Chantal Wigan Home for Dressage Champs

Dressage riders from across Australia are heading to the Sydney International Equestrian Centre for a battle of riding skills and intense competition. There are many levels of dressage, ranging from Prelimary to Grand Prix. The horse and rider combination that wins the Hamilton Island Grand Prix Freestyle will be the winner of the CDI-W (World Cup Qualifier). Winning the CDI-W will enable the combination to qualify for the Pacific League Final that will be held at the end of the year. The winner of the League Final is eligible to compete at the World Cup Final that will be held in Europe in 2011.



Grand Prix Freestyle is when horse and rider execute a carefully choreographed routine to music. It is not only marked on the rider’s skills but also on the the execution of certain movements and artistic merit.

One rider who will be carefully watched is Chantal Wigan from Cleveland in Queensland. In 1997 she started competing in Dressage in Australia after years of showjumping and eventing. Chantal then headed to Europe. Chantal and her new horse Ferero based themselves at Academy Bartels in Holland for training with one of the world’s most respected riders and trainers, Imke Schellekens-Bartels. It was in 2007 that she had her first entry onto the International circuit.

Chantal’s time in Europe has not been wasted and after a short season she produced outstanding results for the Grand Prix test on Ferero.

On the 2nd October, Chantal travelled to Sydney to meet her horse, Ferero, who had just arrived on Australian soil ready to be prepared for the Bates Australian National Championships.

There is a long way to go before the selections for the London 2012 Olympic Games but the 2010 Bates Australian Championships will be an event which many elite horse and rider combinations will be competing at. When asked about the Olympics, Chantal replied, “I have had aspirations for the Olympics since before Beijing. If I am at the top before London then I will be going”.

The championships commence on the morning of Thursday, 28 October and finishes at 4pm on Sunday. Over this time you can not only watch Olympic hopefuls such as Mary but you can also see and support some amazing riders and horses moving up through the ranks.

For more information visit [URL="http://www.dressagensw.com.au/nationals"]www.dressagensw.com.au/nationals[/URL]