Dressage riders enjoy day of firsts
(CNS Local Life): Cayman’s dressage riders tacked up on Sunday, 3 February, to compete in the first of three national shows scheduled for this season, each of which is sponsored by the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF). The event took place at the Equestrian Centre in George Town, with 29 entries on the day.
US judge Marilyn Kulifay came in from Houston, Texas, to officiate, for her second stint on island for a CIEF dressage show. She said she was excited to see the progression in Cayman’s dressage athletes since her last visit, stated a CIEF press release.
At the start of the day, Jessica McTaggart “dazzled the crowd” as she and her horse Loris 7 rode the Prix St Georges Test, competing together for the first time with an international (FEI) level test. McTaggart has her sights set on qualifying for the 2022 Central American and Caribbean Games with Loris 7, “a beautiful German warmblood she purchased as a young, undeveloped 4-year-old and has trained up the levels, hoping to return to the international stage with him as her new mount”, said the CIEF, adding that “given her fine performance, she appears well on her way”.
Several riders were competing in a CIEF dressage show for the first time, including Jenna Superfine, Rosana Stroh, Tami Maines, Cathy Osborne and Gina Lomas. The CIEF particularly noted Sierra Martin who celebrated her birthday by winning the USDF B Test Class, which was the largest of the day with eight entries.
High point champions were Olivia Zeimniak, riding Zeus at Training Level Test 1, and Eve van den Bol, riding her horse, Whindlass, at Training Level Test 3.
The CIEF, the national governing body for equestrian sport in the Cayman Islands, produces a series of competitions, arranges training opportunities with professionals from overseas, supports the Cayman Islands’ participation in international equestrian sporting events and works with the Cayman Islands’ government to prevent the abuse of horses on the island.
The next CIEF-sponsored dressage show will take place 24 February at 8am at the Equestrian Centre. As always, spectators are welcome and admission is free. Refreshments will also be available for purchase.
Winners of each class in decreasing order of difficulty were:
| FEI Prix St. Georges | Jessica McTaggart on Loris 7 |
| Second Level Test 1 | Jessica McTaggart on Blue Ridge Dream On |
| First Level Test 3 – Adult | Gina Lomas on Sunday’s Edition |
| First Level Test 1 – Adult | Abbey Swartz on Calidad |
| First Level Test 1 – Junior | Kayla Mannisto on Pony Up |
| Training Level Test 3 – Adult | Eve van den Bol on Whindlass |
| Training Level Test 3 – Junior | Kayla Mannisto on Pony Up |
| Training Level Test 1 – Junior | Olivia Ziemniak on Zeus |
| USDF C Test – Adult | Tami Maines on Partenon |
| USDF C Test – Junior | Olivia Ziemniak on Zeus |
| USDF B Test – Adult | Tami Maines on Partenaon |
| USDF B Test – Junior | Sierra Martin on Twinkle |
Category: Equestrian, Sports
