IMPORTANT: Mount Ballan regional championships

The British Dressage Summer Regional Championships are more popular than ever and the organising team would like to thank all riders for their continued enthusiasm and support for the sport.

With entries for the Mount Ballan Regional Championships now closed, the team have reviewed the final number of competitors and class sizes and, due to the high volume of entries received at all levels, the decision has been made to cancel all warm-up classes on both days. This decision has not been made lightly and was necessary to ensure that all qualified combinations could compete in their respected class(es). The warm-up classes alone would have required an additional 16 hours of arena time on Tuesday (4 August) and nine hours on Wednesday (5 August).

However, we understand that these warm-up classes are often used for arena familiarisation and, to accommodate this, we will be adding two additional arena walks. One will take place from 6 – 8pm on Monday 3 August and the other after competition finishes on Tuesday 4 August. Please note, these will be in addition to the arena walks already planned for the mornings of 4 and 5 August.

If you have entered a warm-up class, please ensure you visit Mount Ballan’s show secretary, Vanessa Guy, who will arrange a refund.

We look forward to welcoming you to Mount Ballan and the Summer Regional Championships – good luck!

Excel Talent Programme: Applications opening soon!

Applications for the 2015-2017 cycle of the Sport England funded England Excel Talent Programme, which exists to identify, support and develop both riders and horses who demonstrate talent and potential, open on Saturday 1 August 2015.

Now in its fifth year, the Programme has been developed to extend the rider talent pathway below the UK Sport funded World Class Programme, to identify and nurture pool of up and coming riders who have the potential to go on and win medals in the future. It provides support to selected riders from the three Olympic and one Paralympic equestrian disciplines (dressage, eventing, showjumping and para-equestrian dressage).

Since its launch in 2011, the Excel Talent Programme has supported 17 riders to progress to the World Class Development Programme with many more riders also going on to represent Great Britain on Junior and Young Riders teams as well as competing at International level.

Not only does the Excel Talent Pathway offer talented riders the opportunity to get first hand advice from coaches, veterinary and human sports science, it also offers expert training through a number of squad training sessions.

The 2015 BEF England Excel Talent Programme Selection Policy is available to view here. Applications for the Programme open on Saturday 1^st August 2015 and close on Monday 31^st August 2015, applications received after this date will not be considered.

Further information about the Programme can be found on the British Equestrian Federation website or in the U25s section of the BD website.

Wanadoo is no wannabe at Hickstead

The newfound British combination of Carl Hester and Wanadoo walked away with two confident victories in the grand prix divisions at Hickstead CDIO3*, West Sussex, 15-19 July 2015.

Carl and Wanadoo (pictured at Somerford Premier League in May), a 14-year-old German gelding by Wolkenstein II and owned by Coral Ingham, headed the grand prix with an exciting 73.16% ahead of British-based Dane, Anders Dahl. Anders rode his great friend, Wie Atlantico, an evergreen 16-year-old son of Wie Weltmeyer, owned by his wife Fiona and her mother, Penny. Anders and Wie Atlantico scored 70.70%.

Wanadoo has successfully competed in national grand prix classes and shown much potential with owner Coral, however Hickstead was the horse’s first ever international grand prix. Under the guidance of Carl, he has glided to a new level and has shown to be a worthy ride for his world class rider. Opting to compete in the freestyle, the pair earned a huge score of 76.97% to win, relegating Anders and Wie Atlantico to second. Anders and Wie Atlantico turned up the heat with a performance to their famous Latin American Ricky Martin-Shakira compilation. They earned 74.85% but this wasn’t enough to keep the British star at bay.

Denmark secures nations cup for a second year
Anders Dahl and Wie Atlantico spearheaded the Danish team to victory in this sixth and final leg of the FEI Nations Cup series. The nations cup includes results from the grand prix, the grand prix special and the grand prix freestyle, and with a team of just three, there was plenty of pressure on the Danes to retain their title from last year. The Danish team total was 140.683.

The British team was so, so close, on a total of 139.563. Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Delegate, her mother Sarah’s 12-year-old Dimaggio gelding, rode a cracker of a grand prix to earn 68.66% for fourth place. Henriette Andersen with Warlocks Charm, another 12-year-old chestnut, but this one by Jazz, rode an impressive grand prix for sixth on 68.38% and Hayley Watson-Greaves with Rubins Nite, her 11-year-old black son of Rubin Royal earned a strong 68.14% for eighth.

Great Britain’s fourth team member Spencer Wilton did not have an easy ride aboard Julia Cournane’s Numberto and scored an uncharacteristic 61.98%. The lovely 14-year-old son of Negro became rather hot under the collar so wasn’t able to show his best.

Small tour
Great Britain’s Alice Oppenheimer and Maria Eilberg were outstanding at small tour. Alice and Sir Soccrates, Georgina Pole-Carew’s breath-taking eight-year-old Sir Donnerhall gelding, stormed Thursday’s prix st georges with an international personal best of 73.65%. The horse is sublime and he just gets better and better each time out. “I'm running out of adjectives for superstar Mr Socs (Tantoni Sir Soccrates),” said Alice via Facebook. “He was incredible yet again to win the strong PSG at Hickstead CDIO today with 73.66%! I don't know what else to say about him, he really is something else.”

Maria and Royal Concert, her own, Hermione Black and Penny Pollard’s attractive grey 12-year-old son of Royal Diamond, had to settle with the runners-up slot on 72.34% however she reversed the placings in the inter I freestyle with victory on a massive 76.05%. Maria and ‘Rico’ gave an emotive, powerful performance to their Sting and Roxette compilation, nudging Alice and ‘Socs’ to second.

Top threes
Thursday 16 July
Prix St Georges
1 Alice Oppenheimer with Sir Soccrates (GBR) - 73.65%
2 Maria Eilberg with Royal Concert (GBR) - 72.34%
3 Sophie Wells with Valerius (GBR) - 71.47%

Young Rider Team Test
1 Amy Schiessl with Mr Mercury (GBR) - 68.28%
2 Gabriella Lucas with Salo (GBR) - 68.13%
3 Danique van Zwol with Zeldzaam B (BEL) – 67.73%

Junior Team Test
1 Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini (GBR) – 67.13%
2 Ella Cotterill with Sheepcote Casablanca (GBR) – 66.54%
3 Emily Bradshaw with Remarkable (GBR) – 65.64%

Pony Team Test
1 Amber de Groot with Rhyfedd Spike (NED) – 71.36%
2 Gottlieb S Lyngoe with Hoejvangs Bondeo (DEN) – 71.11%
3 Lara Kurpatwa with Mister Snowman (GBR) – 69.06%

Friday 17 July
Intermediate I
1 Becky Moody with Carinsio (GBR) – 69.26%
2 Kirsty Mepham with Minain (GBR) – 68.92%
3 Olivia Oakeley with Don Carissimo (GBR) – 68.52%

Grand Prix
1 Carl Hester with Wanadoo (GBR) – 73.16%
2 Anders Dahl with Wie Atlantico de Ymas (DEN) – 70.70%
3 Sidsel Johansen with Alibi D (DEN) – 69.54%

