Recently reported by dressagedaily.com, Equine Canada and Dressage Canada have decided to require dressage helmets in all levels of competition for 2012.

Ottawa, ON — Equine Canada and Dressage Canada are taking an industry-wide leadership role by requiring all dressage riders to wear helmets in competition. Commencing in 2012, a national rule change will require all riders to wear helmets for all levels of Equine Canada sanctioned dressage competition.

The rule for January 1, 2012 is: SAFETY HEADGEAR
All riders, regardless of age or level or competition, must wear ASTM/SEI or BSI/BS EN approved protective headgear at all times when mounted at any EC-sanctioned Dressage competition at the event location. “I am very proud of our Dressage Committee for taking this step,” said Equine Canada president Michael Gallagher. “I believe we are the first national federation in the world to introduce this rule across all levels, and I can guarantee we will not be the last.”

This change for 2012 is a modification to the rule that was put in place in May 2011 where all riders competing in Fourth Level and below, FEI Young Horse Tests, Material and equitation classes at Bronze, Silver and Gold shows had to wear helmets. This rule also included non-competing riders as well.

“Helmet use is an important step and component in the safety for all our members,” said John Harris, chair of Equine Canada Board’s Task Force on Safety. “In 2012 Equine Canada will launch a safety audit across the entire organization to examine and identify best practices for safety. The well-being of our members needs to always be the primary concern of the organization.”

“I am thrilled that Canada is promoting the use of helmets,” said Canadian Olympian Ashley Holzer, who routinely wears helmets during competition. “Helmets prevent head injuries, and I feel a rule that promotes the safety of its riders is a great rule.”

“Riders4Helmets is delighted that Equine Canada is demonstrating that riders safety comes before tradition by implementing helmet rule changes in dressage shows at all level,” said Lyndsey White, co-founder www.riders4helmets.com. “Courtney King-Dye’s accident showed that safety has nothing to do with level of skill. Any rider can suffer a traumatic brain injury—even an Olympian. Equine Canada should be congratulated on taking this monumental step.”

Most of the feedback received by the Dressage Canada Rules Committee on the subject of helmet safety was in favour of riders wearing approved helmets in competition. This rule change came after an open, democratic process, in which all Canadian dressage riders had a chance to express their views to the proposal.

The requirement of helmets in dressage competition after the tragic King Dye accident has been growing in many notable countries recently. With this decision Canada will become the first nation in the world to require dressage helmets in all levels of competition.

One of the most popular seminars at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention is always the Training Solutions For Top Event Riders and this year was no different with the extensive panel speaking to a packed room. The session is informal with audience members asking questions and the members of the panel taking turns answering.

Panel: Karen O’Connor, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton, Leslie Law, Clayton Fredericks, Buck Davidson, Lynn Symansky, Hannah Sue Burnett, Shannon Lilley.

Q: What creative items do you guys use that may be successful training wise?

KO: Huge success with a leather bit for dressage. Really soft in their month.

BM: Avoid using strong bits, rare to compete through prelim with anything but a snaffle

PD: Standing martingale – can’t compete in them but it is good training habit wise.

LL: Can’t get away from the correct training. Stay away from draw reins – you need to be a very good rider to ride in draw reins and if you are a very good rider why are you using side reins? I try to stay away from gadgets?

CF: The lunging bungy – elasticated bungy (neck stretcher in America). Much better than side reins because it allows the rider to stretch equally to the contact and then gives back. I have had a lot of success with removing the nose bands and have your horse submit to you more naturally. Still underestimated how important it is to look at the inside of your horse’s mouth when you choose your bits.

BD: Never jump at home without a snaffle. Take stuff away e.g the stirrups from the saddle, take away the reins in an enclosed situation.

SL: I also use leather bits – really helps the horse’s yield to the contact. I try to take the gadgets away because there is not substitute for good training.

HB: I love breastplates – it terrifies me when I see horses jumping without a breastplate.

LS: I do a lot of work riders with riders on the lunge – take the stirrups and reins away.

Q: Any ideas on how to get a horse not to grind their teeth?

KO: I have had luck with putting a tiny bit of dirt in the horse’s mouth right before you go into the ring.

BM: Gum bits

Q: What’s the progression for a young horse on what you do and what you ask for on each day?

