Submission Guidelines28/07/2010 - Advance Warning for 2011 New BD Tests
British Dressage will be changing some senior tests for affiliated competition from the beginning of next year. Advanced 104 and 106 will be withdrawn. They will also introduce four "new" tests - in fact existing FEI tests with BD numbers added. The new tests are:
Advanced Medium 92: FEI Team Test - Junior (2009)
Advanced Medium 96: FEI Individual Test - Junior (2009)
Advanced 105: FEI Prelim Test - Young Rider (2009)
Advanced 108: FEI Individual Test - Young Rider (2009)
FEI tests are available on the
24/06/2010 - Safety Helmets Strongly Recommended by Dressage Committee
FEI Press Release
Following the accident in which Courtney King-Dye (USA) sustained serious head injuries in a schooling fall in Florida earlier this year, the FEI Dressage Committee has today issued a recommendation regarding the wearing of protective headgear.
The FEI Dressage Committee strongly recommends that all riders should wear properly fastened safety helmets when training and in pre-competition warm-ups at all international Dressage shows.
04/05/2010 - Anna Merveldt Wins the Irish Field Dressage Rider of the Year Award for a Record Sixth Time
The Irish Field Senior Show Jumper of the Year 2009 – Cian O'Connor (Winner of Olympia Grand Prix and 2nd in FEI World Cup qualifier at Olympia with Rancarrado)
The Irish Field Senior Event Rider of the Year 2009 – Patricia Ryan (Winner of HSBC FEI World Cup Qualifier at Tattersalls)
07/04/2010 - FEI Prohibited Substances List Goes Live
FEI Press Release
The FEI today announced that the new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations and the Equine Prohibited Substances List are now in effect for all
"Today, 5 April, is a landmark day for our sport, the beginning of the Clean Sport Era," said Alex McLin, FEI Secretary General. "Today marks the culmination of a collective effort by the entire equestrian community to protect the integrity of our sport and the welfare of our horses."
To aid riders and vets in quickly determining whether substances they are using are prohibited, the FEI has made available a Prohibited Substances Database, which is easily searchable.
The new Regulations set clearer responsibilities for competitors and tougher sanctions for those who violate the rules. Additionally, the FEI has broadened the concept of "Person Responsible" to include a greater focus on support personnel. The goal is to ensure that all participants in equestrian sports who violate the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations are held accountable.
12/12/2009 - Judges' Panel For 2010 Dressage Championships Selected
The judges' panel for 2010 Dressage Championships in all age divisions as well as for the World Cup Finals and World Young Horse Championships have been selected by the FEI.
12/12/2009 - Abrupt Exit For FEI Director Of Sports
British David Holmes, the FEI Director of Sports since May 2008 was thanked for his services at an abrupt resignation by "mutual agreement" on December 3 2009.
12/12/2009 - FEI Delays Implemention Of New Prohibited Substances List
The FEI bureau has passed a Resolution delaying implementation of the new Equine Prohibited Substances List and the accompanying Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations until 5 April 2010.
This is in order to alllow for broader debate and consultation on the policy change approved ath the recent FEI General Assembly.
01/12/2009 - FEI Anti Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations
Keep an eye on the Dressage Ireland homepage for further developments or check with the FEI directly on www.fei.org.
20/11/2009 - New Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations
The FEI General Assembly have voted overwhelmingly in favour of new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations which will ensure the welfare of the horse and guarantee a fair playing field. Delegates also approved a new Prohibited Substance List itemising more than 1000 substances not allowed in competition.
12/09/2009 - 2009 FEI Dressage Task Force Judging Systems Trials
The long-anticipated Judging Systems Trials, a brain child of the FEI Dressage Task Force, took place in the Deutsche Bank Dressage Stadium in Aachen, Germany, on September 7-9, 2009. This well-organized event, which was open to an audience and press, was a first concrete step forwards in the modernization of the dressage judging system.
