Irock with Kelsey Josephs on board started the evening with a wonderful demonstration in the U25 Freestyle test.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Roger Fitzhardinge recaps EQUITANA’s ‘Double Dressage’ evening

By Roger Fitzhardinge

It was a full house for the dressage at EQUITANA last Friday evening!

The night started with two demonstration Freestyles by Irock with Kelsey Josephs on board and what a wonderful demonstration in the U25 Freestyle test. Next was a super polished performance from Yarramee Fonzie and the demure Justine Greer, and what a truly international Inter I test they rode. It was uphill, fluent and forward, and what a great experience for this up and coming horse that has been so successful and we look forward to seeing them in Grand Prix as there is a good passage and piaffe in there as was seen in warm ups. With the experienced Justine and a top horse, here is an exciting pair for the future.

The Victorian Young Rider Squad performed a quadrille of four and it was well-choreographed, written by Denise Rogan and the music courtesy of Tori Stuckey at Sand Dancer Freestyles. The riders were all wonderfully in sync and good horses and riding. It was very well received.

So it was on to the Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle, sponsored by Goodbye Flys (as were all the dressage competitions at EQUITANA). It was a win for Aristede and Lindsay Ware with probably the best Freestyle and work that this pair have done. Aristede was better engaged and showed better collection, and the atmosphere certainly lifted this pair for a very well-deserved win.

Lindsey Ware and Aristede, winners of the Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle.

© Roger Fitzahrdinge

Second here was Mayfield Limelight for Kerry Mack and if there is one combination that deserved their place here, it was this combination. After a disappointing National Championships for Kerry, it was so good to see Limelight really showing relaxation and considering the amazing atmosphere, this horse coped better than any! The music had a lot of bell sounding at the end of movements and it was somewhat distracting as it sounded exactly the same as the judge’s bell and the thought that an error was made often disrupted the flow for some. All the same, a very proud Kerry and as she should be! The patience and persistence are paying off. A real pleasure and exciting to see the improved confidence here and proof of good training and persistence.

Kerry Mack and Mayfield Limelight were the runners-up in the Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

In third place was Jess Dertell and Cennin, unfortunately finishing and running out of music and missing a few movements. Jess rides so many horses in so many tests; to think that the next day they brought 18 Arabians!

Jessica Dertell and Cennin in the Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

In fourth place was Royalito and Dirk Dijkstra. Royalito is a very leggy, tall horse and shows good cadence, but sometimes becomes a bit slow in the collected strides and lacks a little balance and with this comes a lack of consistency with the pushing power and the straightness. All the same, a real crowd-pleasing test that had fantastic music that was bright and breezy. It was really in sync with the movements and the tempos of the paces with fantastic rhythms in the music. Little mistakes marred a few marks, but overall a test that showed great potential and Dirk riding as well as ever and truly looking the part.

Dirk Dijkstra and Royalito in the Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle.

Mary Nitchske had the young (18-year-old) Utopian Cardinal, who really gave Mary a big ride to say the least. He thought he was the ever enthusiastic 6-year-old and was seriously wound up. It is always difficult and to be critical when you see the marks but don’t see the test. Mary did a remarkable job keeping Cardinal on the aids and getting through the test.

It was a well organised evening of dressage for the crowd, but to think that a CDI World Cup Qualifier gets only five entrants at such an amazing competition, you have to wonder if the expense of organising five judges (with three from as far away as Britain with airfares, accommodation, transfers and dinners etc.) and with the FEI demands to qualify as a CDI-W, is worthwhile when a performance from a fantastic act like Guy McLean fills the stadium to capacity. It is a shame that there were not more dressage competitors for sure and it will be very interesting to see what happens in the future, as this was not a roaring success as far as providing an international competition for Aussie riders… where were they? At every riders’ meeting there are riders that want big atmospheric competitions to season their horses and what happens when exactly that is provided… five riders! It’s no wonder the enthusiasm of event organisers is falling away! Enough said!

Sabine Schut-Kery.

To see Sabine Schut-Kery ride the most wonderful trained Spanish-bred gelding owned, imported and trained by Debbie Warne, was simply amazing. Sabine was empathetic, talented and encouraging, humble and so, so talented. In a huge atmosphere, Sabine gained this horse’s confidence within seconds and she had the most amazing ride to the crowd’s total delight. Sabine was so endearing and modest. It was an impressive display indeed.

All in all it was a great showcase of dressage and congratulations to Sue McKay and of course EQUITANA Director Rod Lockwood for putting so much effort and enthusiasm to produce an amazing evening of dressage… Well done EQUITANA!

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