Young Rider Individual Test
1 Amy Schiessl with Mr Mercury (GBR) – 68.77%
2 Anna Lawson with Bryan (GBR) – 68.37%
3 Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Doncalisto (GBR) – 67.50%

Junior Individual Test
1 Cristina Ballester Bergada with Senator (ESP) – 67.14%
2 Lluis Taltavull Femenias with Lluna D Alo (ESP) – 66.75%
3 Moises Segui Pons with Amstrong D Alo (ESP) – 66.00%

Pony Individual Test
1 Angus Corrie-Deane with Hagelkruis Valentijns (GBR) – 69.67%
2 Ottilie Bardsley with Dublin (GBR) – 69.22%
3 Milou Dees with Mystery Dancer (NED) – 68.74%

Intermediate A
1 Kate Cowell with Rockefeller (GBR) – 66.88%
2 Charles Hutton with Super Blue (GBR) – 66.41%
3 Susanna Hyypia with Avemmo (FIN) – 64.75%

Saturday 18 July
Intermediate I Freestyle
1 Maria Eilberg with Royal Concert (GBR) – 76.05%
2 Alice Oppenheimer with Sir Soccrates (GBR) – 74.62%
3 Sophie Wells with Valerius (GBR) – 73.97%

Grand Prix Special
1 Sidsel Johansen with Alibi D (DEN) – 70.52%
2 Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Delegate (GBR) – 70.23%
3 Maria von Essen with Ferdi (SWE) – 69.19%

Pony Freestyle Test
1 Amber de Groot with Rhyfedd Spike (NED) – 72.55%
2 Ottillie Bardlsey with Dublin (GBR) – 72.02%
3 Romy Rozestraten with Mistery (NED) – 71.92%

Intermediate B
1 Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu with Ferrera (HKG) – 69.78%
2 Kate Cowell with Rockefeller (GBR) – 66.42%
3 Georgina Swinglehurst with Giddy (GBR) – 64.69%

Intermediate II
1 Alex Hardwick with Donauwein (GBR) – 66.65%
2 Roberta Hayler with Valentino (GBR) – 65.52%

British Young Horse National 5YR
1 Darren Hicks with Brandon – 89.80
2 Paul Hayler with FJ Veyron – 79.00
3 Tracey Fall with San Lorenzo – 76.20

British Young Horse National 6YR
1 Sadie Smith with River Rise Escarla – 85.40
2 Kate Rowland with Eramus 1 – 85.20
3 Daniel Greenwood with Exige M – 85.00

Sunday 19 July
Young Rider Freestyle
1 Concha Torrens Navarro with Dimero (ESP) – 70.57%
2 Danique van Zwol with Zeldzaam B (BEL) – 70.02%
3 Lucy Pincus with Sheepcote Doncalisto (GBR) – 69.40%

Junior Freestyle
1 Emily Bradshaw with Remarkable (GBR) – 73.07%
2 Moises Segui Pons with Amstrong D Alo (ESP) – 72.45%
3 Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini (GBR) – 70.35%

U25 Grand Prix
1 Alex Hardwick with Donauwein (GBR) – 67.07%
2 Roberta Hayler with Valentino (GBR) – 64.27%

British Young Horse International 5YR
1 Darren Hicks with Brandon – 81.00
2 Alex Hardwick with Florance Christi – 74.00
3 Sarah Williams with Hindsight – 72.20

British Young Horse International 6YR
1 Kate Rowland with Eramus – 84.20
2 Daniel Greenwood with Exige M – 83.80
3 Vicky Thompson-Winfield with Botero – 82.00

Grand Prix Freestyle
1 Carl Hester with Wanadoo – 76.97%
2 Anders Dahl with Wie Atlantico de Ymas – 74.85%
3 Malin Hamilton with Fleetwood – 73.07%

CDIO Nations Cup
1. Denmark 140.683: Anders Dahl (Wie Atlantico de Ymas) 145.550, Sune Hansen (Charmeur) 136.430, Sidsel Johansen (Alibi D) 140.069
2. Great Britain 139.563: Henriette Andersen (Warlocks Charm) 139.855, Alice Oppenheimer (Headmore Delegate) 138.895, Hayley Watson-Greaves (Rubins Nite) 139.940, Spencer Wilton (Numberto) 126.196
3. Sweden 138.932: Johanna due Boje (Don Corleone) 128.238, Malin Hamilton (Fleetwood) 141.275, Ebba von Essen (Yantuge) 140.065, Maria von Essen (Ferdi) 135.456
4. South Africa 131.968: Katherine Berning (Brisbane) 129.858, Chere Burger (Adelprag Anders) 129.700, Denise Hallion (Wervelwind) 130.706, Tanya Seymour (Ramoneur 6) 135.340

Final Standings in the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage 2015 series after Round 6 at Hickstead (GBR):

1. Germany – 39
2. Netherlands – 35
3. Sweden – 35
4. USA – 27
5. Denmark – 23
6. Great Britain – 18
7. Russia – 14
8. France – 12
9. Spain – 11
10. Belgium – 9
11. Canada – 8
12. Switzerland – 7
=13. Italy – 6
=13. South Africa - 6

For full results click here

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Quality Young Dressage Horses For Sale

Isabelle was born in 2013 and by the stallion Alex. Like all her other siblings her gaits are very expressive. She has great conformation and that combined with her mind and talent should make her a great dressage horse. You can wait to show her under saddle or show her in hand at the sport horse breed shows. She is currently for sale at $15,000. She is located in PA and if you have any questions you can
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Yearling Dressage or Hunter Prospect

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Summer regionals: Somerford Park

Somerford Park Farm hosted the first of this year’s seven regional championships (18 - 20 July) and saw massive entries in the BackinAction prelim classes which were split into two, with more than 40 entries in each section.

Forty-four-year-old Cerian Screen, who works full time as a pharmacist in Aberystwyth, Wales, and has a four-year-old daughter, conquered her competition nerves to ride her seven-year-old home-bred mare Donna Bella (by Donnersohn) into top spot in prelim section A.

“’Roxy’ can be a real dressage diva – the last time we went to a new venue, she threw a strop just before we started our test and had to be led past the judges and into the arena, so I was a bit apprehensive about what she might do at Somerford as neither of us had been there before,” said Cerian, who trains with Serina Pincus and gets up at 5.30am to ride before work. “We’ve only done four competitions this year and won three of them, but I was nervous because she can be quite naughty. With the flags, flowers and three judges’ boxes to contend with, I thought it might blow her mind, but on the day she was brilliant and didn’t bat an eyelid!”

Cerian, who hadn’t competed without a test caller before, had an early draw and held her nerve while waiting almost five hours until the end of the class to discover the final result: “I never imagined we would win – I was just delighted that Roxy behaved so well. . . now I’m already starting to get nervous about going to the nationals, but luckily my good friend Genette who comes with me to competitions is a brilliant support, and I’m going to practice breathing and focussing techniques!”