26/08/2009 - Watch the Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships at Windsor online and on TV
join the FEI TV pay-to-view service, which is offering highlights and interviews, along with the live action.
24/08/2009 - Para Equestrian Dressage - Congratulations to the Irish team!
Ireland's European Para Equestrian dressage team finished in overall ninth place after three days of competition at the FEI European and Open Para-Equestrian Championships in Kristiansand, Norway on Sunday 23 August 2009.
06/08/2009 - Nominated Dressage Entries for the Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships 2009
Details of the nominated entries for the Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships 2009 (25-30 August) at Windsor Castle are now available. Ireland will be represented by Anna Merveldt and Coryolano and Yvette Truesdale and Has To Be Fun.
05/08/2009 - FEI Dressage News
29/07/2009 - FEI reverse decision on pony measuring at Pony Europeans in Moorsele, Belgium
The FEI has apparently reversed it's decision twice with regard to the systematic measuring of all the ponies at the 2009 European Pony Championships in Moorsele. The most recent news is that all ponies will be measured.
The FEI released the following statement:
Following significant feedback from NF Chef D'Equipes it is clear that this solution is felt to be unacceptable and not in the interests of the sport. The FEI has, therefore, looked at the feasibility of using the Veterinary Commission to conduct the measuring and this is what will now happen. It is far from ideal since it will put a lot of pressure on the resources of the Vet Commission, however, it is felt to be the most equable and fair solution given the strength of feeling communicated by the Technical Delegate from the Chefs."
24/07/2009 - Hickstead CDI3*, 23 to 25 July 2009
On 24 July, County Down based international rider Yvette Truesdale and the Welt Hit II stallion Has To Be Fun, owned by Jim Burgess, secured their slot at the 2009 Alltech FEI European Dressage Championships in Windsor with a seventh place in the three-star Grand Prix at Hickstead, England.
Having achieved one score above 64% at the CDI3* at Hartpury last week the combination needed another to achieve European and WEG entry - and received it from Dutch FEI 'O' judge Wim Ernes.The result also also ensured Ireland''s second qualification for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) at Kentucky in 2010, alongside Anna Merveldt.
In the same class, Judy Reynolds and 'Remember' recevied a score above 64 per cent from British FEI 'O' judge Stephen Clarke. The combination are now one score away from WEG qualification, increasing Ireland''s chances of fielding a team of three at the Games.
13/07/2009 - FEI Open European Para-Equestrian Championships
The FEI Open European Para-Equestrian Championships take place from the 19th-23rd August at Epona Riding Centre, Kristiansand, Norway.
11/06/2009 - Dressage Task Force Announces Judging System Trial at Aachen
28/05/2009 - FEI Appoints New Dressage Director
The FEI has announced the appointment of Trond Asmyr, a 54 year old Norwegian dressage international judge, as Dressage Director, replacing Eva Salmon, who resigned with effect from May 2009, having held the position for six years.
Asmyr, who has judged dressage for more than 30 years and at international level for fifteen years, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Norwegian Equestrian Federation for more than a decade, serving as vice president for the last six years. He will take up the position of FEI Dressage Director with effect from 20 June 2009.
27/04/2009 - FEI Dressage Task Force Meets in Lausanne
FEI Press release 24/4/2009
The FEI Dressage Task Force met in Lausanne on 21 and 22 April. The Task Force discussed the following items:
Olympic Games: competition formula and qualification process. A proposal will be included in the Task Force's final report to be presented to the FEI Bureau in November.
Dressage Committee: future composition. A proposal in line with the FEI Statutes is currently being prepared in cooperation with the
Rules: Some amendments to the FEI World CupTM Dressage Rules, based on feedback from National Federations, will be sent to the
The FEI Dressage Task Force will continue their work and keep stakeholders informed of their progress.
02/04/2009 - 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games Awarded to Normandie, France
On 31 March 2009 the FEI Bureau awarded the 2014
This will be the seventh edition of the FEI World Equestrian Games and the first one to be held in France.
