Dressage update (February 2024)

Well done to our competitors at the Area 12 Competitions this last month!

At the Intermediate Dressage Qualifiers at Kings Sedgemoor EC on Feb 3, we had riders placed in most classes, including Caroline Tilley, Ella Weeks and Cheryl Green, all in the top 10 of a large Prelim 18 NQ class. Julie Chapman also placed 3rd in her close Elementary class on 68.13%, and won the Medium 63 on 65%. Amazing result!

The weekend before, junior member Claudia Knox tried her hand at the Dressage to Music Qualifiers at Bicton College, riding at Novice level. She gained a 71.94% and earned a qualification to the DTM Championships at Bury Farm in March.

The next qualifier for Dressage is the Summer Qualifier at Chard on 6 July. Until then, we have lots of training available with Colleen Hoekstra Knox at Cordings Farm in West Buckland (bookings up on Equo shortly):

Sat 16 March – Pole Clinic 

Sun 24 March & Sat 20 April – Test Riding – practice current or new tests, with or without poles and cones to “guide” you through the movements

Sat 4 May – Pole Clinic

Fri 17 May – Test Riding – practice current or new tests, with or without poles and cones to “guide” you through the movements

As always, ad hoc training is available with Colleen on Fridays at a discounted rate for pairs (£25 each) and individuals (£35). 

We also have 3 Social Lecture/Demos upcoming at West Buckland Village Hall from 7-9pm, themes TBC but will include Rider Psychology and Judging the Sport Horse: Movement, Conformation and Bloodlines:
Fri 22 March
Fri 12 April
Fri 31 May

We will be looking to run training days at other venues as well, so please keep an eye on the FB page and Equo!

Finally, we would like to announce TDRC’s first Dressage Camp 20-22 Sept at Stockland Lovell, which will include your choice of personalised training sessions, rider position/biomechanics, pole work, test riding, rider psychology, evening speakers, sports massage, and more! Confirmed instructors are Colleen Knox, Julie Chapman and Andrea Dobson, and sports massage therapist Catherine Jones. Full details, including bookings, will be released shortly!