The prelim section B was also hotly contested, with 41-year-old Chrissy Leak and her 14hh seven-year-old traditional coloured cob mare, It's Just Rosie (pictured), clinching first place.

“I bought Rosie from a dealer as a four-year-old who’d got her from Appleby Fair,” explained Chrissie, who works full time for Northern Rail as a train conductor in Blackpool and keeps Rosie at DIY livery. “I’ve had horses all my life, but had huge gaps in my riding due to work and lack of finance, so I wanted a horse which was kind and gentle to bring on. My mum died of lung cancer nine years ago and left me some money which I used to buy Rosie, so I named Rosie after her - she’s kind, gentle and a real people person -- she’s my best buddy!

“I do suffer from competition nerves, but Rosie always looks after me and tries her best, “ said Chrissie, who celebrated her win by treating her two good friends and travel companions Rachel and Hayley with a trip to Burger King.

“I then came home and poured myself a vodka by which time my Facebook page was in meltdown! I can’t wait to go to the nationals now, I’ve only ever been as a spectator before, so to compete at Stoneleigh is a dream come true.”

The highest score of the three days, 76.53%, belonged to the phenomenal 16-year-old Phoebe Peters and St Lucci, who soared into the lead in the Top Spec Medium Open championship.

The combination, who are in their last year of ponies, were having their final competitive preparation ahead of their call up for their fourth consecutive FEI Pony European Championships in Malmo, Sweden, next month.

It was another “red -letter day” for Lucy Cartwright with Justin and Isobel Wessels’ fabulous five-year-old San Marco, high scoring winners of the Dodson & Horrell Novice Open title.

This in-form combination, who clocked up a mega score of 9.1 as the highest score of the Shearwater young horse championships at Hartpury’s Premier League just a week ago, proved outstanding once again.

“Marco’s only five, but he’s an amazing horse who is so willing and forward thinking - he just loves to work and has three fantastic paces which are all as good as each other,” said 27-year-old Lucy, who was previously based with her trainer Carl Hester for six years (during which time she also won the 2006 Badminton Young Horse finals with Valegro) before setting up DL Dressage with her partner Daniel Bremmer at Carole Felton’s stunning yard in the Cotswolds.

“Isobel, who also helps me with him and has been a fantastic support, bought Marco from Jayne Lancashire’s Dressage International as a three-year-old and rides him a couple of days a week. We’re hoping to do the six-year-old classes with him next year, as well as some novices and elementaries and see how it goes, but I feel incredibly lucky to ride him.”

DL Dressage had much to celebrate as Lucy was also runner up in the medium open with Niki and Mervyn Franklyn’s Leonello, as well as third in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I with Waterloo V, while the yard’s working pupil, 19-year-old Alex Chick, won the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Restricted title with SOS Montevideo.

Twenty-four-year-old Darcas Lever, a former junior and young rider team member from Warrington, was the winner of the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Open and runner-up in the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges with her own Valentijn WG, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Cabochan.

“’Lewis’ [named after the Formula One racing driver] came to me originally to be sold, but although he can be quirky and sharp, we’ve formed a good relationship. He’s got a lot of potential and we bring out the best in each other,” said Darcas, who trains with Darryl Thickitt and is based at Cockshot Dressage, where she produces horses and ponies for showing and dressage.

After competing at Somerford Park for three days, Darcas, who also has an 18-month-old son Jacob, had a brief stopover at home with just three hours in bed before making a 2am start for the four-hour journey to the Scottish Horse Show at the Royal Highland showground where she was competing two horses in HOYS qualifiers.

“I divide my time between showing and dressage, which can be a bit hectic with show dates clashing, but dressage always takes the priority,” said Darcas.

For full results, visit the Somerford Regionals website

RESULTS

BackinAction Prelim

Section a – Cerian Screen with Donna Bella - 72.37%

Section b – Chrissy Leak with It's Just Rosie - 70.06%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted

Section a – Cara Sweeney with Belissima - 72.07%

Section b – Freya Metters with Maesmynach Jester - 67.99%

Dodson & Horrell Novice Open

Lucy Cartwright with San Marco 75.23%

NETTEX Elementary Restricted

Section a – Rebecca Jackson with Blixem 71.46%

Section b - James McCullough with Diluvio 69.01%

NETTEX Elementary Elementary Open

Sarah Kingswell with The Contact People Destiny D 69.79%

Top Spec Medium Restricted

Georgie Wheeler with Don Camillo II 69.32%

Top Spec Medium Open

Phoebe Peters with St Lucci 76.53%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Restricted

Alex Chick with SOS Montevideo 68.95%

Equine Construction Advanced Medium Open

Darcas Lever with Valentijn WG 71.36%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges

Tracey Tomlinson with Undercover 68.99%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I

Jenny Rose with Tabriz 67.32%

Qualification from regional championships

With a busy month of summer regional regional championships about to get underway, we'd like to make competitors aware of the following information. Also detailed is the number of combinations who qualify in each section. Good luck to all riding - be positive, ride like you own it and remember to smile up the final centre line, regardless of how the test went!

PLEASE NOTE:

1) Combinations scoring below 65% will not be eligible for qualification for the LeMieux National Dressage Championships as stated in the British Dressage Rule Book, UNLESS IT IS BY A WILD CARD.

2) The number qualifying from each Summer Regional class will depend on the number of starters in that particular class according to the conversion charts. The number of qualifications per level varies according to the total number of horses qualified for the Regionals and the number of spaces available at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships.

3) A ‘starter’ is a horse that actually enters the competition arena and goes down the centre line, even if it withdraws before finishing.

4) The number of starters will not be known until the class is finished after which the organiser will calculate how many have qualified and mark them on the scoreboard. The number of direct qualifications will be announced at the prize giving. Everyone who has qualified MUST collect a qualification pack from the secretary before leaving the showground.

NB: Entries for the LeMieux National Dressage Championships close on Tuesday 25 August 2015. No late entries will be accepted.

5) The last Summer Regional finishes on Tuesday 11 August and on this week the BD Office will calculate how many unfilled spaces there are in each class at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships. THESE SPACES WILL BE FILLED BY THE HIGHEST SCORING UNQUALIFIED COMBINATIONS FROM ALL THE REGIONALS, WHO WILL BE NOTIFIED BY THE OFFICE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A WILD CARD.

6) Entry packs will be sent from the BD Office no later than Friday 14 August to the registered owner of the horse. The entries should be sent immediately to the show secretary to arrive no later than Tuesday 25 August. You may wish to use next day delivery to ensure receipt by deadline.

7) The names of the combinations awarded wild cards will be put on the BD website on Monday 17 August. Please do not telephone the BD Office regarding wild card allocation before 2pm on this day.