06/03/2009 - FEI Dressage Task Force Proposal Sent to National Federations
On Thursday 5th March 2009 the FEI Dressage Task Force sent out for consultation, to all National Federations and Stakeholder Groups, two major proposals relating to the Olympic format for dressage and the representatives in the future
02/03/2009 - The Future of Dressage Judging
As the new FEI Dressage Task Force settle down to deal with their terms of reference, two out of five of which relate to developing and improving the judging system, Astrid Appels, editor of www.eurodressage.com, ponders the future of dressage judging in her latest editorial.
16/02/2009 - 2009 World Cup Qualifier - Best Score for Werth and Satchmo at 2009 CDI-W Neumunster
The seventh leg of the FEI World Cup Western European League series 2008-2009 took place in Neumunster in the northern part of Germany from 12 to 15 February.
06/02/2009 - Ground Juries for the Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships Announced
The Organisers of the Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships 2009 to be held at Windsor Castle from 25 - 30 August have confirmed the Ground Juries for both dressage and Show Jumping.
06/02/2009 - Kür to Count as Individual Finals at Future European Pony Championships
There has been a significant rule change for FEI dressage ponies: the kür test will now count as individual finals at future European Pony Championships.
06/02/2009 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Freestyle Dressage to Music, But Were Afraid to Ask
National and FEI Official International Para Equestrian Dressage Judge and trainer Alison Mastin-Moore will explain the rules and judging of freestyle and international rider and trainer Anne Marie Dunphy will explain how to go about preparing your routine and music. This evening is aimed particularly at those who have not tried freestyle before.
30/01/2009 - Leinster Dressage Training Clinic with Marion Greene "Stepping Up"
Marion Greene, of Kilkea Dressage Centre, Kilkea Lodge Farm, Castledermot, Co Kildare, is a BHSII, is included on list 2 of the Judges Panel for both Dressage Ireland and British Dressage and has acted as an International Three Day Event Judge listed in the FEI Directory, serving as a member of the Ground Jury at such venues as Punchestown, Blarney and Chepstow International Horse Trials. In addition, she was Dressage Team Trainer to the International Pony 3 Day Event Riders in Ireland from 1999 - 2002 and travelled with them to Stromsholm Sweden where the Team received Bronze Medal placings.
23/01/2009 - 2009 European Dressage Championships
Stephen Clarke has been appointed president of the dressage ground jury for the Alltech FEI Jumping and Dressage Championships.
15/01/2009 - FEI Dressage Task Force Holds First Meeting
The first meeting of the FEI Dressage Force took place on 12 and 13 January 2009 in Frankfurt (GER).
13/01/2009 - FEI Dressage Director Resigns
FEI Dressage Director Eva Salomon is resigning with effect from the end of March 2009.
09/01/2009 - FEI Rule Changes
At the FEI General Assembly in Buenos Aires 21st November 2008, the national federations approved the implementation of the revised rules for 2009.
06/01/2009 - Change of secretary and schedule for South Munster show on Sunday 18th January 2009
23/12/2008 - Alltech Becomes the Title Sponsor of the 2009 Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships
Global animal health and nutrition company, Alltech, captured the full attention of the equine industry today with the announcement that they will sponsor the Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships 2009. With this new sponsorship agreement, Alltech, already sponsor of the Alltech
19/12/2008 - Double Dutch at Olympia
Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival scored their second World Cup win in as many outings, winning the FEI World Cup qualifier at Olympia.
17/12/2008 - Dressage at Olympia - CDI-W
The Grand Prix class held on Tuesday 16 December saw the Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival, coming fresh from winning her first FEI World Cup Qualifier at Stockholm CDI, topping the board on a score of 75.750 %. Britain's highest placed rider, Laura Bechtolsheimer, with Mistral Hojris, finished close behind, securing second spot with 74.875 %, while the ever-popular combination of Finnish rider Kyra Kyrklund and her gelding Max took third with 71.625 %.
