section

Jenny McDiarmid

Tui Hills Moscato

66.42%

Otago

Section 2

Ann Macdonald

Dixie Rose

66.02%

Otago

Section 4

Jackie Thomas

Sartorial Hit SW

100

72.99%

Otago

Section 5

Barbara Chalmers

Rossellini

66.06%

Otago

Section 1

Deirdre Anderson

Nightfire

66.49%

Southland

Section 2

Julia Latham

Aspen Hills Sabih

62.10%

Southland

Section 3

Mary Davis

Good Question

68.10%

Southland

Section 4

Helen Boyd

Sylvester MH

64.50%

Southland

Section 4

Dana Haszard

Sandhi

65.81%

Taranaki

Section 5

Brenda Bellringer

Truly Smitten

61.29%

Taranaki

Section 1

Sally Millar

Good George

64.20%

Waikato

Section 2

Maree Lynch

Don Incendio

69.56%

Waikato

Section 3

Viv Matchett

Minobie

60.19%

Waikato

Section 4

Jenny Draper

What a Buzz

67.89%

Waikato

Section 5

Paula Stuart

Aztec Lad

65.07%

Waikato

Section 1

Jenny Emmett

Tuff Enuff

67.39%

Waitemata

Section 2

Judith Hayes

Amaethon Bassanio

100

73.26%

Waitemata

Section 3

Jenny-Lee Jorgensen

River Park Alaric

64.68%

Waitemata

Section 4

DianaSonerson

Anza BL

73.24%

Waitemata

Section 5

Sarah Baker

Ardbeg

64.94%

Waitemata

Section 3

Ken Alexander

Vulcani

59.39%

Wellington

Section 5

Frankie Webb

Northern Ivanthus

61.66%

Wellington

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 45

DRESSAGE TOP TEN LEAGUES

ALL-IN-FLEX AMATEUR TOP TEN LEAGUE POT BLACK TROPHY CHAMPION - Rebecca Rowlands - Solo NATIONAL SECTION WINNERS Rider Category

Horse level

Rider

Horse

Pts

Placing

CN-C2 CN-C2

Emma Wilson

Raupapa Donnerita

Wellington

Leanne Stokes

Don Royale

Waikato

CN-C2

Justine Robinson

Just Rockin

Auckland

CN-C3

Nicki Sunley

Laila Dawn

Nth Hawke’s Bay

CN-C3

Sharlene Camp

Vollrath Legato

Auckland

CN-C3

Tania Smith

Donnerbella II

Taranaki

CN-C4

Rebecca Rowlands

Solo

100

Canterbury

CN-C4

Rhiannon Moss

Gymnastik Gift

Canterbury

CN-C4

Teresa Underwood

Starlight Jewel

Northland

CN-C5

Mary Davis

Good Question

Southland

CN-C5

Rosie Richards

Ira Hayes

Auckland

CN-C5

Sharon Templeton

TL Latanya

Otago

Amateur Owner

Nicki Sunley

Laila Dawn

NI Hi-Points

Nicki Sunley

Laila Dawn

SI Hi-Points

Rebecca Rowlands

Solo

FIRST YEAR

Jenny Emmett

Tuff Enuff

Dressage is a sport for all riders and how important it is for riders to be able to compete against their peers of similar experience. The All-In-Flex Amateur Top Ten League provides just that opportunity. The competition is run across four national divisions for horses up to Level 4 and riders up to Category 5. Each national division winner receives a very stylish All-In-Flex presentation rug and first to third placegetters also receive an All-In-Flex voucher. Top scorers in every ESNZ Area are also rewarded with an All-In-Flex rosette. Canterbury’s Rebecca Rowlands on the Salutation gelding Solo was the stand out with maximum 100 points winning them the Pot Black Trophy. This trophy was originally presented by Margaret Harris from Waikanae to honour the feats of her Prix St Georges stallion Pot Black. Thanks to Saskia Ostermeier & Betty Brown from All-In-Flex for their support of this very important sector of our sport and encouraging them to achieve excellence in their peer group. 46 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | JUNE 2017

AREA WINNERS

Area

Rider

Horse

Ashburton

Nicola Sim

Chocolate Ice

Auckland

Sharlene Camp

Vollrath Legato

Bay of Plenty

Lizette Turnbull

Myztic

Canterbury

Rebecca Rowlands

Solo

Gisborne

Henrike Puketapu

Gurteens Tyra

Marlborough

Rebecca Lawrence

Woodfieldpark Ludwig

Nelson

Vanessa Baxter

Coalstar

Nth Hawke’s Bay

Nicki Sunley

Laila Dawn

Northland

Teresa Underwood

Starlight Jewel

Otago

Sharon Templeton

TL Latanya

SCNO

Tiffany Ottley

Three Aces

Southland

Mary Davis

Good Question

Taranaki

Tania Smith

Donnerbella II

Waikato

Jacqui Teague

Our Bailey

Wairarapa

Sara Hilhorst

Double Take

Waitemata

Kelly Pearson

Don Arion

Wellington

Emma Wilson

Raupapa Donnerita

RESULTS

Back L-R Amber Disley, India Francis, Megan Nancarrow, Yvette Wilson, Stephanie Baker, Olivia Baker. Front L-R Diana Sonerson, Jody Paddy, Jenny-Lee Jorgensen, Judith Hayes, Chris Beach, Ashley Caulfield, Caroline Jones-Robinson.

DRESSAGE WAITEMATA 2017 MEMBERS ACCUMULATOR Volunteer of the Year

Stephanie Baker

Pony Winner

Olivia Baker

Arosa Top Town

Pony Runner Up

Charlotte Treneary

Blue Heaven

Young Rider Winner

India Francis

RR Filthy Gorgeous

Young Rider Runner Up

Stephanie Baker

NPE Daku

Masters Winner

Judith Hayes

Amaethon Bassanio

Masters Runner Up

Diana Sonerson

Anza BL

Unregistered Winner

Yvette Wilson

Tori

Unregistered Runner Up

Chris Beach

Supernova BC

Level 1 CN/C1 Winner

India Francis

RR Filthy Gorgeous

Level 1 CN/C1 Runner Up

Olivia Baker

Arosa Top Town

Level 1 Open Winner

Judith Hayes

Amaethon Bassanio

Level 1 Open Runner Up

Sarah Baker

Turkish Delight

Level 2 CN/C1/C2 Winner

Jody Paddy

Terralee Kezia

Level 2 CN/C1/C2 Runner Up

Megan Nancarrow

Whisky Mac

Level 2 Open Winner

Caroline Jones-Robinson

Karishma MMV

Level 2 Open Runner Up

Renee Stephen

Chrialka Mode

Level 3 Winner

Diana Sonerson

Anza BL

Level 3 Runner Up

Jenny-Lee Jorgensen

River Park Alaric

Level 4 Winner

Diana Sonerson

Anza BL

Level 4 Runner Up

Amber Disley

Laurieston Gym Lee

Level 5 Winner

Chris Beach on

Showcase BC

Level 5 Runner Up

Amber Disley

Laurieston Gym Lee

Level 6-9 Winner

Ashley Caulfield

Dublin Bay

Level 6-9 Runner Up

Nicki Stone

Kabo Castenada

High points over all levels

Judith Hayes

Amaethon Bassanio

JUNE 2017 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | 47