Carl Hester displays on the LeMieux Nationwide Dressage Championships and shares some sensible new concepts to maneuver dressage ahead
What a superb few days at Somerford Park for the LeMieux Nationwide Dressage Championships. It was nice to see so many British-bred horses and new names taking the titles.
What a superb marriage ceremony current for Lewis Robertson-Provider who took the nationwide title on Diego V. The competition was huge open and really shut – it might have gone to anyone.
Because of it being in September it lacks the group horses who’re on breaks after a busy summer season. I nonetheless really feel it’s a category that could possibly be held earlier within the yr so that every one mixtures could be included.
The younger horses are among the many hottest for spectators, so I used to be dissatisfied to see the ride-judging a part of the younger horse lessons reduce to only two horses. With 4 in for the ultimate judging two have been despatched out and solely two have been ridden. I can see the necessity to trim time however let’s carry again ride-judging all 4.
A lot of a horse’s potential is proven by the best way it feels to trip. Level confirmed within the six-year-olds with Alicia Lee and Della Ballerina, introduced in in third place, then saved to be ridden within the closing two, then after the trip promoted to champion! It’s all concerning the really feel.
Give and retake at grand prix stage
I had an fascinating change of concepts with Kyra Kyrklund on the nationals. With the quantity of criticism thrown at dressage – pressure, not in self-carriage, that horses aren’t completely satisfied or assured – Kyra’s view, which I agree with, is that one thing has to vary. It might be higher to get forward of the sport and make options relatively than sit again and have modifications imposed on our sport.
Kyra has a lot of concepts however this one I feel can be good. Because the FEI younger horse assessments have a give and retake the reins in trot, why don’t we introduce it at prix st georges and grand prix stage?
Kyra’s pondering is that as a substitute of getting three trot extensions within the grand prix, the ultimate one could possibly be changed by two half circles over X in trot, the place the rider permits the horse to elongate its neck, exhibiting it’s carrying itself.
Versus doing a give and retake on the diagonal or wherever else, all of the judges would be capable of see the motion from wherever they have been sitting. It might additionally permit the horse a breather, which suggests the ultimate centre line in piaffe and passage would actually present a horse relaxed – and that piaffe and passage will not be produced by way of pressure.
Kyra has already put this ahead to the Worldwide Dressage Riders Membership and the FEI prematurely of the FEI stakeholder assembly on 1 October.
Kyra informed me: “We now have to confess to critics that there was a whole lot of pressure. We even have to point out that we don’t need pressure, what we wish is assortment and vitality. This motion would additionally allow judges to see in black and white if a horse is working accurately with leisure.”
As she says, riders coaching for the younger horse lessons get fairly good at it, so why not maintain it within the assessments all through the degrees? After all prime riders use it in coaching – I actually do. It might be good to encourage those that wrestle with the motion or discover it tough to coach, to practise and excellent it.
I’m in favour of this motion being included extra and so is Stephen Clarke. We hope that different key individuals will get behind it too.
Loving the chestnut mares
Lastly, I can’t imagine I used to be introduced up in an period the place you weren’t supposed to the touch a chestnut mare. What a change! Nationwide seven-year-old winner, six-year-old winner, and five-year-old reserve champion. Chestnut mares are the longer term. All of us love them – congratulations!
● What strikes would you want so as to add to higher-level assessments to encourage constructive change? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your identify, nearest city and nation, for the prospect in your letter to seem in a forthcoming situation of the journal
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Lewis Robertson-Provider and Diego V are topped nationwide champions on the 2024 Nationwide Dressage Championships.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow Images
Alicia Lee and Della Ballerina on the 2024 Nationwide Dressage Championships.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow Images
Becky Moody driving seven-year-old champion Magic Dream on the Nationwide Dressage Championships
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow Images
Credit score: Future