Numbers to qualify

All scores must be over 65%

PRELIMINARY: 1 in 28 to qualify
1 – 28 = 1 qualifies
29 –56 = 2 qualify

NOVICE RESTRICTED: 1 in 25 qualify
1 – 25 = 1 qualifies
26– 50 = 2 qualify

NOVICE OPEN: 1 in 15 qualify
1 – 15 = 1 qualifies
16 – 30 = 2 qualify
31 – 45 = 3 qualify

ELEMENTARY RESTRICTED:
1 in 26 qualify
1 – 26 = 1 qualifies
27– 52 = 2 qualify

ELEMENTARY OPEN: 1 in 12 qualify
1 – 12 = 1 qualifies
13 – 24 = 2 qualify
25 – 36 = 3 qualify
37 – 48 = 4 qualify

MEDIUM RESTRICTED: 1 in 20 qualify
1 – 20 = 1 qualifies
21 –40 = 2 qualify

MEDIUM OPEN: 1 in 10 qualify
1 – 10 = 1 qualifies
11 – 20 = 2 qualify
21 – 30 = 3 qualify
31 – 40 = 4 qualify

ADVANCED MEDIUM RESTRICTED:
1 in 19 qualify
1 – 19 = 1 qualifies
20 –38 = 2 qualify
39 – 57 = 3 qualify

ADVANCED MEDIUM OPEN:
1 in 9 qualify
1 – 9 = 1 qualifies
10 – 18 = 2 qualify
19 – 27 = 3 qualify
28 – 36 = 4 qualify

PRIX ST GEORGES – Winner qualifies providing score over 65%

INTERMEDIATE I – Winner qualifies providing score over 65%

Hartpury Festival of Dressage celebrates all

Not only did Hartpury’s Festival of Dressage (8 – 12 July 2015) play host to a CDI3* and CPEDI3*, the Gloucestershire-based college also ensured their event was jam-packed full of dressage goodness with the BYRDS A-squad finals, the renowned Shearwater Young Horse Championships and final Premier League fixture of the 2015 season.

27-year-old, Lucy Cartwright set the standard in the first class of the Premier League. Split into two sections due to high entrant numbers (45 combinations!), both of the Fairfax Saddles PSG classes were taken by Lucy and her two rides. Riding Carole Fenton’s 11-year-old Fidermark mare, Fergana, she scored 69.69% to take the top spot, and it was her own athletic 12-year-old Negro-sired gelding, Waterloo V who topped section B with a solid 70.74%, securing two direct qualification passes through to the LeMieux National Dressage Championships, held at Stoneleigh Park, Warks (17 – 20 September 2015).

With just 0.6% separating the top four in the Baileys Horse Feeds inter II, it came down to collectives to decide the final places. Gareth Hughes and Kate Byrom’s 12-year-old Sandro Hit stallion, Samba Hit III came out of the fierce battle on top, as their score of 68.81% and collectives of 127.5 proved enough to reign supreme but just 3.5 collective marks behind was second placed Maria Eilberg with her own, Hermione Black and Penny Pollard’s striking 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Royal Concert (68.81%). Third place went to Alice Oppenheimer and her mother’s 11-year-old Belissimo M-sired mare, Headmore Boadicia with 68.15% (125.0), three collective marks above fourth’s Dan Watson and Nicola Naylor’s 10-year-old Dutch-bred gelding, Amadeus VI (68.15%).

Having almost tasted victory in their first ever inter II, Maria and Royal Concert – or Rico, as he’s fondly known as at home – returned to dominate the Zamar inter I with an impressive 73.94%, a personal best for the combination and topping the class by over three percent.

The start list for the LeMieux grand prix read like a who’s who of dressage; with stars such as Dan Watson, Alice Oppenheimer, Amy Woodhead, Steph Croxford and Isobel Wessels to name a few, it was always going to be stiff competition for the top spot. However, it was Charlotte Dujardin who was number one riding Anne Seifert-Cohn’s nine-year-old German-bred gelding, Barolo. The pair scored an impressive 73.12% in the chestnut gelding’s second ever grand prix, showing great scope for the future.

A first for the Festival of Dressage, Elite Stallions provided a new class for developing PSG horses. Consisting of two PSG rounds, combinations earned their place in the competition by scoring 65% or over in a PSG in 2015. The top eight from the qualifying round went through to the final, which took place during the gala evening over the weekend. Topping both the qualifying round and final was Michael Eilberg with his father and Alison Walton’s Woodlander Farouche (pictured). Achieving almost identical marks in the two rounds, Michael and the talented Furst Heinrich mare scored 77.85% and 77.80%, continuing their fantastic two-year run of good form and highlighting the mare’s exciting potential for big tour. You can catch Farouche’s 77.85% test via the Hartpury YouTube channel.

Michael also claimed first place in the inter II with his second ride of the competition, Julie Deverill’s 11-year-old Dimaggio mare, Half Moon Dynasty. In their first competition of 2015 and her first ever inter II, the pair scored a huge 71.62%, four percent above second placed Olivia Oakeley and Donna Summer (67.50%).

BYRDS A-Squad finals

Hartpury College also played host to the annual BYRDS A-squad finals. The nine highest placed A-squad riders (below) from this year’s BYRDS inter-regional competition at The College, Keysoe gathered at the Festival of Dressage to contest in the championship ride off on the Saturday (11 July 2015).

Emma Barnes with her own Korenbloem Uptimes

Emma Wood with Suzanne Wood’s Achilles

Emily Watts with her own Rascalini

Samantha Gualtieri with her own Sandro’s Dancer

Emily Blount with Amy Blount’s Gkar

Alice Beauchamp with her own Rayid Heart Breaker

Samantha Bloor with her own Elason

Holly Lucas with her own Abby

The morning saw the riders split into three groups with each rider starting out on their own horse. After ten minutes, the riders swapped horses for another ten minutes per horse to decide the top three riders who would go through to the final – one from each group – which took place during the evening performance.

Emily Watts, Samantha Gualtieri and Emily Blount were the three riders selected for the final, where they rode each other’s horse through a unique test, written specifically for the competition. Dan Watson judged the class, looking for the rider who showed the most effectiveness, tact, feel and empathy on all horses – and it was 24-year-old, Samantha Gualtieri who reigned supreme.

Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Championships

Saturday witnessed a showcase of Britain’s finest young horses in the finals of the Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Championships. Already winners from their qualifying rounds, the finalists rode the relevant test for their horse’s age category; four, five and six year olds.

29-year-old, Nicholas Lawson rode Hannah Dovey’s Dutch-bred stallion, Gladstone to victory in the four-year-old class. Scoring an impressive 8.56, the duo topped the 29-strong class after improving on their previous score when they qualified at Myerscough College with 7.62.

The five-year-old section of the prestigious championships went to Isobel Wessels’ Oldenburg gelding, San Marco. Ridden by Lucy Cartwright, the son of Status Quo scored a massive 9.10 to win their section, beating talented up-and-comers, Florentina VI ridden by Charlotte Dujardin (8.50) and Classic Flamboyant with Rebecca Hughes (8.34).

Emma Blundell’s Fidermark-sired mare, Mount St John Freestyle claimed the six-year-old Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Championship with 8.86. Currently being ridden successfully at medium by Charlotte Dujardin, the pair are enjoying an unbeaten run, spanning almost two years!

