When I was asked to judge at the 2004 Canberra Classic,
I was delighted to accept having heard 'rave reviews' about the 2003 event.
It was given a ten out of ten by the many competitors that I have spoken
to throughout the year and it seemed to be very clear that the ACT Dressage
Association go 'all out' to put on an event to attract the country's leading
combinations.
Unfortunately with the Nationals running at an unusual
time just ahead of the Sydney CDI, many competitors were a little
'competitioned out' at this time and some of the notable horse
and rider combinations were missing from this year's Canberra Classic -
pity for the organisers!
Even so,
it was a great event with a good line up of judges. The committee
opted to use the senior judges to give the lower level riders and their
horses the chance
to be assessed by visiting A Level judges. This is not usually the
way it is done - but the rider feedback was excellent, and the programming
personnel deserve a pat on the back for the innovative use of visiting A
Level
judges. The riders really appreciated having their early training
considered by judges who usually officiate at FEI level.
The
ACT Dressage Association committee deserve special recognition for their
efforts to conduct a two day event with classes at all levels.
It is a huge job and the workers are seldom able to ride and enjoy the
event as a competitor. Without the huge contribution of voluntary
dressage enthusiasts, there would be no competitions as we know them!
In order to justify running events, competitions would be run as a user pay
fixture and fees would be more than quadruple the present rates.
Well done to the committee, their family and friends who helped to make
this event such a success.
Kim Foster (above) spent a busy weekend pencilling - a very important and
skilled contribution. To Kim - and all of the wonderful pencillers -
thankyou for your efforts, the judges could not do it without you!
I was quite taken by the differing types, sizes
and breeds of horses that made up the classes at this competition. There
were many horses of excellent quality with good movement and obvious
aptitude for the work. Then some heart warming surprises in a couple
of heavier horses, not usually seen doing dressage so well.
Kay Hannan's Baltazore was a special favourite of mine.
Kay works with horses in the area of anatomy and physiology and explained
some of her training objectives. Baltazore did some lovely work -
particularly in the canter segments of the tests. Good luck Kay, we
hope to see you down in Melbourne one day soon.
Another of the stand-outs, was the Palomino gelding Pinnamurra Ricardo ridden by Maxine Cummings from Wagga. He took
part in the Medium competition and was Medium Champion at the recent Wagga
Dressage Championships - Congratulations to Maxine for showing us they
don't have to be 17 hands and black!
Another unusual and very attractive
fellow is Grenwood Elric (below). He and Leslie Gillis made their
Dressage look like fun. Elric is a Welsh Cob ... and boy, can
he trot!!!
Nicole Pullen and her lovely
mare Sequence (below) represented the Australian
thoroughbred - the starting pount for many Australian dressage riders. As is the case with many of them, Sequence raced quite
unsuccessfully and was sacked at the 'ripe old age of 3'.
As this is
the time when our 'dressage performance horses' are starting out, Nicole
thought she would give the compliant chestnut a go.! Nicole says "she
is not superstar, but she is honest and will benefit greatly from a couple
of years basic dressage training - from there, I think she will make a top
Adult riding horse or, a very honest pony club prospect. I really
enjoy riding her"
The judges ... It was a terrific line up
of judges and the riders' in the lower levels enthusiastically welcomed
the chance to be appraised by A level judges. Some of the A
Level visitors were...
