Vanessa Way (NZ) Impresses at Hartpury International Festival of Dressage

By: Diana Dobson/ESNZ  (Photo by Libby Law Photography)

Vanessa Way continues to impress some of the best with two top four placings at the Hartpury International Festival of Dressage in the United Kingdom at the weekend. 

Overnight, Way, who hails from Taranaki, was fourth in the FEI CDI3* Intermediate I Freestyle – aboard a horse who has never done a freestyle to music in his life.

The result comes on the back of her efforts from earlier in the show, when Way and 10-year-old Don Archie (owned by Carl Hester and Anne Cory) placed third in the CDI3* FEI Intermediate I and eighth in the FEI Prix St George. Dane Anders Dahl and Selten HW won all three classes.

Way is trained by dressage supremo Carl Hester, who is more than a little chuffed that his rider and horse have done so well. That Archie hasn’t competed for a couple of years makes it even more impressive.

True to form, Way is beside herself – especially with her 70.975% mark from the freestyle.

“We didn’t practice it and Archie has never done (anything) to music at all. I had (my husband) Brooke send me the freestyle from New Zealand, so it wasn’t designed for Archie at all but he tried hard,” she says. “The canter work was definitely my highlight. Carl was stoked.”

Hester described the test a true Kiwi-style freestyle.

Way has been in the UK since mid May on what was meant to be a three week trip to work and train with Hester. However, her departure date just keeps getting pushed out, and on the back of her results at the weekend, she is now deciding whether to stay for the CDI3* Hickstead event.

“Carl just makes dreams come true,” she says. “I can’t thank him enough for this opportunity. Having such a professional team behind me is incredible.”

Groom Alan Davis was “exceptional” and did everything to ensure Archie was able to produce the best performance possible.

“I want to keep being involved and see my international career develop more.”

In return for lessons and opportunity, Way rides a lot of horses each day at the barn.

“I do get the challenging ones, but am rewarded by being taught the finer art of dressage.”

But with horses, a husband and students at home in Taranaki, Way knows she also needs to be in the Southern Hemisphere.

“To be international, I need to be in Europe to get the miles and training. The constant training I have had with Carl since I have been back has lifted my riding again – it is just fantastic!”

Being surrounded by top combinations helps too.

“These are horses and riders who have been at Olympic Games, European Champs and other top events. They know their horses, and that is partly why Carl is so pleased with our results today too,” she says.

“It’s a good challenge for me to be on a different horse at an international.”

She knows there is still a lot to be done if she wants to achieve her goal of riding at the Rio Olympics.

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