16/12/2008 - Coverage of Olympia World Cup Dressage Qualifier
Heike Holstein, 11 times Irish National Dressage Champion, will be doing the live commentary for Eurosport 2 TV channel on Wednesday evening on the FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier from Olympia.
11/12/2008 - FEI Dressage Task Force
The finalised membership of the FEI Dressage Task Force is as follows:
The FEI Dressage Task Force has been given the following brief by the Bureau:
The FEI Dressage Task Force will operate for one year and produce an interim report to the Bureau at its March/April meeting. It is foreseen that during the course of the next year, the process of seeking candidacies for the Dressage Standing Committee could take place as usual, with New Federations submitting candidacies through the Nominations Committee, and that the members of the
During the course of the year the Dressage Director may refer ongoing Dressage matters to the FEI Dressage Task Force for feedback and advice.
24/11/2008 - FEI News
Chair of FEI Dressage Committee Resigns
News release on FEI website: Considering the present situation, the Chairman of the
The FEI Bureau wants to thank the Chair for the good work she has been doing during almost eight years the contribution she has made to the Development of the Dressage sport during this time.
FEI Dressage Task Force is Set Up
Following the resignation of all the members of the FEI Dressage Committee, the Bureau has agreed to the setting up of a Dressage Task Force to deal with the following aspects:
News release on FEI website:
The Olympic Games 2008 Hong Kong were recognised as a great success and, very importantly, they have left a legacy from the work done on the welfare of competition horses in hot and humid climates. The FEI climate monitoring project at the test event produced critical information. Special thanks are offered to the Olympic Games Organising Committee and especially to the veterinary surgeons who gave up much of their time to contribute. The
The Committee is in discussion with the FEI Legal Department on the creation of an appeal procedure for pony measurement rules.
John McEwen (GBR), Chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee
Ken Lalo (ISR), chairman of the FEI Tribunal
Alex McLin (SUI/USA), FEI Secretary General
Sven Holmberg (SWE), FEI First Vice President
21/11/2008 - FEI Establishes Commission on Medication and Doping
The FEI announced, on 20 November 2008, the creation of a commission on medication and doping chaired by Dr. Arne Ljungqvist, Chairman of the IOC Medical Commission and Vice President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
20/11/2008 - French bid for 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games
The French Equestrian Federation formally presented to the FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the bid of the French region of Lower Normandy, Northern France, to host the 2014
The details of the French bid will be passed to the FEI Bureau and
18/11/2008 - News from the 2008 FEI General Assembly in Buenos Aires
The FEI Bureau voted on a motion to take the issue of the removal of the Dressage Committee Chair for decision to the General Assembly on Friday, 21 November.
18/11/2008 - FEI Confirms Position on Hyperflexion
The FEI has confirmed its position on hyperflexion (Rollkur). In a statement issued on 11 November 2008, David Holmes, the Executive Sports Director said "The
18/11/2008 - New FEI Dressage Tests with effect from 1 January 2009
The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has announced that dressage tests have been issued for the following levels, with effect from 1 January 2009:
FEI tests can be downloaded free from the
13/11/2008 - FEI Press News - Update on Developments in the Dressage Discipline
The FEI Executive Board has proposed the appointment of an Ad Hoc Working Group of world class Dressage experts from all aspects of the discipline to review key issues and inject a new focus in the sport.
At the forthcoming FEI General Assembly taking place in Buenos Aires (ARG) on 17th - 21st November, the Ad Hoc Working Group remit will be proposed for discussion and approval by the
The status of the members of the current Dressage Standing Committee, who have been called upon to resign, will be an issue for FEI member National Federations to address through the
07/11/2008 - FEI Dressage Committee Responds to FEI President's Letter
The letter from the Chair of the FEI Dressage Committee, responding to
04/11/2008 - FEI President Asks for Resignation Dressage Committee
On 2 November Her Royal Highness Princess Haya of Jordan, President of the FEI, wrote to the
22/10/2008 - Dates Confirmed for First Irish Senior International Dressage Fixture
The Board of Dressage Ireland are delighted to announce that confirmation has been received from the FEI that the first CDI*** to be held in Ireland will take place from 30 April to 3 May 2009. The international dressage show will be held at Cavan Equestrian centre and will run concurrently with a national dressage festival.