PD: I like to establish that when you are on the horse they are listening to you all the time. Your horse always needs to be going forward all the time from your aid. As you get more education you add roundness, softness, etc. Sending a young horse to an experienced person is much better than sending then to an inexperienced person.

BD: For me it is bit like a kid who is never told no until it is too late. They need to go forward, straight all the time but I have a goal each day and once I achieve that goal I finish for the ride.

CF: The horse no matter the level needs to be in front of your leg and submissive to the contact. When you kick them to go they go and as you progress it becomes more fine-tuned. Gradually as you reinforce those ideas you can eventually be dancing with the horse. Cross-country ultimately comes down to is the horse in front of the leg? If the rider asks it to go forward to jump it goes.

LL: If you identify the training scales you are never going to go wrong. It is important to listen to your horse – a 4-year-old might only have 15 minutes in them.

KO: If we asked eachother on how to hack a horse out – they would be marching, overtracking, working at the walk. The go walk hack with a purpose.

Q: Any tips on how to deal with a horse who is very nervous in warm-up?

SL: I find if you can do as much desensitization at home as possible it helps. If you can ride with lots of horses in the ring at home and get them tons of distraction. There is nothing that replaces going off of the property as much as possible – they grow up so much more.

HB: Break it down, start with one-on-one, start slowly, then do two horses then three horses. Be really patient until they are comfortable. Taking them into a big warm-up and just having them deal with it

Q: What do you think is important in a young horse: conformation vs heart vs talent?

BM: It needs to have the ability to gallop for 11 minutes and jump about 35 big jumps. Pretty good jumping ability. Pretty good in the dressage as well. I don’t nit-pick too much conformationally. I go for more rangy horses with 60-70% TB.

PD: I would rather get a horse with a really good horse that is easy to train. There is nothing more frustrating than having a very talented that is hard to train.

LL: I am looking for 60% TB so you have got that gallop and the stamina at the top level. Good technique and scope over a fence. Good walk, good canter. If they have everything else I will forgive a poor trot. Temperament is huge. As well as heart. Difficult to see in 40 minutes though.

CF: The biggest mistake that lower level riders make is going for a 4-star winner rather than isolating the level you want to compete. You are much better with a good attitude who wants to help you out. When I am looking for a 4-star horse I am looking for what these guys are, but quite often they surprise you with what they can to. Breed them with good attitudes.

KO: Make sure that you and the horse are a good match with personality. Bucket horse. You bring one bucket of feed out to 5 horses. Identify the attitudes of the horses and find the one that matches your personality.

Q: The differences in the qualities in the ones that you buy in this country vs. abroad?

BM: If you go to Europe (Ireland/England/France/Holland) there are thousands of horses breeding sport horses and in America we don’t have those people. They are all trying to breed horses for the Olympics within a few hours of themselves. We just don’t have that band of breeders chasing the perfect event horse.

SL: I agree with Boyd, if you go abroad you have the opportunity to ride a lot of horses in a day and just being able to get the numbers is pretty huge and that in of itself makes it worth it.

CF: We call that tire-kicking, Shannon!

Q: If you could pick one horse of any of the other riders on the panel which would you pick and why?

HB: Neville Bardos b/c my horse is pretty similar and I think I would enjoy that type of xc machine

LL: I would have to go with Inmidair – it is a very fantastic jumper, and I think she has done a fantastic job producing that horse. It could definitely medal.

CF: I’ll ride anything! If anyone wants to give me one I’ll take it.

Q: I have a horse that is very polite and obedient but he is very short-gaited and doesn’t want to reach all the way to the bridle?

BD: To me to get a horse to take the contact – I do a lot of transitions, forward and back, you have to get them to go forward first.

CF: I like the horses really light in the contact and providing that they aren’t getting behind the contact and as long as they are obedient.

Q: How have your horse’s fitness plans evolved from the long format to the short format for the upper level competition.

LL: A fit horse is a fit horse, I haven’t really changed that much. Coming from the UK there is an awful lot of steeplechasing back there and the different distances get same the fit the same where. I start with long slow cantering and then when I have a base on the horse I sprint them on a hill. William Fox-Pitt told me about doing one 12 minute canter to get the conditioned to going that length of time even if it isn’t at competition speed. I work to the conditions I am cantering on – not very scientific.

CF: The horses need to have a greater intensity of fitness now at the higher levels. It is about the amount of jumps you are doing in a minute – the galloping between the jumps is even faster so you need to have them fitter. More sprinting now then we may have done in the past.

