DNSW Presidents' Report in Centreline
The President's report that features in the July-August issue of Centreline is a repeat of the March-April issue. Below is the report that should have appeared.
Apologies to Prue.
President’s Report - July/August issue of Centreline
There is one downside to being bi monthly, reports seem to fall either just before or a month after major events – and by the time this hits your letter box, our Young Rider Championships have been run and won and riders are fine tuning for our NSW Dressage Championships in Tamworth.
The Young Rider Championships are always keenly contested and my special thanks go to fellow organisers Karen Lever and Gloreen Goldin for their invaluable support and to Stable Manager Peter Rocca, who was on duty from the arrival of the first horse until the floats started heading out on Sunday. Our thanks as always to our wonderful team of volunteers and generous sponsors, many of whom were new to Dressage NSW and gave freely their time, goods, services and dollars.
These NSW Young Rider Championships were the last for several of our well-known Young Riders who have either turned or will turn 21 this year. Robbie Soster, Alexis Hellyer, Jessica Willard and Ashlea Day have been wonderful Young Rider ambassadors for NSW and we will be watching their future careers with great interest. They are all highly talented with the ability to mix it with the best at all levels of competition and I know you will join me in wishing them great times ahead.
For those of you heading to Kentucky, I hope you can take time out to explore Lexington, where some of the wealthiest residents are horses. It’s a beautiful town and you’ll find lots of shopping opportunities for great ‘horse ware’ or just coming across Thoroughbred Park in the middle of town is an experience in itself. The Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park is unique, as is a drive along the dappled pikes. There are famous horse studs all around and some legendary horses have been bred here and raised in the blue grass. It is a very special place.
However for those of us unable to explore the dappled pikes, we have something lined up for you – Christoph Hess is coming back! He will be here on the 29th/30th September for a 2 day rider clinic and an open workshop on Friday 1st October. Unfortunately it’s not the weekend, but as it’s a round Australia tour, we have to fit in with arrangements in other states.
Make it a diary date right now – we know how popular he is and how good he is at communication his love of the horse and his knowledge. It was great to see the horses all finding an extra length in the stride, that little more self-carriage and power in the hindquarters - all with quietly given instruction and encouragement and praise – for both horse and rider! It was special last time and his return visit will be a ‘must do’.
Our Clarendon grounds maybe undergoing changes at the end of the year with plans to build a 4th arena and change the layout for competition. I know there are questions from time to time as to why we don’t move to SIEC permanently. That is not an option for many reasons, regular monthly availability and cost being just two. At Clarendon riders are guaranteed events usually on a monthly basis (all right, unless we’re rained out!). Also we have made a considerable investment over the years in Clarendon and your committee does not believe it would be financially responsible to walk away from that at this stage.
More on this will be coming from our Clarendon Grounds Committee but our Riders’ Representative Rozzie Ryan brings your concerns to the Committee each month, so if you do have input or a comment to make, then please, how about contacting Rozzie first of all.
So onto the ‘States’ and the drive up the New England to Tamworth. I hope your training is well and truly on track as preparation is well under way to make the trip worth your while and going on last year, another great event.
Good Luck with your goals in the second part of this year – whatever they are, remember it’s the quality of the partnership you have with your horse that produces the harmony that leads to success.
