The CDI is on Its Way!

From the 28th to the 30th April 2011, the Sydney International Equestrian Centre will host the 20th Sydney CDI 3-Star. This is the only dressage event in Australia that not only attracts riders from around the world but is our highest level international event. Over the years it has attracted riders from Great Britain, Japan, USA, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and our close neighbour New Zealand. This year the organizing committee hopes Korea will also be heading south.
Except for New Zealand, all riders ride borrowed horses. This is due to strict quarantine requirements and the high costs involved in air transport.

Horse and rider combinations from across Australia will head to Sydney knowing they will be judged by some of the world’s best judges. As the London 2012 Olympics is just over a year away, this event will give many of Australia’s elite riders the chance to put themselves in the limelight and strengthen their chance of being selected.

The event is broken into four components – the Small Tour which is Prix St Georges and Intermediate I, the Big Tour which is Intermediate II and Grand Prix. Then there is the very important Young Rider competition and also the Young Horse Classes.

The anticipation is building, waiting to see who will be competing and also which countries will attend. One thing we do know is that Australia’s best placed riders from the 2010 World Equestrian Games, Brett Parbery and Rachael Sanna will be back in the main arena with their equine friends, Victory Salute and Jaybee Alabaster.

The Central Western Dressage Group has just held a CDI 2-Star event. The results show that some combinations are already starting to shine and others have improved so much that they too could be in the running. And when you include the results of the 2010 Saddleworld Dressage Festival it makes you realize the competition will be fierce.

Bring on the Sydney CDI – let’s watch them lay down the gauntlet!

All details on the event are available at www.sydneycdi.com.au