BD: Once a horse is fit you need to know when the horse is fit. I do a lot of trotting and a lot less galloping and the longer slow gallops similar to Leslie. The training has stayed the same, but the riding has gotten better.

Q: How much down time do you give your horses?

LS: I think it depends on the horse – after a big 3-day I like to give them about a month. Then start back walking and into full work.

Q: What is your favorite exercise to teach a horse to be more brave jumping?

BD: I think it is important for a horse to know that it just can’t stop. With a young horse on xc I always approach jumps that they would be able to bunny hop over –they need to get the understanding they land it is okay.

CF: It is really important as a rider that you are fit and learn to balance so you use your legs and hands independently so that you don’t interfere with the horse and make them stop.

Q: How often do you jump your upper level horses at bigger heights?

HB: I think it depends on the horse, I have one who hardly ever jumps the height and another who is just moving up the level so needs to jump more.

Q: For the average rider who needs to have some brakes that is not responding to the snaffle on xc are their other suggestions you have?

BD: The first thing that comes into your mind is that it needs to come down to training – no quick gadget to solve the problem. Plenty of transitions, expand the levels between speeds, if your horse doesn’t slow down it means you haven’t trained it properly.

LL: When you are producing horses it is extremely important to train it on the cross-country. Teach them to be settled, go in a rhythm, and not fall. If you have got a strong horse in the upper levels the time becomes quite difficult to make. It is better to have something in your horse’s mouth that he respects than mauling on him all day long in a snaffle. It really does become a trial and error situation in a competition situation.

SL: Why is the horse running? If you thought you bought an appropriate horse why is it strong now? If you don’t have an independent hand or leg they might be running away from you. The lighter feel you have the better.

CF: Having just come from Australia where I must have talked over a hundred riders in the last few weeks, this is a problem that I addressed often. Nine out of 10 we saw it with the correction of the rider’s position. I spend time looking in the horse’s mouth and finding something that is suitable for the construction of the mouth.

BM: Put a fence into the hay shed.

Q: I train at a farm and I have inherited a few problem horses and they aren’t young but they are very inconsistent and spooky. How do you train them?

BD: Take the horse back a few steps, start in a confined and area and work up from there as I go. You have to understand when it just isn’t right you have to cut your ties and realize that there is another horse out there.

Q: What are some strategies for teaching a warmblood to gallop?

LL: I gallop them with another horse just like with the racing, hunting, teach them to compete a little bit.

Q: When do you step in with an amateur and tell them to throw in the towel with the wrong horse?

BM: I think you can improve a horse but not change them. If you are an amateur rider you are better off cutting a mis-behaving loose. Upgrade! It’s like a relationship if your partner beats you or something you are better off getting rid of the guy – there are other blokes in the country.

LS: If the personality isn’t right – it isn’t a failure to sell them on.

Q: What are somethings you can do health-wise that can help an amateur’s horse?

SL: Good horsemanship. Be in a program where you learn good horsemanship and appreciate it. If you aren’t in a program try and educate yourself and go out and be proactive.

CF: It isn’t just about training actually; in our yard we have very close relationships with the vet, farrier, chiropractor, physio, acupuncturists. It isn’t because we are superstitious we see marked results with everything we do.

Q: What are some of your favorite exercises to keep your horses sharp in the indoor in the winter?

LL: I have never stayed in an indoor school for five months!

BD: I do a lot of things in the indoors especially in the clinic that changes the horse’s thinking like turning right off the long side rather than always going left. Jumps into walls – things that make you put your leg on your horse and get them in front of your left.

CF: Leave your horse with your wife and go to sunnier climates.

Q: What can you do to get the most out of the riders to keep up with these horses?

LL: Obviously we ride a lot of horses in the day we are quite riding fit, but prior to Athens Olympics I got a bit more serious. Ran on a machine, went to a heat chamber. I find for riding the most important thing is aerobic fitness.

CF: Before Hong Kong we did a lot of running up the hill. Rider is a core strength so anything you do on an exercise ball helps.

Article source useventing.com

Can I Learn How to Ride Dressage from Online Videos?

