Victorians in National Squad

Congratulations to the Victorian riders who have been nationally acknowledged in the recent naming of the National High Performance Squads.
On the Australian Senior squad we see Caltango ridden by Tim Clarke and also Yalambi Bellini Star owned and ridden by Stevie Hill.  Both these horses have excelled in all Senior level competition across the country.
On the Futures Squad the horses listed below identified through the Talent Identification Series-
7 year old squad:  Danieyera Park Charlotte ridden by Tricia Read,
8 year old squad:  Galvanised ridden by Phil Stephens, Ally Lamb’s Diamond B Corsica, Cera Camina ridden Kelvin Blumson, and Zoe Boulton with her Valcheta.
9 year old squad:  Cervelt ridden by Caroline Price; Blues My Name ridden by Scottie Barclay, Paul Brent riding Cavalli Park Anniebell owned by Neil Clinton and Sue Coman riding Rose Cavalier.
The National Young Rider Squad sees Teagan Chester, Matilda Alexander, Melissa Backman, Courtney Shears, Joel Pearce and Sam Robertson named which is a strong level of representation for the state so well done to these riders.

Hygain Junior & Young Rider Squad

The long awaited Hygain Young Rider Squad nomination forms are up on the website and rolling in.  If you are a junior or young rider jumping from approx. 80cm up to elite level, you are welcome to apply.  The closing date for this is March 1st and then the selectors will be working to decide on the four squads for 2015.  If you would like to discuss this process and work out if it is suitable for your junior rider, you can email jumping@equestrianvictoria.com.au and Annie is happy to give you further details.
http://www.vic.equestrian.org.au/news/hygain-yr-jumping-squads-nominations-now-being-taken

Calendar Meeting

Jumping Victoria held a Calendar meeting for show organisers last week.  We are looking to produce a comprehensive calendar of jumping shows for the coming twelve months.  This has gone back to the Clubs for confirmation of dates.  If you are involved in a show that you wish to appear on this calendar, please contact jumping@equestrianvictoria.com.au as a matter of urgency.

Judges Update and Promotion Seminar

The judge's update and promotion seminar is also coming up on February 28th/March 1st.  Form is available to download from the Jumping Victoria website or alternatively contact  jumping@equestrianvictoria.com.au and it will be emailed out to you directly.  It is suitable for those with no experience right through to experienced judges looking to promote to the next level.

http://www.vic.equestrian.org.au/news/jumping-judges-seminar-promotion-and-also-updating-current-officials

Attention Coaches -Hygain YR Squad Coach nominations now being taken!!

If you are a qualified NCAS coach and would like to be a part of the coaching panel for the Hygain YR Jumping Squads, please submit the form found on the JV website here by March 1st.
http://www.vic.equestrian.org.au/jumping/news/attention-coaches-hygain-yr-squad-coach-nominations-now-being-taken

Query from member

Years ago I had a book with a photo of a 14:2 mare named OOrskiet that I believe was on the Olympic jumping team.  I would love to find out more about her...can anyone oblige?
hilliard.diana@gmail.com