For full results, please click here.

Results

Class 1: Fairfax Saddles PSG

Section A

1^st – Lucy Cartwright with Fergana, 69.69%

Section B

1^st Lucy Cartwright with Waterloo V, 70.74%

Class 2: Baileys Horse Feeds inter II

1^st – Gareth Hughes with Samba Hit III, 68.81%

Class 3: Tagg Equestrian advanced medium 92

Open

1^st – Lisa Hopkins with Cortez, 71.35%

Restricted

1^st – Nadine Gregory with Candover Dramatico, 69.45%

Class 4: NAF Five Star Optimum advanced medium 98

Open

1^st – Sonnar Murray-Brown with Erlentanz, 75.52%

Restricted

1^st – Nadine Gregory with Candover Dramatico, 68.68%

Class 5: Zamar inter I

1^st – Maria Eilberg with Royal Concert, 73.94%

Class 6: LeMieux grand prix

1^st – Charlotte Dujardin with Barolo, 73.12%

Class 7: Lovington Ice advanced 100

1^st – Kate Cowell with Dahling, 71.32%

Class 8: Elite Stallions Young Horse PSG

1^st – Michael Eilberg with Woodlander Farouche, 77.85%

Class 9: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Championship – 4YO

1^st – Nicholas Lawson with Gladstone, 85.6

Class 10: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Championship – 5YO

1^st – Lucy Cartwright with San Marco, 91.0

Class 11: Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Championship – 6YO

1^st – Charlotte Dujardin with Mount St John Freestyle, 88.6

Class 12: Elite Stallions British Young Horse PSG Championship

1^st – Michael Eilberg with Woodlander Farouche, 77.80%

Class 13: Corse Lawn Hotel PSG

1^st – Maya Goldburg with Torino, 70.17%

Class 14: Dawson Memorial FEI pony/junior/young rider team test

Pony

1^st – Thalia Turner with Kastanienhgts Vitus, 68.72%

Junior

1^st – Phoebe Peters with Denford Surprise, 74.32%

Young rider

1^st – Immogen Chant with World Dancer, 66.51%

Class 15: Monarch Equestrian inter II

1^st – Michael Eilberg with Half Moon Dynasty, 71.62%

Class 16: Speedskip medium 75

Open

1^st – Olivia Towers with Mercian Calisso, 70.95%

Restricted

1^st – Bridget Tate with Dyffryncothi Bridget, 63.51%

Class 17: Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse – 4YO

1^st – Bryony Goodwin with Hawtins Fiorella, 83.0

Class 18: Shearwater Potential International Dressage Horse – 5YO

1^st – Becky Moody with Full Fusion, 86.6

Dressage stars flock to Hickstead CDIO3*

Today marks the start of this week’s international fixture at Hickstead (16 – 19 July 2015), with 57 riders from 14 countries with 65 horses flocking to West Sussex to compete in classes across small tour and big tour levels.

The event also plays host to the final leg of the FEI Nations Cup series (CDIO), with countries looking to grab some last minute points to boost their final placing. Germany is currently top of the table with 24 points, followed closely behind by the Netherlands with 22 and USA with 21. Although GBR aren’t in the race for the top spot – we’re currently lying in joint eighth with six points – a maximum ten points for winning the team competition at Hickstead could see us move up to fourth place.

The nominated British team consists of Henriette Andersen with Warlocks Charm, Alice Oppenheimer with Headmore Delegate (pictured), Hayley Watson-Greaves with WG Rubins Nite and Spencer Wilton with Numberto. As the competition is the final leg, there is a extraordinary twist, as both the grand prix and special count towards the final result.

Hickstead is also holding a CDI, featuring big and small tour levels, plus international competitions for pony (CDIP), junior (CDIJ) and young riders (CDIYR).

Tickets for the competition can be purchased on the gate. For more information and to keep up-to-date with results, click here.

British entries

CDIO3*

Henriette Andersen with her own Warlocks Charm

Alice Oppenheimer with Sarah Oppenheimer’s Headmore Delegate

Hayley Watson-Greaves with her own WG Rubins Nite

Spencer Wilton with Julian Cournane’s Numberto

CDI5*

Big tour

Nicola Buchanan with her own Don Corleone VH Scheefkasteel

Jonny Clarke-West with his own Khartoum

Emily Cousins with her own and Eliane Cousins’ Solo Bachelorette

Bobby Hayler with Paul Hayler’s Aldborough Rubenhall

Carl Hester with Coral Ingham’s Wanadoo

Jacky Stolper with her own Der Schufro

Dan Watson with Nicola Naylor’s Amadeus VI

CDI5*

Middle tour

Kate Cowell with Frances Meier’s Rockefeller 61

Maria Eilberg with her own, Hermione Black and Penny Pollard’s Royal Concert

Matt Hicks with Alison Hill’s Sheepcote Walnut

Charlie Hutton with Judy Peploe’s Super Blue

Kirsty Mepham with Rebecca Vinter and Anne Baldock’s Calderon I

Georgina Swinglehurst with Carol Parsons’ Giddy

CDI5*

Small tour

Nicolle Begovic with her own Waldessarini

Louise Bell with her own Into the Blue

Lucy Fallen with the Danewood Syndicate’s Cruise

Matt Frost with Dedi Leech’s AMD Don Rosso II

Andrew Gould with his own Cello II

Maria Griffin with Adrian Baker’s DJ

Julie Hugo with her own and Frances White’s Alivia II

Ben Martin with his own Dimaggik

Kirsty Mepham with Rebecca Vinter and Anne Baldock’s Minain

Mark Mills with David Patrick’s Zazou II

Becky Moody with her own Carinsio and Davina Parker’s Tirsa

Olivia Oakeley with Anne Keen’s Don Carissimo

Alice Oppenheimer with Georgina Pole-Carew’s Tantoni Sir Soccrates

Jacky Stolper with her own and Caroline Wheatley-Hubbard’s Luciano Pavarotti

Vicky Tompson Winfield with Kym Merritt’s Zindane VIII

Sophie Wells with her own Valerius

CDIYR

Young riders

Jessica Gale with her own Umbro S

Carmen Gammie with her own Amalia B

Lily Hewitt with Adam Hewitt's Zavier II

Anna Lawson with her own Bryan II

Gaby Lucas with her own Salo

Victoria Maw with her own Bon Rouge

Amy Nash with her own Half Moon Revelation

Lucy Pincus with David Pincus' Sheepcote Don Calisto

Amy Schiessl with her own Mr Mercury

Roxanne Shipley with Mark Ruddock and Sean Burgess's Headmore Dream On

Tamsin Vaughan with her own Casse-Cou

CDIJ

Juniors

Imogen Ablett with Nicola McGivern's Active S Express

Isobel Berrington with Sally Hoyle's Worldly Wise

Emily Bradshaw with Sue Bradshaw's Remarkable

Ella Cotterill with Claire Speer's Sheepcote Casablanca

Charlotte Dicker with Ian McRobbie's Sabatini

Ruth Hole with Rachel Murray's Winnetou GEP

Lil Latimer Smith with Louise Latimer Smith's Classic Vazire

CDIP

Ponies

Ottilie Bardsley with Sharon Bardsley's Dublin

Emma Bond with her own Rober

Ollie Booth with his own Classic's Charmeur

Angus Corrie-Deane with his own Hagelkruis Valentijn

Anna Johannson with her own Heiligenbergs Pushed Again

Pippa Kearns with Claire Kearns' Hesselteichs Desert Rose

Holly Kerslake with Amber Barton's Doctor Little

Lara Kuropatwa with Samantha Brown's Le Chiffre and Olivia Kuropatwa's Mister Snowman