By Shannon Dueck

I have often been asked this question, my opinion is both “Yes” and “No”. Full disclosure here:: I do have training videos on one of the popular websites, so that must mean I think they can be useful.
Here are some of my reasons for saying “Yes”:

Theoretical knowledge of horsemanship in general and dressage training in particular is crucial to being successful as a rider and trainer (and yes, you are training your horse every time you sit in that saddle, even if you are not getting paid). You really do need to know the hows and whys of what you are trying to accomplish when you are riding. Without the theoretical background, even the most gifted rider will go round and round in circles (get it?) and never progress. And, the theory of dressage is never completely mastered, so we can all continue to improve our knowledge forever. While books are truly treasure troves of theory, good videos of great trainers who are teaching students or riding and talking while doing so can clarify much of the written word for us.

Many of us are visual learners, myself included. That means that no matter how much we read about it, discuss it, question it and spout the theory ad nauseam, we really don’t get it until we see it done a number of times. I remember as a working student spending many extra hours watching top trainers ride and train. For some reason I could see the half halt and feel it in my body when they were riding. Eventually I could reproduce that half halt myself on a horse – the “Eureka” moment. I finally knew what all the books were talking about. I sure know the moment I felt myself affect the horse’s hindlegs and put them where I wanted them. This was directly related to how many times I had watched great riders do the same thing. I completely believe that we can learn from watching good riding and training, and this learning can sometimes almost bypass the conscious brain and just go straight into our subconscious. (Warning: I also believe we can subconsciously learn bad riding from watching bad riding, so turn away from the train wrecks please!) This is reason number two for a resounding “Yes”.

Reason three is that we have a limited number of horses to ride every day. I ride and teach all day, but that doesn’t mean I am exposed to all different kinds of horses and situations. We can learn from different trainers on different horses; every one has unique challenges in their training process. If you only ride one horse a day, watching applicable video can vastly increase your understanding of how to deal with your own unique challenges.

Reason one for “No” is the same as reason three for “Yes”. It can be confusing to learn from too many trainers, and for that reason I think most students should limit their exposure somewhat to trainers who have similar training methods as your current trainer. Otherwise you can find yourself questioning more, and not progressing. This is fine if your quest is just knowledge for the sake of knowledge (not a bad quest), but it’s not so great for progressing in the actual sport of riding dressage well.

Lastly, if you want to learn how to ride, there is no substitute for riding. Lots of riding. All the theoretical learning, all the questioning, all the discussions, answers and watching will never do for you what hours in the saddle will. You must have the knowledge and understanding of what you are trying to accomplish, but in the end you must develop feel in your body and subconscious. This takes hours in the saddle, being aware of what you are doing, trying to feel your horse and then using your body more effectively to affect your horse in the right ways. In this way, your conscious knowledge turns into unconscious skill.

International Grand Prix trainer and competitor Shannon Dueck is a Pan Am Games Individual Silver Medalist, and has competed at both WEG and the World Cup Final. She has trained with Bert Rutten of the Netherlands, Kathy Connelly, Lars Peterson, Hubertus Schmidt, Robert Dover, and most recently, Wolfram Wittig while in Germany this past summer.

Source dueckdressage.com

In this dressage training video, dressage trainer Jane Savoie shows a rider a simple exercise for suppling her horse at the poll.

Dressage Trainer Jane Savoie’s site bio.

ane has coached at three Olympic Games. In 1996, Jane coached the Canadian 3-Day Event Team at the Olympics in Atlanta.

Jane coached several Three Day Event Riders from the United States, Canada and Belgium in preparation for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. While in Sydney, she also coached United States Dressage Team member, Susan Blinks. With Jane’s guidance, Sue and her horse, Flim Flam, were able to help secure the team Bronze medal. This victory was particularly meaningful because Jane has helped Sue with Flim since he
was three years old.

In 2004, Jane once again accompanied the Canadian Three Day Event team to the Olympics. This time the competition was in Athens, Greece. Under her watchful eye, several of the riders achieved their personal best for their dressage scores and finished tenth as a team.

Dressage Tips: Rider Fitness Is Important

It’s pretty clear how important that strong core is, how are we to go about getting it? If you are a professional and ride 5 horses or more a day, I really think that is good enough to get a super strong core. I always feel that when I ride 5 horses I have had a very good workout, any less than that and I need to do more to help me stay fit enough to ride well. I do know some top riders who ride 8 horses a day and then go to the gym – while I think that is great, I figure 5 horses and some stretching and I’m good to go…

I know it’s a often a struggle for many amateurs to ride even one horse a day. Life is a balancing act, and there are often more important things in life than riding dressage. However, whenever and however it can fit in, additional fitness is required if you are interested in really improving your ability as a dressage rider. Additional physical training emphasizing strength, balance and suppleness can only help your riding.

