Tag Archives: dressage sa

SA Young Dressage Horse Series

SAYHS Logo 2016

In an effort to bring young dressage horse classes in South Africa up to the level of the FEI Young Dressage Horse classes, Howarth & Riders Dressage, with approval from Dressage South Africa, presents the South African Young Dressage Horse Series 2016. Through the exposure of the horses and the education of riders by our local and international judges, we aim to uplift the standard of South Africa’s young horses parallel to that of the FEI standard. This is a National series and in 2016 Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal are holding qualifiers. It is hoped that in 2017 more provinces will join into the series and that the series will encourage greater participation in dressage and grow the sport as a whole.
 

Introducing Ourselves

Our motivation for promoting a young horse series is due to Simone Howarth’s experiences with the national and international young horse circuit in Europe with her horse, Show Special, then ridden by Zilla Pearse, along with Simone’s current work and interest in producing various local young horses through her pupils.
Mickey van der Merwe, a pupil of Simone’s, became involved with the scribing and scoring of the Young Horse classes at the South African Dressage Championships, where she was highly commended by the international judges for her efficiency and high level of competence.
It became apparent at the South African Dressage Championships that a dedicated team was needed to run and organise a young horse series and we at Howarth & Riders Dressage became interested in taking this on board.

Format of the Series

There are four different age categories: 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old and 7 – 9 year old classes. Frequently at CDI shows overseas there is a Small Tour for 7 – 9 year olds. We appreciate that in South Africa, as with all the other age categories, PSG and Inter I is a level or two above what the average horse here, of that age, is capable of. Therefore, after consultation with DSA, the 7 – 9 year olds ride a Medium test. The advantage of including the 7 – 9 year olds is that these young horses compete against their peers rather than against older school masters in the same class.
The 4, 5 and 6 year old classes are judged like the FEI Young Horse classes, with marks being given for walk, trot, canter, submission and general impression. The 7 – 9 year olds are judged and scored as a normal, complete tests, as they are in the 7 – 9 year olds at CDI shows. An essential part of the series is the aim to educate and uplift the level of young horses being produced in SA. Therefore, at the end of each test, feedback on the horse’s performance from the judges is given to the rider and the public over a loud speaker. This helps to engage the spectators and to assist the rider as to how the horse’s training is progressing and in what areas improvement can be made. This public feedback also displays transparency and assists with understanding of the scoring system and of what the judges are looking for in a future top level dressage horse.
Throughout the course of the series the tests increase in difficulty within the grade for the age group, cumulating in the highest test of each grade being ridden at the championship show (with the exception of the 7-9yr olds, whose highest test used will be Medium 2 or 3).

The grades are:

4 Year Olds: DSA Prelim 2013
5 Year Olds: DSA Novice 2010
6 Year Olds: DSA Elementary 2010
7 – 9 Year Olds: DSA Medium 2010
Each participating province is organising a minimum of 3 qualifying shows throughout the calendar year, cumulating in a Provincial Championship show. As a requirement for the Provincial Championship show, horse and rider combinations must compete in at least 2 of the qualifying shows. The top 5 horse and rider combinations of each age group at the Provincial Championships will be filmed. The videos of the top three in each age group in each province will go forward to the National Championship. The videos will be sent to two FEI Young Horse Judges in Europe along with being sent to two judges in SA. The accumulation of all of the judge’s marks will result in a National Champion for each age group. This series is being run as unaffiliated classes, where no points gained will be added to the horse’s grading points. Horses and riders competing in the series must be registered with DSA but will not be required to ride within its current DSA grade.

Sponsorship and Prizes

Arco360 are very kindly sponsoring the rosettes for the whole series along with sponsoring the costs of the videoing of each of the Provincial Championships. We are most grateful to Candice Hobday of Hobday Equestrian Enterprises for her support of the series.

ARCO Rosette

Could you be a Dressage Diva? The foundation of good riding ~ Brigitte Billings

For many riders, dressage is something of an enigma. The adrenaline junkies would rather watch paint dry, while many newcomers are deterred by the thought of not fitting in with the ‘snooty set’, and the happy hackers may think it’s simply too much hard work.

Ironically, every rider does dressage – or should be. Good flatwork forms the foundation of a healthy riding relationship. It develops your horse both physically and mentally to do the things you want him to do, whether in the arena or in the country. In fact, the word ‘dressage’ simply means ‘training’, which is something every horse and rider needs to build their communication skills. Balance, suppleness, flexibility and understanding of the aids create a horse who is a pleasure to ride, and ultimately riding should be a pleasure.

Let’s go ‘pro’

Once you’ve embraced training as a necessary part of your riding routine, it might occur to you to test your skills on the competition circuit. This is where many equestrians hit a stumbling block – showcasing your abilities in front of a judge and an audience might seem like too much scrutiny to bare. Add to this the misconception that dressage riders are an unfriendly bunch and it’s easy to see why the discipline can be daunting.

The reality is that the Ankys, Edwards and Charlottes are few and far between. In South Africa, most dressage riders are ordinary horse lovers. Many are novices, while a lot are more mature equestrians who no longer enjoy the thrill of eventing or Showjumping. Some are producing younger horses for other disciplines and use dressage as a good basis for their future careers. In fact, the discipline has attracted a multitude of riders who have confidence and training issues that require some work, so it’s actually a wonderful environment to enter into if you’re looking for people who will respect and encourage you through a rocky patch.

Getting started

With this in mind, many show holding venues run regular training shows and low-level events such as Ride and Go classes to provide a stress-free environment for newcomers to get a taste of the sport, or for more advanced riders to test the next level without the pressure of a graded show.

Dressage SA has also launched a Riding School League to allow even the most inexperienced riders to get in on the fun. With competitors from 4 to 40 and beyond, the League is open to anyone who rides at an affiliated riding school – whether you own a horse or compete on a school pony. And nobody will laugh (aside from your spouse) if you choose to compete on a lead rein!

dsa rsl pic

Some of the winners from the Riding School League

In upcoming features, DSA will outline some of the basics of the discipline – from tack and riding wear, to what the rules are all about. Whether you choose to compete or not, one thing is certain, once you’re empowered with the basics of dressage, your riding time will never be the same again.

http://www.dressagesa.com”]Want to try it out? Recreational membership is free! Visit www.dressagesa.com for contact information .