Vicky Povey with her own Machno Rembrant

India Sheridan with Sian Sheridan's DHI Smart Move

Are You Searching For You Next Young Dressage Horse

Five Phases Farm has a great selection of young dressage horses for sale. One of my favorites is Isabelle. Born in 2013 by her sire Alex and her grand sire is Sandokan. She is a very flashy mare with great gaits that should make her a super dressage horse. Her half sister Emalina, owned and shown by Stephanie McNutt, has won several classes and awards in her first year and second year of showing.
This is your chance to buy a full dutch filly at a great price without leaving the United States. At this time she is priced very reasonably at $15k. We have others that are not as expensive and you can see them on our youtube channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg2lgZl872P1rkInZb7b8FQ

Young Dressage Horse For Sale | Isabelle

If you are looking for a nice dressage prospect for the future then take a look at this lovely young dressage horse for sale. She has 3 great gaits with a ton of suspension.

BD Abroad: Hagen CDIO

The following combinations have been selected to represent Great Britain at Hagen CDIO/CDI/CDIU25 (09 – 12 July 2015):

CDIO

Hannah Biggs (36) from Gillingham, Dorset with her own Weltzin (chestnut, stallion, 16.1hh, 16yrs, s. Welt Bogen)

Emily Cousins (26) from Maidstone, Kent with her own and Ellie Cousins’ Solo Bachelorette (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 16yrs, s. Welt Hit)

Lara Griffith (26) from Ampney St Peter, Gloucestershire with Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad (bay, gelding, 17.1hh, 13yrs, s. Rubin Royal)

Anna Ross (42) from Allington, Wiltshire with Jane Sewell’s Die Callas (black, mare 16.2hh, 14yrs, s. De Niro)

The team at the Opening Ceremony yesterday - thanks to Lara for the pic via Twitter @LaraGriffith

CDI

Susan Pape (52) from Hemmoor, Germany with Harmony Sporthorses and her own Harmonys Don Noblesse (gelding, 8yrs, s. Dancier, competing small tour)

Laura Tomlinson (30) from Ampney St Peter, Gloucestershire with Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer’s Unique VII (bay, mare, 17.2hh, 11yrs, s. Carpaccio, competing big tour) and Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer and her own Duvals Capri Sonne Jr (black, stallion, 16.3hh, 8yrs, s. Rhodium, competing small tour)

Spencer Wilton (42) from End Lane, Berkshire with Jennifer Goodman’s Supernova (dark brown, gelding, 16.3hh, 12yrs, s. De Niro, competing big tour)

CDIU25

Ryan Todd (22) from Halifax, West Yorkshire with Julie Todd’s Charlex Eskebjerg (bay, gelding, 16.2hh, 14yrs, s. Carano)
Website with live scoring: click here

All-star cast head for Hartpury

Today marks the start of two exciting weeks for both para and able-bodied international riders, as selection for the Europeans draws closer. With Hickstead CDIO and Hagen CDI4* also on the horizon, Hartpury Festival of Dressage (8 – 12 July 2015) features a CPEDI3* and CDI3* jam packed with top riders, looking to make a lasting impression on the selectors.

For spectators, it’s a rare opportunity to see superstar champions, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro perform in the flesh. They’ll be contesting in the Smith and Williamson grand prix against riders across 11 countries and some of British dressage’s biggest names, including Carl Hester and Niptuck, Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca, Fiona Bigwood with Atterupps Othilia and Sophie Wells with Pinocchio, to name a few. Held at Hartpury College, set amongst the beautiful Gloucester countryside, competition kicks off today with the CPEDI3* team tests, where Sophie Wells and Nicky Greenhill have started with a bang, winning their classes with impressive 70%+ scores.

However, Hartpury is not only playing host to international riders, the Festival of Dressage is living up to its name as it includes the final premier league fixture of the season. Attracting a flurry of riders such as Michael and Maria Eilberg, Olivia Oakeley, Andrew Gould, Alice Oppenheimer, Matt Hicks, Emile Faurie, Charlotte Dujardin, Dan Watson, Steph Croxford and Becky Moody for starters, it’s a not-to-be-missed event.

For the first time in Festival of Dressage history, you can keep up-to-date on the action via their live stream.

For more information on the event, including start times and results, click here.

Valiant effort from Brits at Vidauban

Britain’s Junior team kept their cool under the scorching Provence sun at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders, Vidauban, 1 – 5 July 2015.

The quartet of young Brits, including two riders making their European Championship debut, achieved a creditable eighth place out of fourteen teams from across Europe. Erin Williams (17) and Bolsan B, her mother Clare’s impressive Sandro Hit nine-year-old were best of the Brits in the team test earning a personal best score of 69.62%.

European Championship newcomer Amber Barton (18) and her 11-year-old stallion Labiat, an attractive son of Le Primeur, thrived under the pressure of their first European team appearance, scoring 67.83%. The new partnership has achieved good results since coming together last year, and they're looking great prospects for the future.

Chloe Vell (17) and Kaja Di Valentina achieved a solid team test result of 67.67% despite some tension shown in the walk, in an otherwise mistake-free round. The pair’s last European team call-up was in 2013 for the Europeans at Compiègne in France, and they drew upon this experience to show some lovely highlights.

The youngest of the four, Charlotte Dicker (16), and her relatively new ride, Sabatini, are in the early stages of their partnership so their best is yet to come. They scored 63.86% yet showed glimpses of the brilliance they’re capable of. Charlotte and Sabatini, a talented 10-year-old mare by Stedinger and owned by Ian Mcrobbie, look to have successful times ahead.

Germany dominated the team championship, headed by Semmieke Rothenberger aboard Geisha, a 13-year-old Danish-bred mare by Gribaldi, scoring an outstanding 76.35%

In soaring temperatures reaching highs of 40 degrees, all four riders gave their all in the Junior Individual Test. Once more, Erin and Bolsan B lead the Brits with another assured performance. Erin expressed her delight via Facebook: “Another incredible day! ‘Sonny’ and I scored 68.31% in the individual test this morning! We managed to be best Brit yet again despite two large mistakes! I'm so proud of him this week. He's been so grown up and coped with this heat amazingly.”

Amber and Labiat scored 67.21%, Charlotte and Sabatini 65.57% and Chloe and Kaja Di Valentina, 64.23%.