My favorite thing to do is dance, dance, dance. Grab a partner and learn to ballroom dance. Many aspects of dance are similar to dressage – there is tempo, rhythm, balance, frame, contact and suppleness. And it’s really fun too – you don’t even realize the workout you are getting!

One of the best new sports out there for core strength, balance and fitness is paddle boarding – I read somewhere that it burns about 800 calories an hour – and most of those calories are burned maintaining balance with your core. If you live anywhere near the water I highly recommend it!

Other great sports are most of the martial arts (Thai Chi is supposed to be wonderful) and any type of yoga. Pilates is a guaranteed bet to improve your symmetry and muscle control. If you can run, use a treadmill, or elliptical machine for 30 minutes a few times a week it can make a huge difference, and it helps even more if your posture and technique is kept in mind while working out.

For those of you with very limited time, use some of your down time to work out. Watch TV and do the “Plank” (the pilates move where you hold your body straight as an arrow on your elbows and toes). Any other good abdominal exercises, especially those for your oblique abdominals are great. Have small weights near the couch, and use them for arms, shoulders, chest and legs. Lunges and squats can be easily done from in front of the TV.

I’m sure that there are many other great sports you can do that will enhance your riding, I think the most important thing is not so much the sport or what you do, but just that you do it.

Source dressagedaily.com

In July and August, Rotterdam will be the Equestrian Capital of Europe hosting two top equestrian events: the FEI European Dressage Championships and CHIO Rotterdam. To create a more equestrian feel, 25 life-sized models of real horses will be located around the city centre of Rotterdam. The horses will be painted and decorated by local artists and students and will be used for several activities this summer. The organizing committee for the EC and the Rotterdam City Government strongly believe this initiative connects equestrian sports, art and culture.

“At least for a short period Rotterdam will be the Equestrian Capital of Europe,” says Frans Lavooij, president of the Organizing Committee. “The FEI EC Dressage directly followed by the 63rd edition of the CHIO Rotterdam will bring the whole equestrian world to Rotterdam. This is a nice way to profile these major events in our City linking sports, art and culture.”

About FEI European Dressage Championships 2011

From August 17th until 21st 2011, the FEI European Dressage Championships take place. It will be an important competition as this is a Pre-Olympic year and the championships qualify for London 2012. The Dutch have lead the international dressage for many years now and will strongly defend their European title on their home turf. Competition will be intense as 21 countries have applied.

On Wednesday and Thursday there are the Grand Prix Team Championships, Saturday the Grand Prix Special and on Sunday the Grand Prix Freestyle. Saturday night the Equestrian Gala programme is going to be spectacular, a ‘must’ for everybody who likes dressage.

The event will be the perfect opportunity for exposing equestrian sports, particularly dressage. The Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS), City of Rotterdam, Rotterdam Topsport and the CHIO Rotterdam are the organizers of the FEI European Dressage Championships 2011 supported by the main sponsor Rabobank.

Source dressagedaily.com

Dressage Star Guenter Seidel of Germany has contributed significantly to the Dressage world, winning three consecutive Olympic Dressage events on three different horses.

Recently posted by usef .org, this is what the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Facebook fans want to know about this dressage superstar:

Cynthia D. Alexander Garrett: What exercises helped you the most in your recovery? I had to do most of my therapy in the pool at the beginning, and that helped the most. After that, it wasn’t a specific exercise but just being disciplined to exercise every day.

Maura Forese of Kennett Square, PA: What advice or encouragement can you give to young riders who are trying to make it in the dressage world? Dressage is not just a sport, but art as well. You will never stop learning no matter how good you become. Always treat your horse fair and enjoy the daily training.

Kirsten Drew of Dalton, OH: What do you do to prepare yourself, both mentally and physically, before you ride? Mentally, I have quiet time for about an hour before I get on. Physically, I try to stay fit in general, nothing in specific before a ride.

Katy Wormwood of Wormwood Wells, ME: Tell us about your average ride? Helpful tips for warming up, what you focus on and your cool down. I always try to walk for at least 10 minutes at the beginning and the end of the workout. I think the most impotent thing is to be flexible and really listen to your horse because every day your warm-up and ride can change, depending how the horse feels that day.

