Dressage and Para-Equestrian Riders put Through their Paces Ahead of Saddleworld Australian Dressage Championships

Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina IV winners of the CDI-W Grand Prix at the Saddleworld Australian Dressage Championships Photo: Franz Venhaus/EA

As well as crowning Australia’s national dressage champions for 2013, this weekend’s Saddleworld Australian Dressage Championships will see Australia’s leading Para-Equestrian riders battle it out for individual and state team trophies. 

This is the first year that Para-Equestrian classes have run in conjunction with the Dressage Nationals and Para-Equestrian riders from four states have made the journey to the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) to contest the inaugural competition format which commences today.

Entries to the dressage includes representatives from each state and territory and with Australia’s leading horse and rider combinations looking to claim their respective national title, fierce competition from novice through to Grand Prix is assured.

National squad riders of both disciplines have been provided with the ideal preparation leading into the nationals with a week-long staging camp as part of the EA High Performance program. Riders were offered expert coaching sessions with visiting trainers Lone Joergensen and Bjarne Elefsen.

On-horse sessions were complemented with a series of lectures on international horse transport, equine nutrition, sports science and medicine as well as a series of veterinary talks from the Australian Equestrian Team Vets for Dressage and Para-Equestrian, Dr Robin Bell and Dr Kirsten Neil.  

National Performance Director for Dressage and Para-Equestrian, Julia Battams, says the camp has provided the squad riders with the best possible preparation ahead of the nationals.

“Staging the camp within such close proximity to the nationals has given our riders an excellent opportunity to work with the trainers on specific areas and will give them a chance to put into practice everything they’ve learnt over the past week,” said Ms Battams.

“One session which was particularly successful saw the riders work together to brainstorm a vision statement for the squads moving forward.

“Let’s step it up - professionally inspire excellence came out of a four hour seminar and embodies the squad’s collective purpose moving forward,” she said. 

It’s been a busy week for Para-Equestrian Nicole Blanks who has been studying for end of year University exams in-between lectures and training sessions.

“I have an exam on the first morning of competition and then I ride that afternoon.”

“Although it’s been a busy time for me personally, the whole experience has been a great learning experience. I really enjoyed the brainstorming session and having a chance to play a role in coming up with a vision for the squads.” 

One rider that all spectators will have their eyes on this weekend is the defending champion Maree Tomkinson who is looking to cement her name in the record books for a second consecutive year.

“I feel so lucky to have such a great partner in Diamantina, we’ve been working really hard in recent months and hopefully our efforts will pay off,” she said.

The Saddleworld Australian Dressage Championships will run through to Sunday 27 October.

By: Michelle Cook/Equestrian Australia

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