The individual championship test went to Germany’s Hannah Erbe and Carlos 609, an eight-year-old Rhinelander gelding by Carabas, out of a Weltmeyer mare. The pair scored 78.02%. None of the British riders qualified for the freestyle championship which was won by Spain’s Juan Matute Guimon aboard Dhannie Ymas, an eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Don Crusador. Juan scored 81.60% to make history as the first Spanish youth rider ever to win an individual medal.

It was a team of firsts for the young riders heading out to France for the Championships at Vidauban. With the competition marking 18-year-old Becky Edwards and 19-year-old Robyn Smith’s first ever Europeans, the girls were reliant on the previous experience of team mates Charlotte Fry and Claire Gallimore who, although enjoying the championships for the first time as young riders, have gained great exposure to the competition as junior and pony riders.

First, to decide the team honours, were the team tests and it was Glaswegian, Robyn Smith who was first to go for GBR. Riding Gail Smith’s 17-year-old British-bred gelding, Foold Uz in a sweltering heat of 35 degrees, the pair scored a solid 68.13% - a strong start for the team. Originally first reserve for the young rider team, Claire Gallimore – who is currently based with the Bartels in the Netherlands – stepped up to the plate just two weeks before the competition as Anna Lawson withdrew her horse, Bryan, from selection. Riding her mother’s ten-year-old Scandic-sired mare, Annette Ballerina, she notched up a score of 66.78%.

“Bella felt amazing in the warm up and I was really excited to go in,” announced Claire from her Facebook page. “When we went into the arena she was a little bit spooky. The trot work was strong resulting in us being on 69% when I went into the walk however the work was too tense so I lost a lot of marks. The canter work was good but a few of expensive mistakes, resulting on us ending up of 66.7%. I was so proud of how Bella coped in the heat and feel that it was a positive first performance.”

Despite some costly mistakes, Becky Edwards and Dr Margaret Cox’s 14-year-old Portugese stallion, Ufano gave their all in the team test to score 66.52%. Last to go, Charlotte Fry and her partner, Rosemary Shewen’s athletic 11-year-old Flemmingh-sired gelding, Z Flemmenco (pictured) showed their experience at the championships – the pair competed last year as a junior combination – posting a personal best of 69.21%.

“Dinky [Z Flemmenco] and I posted a personal best in the Young Rider team test of 69.21% at the European Championships!” exclaimed Charlotte via her Facebook. “I had an amazing ride and Dinky felt awesome, even though I was riding in around 36 degrees he coped so well!”

A strong result for GBR in the team test but the immense standard of the competition meant that it was not high enough to claim a medal, placing us into seventh. Gold went to Germany, closely followed by the Netherlands in second and Sweden in third.

Over the further two days of individual tests, all four young riders improved on their previous days’ percentages. Despite the raising temperatures (40 degrees!), Becky and Ufano jumped eight places, landing in 27^th with their score of 68.34% with Robyn and Foold Uz following behind, scoring 68.31%. Claire and Bella were also on the up, showing great scope for the future with their mark of 67.78%. However, it was Charlotte and Dinky who were the star performers, notching up another personal best of 70.07% to claim 15^th and a place through to the freestyle where they scored 68.87%.

For full results, click here.

Results

Junior Team Championship

1^st – Germany, 224.51

2^nd – Netherlands, 216.37

3^rd – Denmark, 215.00

8^th – Great Britain, 205.13

Young Rider Team Championship

1^st – Germany, 221.42

2^nd – Netherlands, 221.10

3^rd – Sweden, 215.02

7^th – Great Britain, 204.13

Individual results of British riders

Junior team test

17^th – Erin Williams with Bolsan B (GBR), 69.62%

32^nd – Amber Barton with Labiat (GBR), 67.83%

34^th – Chloe Vell with Kaja Di Valentina (GBR), 67.67%

54^th – Charlotte Dicker with Sabatini (GBR), 63.86%

Junior Individual Championship

28^th – Erin Williams and Bolsan B (GBR), 68.31%

34^th – Amber Barton and Labiat (GBR), 67.21%

47^th – Charlotte Dicker and Sabatini (GBR), 65.57%

54^th – Chloe Vell and Kaja Di Valentina (GBR), 64.23%

Young rider team

18^th – Charlotte Fry with Z Flemmenco (GBR), 69.21%

25^th – Robyn Smith with Foold Uz (GBR), 68.13%

33^rd – Claire Gallimore with Annette Ballerina (GBR), 66.78%

35^th – Rebecca Edwards with Ufano (GBR), 66.52%

Young Rider Individual Championship

15^th – Charlotte Fry with Z Flemmenco (GBR), 70.07%

27^th – Rebecca Edwards with Ufano (GBR), 68.34%

28^th – Robyn Smith with Foold Uz (GBR), 68.31%

31^st – Claire Gallimore with Annette Ballerina (GBR), 67.78%

Young Rider Freestyle Championship

18^th – Charlotte Fry with Z Flemmenco (GBR), 68.87%

Issue 5 of BD magazine out this week

British Dressage magazine is the official publication for BD, including news, features and insights, as well as full competition schedules for the next six weeks.

In this issue:

• Chat with Charlotte – our Olympic gold medal winning cover girl answers 25 readers’ questions

• Action from Windsor’s CDI3* FEI Dressage

• Vet on call: understanding loss of performance

• Paragon partners: what makes the ideal para horse?

• Expert advice on feeding balancers

• Latest in tack trends

• Judges’ viewpoint: training and competing in young horse classes

Plus: Preview of the FEI European Championships, organiser and Port Royal EC’s co-owner Michelle Bainbridge’s Dressage Days, Vanessa Knight’s Paramatters, BD Action and Regional Activity, plus full diary dates from 1 September – 14 October 2015

Eight issues are available per year. British Dressage magazine is delivered free to every BD member and is also available as a subscription package to non-members.

Pavo Cup Pre-Selection returns to Hartpury

The Pavo Cup pre-selection is back for a fourth year, taking place during the Festival of Dressage at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire on 10 July 2015. The most prestigious young horse competition in the Netherlands, the Pavo Cup is a competition for talented four and five-year-old dressage horses,.

Together, KWPN and Hartpury Festival of Dressage have organised the Pavo Cup pre-selection giving the opportunity for riders/owners to show off their gifted youngsters to the Pavo Cup judges on home ground, with the best qualifying for the semi-finals, held at the KWPN Championships in Ermelo, the Netherlands.

Horses are evaluated in groups of two as they perform various dressage movements in front of an experienced panel of KWPN judges. Four-year-olds are required to show the walk, trot and canter in both directions, as well as a few strides of medium trot, medium canter and leg yield. Five-year-olds must show the basic gaits, plus extended trot, extended canter and shoulder-in. Horses are judged in their basic gaits, carriage & elasticity, overall impression and functionality & correctness of conformation.