10/09/2008 - Hong Kong 10th September
Jonquil Solt has a retirement party tomorrow where she will be presented with a bronze of a mounted, disabled rider. She has been Chairman of IPEC since its inception and has brought the sport into the Olympics and also into the FEI. Quite an amazing feat. Her work has already been recognised by the presentation of an MBE and also becoming European woman of the year not so long ago. We are all going to give her a party to remember.
09/09/2008 - FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships
FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships, Windsor, 25-30 August 2009.
12/08/2008 - In the Run-up to Olympic Dressage
The draw for the order of the nations has taken place, with Holland drawing first place, while the German team starts tenth. Following a change to FEI rules, only three riders make up a team now, so there will be no discard score.
21/07/2008 - Anne Marie Dunphy in the prizes at Hartpury Festival of Dressage
Riding her 11 year old mare Nofretete, Anne Marie placed 2nd twice on Saturday in the Prix St. Georges and Advanced 100 Classes with 63.12% and 64.78%. They also placed 9th on Wednesday in the opening FEI Prix St. Georges on a score of 64.64%.
Anne Marie and Egano S are currently the highest placed Irish combination in the FEI BCM World Dressage rankings and will next represent Ireland at the Fry's International and Premier League show at East Yorkshire in August.
27/05/2008 - Training with Jennie Loriston Clark, South Munster Dressage
For our final demonstration rider, we were lucky to have the Irish Junior Champion, Bill Delahoyde, whose family made the long trip from Marlton stud to support South Munster's training day. It was a useful session for Bill and his 12 year old Austrian Warmblood, Leonardo Austria, as they had the chance to perform the FEI Prix St Georges test in a competition-like environment, and then had the opportunity to work under Jennie's guidance to improve some movements, concentrating in particular on the half-pass and Leonardo's extended work. This should stand to them as they start to campaign in earnest over the summer months.
24/04/2008 - Irish Riders Abroad
In the S-level Test for Young FEI horses Reynolds scored 65.833% with Remember, winning her group class and finishing overall in second place to Isabell Werth, who won with Don Millenium on a score of 68.667%.
11/03/2008 - Tests for the National Championship 26 - 28th September at Necarne Castle
FEI PSG 2000
FEI Intermediaire I 2002
FEI Intermediaire II 2001
FEI GP B 2003
FEI Young Riders (Prix St. Georges) Freestyle
10/03/2008 - Judges' Training with Jennie Loriston-Clarke
Jennie has been one of the most influential dressage riders, trainers, judges and breeders in the history of the sport in Britain. She won individual bronze at the 1978 World Equestrian Games and competed in five Olympics. She has run Catherston Stud since the late 1960s, is a FEI international judge and was the chef d'equipe for the British young rider team for six years. Jennie is also one of the trainers for the under-25s national training programme. Jennie's long list of achievements led to her receiving an MBE in 1979 and she was awarded the first ever Queen's Award for Outstanding Services to Equestrianism in 2006.