Annie Carlson Emery of Minneapolis, MN: How do you deal with a horse that holds a lot of tension, especially in the back? This is not really something anyone can answer without seeing horse and rider. In general, supplying exercises like stretching, leg yields and transitions.

Erin Geier Cumbee of Portage, IN: What is the hardest part for the rider in performing upper-level moves? It’s not hard anymore to perform an upper-level movement if you prepared well and have the experience to do it. The hard part is to have the patience to wait to get there until you and your horse are ready.

Megan Holly Manning of Arizona: What was the hardest movement to teach your favorite horse? One tempi changes to Aragon.

Lauren Walters of Oviedo, FL: What are the top three things you look for in evaluating a prospective dressage horse? Gaits, temperament, and then my gut feeling when I watch and ride the horse.

Clare Walker of Kansas: Who was most influential in your dressage career? A woman named Hertha Beck who I learned with when I was young. For the last 15 years, Klaus Balkenhol.

Camille Broussard of Seattle, WA: When you were a child, did you ever think you would be an Olympic athlete, and how did you push yourself to do your best in the hardest times growing up? I always was fascinated with all the Olympic riders and wanted to be as good as them. I never felt like I had to push myself. If you love what you’re doing you have to be prepared to have ups and downs and keep going. Being patient.

The first major test of a 2012 Olympics venue – the equestrian events taking place in Greenwich Park until Wednesday – has so far been a low-key affair.

Temporary stables have been erected where sunbathers normally loll, and newly recruited volunteers still seem a little hazy on local geography.

But outside the gates, a small gaggle of protesters gathered in the sun to continue their campaign against holding Olympic equestrian events in the park.

The doggedly polite group held banners reading: “Stop horsing around in Greenwich Park,” and “Get thee to Windsor forthwith ye dunderheads” while the cream of the equestrian world took part in the Greenwich Park eventing international on the other side of the fence.

Inside, scores of children from nearby schools watched bemused as the British three-day eventer Piggy French put her horse through its dressage paces to the sound of the Black Eyed Peas.

To help convince residents of the merits of holding the equestrian events in the royal park, 2,000 tickets have been made available for the arena each day, with 5,000 for the cross country on Tuesday.

But not everyone was happy. Four women who had travelled from Hertfordshire after hearing on the radio what they thought was an appeal for the public to test the venue were turned away disappointed because they did not have tickets.

And Rachel Mawhood of the Nogoe (No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events) pressure group said the inconvenience caused by the test event had alerted residents to the upheaval they would suffer during the Games, when the park will be closed for about six weeks.

“We think we still hold the moral high ground,” she said of their increasingly forlorn battle to get the Olympics organisers, Locog, to move the events to Windsor or another venue.

“This has never been built on before. It is a public park surrounded by areas of high deprivation. It’s the backyard for thousands of people living in cramped estates. People have said it looks unrecognisable and like an open prison.”

Campaigners’ concerns span the contravention of ancient bylaws, the erosion of acid grassland, whether or not organisers are holding to the terms of their planning permission and fears that the transport infrastructure will not cope.

The London 2012 chairman, Lord Coe, looked at home as he walked the cross country course in wraparound shades. He said he believed long-running consultations with residents had quelled most of their concerns. Coe has long-standing links to the sport and said holding the events in Greenwich would deliver on a promise he made to competitors.

“The competitors, some of whom are very good friends of mine, all sat down and said we had the ability to do something no one had ever done before. That is, to not let the sport be disembodied and to give them the full Olympic experience,” he said.

“There’s no country that puts on an equestrian event as well as we do. The commitment was to make it close, showcase the sport and to get new audiences into equestrian events. You could not have guaranteed to put one more person into the sport had you taken it back to its heartland again.”

The competitors praised the venue, which involved closing a large area of the park next to the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House to construct the 2,000-seat grandstand. The arena, constructed on a raised platform to avoid damaging the grass, will house 22,000 spectators at Games time while the cross-country course takes in much of the Park.

“Turning to the right during the dressage test, seeing the view of the skyline is surreal. You think you could be in a movie but it’s actually happening,” said French.

Organisers say for the first time equestrian competitors will feel at the heart of the action.

They believe a TV backdrop that combines historic 17th-century Inigo Jones architecture and the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf will give the sport added appeal and introduce a new generation of fans. Meanwhile, its proximity to Stratford will enable athletes to stay in the village.