The most successful studbook on the WBFSH rankings, many breeders and riders in the UK have fallen for the charm, rideability and quality of KWPN horses. With Valegro, Uthopia, Totilas, Parzival and Undercover all bred under the KWPN flag, the Pavo Cup pre-selection is a must-see event to catch potential future superstars.

For more information on the competition, including eligibility, requirements and tests, visit the KWPN website.

Picture, courtesy of KWPN, features Dan Greenwood with Jenny Welham's Exige M, winners of last year's Pavo Cup pre-selection

Notice of AGM 2015 and voting papers

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of BRITISH DRESSAGE will be held at The Oak Tree, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire on 17 September 2015 at 6.45 pm for the purpose of considering the matters set out below.

AGENDA

Special Business

The following two resolutions will be proposed as Special Resolutions:

1. To amend the Articles of Association of British Dressage so that (i) the articles 2.1, 11, 12, 15.1.2 and 18 be removed and substituted with the articles tabled before the meeting and (ii) article 21 is deleted and the numbering of the remaining articles be adjusted accordingly.
2. If special resolution 1 is not passed, to amend the Articles of Association of British Dressage so that the articles 2.1 and 21 be removed and substituted with the articles tabled before the meeting.

Ordinary Business

The following will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions:

1. To re-elect Rules and Fixtures Director.
2. To elect Judges Director. Download a ballot paper
3. To receive the Financial Statements of British Dressage for the year ended 31 December 2014 and the Directors’ and Auditors’ Reports thereon. Download the annual report
4. To appoint KPMG as the auditors of British Dressage and to authorise the Board to fix their remuneration.

By order of the Board

Jason Brautigam
Chief Executive
Meriden Business Park
Copse Drive
Meriden
West Midlands, CV5 9RG
Company number: 3443026

Dated: 1 June 2015

Any member of British Dressage entitled to attend and vote at the meeting convened by this Notice is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his or her place. A proxy need not be a member of British Dressage. The completed proxy form must be received at the registered office not later than 48 hours before the date and time that the meeting is due to commence. Proxy forms can be obtained by writing to the Chief Executive with a stamped addressed envelope.

Voting opens today (6 July) and all eligible members that we have a valid email address for should have received an email with their personal link to vote on-line. You can vote using a paper ballot by downloading a form and posting to Mi-Voice.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) - EXPLANATORY NOTE

Introduction

British Dressage’s current articles of association (Articles) provide for 1/3 (one third) of the directors to retire at each AGM, meaning the directors are on a continual three year cycle.

The board of British Dressage would like the directors to be on a four year cycle, to correspond with the Olympic calendar. To achieve this, the board recommend that the Articles are amended under Special Resolution 1 (details provided below). In the event that Special Resolution 1 is not passed, a second special resolution (Special Resolution 2) is proposed which only amends the term of office of the international director (details provided below).

Special Resolution 1

Download - THE DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION (HIGHLIGHTING AND INCORPORATING THE PROPOSED CHANGES) FOR SPECIAL RESOLUTION 1.

This special resolution amends the Articles so that each director’s term of office is increased from 3 to 4 years. With the exception of the international director, these changes take effect from this AGM, which means all existing directors will remain in office for 3 years from the date of their appointment and only directors appointed after the AGM will hold office for 4 years.

As the board considers it important to avoid a change to the international director a year before the Olympics, it was decided that his change of term should take immediate effect. This means the international director will hold office for 4 years from the AGM he was appointed, meaning he will retire at next year’s AGM (after Rio).

In addition, the terms of office for the honorary roles of President and Vice-President are proposed to be amended to bring their terms of office in line with the Olympic calendar:

· President: The President’s term of office is proposed to be increased from 3 to 4 years. Like the directors (other than the international director), this will be effective after the current President has served the 3 year term he was initially appointed for.

· Vice-Presidents: A 4 year term of office is proposed to be introduced for the Vice Presidents. As the Vice Presidents did not have a fixed period of office under the Articles, this is proposed to be effective from this AGM. The current Vice Presidents will therefore hold their first term of office until the AGM in 2020.

Finally, to bring the President’s rights in line with the Vice-Presidents’, it is proposed that the President, by virtue of his appointment to that role, be given life membership.

Special Resolution 2

Download - THE DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDED ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION (HIGHLIGHTING AND INCORPORATING THE PROPOSED CHANGES) FOR SPECIAL RESOLUTION 2.

If Special Resolution 1 is not passed, Special Resolution 2 is an alternative special resolution to amend the Articles to extend the international director’s term of office only.

The amendments provide that the international director will be subject to a new 4 year term of office which will apply immediately, to ensure that the international director’s term of office corresponds with the Olympic calendar. As such, the current international director will be entitled to hold office until the AGM in 2016 (after Rio).

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD

Jason Brautigam
Chief Executive
Meriden Business Park
Copse Drive
Meriden
West Midlands, CV5 9RG
Company number: 3443026

Dated: 01 June 2015

If you would like a hard copy of the Documents, please contact Angela Green, PA to the Chief Executive at British Dressage on +44 (0) 24 7669 8844.

Important downloads

To download this notice of AGM - click here

To view the candidate profiles - click here

To download a ballot form - click here

If you require a form by post, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to request one to: Angela Green, British Dressage, Building 2020, Copse Drive, Meriden Business Park, Meriden, West Midlands CV5 9RG.

New championship for those who protect and serve

Dressage and service personnel are steeped in history and tradition. After all, dressage was developed by the military to make horses more obedient and responsive in battle and on parade, so it’s very fitting for British Dressage (BD) to announce a new championship in partnership with Forces Equine.

Forces Equine is for equestrians in HM Forces, Government Services or Public Services and their dependants and proactively helps forces riders and their families meet, interact and compete within their equine communities. They have a long standing association with British Showjumping and now are working closely with British Dressage to bring a new championship for intro to elementary horses and riders.

Forces Equine founder Debi Heath French commented; “We are honoured to be in partnership with British Dressage and having a series together to run with our new Forces Equine Dressage League. Our members have wanted this for some time and have already been involved with Team Quest so this gives a new goal to aim for. With a salute to the future, we ride to serve and look forward to a successful partnership with BD.”

Open to existing BD members or anyone who’s new to the sport, riders must be members of Forces Equine Riding Club and a minimum of BD Team Quest members to qualify. Horses must be minimum Associate registered which enables them to compete at intro and prelim levels. Combinations who wish to qualify for novice or elementary must be fully BD registered or purchase class tickets. As a welcome, BD is offering each rider two free class tickets to help them qualify.

To qualify, combinations must secure two 60% or higher scores in any regular BD or Team Quest affiliated competition between 1 January 2015 and 31 September 2015. Once the scores are attained, riders must notify BD and once validated, they will be given an invite to the final. The finishing plans are being worked on for a fitting finale which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Paul Graham, BD Sport Operation Manager added; “We’re delighted to be working with Forces Equine on their new Championship. It will be great for the sport to welcome a new group of riders and the concept has worked well in show jumping so we’re looking forward to a mutually beneficial new venture with Forces Equine.