Picture: Kylie Burton after winning the Aachen Challenge, Dressage Festival 2009

Any rider knows the commitment and sacrifice associated with horses: the many hours, the early starts, the bad weather, missing out on social events, and of course the inevitable hole in your hip pocket. Add study and/or work to your schedule, and you’ve undoubtedly got your work cut out for you.
Of course, we love it, and many of us wouldn’t have it any other way, but how can we best manage these commitments, in order to achieve success and enjoy the ride?
My story
After finishing VCE and completing two years of Uni, I decided to press pause on study. Having not identified with my first choice of degree, I decided to take a year off to find what I “really wanted to do". What better way to spend that year than by riding full time. After landing a position with dressage guru, Charlotte Pedersen, one year soon turned into four and a half.
What an experience it was.
Learning to train numerous types and personalities of both horses and riders, travelling overseas to ride for a top dressage stable, and being paid to compete talented horses – these are only a few of the numerous educational and rewarding experiences I was so fortunate to gain.
Having never intended for dressage to be my long term career, I then decided to explore alternative paths. After much deliberation, I chose to study Engineering. Later, Charlotte would remind me that horses are not mathematical equations! I was accepted into the University of Melbourne and felt ready to return to the books.
Then came the challenge: how do I maintain my standard of riding and competition, do justice to my study and work enough to support myself? Also a lover of fitness, added to the mix was my desire to go to the gym, to do Pilates and to run regularly. Occasionally there was even a romance I had to make time for! There just weren’t enough hours in the day, and I remember often feeling as though I could never simultaneously succeed in all facets of my life.
Although it felt like I never would, I got there. In 2013 I graduated with Honours. What’s more, many of my most treasured riding successes came during my University years. I achieved these milestones whilst managing to support myself financially (albeit with a little help from my wonderful parents now and then). I won’t say it was a walk in the park, but for what it’s worth, here are some of elements that made it work for me…
Find the balance
This looks different for everyone. For me, it was studying three subjects per semester instead of the usual four. This meant a few more years at Uni, but a much improved quality of life throughout. Some riders prefer to study in the evenings, attend lectures online, or condense their contact hours to reduce the number of days spent on campus. Whatever it is, you need to find the balance works for you.
Be organised
This is a must for any busy person. In addition to thorough planning, this meant two things for me: a mobile pantry, and a mobile wardrobe.
Firstly, I often needed to eat on the go; brekkie on the way to ride or coach, lunch en route to Uni, and sometimes dinner on the way home. Planning and preparing all my meals and snacks meant that I could eat well, whenever and wherever I was.
Secondly, the wardrobe. Clothes for riding, Uni, Pilates, running and going out; toiletries, towels and shoes – I would carry it all in the car. This certainly got on my nerves in the end, but meant that I was prepared in case I wanted / needed to cram one more activity in. I was also lucky enough to have the support of Charlotte and her husband Rob - I’m sure if they charged me a dollar for every shower I took at their place during those years, they could retire by now.
Quality not quantity
I’m sure this comes as no surprise; quality beats quantity hands down when it comes to both riding and study. An effective 20 minute ride is better than a 40 minute session in which your frustration / distraction / fatigue gets the better of you. And of course a short ride is better than no ride at all. The same goes for study.
Plan & compromise
Think ahead to major events and milestones: competitions, exams, important work commitments. Prioritise these events and then plan ahead to work around them. This might mean training a little less leading up to your exam period, or making training your number one priority (and letting study take a backseat) leading up to competitions.
Doing everything perfectly, all the time, is simply not possible. Being forever a perfectionist, I appreciate the temptation to think that it is. It isn’t. Get comfortable with that, and then decide what is most important to you at each moment. This will free you up to whole-heartedly enjoy each and every experience.
The journey to earn that piece of paper can be long – work out how to find the balance so that you can thrive, rather than just survive.

By Kylie Burton

New Director for Saddleworld Dressage Festival

Dressage Victoria is delighted to welcome Marli Plant to the position of Director, Saddleworld Dressage Festival 2015. After an exhaustive interview process which involved a number of strong candidates, Marli was selected. She is a competitor, owner and mother of a young daughter beginning her riding journey. Marli has a strong background in marketing and event management. She currently runs her own agistment property, equestrian apparel business and supports her husband in the management of their successful civil engineering business. The old adage, “ask a busy person”, may in part account for our selecting Marli in the role. This year’s SDF will feature the Pacific League Final CDI-W. After the strong support the 2014 event received from riders and volunteers we look forward to a bigger and better show in 2015 and wish Marli good fortune in the role.

Classic day for Dressage

On Sunday 8th of February, Berwick & District Dressage Club conducted their 27th Berwick Classic Championship at WPNEC, sponsored by Skye Park Rugs.
When this event began in the late 1980s it was one of the few large competitions and had 204 horses taking part over two days. With so many more competitions on the calendar and several marquee events, a club championship like this has reduced in size. However this year with the addition of Young Horse classes in the lead up to DJWTS the entries were very strong. 142 horses entered Preliminary to P St. G and 4 – 6 YO.
The weather was remarkably kind with moderate temperature, overcast sky and little wind. The venue was quiet apart from a few yapping dogs in Indoor 2. Riders had the best of Werribee conditions.
Unfortunately the scoring got a bit overwhelmed with so many entries. This will be fixed next time with more PCs on the job.