“The venue looks great. It’s novel for us to be in the middle of a big city for an event, and so far everything seems to have gone very smoothly,” said the double Olympic gold medallist Mark Todd, a New Zealander. “Normally, we are stuck out on a limb miles away at an Olympics, so it’s nice to be part of it.”

The British multiple Olympic eventing gold medalist William Fox-Pitt was also enthusiastic. “Wow, it has an Olympic feel already and this is just a test event,” he said.

Not everyone in the equestrian world has been so positive. Mark Phillips wrote in Horse & Hound recently: “We are all excited about going to Greenwich for the test event, but for the Brits it will be a little poignant as the post-Olympics legacy will be nothing like the facilities we are seeing elsewhere.”

Others believe the £42m being spent to stage the events in Greenwich Park, in common with a temporary venue strategy that will see beach volleyball take place in Horse Guards Parade and shooting at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, would be better spent leaving a legacy of permanent facilities.

But Richard Davison, captain of the Team GB dressage team, said the pluses would far outweigh the minuses.

“It’s great to see it come alive. It’s going to be a beautiful venue,” said Davison.

“Normally, the horse parks are 40 minutes out of town. They are way out in the sticks. This is phenomenal. So far, every international observer or rider has said it’s amazing.”

Source guardian.co.uk

Dressage Rider Mandy Schofield

Blind Dressage Rider Making Waves In UK

A BLIND dressage rider is hoping to canter to victory – with a little help from her friends.

Mandy Schofield started riding in 2002 after a friend recommended her to try out horse riding.

Now, nine years later, she wants to compete in her latest three-day national competition in Gloucester.

Mandy, who has never had her sight, also struggles to hear and has hearing aids in both ears.

Without her sight she relies on her instructor Anna Taylor.

The pair practise three times a week at Middleton Park Equestrian Centre.

Mandy has to visualise the routine in her mind, while Anna stands in the middle, directing her towards different points.

She guides her round the arena telling her through a loop the letters she is approaching.

At each letter Mandy guides her horse Ben through certain moves including 20m circles and 10m circles.

But for Mandy, 38, it’s more than a hobby.

“It’s like having my sight when I’m riding,” said Mandy, “It’s great. I love it.”

This is her ninth year competing, and she has titles in both disabled and able-bodied competitions.

“Ben and I have worked closely together and we have got a bond with each other. He’s a bit silly sometimes but I know what he’s like,” she said.

To get to her latest competition, Mandy needed help to raise the £200 to cover stabling and accommodation costs. Her friends at the Queensbury Singers group dug deep and organised a baking sale during their Friday night rehearsal.

“They’re a fantastic group,” said Mandy, who has been a member since they started in April 2010 years ago.

“They’re really supportive and they have done everything they can to help me.” She hopes to defend her title with two routines.

Her four-minute freestyle routine will take place to a medley of the Can Can, Pink Panther theme, The Entertainer and Singin’ in the Rain.

Inspirational Mandy is hopeful for victory. “I’m going to try to win,” she said.

Source halifaxcourier.co.uk

Nancy Jaffer/The Star-Ledger

Freestyle Dressage Growing In Popularity

When the dressage musical freestyle debuted in the Olympics at Atlanta in 1996, it was a huge step forward for the discipline. With that high-profile event serving as inspiration, the addition of music at many shows helped dressage soar to popularity from being a sport that bored all but its most avid spectators (the common assessment used to be that it was “like watching paint dry.”) Imagine a tango dancer without a soundtrack.

Such is the demand now that at the Olympics and other championships, the freestyle tickets are among the hardest to obtain. Even at the lower end of the scale, music adds the magic to dressage. The freestyle enables riders to showcase what their horses do best, instead of following in the hoofprints of everyone else who is performing the same test, whether it’s Third Level or Grand Prix.

Randy Leoni wants to capitalize on that as she takes the next step in her presentation of “an evening of freestyles” that she has put on for the last two years in conjunction with shows at her Hawk Hollow Ranch in Bedminster.

This year, she is staging it at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, along with a two-day dressage show July 6-7.

“I want to turn it into an event. This is the first time I’m doing this show at the Team, because I’m thinking if I do it at the Team, I’ll ultimately be able to get some sponsorship and be able to offer prize money. I can’t do that at home with a small show,” said Leoni.

She hopes next year it will be a more lavish affair, held in conjunction with a cocktail party, and has plans for increasing its scope.