10/02/2008 - Two Top Tens for Crane at Zwolle
Final FEI Grand Prix Freestyle test Kur to Music
FEI Grand Prix (B version)
04/01/2008 - Horse Sport Ireland is New Equestrian Governing Body
HORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) this week became the National Governing Body for equestrian sport in Ireland, following the completion of the transition process from the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI). The conclusion of the process occurred at HSI's EGM held in Dublin on December 29, when the HSI board altered its Memorandum and Articles of Association to include the powers and functions of the EFI, which had held its own EGM earlier in December. The recent EGMs of both bodies were the culmination of a process that has been ongoing since the middle of 2007, and which was overseen by a transition group consisting of EFI President Charles Powell, EFI Vice-President Bernie Brennan, HSI Chairman Joe Walsh, and HSI Chief Executive Damian McDonald. The transfer of authority has been approved by the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) and the OCI (Olympic Council of Ireland). Horse Sport Ireland will be based at Beech House, Millennium Park, Osberstown, Co. Kildare, and existing EFI staff have transferred to the new organisation. Today (Friday) outgoing EFI Vice-President Bernie Brennan said: "I welcome the formation of Horse Sport Ireland and am confident that it will expand upon the successes achieved by the EFI during its tenure as national governing body. I wish Horse Sport Ireland every success for the future". HSI Chairman Joe Walsh said last night: "This is another significant step in the bringing together of the sport, breeding and leisure sides of the equestrian industry in Ireland. I want to pay tribute to the EFI, especially its President Charles Powell and the EFI board who initiated the strategic plan that has led to the formation of Horse Sport Ireland. We are very conscious of the responsibility that has been placed in us and we are pleased that Charles Powell will remain as an observer on the HSI board. We also welcome the continued involvement of many of the EFI directors and particularly the EFI staff, who will help us to ensure continuity. Their experience and knowledge will be a very important resource for the new body."
20/12/2007 - Dressage Review of the Year 2007
Looking for a record breaking twenty second consecutive team gold since their first team win in Copenhagen over forty years ago in 1965 the Germans faced a final showdown with the Dutch at the picturesque Italian venue. As heavy overnight rain cleared away the humidity on the second day of the team competition the stage was set and with a big score needed reigning Olympic champion Anky van Grunsven and Keltec Salinero delivered in style with a 77.54% total for a resurgent Team Orange and this piled the pressure on the Germans. It went right down to the wire as last rider to go, reigning FEI World Cup champion Isabell Werth and Satchmo had to score 77.99% if the Germans were to retain the team gold medal. In a thrilling climax the pressure got to Isabell as she used too much right leg in the first half pass movement and instead of scoring the nine's she was looking for she ended up with three's and fours. The game was well and truly up for defending champions as the Dutch secured a sensational win, the first by any nation over Germany at Olympic, world or european team championship level since 1972. Isabell Werth riding Madeline Winter-Schulze's 13 year old Sao Paolo gelding Satchmo went on to win individual gold for the Grand Prix Special with Anky van Grunsven winning the equivalent for the Grand Prix Kur (freestyle to music) with Keltec Salinero. Irish riders Judy Reynolds [Burgfraulein] and Anna Merveldt [Coryolano] both qualified for the European Championships but neither of them progressed beyond the first round.
19/12/2007 - Anky’s Devotion to Dressage is a Winner
FEI World Cup Dressage - Olympia CDI-W, London, GBR
Anky van Grunsven unveiled her new freestyle 'Dance to Devotion' with IPS Salinero in round four of the FEI World Cup qualifier series on Tuesday evening [18th December 2007] in front of packed house at the centenary show in the Grand Hall Olympia.
British-based Finnish rider Kyra Kyrklund was third behind Imke Schellekens-Bartels and the reigning FEI World Cup champion Isabell Werth at Olympia in 2006. This year she went one better with her twelve year old dark bay gelding Max scoring 76.50% for second place and collecting 17 valuable world cup qualifying points. Kyra put in a classic performance to her traditional soundtrack from the musical 'Cabaret' with a good interpretation of the music which was enhanced by a strong technical score the highlight of which was some very impressive passage and piaffe trot movements. Danish rider Anders Dahl went straight to the top of the Western European leaderboard on 46 points after scoring 73.55% for third place with Penny Bigwood's 17 year old Oldenburg gelding Afrikka. A very effective interpretation of the theme music from the seventies TV detective series Van der Valk included a combination of one tempi and two tempi changes in a twenty metre circle from Dahl and Afrikka and their passage/piaffe sequence down the centre proved a vote winner with the ground jury. Anders is engaged to British rider Fiona Bigwood and with planning permission in the pipeline for his new yard he hopes to be based in Horsham, West Sussex by the end of 2008. Affrika was not only the oldest horse in the competition but probably the cheapest as the Danish bred horse was bought in Britain for just £3,000.