The Champions were

PRELIMINARY
Champion
YARRAMEE SERENDIPITY S McCombe
Reserve
GRANDJANY A De Krester
NOVICE
Champion
JAYBEE ARTIZAN B Chapman
Reserve
ROXLEIGH FRANGELICA S Russell
ELEMENTARY
Champion
MAYFIELD ZAPHIR K Mack
Reserve
BRAGGO OF TERAROSSA B Kingsley
MEDIUM
Champion
MAYFIELD LIMELIGHT K Mack
Reserve
VLEDDER N Blanks
ADVANCED
Champion
DONNA FIDERA G Maloney
Reserve
SILVERDENE PHAROAH M Robertson
CHAMPION PONY
BELVALO SPELLBOUND S Biggs

Many thanks to the OC and volunteers who supported the event and our valued sponsors, Skye Park Rugs, The Dancing Horse, Officer Grain Store, Bruce Smith Saddleworld, Dr Hugh Cathels Equine Vet.

Summarized Minutes of the January Dressage Victoria Meeting

• A summarised Calendar of events to be sent out with all new competition licences and 30 copies to be sent to each club.
• Newsletter to be sent to members by the end of this week
• Mark Reid has been co-opted onto the EV Board – he is currently working on easy to read/understand financial reports in excel spreadsheet format. Since June financial reports from each discipline have been updated monthly. Every event will be required to submit a pre-event budget.
• This financial year every event to date has made a profit.
• Surface improvements to Indoor 1 prior to DJWTS. On the 16th March 2/3 of the surface will be removed then laser levelled and replenished with shavings. Approx Cost $10,000.00. Long term plan is to change the base but until the lease is signed and confirmed no major works will be under taken.
• 130 people volunteered at the Dressage Festival, need to prepare our volunteers better.
• SDF was a great success financially and competitor friendly.
• Boneo Classic– aim was to create an event to attract the general community overall aim achieved. Used a combination of volunteers and paid staff (over 100 volunteers.) NAB supplied volunteers.
• Boneo put forward a proposal to have a CDI-W in September and incorporate the Food & Wine Festival held by the Shire.
• Sponsorship Forum at Boneo: We have the entertainment product and we need to research companies to approach
• M3DE – CDI-W The board has approved the CDI-W, but it will need to be fully funded by Dressage Victoria, the approx. cost of running a CDI-W is approx. $20,000.00 we cannot guarantee a profit. Fundraising ideas required one is to have a fundraising completion such as the DF fundraiser –. Maybe include HRCAV and pony club. Ask GP riders to volunteer at the event IE as Gear checkers etc
• Young Rider Weekend/Awards – Young Rider/Ambassador of the Year. Criteria being looked at.
• On the 5th January EV Board met for a strategic meeting New vision is:
  “To create the best state based organisation supporting participants in the equestrian community at all levels”
• Key priorities being worked on are:
  Financial Stability
  Communication
  Membership Growth
  WPNEC
• Familiarisation at events was discussed and the committee fully support that familiarisation is given high priority and discussed timeslots in 10 min increments or by class also need to ensure that enough time is allocated to the groundsmen to ensure the surface is ready at start of competition.

Australian Young Rider Dressage Championships

Another meeting was held this week of the hardworking committee who are bringing you the 2015 N.C.I.S. Australian Young Rider Dressage Championships.
Taking place at WPNEC from 9th to 12th of April 2015 this huge event has many generous sponsors. Novus Capital Insurance Solutions are again the major supporter of this event which this year includes National Championships. We in Victoria look forward to hosting the many riders who will venture here from interstate.
A regular supporter of Dressage in Victoria, Saddleworld have sponsored the Victorian Championship section of each class. The OC are conducting a HUGE raffle of fabulous Saddleworld premium products. A PSD “Karl Hester” Saddle, Girth and Bridle valued at $5,000.00. Ticket will be available in Saddleworld stores and through the OC. Keep your eyes peeled.
This event famously includes CDI-Y supported by Ellanbrae Park and CDI-U25 supported by Multiple Olympian Mary Hanna.   Other classes are kindly supported by Top Gear Equestrian Apparel, Buyer’s Choice, Carol Simpson & Hayes & Assoc.
Please book your Saturday Night Dinner tickets asap. They will go fast. At the recent SDF all the tickets for the dinner went before the Saturday so some missed out. Book early and we can cater for you. The bar will be open for Mum & Dad to have a wine with the spit roast. A generous 2 course meal and lots of fun for just $25 each.
We at Dressage Victoria look forward to seeing you all at the N.C.I.S. Australian Young Rider Dressage Championships.