Although the show will feature two rings during the day, there will be just one ring for the freestyle evening, which will begin about 4 p.m. July 7 and run through all the levels. Among those competing will be Pan American Games team gold and individual silver medalist Lauren Sammis of South Orange and well-known trainers Heather Mason of Tewksbury and Sara Schmitt of Pittstown, both U.S. Dressage Federation gold medalists.

There is no admission charge. People can bring their own picnics or buy something to eat from the In Thyme caterer, which provided the food for the VIP tent at last year’s national dressage championships. Leoni, who has handled the hospitality at USET events for 25 years, hopes that her show can be on a weekend in the future, which would help maximize attendance.

“People love to show at the Team and people love to go there for events,” said Leoni, who wants it to be as successful for spectators as it is for exhibitors. One thing that helps is the cachet of the historic venue, which can’t be overestimated; it hosts numerous events put on by everyone from the U.S. Equestrian Federation to a variety of smaller organizations.

“The Hamilton Farm facility has been an important part of the community, and our United States Equestrian Teams for 50 years,” said the federation’s executive director, Bonnie Jenkins.

“Upgrades and improvements have recently been made to the competition arenas, providing a world class facility for high performance training sessions, national championships, selection trials, Pony Club Camps and a host of other local equestrian competitions. No matter what discipline or level of riding, Gladstone is a special place, where we welcome riders and equestrian supporters to come and enjoy.”
“It’s an enchanting place,” agreed eventer Sinead Halpin of Branchburg, who is having a benefit cocktail party there July 28.

“You walk in and it’s got every bit of history and every bit of nostalgia that goes along with that. It’s a really beautiful venue; you feel part of the venue,” she said.

Halpin is hoping to raise funds for several worthy causes as well as her trip to the British 4-star Burghley event in September with Manoir de Carneville. She finished third with him as the highest-placed American at the Rolex Kentucky 4-star last month.

The party, billed as “An Evening at the Team,” will feature eventing team veterinarian Brendan Furlong as a speaker. Halpin plans to do her 4-star dressage ride at the place her event poster calls, “The Heart of American High Performance Horse Sports.”

This has been quite a week for Halpin, who was selected to be an observer at next month’s test event for the 2012 Olympics in London.

“I’m super-excited,” said Halpin, who also just made the “A” national eventing high performance training list and dreams of riding in the Olympics. She is ranked eighth in the U.S. Eventing Association Rider of the Year standings, while Manoir de Carneville is first in the Horse of the Year standings.

“It’s a whole brand-new experience and it would be helpful to have already gone there once and know what the venue is,” she said of her July trip to London.

Also on the “A” list are Will Faudree, Boyd Martin and veteran Phillip Dutton. All will be working with coach Mark Phillips in preparation for the Pan American Games and Olympics.

Named to the “B” list is Doug Payne of Gladstone, who had previously been on the developing roster. Payne’s top mount at the moment is Running Order, owned by Patti Springsteen. He hopes to take the Irish former steeplechaser to the 3-star in Blenheim, England, this fall and then to Rolex Kentucky in the spring as he bids for the Olympics.

“Realistically, it seems like he has a pretty good shot at it. A lot of things have to go right and it’s a long time from now, but it’s a good position to be in right now,” said Payne, tied for sixth in the USEA rider standings. Running Order is fourth in the Horse of the Year standings.

Doug Payne and Running Order
Payne has a number of promising horses, but he also had some bad luck this spring. For instance, he was second in the 1-star after cross-country at the Bromont, Canada event earlier this month with Camerlingo, but the gelding twisted an ankle and was not presented for the final horse inspection. He expects Camerlingo to be fine for the Fair Hill International this fall, however.

“In a year’s time, we should have three or four advanced horses going,” he said.

“I’ve got a couple of exceptional nice young horses. The most exciting one I’ve got is Royal Tribute, an Oldenburg/thoroughbred cross, who did his first Training last week at Bucks County.”

Payne owns half of the horse; Kristen Burger owns the other half. He is very excited about the 17.3-hand horse, who was a champion as a 3-year-old. While Royal Tribute seems to have potential for the top ranks, it will be a long wait. Payne said the 2014 World Equestrian Games might be a little soon; more likely he’d hit the international championships at the 2015 Pan American Games or the 2016 Olympics, if all goes well. With eventing, you have to plan far ahead.

Source nj.com/sports