18/12/2007 - Dressage Tails from Olympia
The absence of an Irish rider competing in the FEI World Cup Dressage at Olympia did not deter some leading lights from the world of Irish dressage travelling to Olympia. Dressage Ireland Vice Chairman Robert McCormick his wife Valerie left Ballynahich, County Down at 6am on Monday morning to fly over for the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Kur the following evening. On his first visit to the show he was very impressed with the standard of dressage at the top of the leaderboard in the Grand Prix. Another visitor to Olympia was Limerick-based trainer Donie McNamara as was Gillian Quinn, the wife of the Chairman of premier league side Sunderland FC Niall Quinn. Gillian is a leading national dressage rider in her own right and was accompanied by her daughter Aisling another dressage competitor to watch out for in the future. The Niall Quirk trained Quinn ladies nearly missed out on seeing the Grand Prix Kur but fortunately Irish international show jumper Cian O’Connor, who was competing very successfully at the show placing third in the main class with Complete on the opening night, was able to secure tickets for Gillian and Aisling so they could see the competition.
The fickle hand of fate was never more clearly illustrated then in the very early hours of Wednesday morning as Anky van Grunsven’s top horses IPS Salinero and IPS Painted Black were being transported home. Just a few short hours after winning the FEI World Cup Qualifier at 2am near Dover her lorry driven by Jo van den Oetelarr crashed into a car which had been involved in a previous accident and was left in the road with no lights on. A comment on Anky's website said: "There was no way he could have seen the car on the road. Fortunately nobody was hurt or injured and the horses were okay”. Reports indicated that the driver of the car was standing on the hard shoulder as he was afraid his car would go on fire. The horses were immediately taken to a nearby vet and spent the remainder of the night there, being cared for by Anky’s groom Willke. Another of Anky’s trucks was dispatched from The Netherlands to pick up the horses as the first one is now being repaired.
It had been hoped that leading British rider Carl Hester would compete in the FEI world Cup Qualifier with the Sasha Stewart owned Lecantos. Plans to compete at both Maastricht and Olympia had to be abandoned when the former Polish World Equestrian Games tam horse had to be placed on the easy list a couple of months back. Speaking to Dressage Ireland at Olympia Carl confirmed that all is now well with Lecantos and he was picking up on Wednesday and is aiming him to return to international competition at the Sunshine Tour in February as they seek to make up for their disappointment on missing out, due to injury, on a team place at the European’s in Torino with a trip to the Olympics in Hong Kong his main target for 2008.
29/08/2007 - European Dressage Championships - Draw for Grand Prix Class Announced
Anna Merveldt and Coryolano - FEI/BCM World Dressage Ranking - 112th
Judy Reynolds and Burgfraulein - FEI/BCM World Dressage Ranking - 164th
27/08/2007 - Anna Merveldt and Judy Reynolds to Represent Ireland at European Dressage Championships This Week
The president of the ground jury is Italian Vincenzo Truppa and the ground jury members are Gary Rockwell (USA), Evi Eisenhardt (GER), Beatrice Bürchler (SUI), Wim Ernes (NED), Isabelle Judet (FRA), Leif Törnblad (DEN). The President of the FEI dressage committee Mariette Whitages [BEL] will be President of the Appeal Committee and Gotthilf Riexinger [GER] is the
Anna Merveldt and Coryolano - FEI/BCM World Dressage Ranking - 112th
Judy Reynolds and Burgfraulein - FEI/BCM World Dressage Ranking - 164th